JPH10257076A - Data communication terminal and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dissolve contention that plural terminals collide in the same slot of an incoming data frame by transmitting reservation transmission by a new message mini slot corresponding to a transmission parameter, performing retransmission by an extended mini slot when transmission is already performed by the extended mini slot and transmitting data by a reserved data slot by the terminal. SOLUTION: Plural terminals 14 prepare a reservation request first when the data to perform communication to a head end 12 are provided and then, decide which slot is the new message mini slot, the extended mini slot and the data slot in the incoming data frame by reading a slot parameter MAP included in an outgoing data frame. The mixture of the new message mini slot, the extended mini slot and the data slot is stipulated by the head end 12 and is changed depending on load conditions. Thus, the contention that the plural terminal 14 collide in the same slot of the incoming data frame is dissolved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 73,909, filed Oct. 22, 1996,
And U.S. Application No. 08 filed October 22, 1996.
No./734,908.

[0002] The present invention relates to a protocol and a dynamic search tree extension procedure in a communication system in which multiple terminals share access to a common communication channel.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a communication system includes a plurality of terminals connected to each other via a common communication channel. For example, in a common antenna television (CATV) system, the headend is connected to a plurality of subscriber terminals by cables.
The cable supports downstream communication from the headend to the subscriber terminal and upstream communication from the subscriber terminal to the headend. Data transmitted between the headend and the subscriber terminal is transmitted in data frames. Therefore, when the headend communicates with the subscriber terminal, the headend transmits to the subscriber terminal in a downlink data frame, and when the subscriber terminal communicates with the headend, the subscriber terminal transmits the uplink data to the headend. Transmit in frames.

[0004] In such CATV systems, the headend and subscriber terminals must share cable resources in several ways. For example, downlink communication and uplink communication are usually assigned to different frequency ranges. In the subdivided assignment, downlink communication is assigned to a frequency range between 54 MHz and 750 MHz and above, while uplink communication is assigned to a frequency range below 42 MHz. In the medium split assignment, downlink communications are assigned to the frequency range 162 MHz and above, while uplink communications are assigned to the frequency range between 5 MHz and 100 MHz. In a large split allocation,
Downlink communication is assigned to the frequency range of 234 MHz and above, while uplink communication is assigned to 5 MHz and 174 MHz.
To the frequency range between.

[0005] In addition, subscriber terminals must share cable resources in several ways. In a time division multiple access (TDMA) CATV system, subscriber terminals typically share a cable by transmitting data during uniquely assigned and non-overlapping time periods.
In a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) CATV system, a subscriber terminal divides the available upstream frequency bandwidth into a number of narrow frequency channels and assigns each subscriber terminal to its corresponding narrow frequency band. By sharing the cable. In a code division multiple access (CDMA) CATV system, subscriber terminals share the cable by multiplying their data messages, associating assigned codewords, and transmitting the result.

[0006] TDMA systems that assign each subscriber terminal to a unique time slot avoid collision of data transmitted by the subscriber terminals and limit the amount of data throughput from the subscriber terminals to the headend. F which allocates each subscriber terminal to its own corresponding narrow frequency band
In the DMA, the number of frequency bands allocated to the subscriber terminal is limited, so that the throughput is similarly limited. C
DMA similarly limits the throughput on the communication cable because the number of valid codewords that must be assigned to a subscriber terminal is limited.

In order to increase the throughput of data transmitted by the subscriber terminal to the head end of the CATV system, an upstream data frame supporting communication from the subscriber terminal to the head end is divided into several mini slots and data slots. It is known to split into These subscriber terminals with data to transmit to the headend are required to insert a reservation request in the minislot of the current uplink data frame (ie, the uplink data frame at discrete time n). This reservation request requests the headend to reserve a data slot in a subsequent upstream data frame (eg, an upstream data frame at discrete time n + 1) for use by these subscriber terminals.

[0008] Because the number of minislots is limited in the upstream data frames utilized by such current systems, contention between subscriber terminals for access to the limited number of minislots can result. Frequent collisions (ie, conflicts) between reservation requests occur. However, it is desirable that at least some reservation requests be continuously transmitted by the subscriber terminal to the headend without collision in any given upstream data frame. It is therefore generally considered that after all, all subscriber terminals can transmit their data to the headend in the data slot reserved for that purpose. However, as the number of minislots in such systems is limited and fixed, the throughput in such systems is correspondingly limited.

[0009] Allowing subscriber terminals to compete for the same frequency, time, or codeword slot in upstream data frames and using a tree algorithm to resolve any resulting collisions It is also known to increase the throughput of data transmitted by the subscriber terminal to the head end of the CATV system by allowing. Collisions result when two or more subscriber terminals transmit data in the same slot of an upstream data frame. When the headend detects such a collision, the headend informs the second contention layer for each contention slot in the previous upstream data frame where the collision occurred, for a predetermined number of times in the next upstream data frame. Start the tree algorithm for assigning expansion slots. In other words, the tree algorithm expands each contention slot with a collision into a predetermined number of expansion slots.

In response to this extension by the headend,
Each subscriber terminal determines whether it was transmitted in one of the slots where the collision occurred. Each subscriber terminal that has determined that transmission has been performed in the contention slot in which the collision has occurred, uses one of the extension slots corresponding to the contention slot of the previous uplink data frame that transmitted the data in the next uplink data frame. Select randomly. These subscriber terminals retransmit their data in the corresponding randomly selected expansion slots. If the headend detects a collision again,
The tree algorithm allocates a predetermined number of extension slots in the next upstream data frame to each slot in the upstream data frame before the collision in the third contention layer. The competing subscriber terminals respond as follows. In this way conflicts are resolved.

