Patent ID: 7133413

Claim:
A method to assign a full sized or partial timeslot to a network terminal (T 1 ) in a communication network wherein a central station (CS) is coupled to a plurality of network terminals (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ) via the cascade connection of a common link (L) and respective individual links (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , L 4 ) and wherein said plurality of network terminals (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ) transmit information to said central station (CS) in a time multiplexed way over said common link (L) using said full sized or partial timeslot, characterized in that said central station (CS) broadcasts a timeslot grant (G 12 ) to assign a plurality of said timeslots in a predefined order to network terminals (T 2 , T 3 ) of a group (G 2 ) of said plurality of network terminals (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ), said group (G 2 ) having a predefined composition and being identified by said timeslot grant (GI 2 ).