Patent ID: 7570955

Claim:
A point to multipoint wireless communication system, said system comprising: an access point configured to receive data signals from an external system, the access point having an antenna, a processor, and circuitry in communication with the access point antenna and controlled by the access point processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals to a geographic area and to transmit first wireless electromagnetic signals to, and to receive second wireless electromagnetic signals from, the geographic area; and a plurality of subscriber units disposed within the area, each said subscriber unit having an antenna, a processor and circuitry controlled by the subscriber unit processor to receive from the access point the wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals and to transmit the second wireless electromagnetic signals to, and receive the first wireless electromagnetic signals from, the access point, wherein the first wireless electromagnetic signals include respective instructions to respective said subscriber units, wherein the second wireless electromagnetic signals include data for communication to an external system in communication with the access point, wherein the respective subscriber units transmit the second wireless electromagnetic signals responsively to receipt of the instructions, and wherein the access point assigns said instructions to the respective subscriber units based at least in part on past use of bandwidth to transmit data between the access point and the plurality of subscriber units, without consideration of requests from the respective subscriber units for bandwidth to transmit data.