[0011] The present invention provides a protocol attribute for dynamically changing the number of minislots in an uplink data frame as needed when two or more terminals collide in the same slot of an uplink data frame. , A system that combines attributes of a dynamic tree algorithm to resolve the conflict. The IEEE is working towards a standard (802.14) for such systems.

[0012]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a terminal includes receiving means, transmitting parameter generating means, and transmitting means. The receiving means receives a downstream data frame having a range parameter R and a parameter MAP.
Parameter MAP is the new message minislot NMS
, The number of extended mini-slots EMS extended by the dynamic search tree extension procedure, and the number of data slots DS in the next uplink data frame. The transmission parameter generation means generates a transmission parameter N. The transmission parameter N is enforced by the range parameter R. The transmitting means transmits (i) a reservation request in a new message mini-slot of the next uplink data frame when the transmission parameter N corresponds to the new message mini-slot;
i) When the reservation request is already transmitted in the minislot extended in the previous uplink data frame and in the next uplink data frame, the reservation request is retransmitted in the extension minislot of the next uplink data frame. And (iii)
The terminal transmits data in the reserved data slot.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a data transmitting terminal in a slot of an uplink data message on a communication medium includes a receiving unit, first and second slot selecting units, and an inserting unit. The receiving means receives the downlink data message. The downlink data message includes a slot parameter. The slot parameter indicates a new message slot and an extension slot in transmitting a reservation request. The expansion slots result from the dynamic search tree expansion procedure. The first slot selecting means selects one of the expansion slots. The second slot selecting means selects one of the new message slots at least under a pseudo-random criterion. The inserting means inserts the previously transmitted reservation request in one of the selected expansion slots of the designated future uplink message, and in one of the selected new message slots of the future uplink message, Insert a new reservation request.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for transmitting data in a slot of an uplink data message includes:
A) receiving a downlink data message, the downlink data message including a range parameter R and a slot parameter, the slot parameters indicating a new message slot NS and an extension slot ES in transmitting a reservation request; Receiving the resulting ES from the dynamic search tree extension procedure; b) selecting one of the expansion slots; c) selecting one of the new message slots according to the range parameter R; , D) inserting a previously transmitted reservation request in one of the selected expansion slots, and e) inserting a new reservation request in the selected new message slot.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a data transmission / reception terminal for transmitting / receiving data on a communication medium includes a slot expansion unit, a slot parameter determination unit, a range parameter determination unit, and an insertion unit. . The slot expansion means expands a slot experiencing a collision in a data message received by the terminal into an expansion slot according to a dynamic search tree expansion procedure. The slot parameter determining means determines a slot parameter for a future uplink data message. The slot parameters indicate (i) a new message slot in the transmission of the new reservation request to the terminal, and (ii) an extension slot. The range parameter determining means determines a range parameter R for a future uplink data message. The range parameter R is determined based on the loading of the communication medium. The insertion means inserts a slot parameter and a range parameter R in a downlink data message for communication on a communication medium.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a data transmission / reception terminal for transmitting / receiving data on a communication medium includes a slot expansion unit, a slot parameter determination unit, a range parameter determination unit, and an insertion unit. . The slot extending means extends the slot experiencing a collision in the data message received by the terminal to an extended mini-slot EMS according to a fixed search tree extension procedure.
The slot parameter determining means determines a slot parameter for a future uplink data message. The slot parameters include (i) a new message minislot in the transmission of the new reservation request to the terminal, (ii) an extended minislot EMS in the retransmission of the old reservation request to the terminal, and (ii)
i) shows the data slot DS in the data transmission to the terminal. The range parameter determining means determines a range parameter R useful for determining whether a new reservation request is transmitted to the terminal. The insertion means inserts a slot parameter and a range parameter R in a downlink data message for communication on a communication medium.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a terminal includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving means receives the first and second downlink messages. The first downlink message defines a first uplink message having a new message slot, an expansion slot and a data slot. The second downstream message defines a new message slot and a second upstream message having an address that determines whether the terminal transmits a reservation request in one of the new message slots of the second upstream message. The transmitting means responds to the first downlink message, (i) if the terminal decides, transmits a reservation request in a new message slot of the first uplink message, and (ii) the terminal transmits the reservation request in the previous uplink message. If the reservation request is transmitted in the slot extended in the first uplink message, the reservation request is retransmitted in the extension slot of the first uplink message, and (iii) in the data slot reserved for the terminal. Send data. The transmitting means responds to the second downlink message and, if the second downlink message corresponds to the address of the terminal, transmits a reservation request in a new message slot of the second uplink message.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a terminal includes a receiving unit, a transmission parameter generating unit, and a transmitting unit.
The receiving means receives a downstream data frame having a contention range parameter R. The contention range parameter R has one of at least two possible priority values. The transmission parameter generating means generates the transmission parameter RN depending on the priority of the data transmitted by the terminal. Transmission parameter RN
Is enforced by the contention range parameter R. The transmitting means may determine whether the transmission parameter RN corresponds to the slot in the next uplink data frame and if the reservation request relates to the data corresponding to the transmission parameter RN, the reservation request in the slot of the next uplink data frame. Send

[0019]

