Patent ID: 7653012

Claim:
A method of transmitting data in a centralized network, the method comprising: providing a centralized network having a common physical layer connection between all devices attached to the network, so that all communications among the attached devices travels directly over the physical layer connection; receiving data over the common physical layer connection from a source device at a central coordinator in the centralized network to be relayed to at least one destination device, wherein the data is received over the common physical layer connection on a dedicated channel between the source device and the central coordinator, wherein the dedicated channel comprises a time slot and frequency combination reserved for communication over the common physical layer connection between the source device and the central coordinator; sending an acknowledgement over the common physical layer connection from the central coordinator to the source device acknowledging reception of the data from the source device; transmitting data over the common physical layer connection to at least one destination device; and waiting for an acknowledgement of data reception from each destination device to which the data was sent.