Patent ID: 7075943

Claim:
A method of allocating between multiple communication sources a communication channel in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of: dividing the communication channel into a plurality of frames; dividing each of the frames into a plurality of slots; dividing a first one of the plurality of slots into a plurality of first mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data or video transmission connection over the communication channel; and dividing a second one of the plurality of slots into a plurality of second mini-slots also for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data or video transmission connection over the communication channel and for use by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel; determining which of the multiple communication sources have a preexisting video transmission connection over the communication channel; and assigning to each of the multiple communication sources that have a preexisting video transmission connection over the communication channel one of the second mini-slots.