Figure 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION shows a CATV system including a headend 12, a plurality of subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14 _n and the cable 16 interconnecting the head end 12 and the subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14 _n. Headend 12 may be a conventional hardware design that includes a processor programmed to support upstream communication over cable 16 according to the present invention. Similarly, the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -1
4 _n may be conventional hardware designs, each including a processor programmed to support downstream communication on cable 16 according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, the subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14
_{When n} has data to communicate on the cable 16 to the headend 12, these subscriber terminals first create a reservation request. In the creation of the reservation request, the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -14 _n is, mini-slot subscriber terminal 14 ₁
Since the -14 _n responsible reservation request to the head-end 12, compete with each other for the number of limited but dynamically variable minislots in the upstream data frame. In connection with these reservation requests that are subsequently received by headend 12 (ie, received by headend 12 in a collision free minislot), headend 12
Headend 12 to appropriate subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14 _n
Acknowledgment of the reservation request by the method of acknowledgment sent by. Thus, the upstream data frame is divided into slots S, some or most of which are subdivided into mini-slots MS, so that all contention and reservation activity takes place in the mini-slots of the upstream data frame and all data The transmission takes place in the unsubdivided data slot DS of slot S.

Mini slot MS and data slot DS
Is specified by the head end 12 in the downlink data frame. The subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14 _n use this specified arrangement and certain other parameters to determine whether they can transmit the reservation request and data in a subsequent upstream data frame. Thus, the subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14 _n compete for the bandwidth of the upstream channel. The appropriate reservation request has a headend 12 that, based on the validity, consequently reserves one or more data slots for each of the subscriber terminals that sent the appropriate reservation request. The number of reservation data slots available for any one subscriber terminal depends on the number of subscriber terminals making the appropriate reservation request.

The size of the upstream data frame and the downstream data frame may be equal or fixed, for example, to have a size at least equal to the sum of the head-end processing time and the round trip transmission delay of the cable 16. , May be defined. An exemplary downlink data frame is shown in FIG. Each downlink data frame has four sections. The first section contains the range parameter R. The range parameter R is set to the value of the subscriber terminal 14 to compete for a new message minislot when the competing subscriber terminal does not have a previously transmitted reservation request.
Used by ₁ -14 _n.

The second section of the downstream data frame contains the slot parameter MAP. The slot parameter MAP indicates which slot of the next uplink data frame is:
(I) new reservation request (i.e., reservation requests not previously sent) or a new message minislots used by the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -14 _n to transmit (NMS), (ii) previously or an extended mini-slots used by the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -14 _n to send a reservation request and reservation request collided from the subscriber terminal is transmitted and was (EMS) in, (iii) the subscriber Terminal 14 ₁ −
Subscriber terminal 14 ₁ − so that 14 _n can transmit data.
14 _n is a data slot (DS) reserved for
Is specified. The slot parameter MAP is, for example, a map that defines the position of each new message minislot, each expansion minislot, and each data slot in the next uplink data frame. The map allows these new message minislots, expansion minislots, and scattered data slots throughout the upstream data frame. The subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14 _n determine which slot is the new mini-slot in the uplink data frame, which slot is the extended mini-slot in the uplink data frame, and which slot is the data slot in the uplink data frame. Read the map to determine if it is.

Alternatively, the slot parameter MAP is:
It may simply be a boundary that divides a slot in an uplink data frame between a new message minislot, an expansion minislot, and a slot. In this case, the new message minislot, the expansion slot and the data slot are separated from each other. Further, the minislot included in the next uplink data frame is assigned with RQ # (that is, RQ number). Therefore, a new reservation request included in the next uplink data frame (ie, a reservation request that was not transmitted before)
New message minislots not used by the subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14 _n to send the RQ # = 0
Assigned by Therefore, a subscriber terminal having a reservation request that has not been transmitted before transmits a reservation request that was not previously transmitted in the minislot assigned to RQ # = 0.

An RQ number other than 0 is used for (i) the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -1 to retransmit a reservation request that has collided with a reservation request from another subscriber terminal in a previous uplink data frame.
4 _n , and (ii) the expansion mini-slot is allocated to the contention mini-slot of the corresponding previous uplink data frame. For example, if a collision occurs in mini-slots 16, 27, 33, and 45 of the previous upstream data frame n, the headend 12 corresponds to the slot parameter MAP and the previous mini-slot 16 corresponds to RQ number = 4. The headend 12 assigns an RQ number = 4 to an extended mini-slot in the next uplink data frame n + 1 in which the previous mini-slot 16 is extended. Similarly, (i) the headend 12 has a slot parameter MA
At P, the previous mini-slot 27 corresponds to RQ number = 3, and the head end 12 sends the RQ number = 3 to the extended mini-slot in the next uplink data frame n + 1 where the previous mini-slot 27 is extended. 3 and (i
i) The head end 12 indicates in the slot parameter MAP that the previous mini slot 33 corresponds to RQ number = 2, and the head end 12 is in the next uplink data frame n + 1 and the previous mini slot 33 is extended. RQ number = 2 is assigned to the extended mini-slot
i) The head end 12 indicates in the slot parameter MAP that the previous mini slot 45 corresponds to the RQ number = 1, and the head end 12 is in the next uplink data frame n + 1 and the previous mini slot 45 is extended. RQ number = 1 is assigned to the extended mini-slot.

Therefore, if the subscriber terminal transmits a reservation request in the mini-slot 16 of the previous uplink data frame n, the subscriber terminal sets the mini-slot 16 of the previous uplink data frame n to RQ number = 4. Detecting the allocation, the RQ number = 4 is allocated, and the reservation request is retransmitted in one of the extended mini-slots which is the next uplink data frame n + 1. The highest RQ number is determined by the number of minislots experiencing a collision. In this example, 4
Minislots (ie minislots 16, 27, 3)
3 and 45) experienced a collision and therefore the highest RQ
The number is four.

The third section of the downlink data frame is left to the perception of appropriate reservation request created by the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -14 _n to the headend 12 in the previous upstream data frames. Each cognitive field (ACK)
Are reserved for the (i) terminal ID which is the address of the recognized subscriber terminal, and (ii) the subscriber terminal specified by the terminal ID, and the specified subscriber terminal transmits data to the head end 12. Data slot to be transmitted.

The fourth section of the downlink data frame includes data slots used by the head-end 12 for communicating the other data to the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -14 _n. An example of an uplink data frame is shown in FIG.
In the uplink channel, the subscriber terminals 14 ₁ -14 _n
The slot parameter MAP of the previous downlink data frame is used to determine the definition of the next uplink data frame. The uplink data frame includes a plurality of slots. FIG.
, The slot is a new message minislot N
MS subdivided and the slot is extended mini slot EMS
, Or the slot is not subdivided (or partially divided) and used as a data slot DS.
New Message Mini Slot NMS and Extended Mini Slot E
MS and data slot DS are mixed at the headend 12
And varies depending on the load condition. Thus, the number of minislots dynamically changes depending on the extent of the collision and the extent of the reservation request in the reservation request queue DQ at the headend 12. Slots can be new message minislot NMS and / or extended minislot EM
It is subdivided into a fixed number m of S.

When two or more reservation requests from the corresponding subscriber terminals collide in a new message minislot or an extension minislot of an uplink data frame, the new message minislot or extension minislot will Extended to the number of extended minislots in the data frame. FIG. 4 illustrates a dynamic search tree extension procedure used to extend to a new message minislot and / or an extended minislot where a collision has occurred. When there are no collisions previous upstream data frames, all of minislots in the next upstream data frame is a new message minislots, the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -14 _n are competing to any of these new messages minislots Is allowed to do so. When a collision occurs, the system enters the first competition layer. Thus, the first contention layer occurs when there is a collision on a new message minislot. The upstream data frame F1 in FIG. 4 shows a first contention layer. A new message mini-slot with no collision is indicated by NC, a new message mini-slot with collision is indicated by C, and has a subscript for distinguishing between the new message mini-slots.

Therefore, the head end 12 has the expansion coefficient E
(Eg, 6), during the first contention layer, extend each of the new message minislots where a collision occurs. This value for the extension factor E depends on the amount of collision in the new message minislot of the upstream data frame F1. Thus, headend 12 extends each of the new message minislots where a collision has occurred in six corresponding expansion minislots for the second contention layer. The second contention layer occurs when the collision is in an extended minislot. For example, the new message mini-slot Ca is expanded to six expansion mini-slots with the result that six expansion mini-slots do not include collisions at the second contention layer. Similarly, minislot Cb has a result in the second contention layer that one of the six expansion minislots (Cb1) contains a collision and five of the six expansion minislots do not contain a collision, Expanded to six expansion mini slots.

It should be noted that due to the limitation of the number of minislots in the upstream data frame, the minislot of the first contention layer may not be extended at all to the same next upstream data frame. Thus, for example, the minislot Cf from the uplink data frame F1 is extended to six extension minislots for the second contention layer in the uplink data frame F3 instead of the uplink data frame F2. One of the six expansion minislots (Cf1) contains a collision, and five of the six expansion minislots do not contain a collision.

It should be noted that the upstream data frame includes extended minislots of different contention layers. For example,
The minislot Cg from the upstream data frame F1 indicating the first competitive layer is extended to six minislots in the upstream data frame F3, and the minislot Cb1 from the upstream data frame F2 indicating the second competitive layer is an upstream data frame. In F3, it is expanded to three expansion mini-slots.

As another example, FIG. 5 illustrates a fixed search tree extension procedure used to extend a new message minislot and / or an extended minislot where a collision has occurred. When there is no collision in the previous upstream data frame,
All minislots in the next uplink data frame are new message minislots, and the subscriber terminal 14 _1-
14 _n are allowed to compete for either of these new messages minislots. When a collision occurs, the system enters the first competition layer. The upstream data frame F1 shown in FIG. 5 indicates a first competitive layer. Mini-slots in which no collision has occurred are denoted by NC, mini-slots in which collision has occurred are denoted by C, and a subscript is added to distinguish between mini-slots.

Accordingly, the head end 12 expands each of the collision-occurring mini-slots by the expansion coefficient E (three examples in FIG. 5). The slot parameter MAP is generated based at least in part on the expansion factor E. As a result of this expansion, headend 12 expands each of the minislots where a collision occurs into three corresponding expanded minislots for the second contention layer. For example, minislot Ca is extended to three extended minislots in the next uplink data frame F2, minislot Cb is extended to three extended minislots in the next uplink data frame F2, and minislot Cc is extended to the next uplink data frame F2. It is extended to three extension mini-slots in the uplink data frame F2. The uplink data frame F2 includes a new message minislot indicated by NC in FIG. 5 and includes a data slot (not shown).

Accordingly, the second competitive layer results in an upstream data frame F2. For example, one of the three expansion mini-slots in which the mini-slot Ca is expanded does not include a collision, and the other two of the three expansion mini-slots (Ca1 and Ca2) include a collision. Similarly, one of the three expansion mini-slots in which mini-slot Cb is expanded does not include a collision, and the other two of the three expansion mini-slots (Cb1 and Cb2) include a collision.

The head end 12 transfers each of the mini-slots of the second competitive layer in which the collision occurred to the third competitive layer by three.
Extend to one of the corresponding expansion mini-slots. For example, the expansion mini-slot Cb1 has a third contention layer with the result that two of the three expansion mini-slots do not contain a collision and one of the three expansion mini-slots (Cb11) contains a collision. To three expansion mini-slots.

FIG. 4 shows that the expansion coefficient E set by the head end 12 changes between the competitive layers. Thus, if the amount of collisions in the second competition layer is sufficiently reduced, the value of E is reduced for the second competition layer. FIG. 5 shows a fixed search tree extension procedure. FIG. 6 shows data inserted into a minislot or data slot by a subscriber terminal. This data includes the source address, control field, payload and error check data.
The source address is the address of the sending subscriber terminal. The control field indicates the type of message sent by the subscriber terminal (eg, a data reservation request). The payload field contains the number of data slots requested by the subscriber terminal to be reserved in the case of a reservation request message or the data to be transmitted by the subscriber terminal in the case of a data message. The CRC field contains the error check information.

The following determinations are made: (i) the number of new message minislots NMS for the next upstream data frame, (ii) the number of extended minislots EMS for the next upstream data frame, (iii) the expansion coefficient E, and (I
v) If the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ -14 _n can send a reservation request in a new message minislot, the subscriber terminal 1
In determining the range parameter R used by 4 ₁ -14 _n , the head end 12 executes the program 100 shown in FIGS.

The program 100 is entered when an upstream data frame is received by the headend 12. When program 100 is entered, block 1
At 02, an uplink data frame is received, and at block 104, a reservation request for this data frame is stored in a reservation request queue DQ at the current time n. At block 104, the number of empty new message minislots, the number of empty extended minislots, and the new message minislot (ie,
The number of collisions of the new message minislot with which the reservation request collided, the number of collision extension minislots (ie, the expansion minislot with which the reservation request collided), and the appropriate new message minislot (ie, including a single reservation request) Number of new message minislots) and / or number of appropriate expansion minislots (ie, expansion minislots containing a single reservation request);
Is stored.

Thereafter, at block 106, it is determined whether the CATV system 10 is in a steady state. CAT
When the V system 10 is in a steady state, the current discrete time n
Is greater than the number of data slots DS (n) in the data frame just received at block 102, but is multiplied by the constant α.
(N). The constant α is, for example, 1.6. The just received uplink data frame is designated as uplink data frame n and is received at discrete time n. When the system is in steady state, block 108 determines the number of minislots to be allocated to the next upstream data frame n + 1 according to the following equation:

[0041]

(Equation 22)

Here, S is the total number of slots in the data frame, m is the number of mini-slots into which the slot is subdivided, and e is 2.71828182.
8. . . . Where MS (n + 1) is the number of minislots for the next uplink data frame, k is the average number of data slots reserved by the reservation request, and M is the number of minislots in the steady state. Since all slots are used as data slots, the number of data slots in the next uplink data frame n + 1 is therefore given by:

[0043]

(Equation 23)

If block 106 determines that CATV system 10 is not in a steady state, block 110
At the discrete time n, the number of reservation requests DQ (n) in the reservation request queue DQ of the head end 12 is determined by the data slot DS (n) in the just received uplink data frame.
Less than the number of. If so, at block 112 the number of minislots MS to be allocated to the next uplink data frame n + 1 is determined by the following equation:

[0045]

(Equation 24)

Here, DQ (n) is the reservation request D in the reservation request queue DQ of the head end 12 at time n.
Q (n). The number of data slots DS (n + 1) in the next uplink data frame n + 1 is therefore:
DQ (n) is set. If at block 106, C
It is determined that the ATV system 10 is not in a steady state, and if the number of reservation requests DQ (n) in the reservation request queue DQ of the headend 12 at discrete time n in block 110 is equal to the data in the just received uplink data frame. If it is not less than the number of slots DS (n), at block 114 the number of minislots MS to be allocated to the next uplink data frame n + 1 is determined by the following equation.

[0047]

(Equation 25)

Here, DS (n) is the number of reserved data slots in the just received uplink data frame.
The number of data slots DS (n + 1) in the next uplink data frame n + 1 is therefore given by the following equation.

[0049]

(Equation 26)

As described below, the minislot MS
(N + 1) is split between the new message minislot and / or the expansion minislot. At block 116,
The upstream data frame received at block 102 is analyzed to determine which non-empty new message minislot is included in which collision free reservation request. These new message minislots contain reservation requests from only one subscriber terminal. At block 116, sets the parameter equal SUC _N the number of these minislots.
At block 116, the upstream data frame received at block 102 is analyzed to determine which non-empty extension minislot contains a collision free reservation request. These extended minislots contain reservation requests from only one subscriber terminal. To set the number equal to the parameter SUC _E of these minislots at block 116. At block 116, if necessary, determine the parameters SUC _E for each competitive layer following the first conflict layer,
As a result, the parameter SUC _E1 belongs to the second competitive layer,
The parameter SUC _E2 belongs to the third competitive layer, and so on.

At block 118, the received upstream data frame is analyzed to determine which non-empty new message minislot contains the contention layer reservation request. These new message minislots contain reservation requests from one or more subscriber terminals. A parameter CO equal to the number of these new message minislots at block 118
Set L _N. At block 118, the received upstream data frame is analyzed to determine which non-empty extension minislot contains the conflicting reservation request. These extended minislots contain reservation requests from one or more subscriber terminals. To set the number equal to the parameter COL _E of these expansion minislots at block 118. At block 118, if necessary, a parameter COL _E is determined for each of the competition layers following the first competition layer, such that the parameter COL _E1 belongs to the second competition layer and the parameter COL _E2 is the _third . Belongs to the competitive layer, and so on.

At block 120, it is selected whether to calculate the number of active terminals, N, based on the parameter SUC. If so, block 122 determines the number of active terminals N from:

[0053]

[Equation 27]

Where N is the number of active terminals,
MS is the total number of minislots in the just received uplink data frame, and SUC is the number of non-empty minislots that did not collide as determined in block 116. At block 120, the number of active terminals N for each contention layer may be determined, such that the number of active terminals N _N is determined from the parameter SUC _N and the number of active terminals N _E1 is determined from the parameter SUC _E1 ;
The number of active terminals N _E2 is determined from parameter SUC _E2 .

Alternatively, the number of active terminals N is
Are determined by a block 122 from a look-up table stored in memory at the headend 12 according to the graph shown in FIG. This graph corresponds to equation (4). The vertical axis of this graph is the input axis. The parameter SUC determined by block 104 is input along the vertical axis. The horizontal axis is the output axis where the number of active terminals N is determined as a function of the input vertical axis. Using the graph of FIG. 9, ambiguity arises because there are two output values on the horizontal axis for each input along the vertical axis. This ambiguity can be resolved by using the collision curve shown in FIG. The curve shown in FIG. 10 will be described in detail below.

On the other hand, at block 120, the parameter SU
If one chooses not to calculate the number of active terminals based on C, then at block 124 the number of active terminals is determined from:

[0057]

[Equation 28]

Where N is the number of active terminals,
MS is the total number of mini-slots in the just received upstream data frame, and COL is the number of mini-slots just received and having a collision as determined in block 118. Determining the number of active terminals to each competitive layer at block 124, as a result, the number of active stations N _N is determined from the parameter COL _N, active stations N
_E1 number of determined from the parameter COL _E1, the number of active stations N _E2 is determined from the parameter COL _E2.

Alternatively, the number N of active terminals is
0 is determined from the look-up table stored in the memory at the head end 12 according to the graph shown in FIG. This graph corresponds to equation (5). The vertical axis of this graph is the input axis. The parameter COL determined by block 118 is input along the vertical axis. The horizontal axis is the output axis where the number of active terminals N is determined as a function of the vertical axis.

At block 120, the determination is made based on a user set flag or other criteria. It is clear that the CATV system 10 is arranged to determine the number N of active terminals exclusively from equation (4). If so, at block 122, the collision parameter COL and block 124 must be used to resolve the ambiguity described above. Instead, the CATV system 10 is arranged to exclusively determine the number N of active terminals from equation (5), in which case there is no ambiguity to resolve. If so, blocks 116, 120 and 122
Is removed. Alternatively, the number of active terminals N
Is determined from the combination of the parameter SUC and the parameter COL.

At block 126, the number N of active terminals is used to determine the extension parameter E according to a look-up table stored in memory at the headend 12 and conforming to the graph shown in FIG. The horizontal axis of this graph is the input axis. The number of active terminals N determined by one of the above methods is entered along the horizontal axis. The vertical axis is the output axis where the extension parameter E is determined as a function of the horizontal axis. Therefore, the extension coefficient E _N is determined based on the number N _N of active terminals for the first contention layer, the extension coefficient E _E1 is determined based on the number N _{E1 of} active terminals for the second contention layer, and the extension coefficient E _E2 Is determined based on the number N _{E2 of} active terminals for the third contention layer.

Alternatively, at block 126, the extension parameter E is determined according to a look-up table stored in memory at the head end 12 and conforming to the graph shown in FIG. The horizontal axis of this curve is the input axis. The parameter COL determined in the block 118 is input along the horizontal axis. The vertical axis is the output axis where the extension parameter E is determined as a function of the horizontal axis.

At blocks 116-126, it is recognized that the expansion coefficient E is determined for each corresponding competitive layer as a dynamically variable expansion coefficient as described in FIG. At block 128, the number of extension mini-slots in the next uplink data frame n + 1 is set by the parameter EMS (n + 1).
And the number of new message mini-slots in the next uplink data frame n + 1 is determined by the parameter NMS (n +
Decide as 1). At block 128, an initial parameter EMS _i (n + 1) is determined by extending the extended mini-slot in the collision upstream data frame n according to the new message mini-slot and the corresponding expansion factor E. Therefore, at block 128, the expansion coefficient E
Extend the new message minislot in the upstream data frame n where (if any) a collision has occurred due to _N ;
At block 128, the first (or at least) collision in the upstream data frame n due to the expansion factor E _E1
The expansion minislot of the second layer is expanded, and at block 128, the expansion minislot of the second layer in the uplink data frame n in which a collision occurs (if any) due to the expansion coefficient E _E2 is expanded. These three expansion minislots are added to create an initial parameter EMS _i (n + 1). At block 128, the initial parameter EMS _i (n) is determined from the number of minislots MS determined by blocks 106 to 114 and assigned to the next uplink data frame.
+1) is subtracted. If the result is less than NMS _min (0, 4, or some other number), block 128 sets EMS (n + 1) equal to MS-NMS _min and NMS (n + 1) equal to NMS _min. . Here, the MS is determined in blocks 106-114. If the result is not less than NMS _min ,
EMS equal to EMS _i (n + 1) at block 128
(N + 1) and MS-EMS _i (n + 1)
Set NMS (n + 1) equal to using this method,
The upstream data frame contains no less than NMS _min new message minislots.

At block 130, a range parameter R is determined from the parameter COL by the following equation.

[0065]

(Equation 29)

Here, n indicates the current frame, and n +
1 indicates the next uplink data frame, R (n + 1) is a range parameter for the next uplink data frame n + 1, R (n) is a range parameter for the just received uplink data frame, and N is
Active terminal N _N determined by some combination of 124
NMS (n + 1) is the number of new message minislots in the next uplink data frame n + 1 determined in block 128, and NMS (n) is the number of new message minislots in the just received uplink data frame n. COL (n) is a parameter COL determined in block 118 based on the just received uplink data frame, and e is 2.71828182
8. . . . It is.

At block 132, a slot parameter MAP is determined. If the slot parameter MAP is a map of a new message minislot, an expansion minislot and a data slot, then at block 132
NMS (n + 1) and EMS (n +
Based on 1) and based on the DS as described in blocks 106-114, a map is constructed according to predetermined rules. Instead, the slot parameter MAP is assigned in block 132 to assign the first part of the uplink data frame n + 1 to the NMS (n + 1) of the new message mini-slot and the next part of the uplink data frame n + 1 to the EMS (n + 1) of the extension mini-slot. ) And the remaining part of the uplink data frame n + 1 is assigned to the DS data slot. In block 132, the RQ number and the minislot designation destination are allocated as described above. In block 132, the slot parameter MAP is
And, the range parameter R (n + 1) is inserted into the next downlink data frame to be transmitted as the parameter R.

At block 134, any additional information is inserted into the next downlink data frame and
The next downlink data frame is transmitted above. Thereafter, the program 100 returns to block 102 to wait for the next upstream data frame. Subscriber terminals 14 ₁ to 14 _n is 1
The program 200 is executed as shown in FIG. When the program 20 is entered, at block 202 the corresponding subscriber terminal receives the next downlink, including, inter alia, the range parameter R, the slot parameter MAP, and the acknowledgment (including the reservation data slot assignment to the subscriber terminal). Make the data frame wait. When the next downlink data frame is received, at block 204, the slot parameter M
From the AP whether its corresponding subscriber terminal and one or more other subscriber terminals have transmitted a reservation request in the same mini-slot of the previous uplink data frame, ie
The reservation request transmitted by the corresponding subscriber terminal is 1
Determining whether it has collided with a reservation request sent by one or more other subscriber terminals. Block 204
For example, by comparing the minislot whose corresponding subscriber terminal transmitted data in the previous uplink data frame with the minislot extended by the slot parameter MAP (for example, This determination can be made by determining whether the minislot that is present and whose corresponding subscriber terminal has transmitted the reservation request has assigned an RQ number other than 0 in the just received downlink data frame).

If it is determined at block 204 that the corresponding subscriber terminal and one or more subscriber terminals have transmitted a reservation request in the same mini-slot of a previous upstream data frame, block 206 Determines from the slot parameter MAP whether to allow the corresponding subscriber terminal to retransmit previous collision data in the next uplink data frame. For example, at block 206, the RQ number assigned to the minislot of the previous uplink data frame whose corresponding subscriber terminal transmitted the previous conflicting reservation request and the RQ number assigned to the minislot of the next uplink data frame This determination is made by comparing the RQ numbers. If no match is found at block 206, it is determined at block 206 that the previous conflicting reservation request is not allowed to be retransmitted. On the other hand, if it finds a match at block 206, it decides to allow the previous conflicting reservation request to be retransmitted.

Thus, if at block 206 it is decided to allow the previous conflicting reservation request to be retransmitted, then at block 208 the range of the extended mini-slot assigned to its corresponding subscriber terminal Generate a random number N within. That is, the random number N is equal to one of the extended minislots corresponding to the minislot whose corresponding subscriber terminal transmitted the collision data in the previous uplink data frame (ie, the random number N is Occurs (equal to one of the extended minislots having the same RQ number as the RQ number assigned to the minislot in the previous upstream data frame in which the subscriber terminal transmitted the conflicting reservation request in response to block 206). Is done. At block 210, the previous collision reservation request is inserted in the extended minislot N of the next upstream data frame for transmission.
At block 212, the flag COL is reset.

At block 206, the RQ number assigned to the minislot of the previous uplink data frame from which the subscriber terminal transmitted the previous conflicting reservation request was assigned to the minislot of the next uplink data frame. If so, at block 208, a random number N is equal to one of the extended minislots in the next upstream data frame and having the highest RQ number assigned to it. Thus, a random number N is generated. Block 210 inserts the previous conflicting reservation request in its extended minislot N.

On the other hand, at block 206, the corresponding subscriber terminal is not allowed to retransmit the previous conflicting reservation request in the next upstream data frame (ie, the corresponding subscriber terminal Allocated upstream data frame after allowing the previous conflicting reservation request to be retransmitted). For example, the RQ number assigned to the minislot in the previous uplink data frame and where the subscriber terminal corresponding to block 206 transmitted the previous conflicting reservation request was assigned to the minislot in the next uplink data frame. If it is lower than the minimum RQ number, the subscriber terminal is not allowed to retransmit the reservation request in the next upstream data frame. In this case, the flag COL is set in block 214.

If at block 204 it is determined that the corresponding subscriber terminal and one or more other subscriber terminals did not send a reservation request in the same mini-slot of the previous upstream data frame For example, it is determined at block 216 whether the flag COL is set. As shown in block 214, the flag COL
Is set when the subscriber terminal improperly transmitted a reservation request, but is not allowed to retransmit this reservation request in the next upstream data frame. Thus, through the processor 200, at block 216, if the subscriber terminal can retransmit its previous conflicting reservation request, block 206 is allowed. If the flag COL is set, the program moves to block 206.

If the flag COL is not set in the block 216, or if the flag COL is
Is set, or after resetting the flag COL in block 212, block 218 (FIG. 14)
, It is determined whether the corresponding subscriber terminal has (i) data to be transmitted and (ii) has not previously transmitted a reservation request for this data. If the corresponding subscriber terminal has (i) data to transmit and (ii) has not previously transmitted a request to reserve this data, then at block 220 the downlink data frame just received from headend 12 The transmission parameter RN is generated within the range established by the range parameter R included in. The range established by the range parameter R is a range between 0 and R including 0 and R, and a range between 1 and R including 1 and R. This range includes all new message minislots assigned with RQ number = 0. Transmission parameter R
N is used to determine whether to allow its corresponding subscriber terminal to send a new reservation request to the headend 12. The transmission parameter RN is generated in block 220 as a random number. Therefore, because each subscriber terminal 14 ₁ to 14 _n generates its own transmission parameter RN as a random value within a range established by the range parameter R, transmission probability of the subscriber terminal 14 ₁ to 14 _n Range It is statistically expanded along the interval defined by the parameter R.

At block 222, the value N just generated at block 220 is equal to one of the new message minislots defined by the slot parameter MAP contained in the downlink data frame just received from headend 12.
Corresponding to one. That is, if slot MAP is a map, block 222 determines whether the value N is equal to one of the new message minislots defined by the map. On the other hand, if the slot parameter MAP includes a boundary between the new message minislot, the expansion slot, and the data slot, block 222 determines whether the value N is within the boundaries of the new message minislot. If the value N corresponds to a new message portion of the slot parameter MAP, at block 224 a request to reserve a transmission is made in a new message minislot in an upstream data frame equal to the value N and bundled into a transmission back to the headend 12. insert.

If it is determined at block 222 that the value N does not correspond to the new message part of the slot parameter MAP, or at block 218 the subscriber terminal has no new data for which a reservation request is required. If so, or if a reservation request is inserted in a new message mini-slot with a value equal to N after block 224, then in block 226 the just received downlink data frame is It is determined whether there is a data slot reserved in the next uplink data frame in the transmission. Old data is data for which a previous reservation request has been properly made by the appropriate subscriber terminal, and headend 12 has one or more data slots. If so, block 228 inserts the old data into the data slot reserved by headend 12 for the subscriber terminal.

At block 226, determine that the data slot was not reserved for the subscriber terminal in the next upstream data frame, or reserve old data in response to the previous reservation request at block 228 and beyond. If the data slot is inserted into the data slot,
6 to transmit that part of the next uplink data frame.
Thereafter, program 200 returns to block 202 to wait for the next downstream data frame.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an appropriate allocation of channel resources depending on the demand generated by a subscriber terminal for an uplink channel, and a dynamic search tree extension for eliminating contention between transmitting terminals. It is a combination with the procedure. As the number of subscriber terminals having data to transmit to the headend 12 increases, so does the opportunity for collisions to occur in upstream data frames. When the number of collisions in the uplink data frame increases, the probability that the subscriber terminal can insert a reservation request in a new message minislot of the subsequent uplink data frame tends to decrease, and the value of the range parameter R increases. Further, as the number of subscriber terminals having data to be transmitted to the head end 12 increases, the head end 1
The number of reservation requests in the second reservation request queue DQ also increases. As the number of reservation requests in the reservation request queue DQ increases, the number of minislots allocated to subsequent upstream data frames decreases.

Similarly, when the number of subscriber terminals having data to be transmitted to the head end 12 decreases, the chance of collision occurring in an upstream data frame decreases. When the chance of collision occurring in the uplink data frame decreases, the probability that the subscriber terminal can insert a reservation request in a new message mini-slot of the subsequent uplink data frame tends to increase, and the value of the range parameter R decreases. Further, when the number of subscriber terminals having data to be transmitted to the head end 12 decreases, the reservation request queue DQ of the head end 12 decreases.
The number of reservation requests in the. As the number of reservation requests in the reservation request queue DQ decreases, the number of minislots allocated to subsequent upstream data frames increases.

Thus, as the number of reservation requests increases, the headend 12 may reduce the number of appropriate reservation requests sent by the subscriber terminal in upstream data frames to reduce the number of appropriate reservation requests assigned to the subscriber terminal. Decrease the number of slots. Further, when the number of collisions in the mini-slot of the uplink data frame increases, the number of subscriber terminals permitted to transmit the reservation request in the new message mini-slot allocated to the subsequent uplink data frame is reduced. , The value of the range parameter R is increased. Thus, both the slot parameter MAP and the range parameter R affect properly regulated data traffic in the CATV system 10.

At the same time, conflicts occurring in the new message minislot and the expansion minislot are resolved using a dynamic tree search procedure. Thus, the decrease in competition is magnified,
The number of iterations required to reduce contention is reduced, reducing delay in data transmission. The use of RQ numbers has several advantages. For example, RQ number = 0 is assigned to a selected group of subscriber terminals using a selective group address or specific individual addresses. In this way, the probability that a selected subscriber terminal can send a reservation request is controlled. Thus, a limited number of subscriber terminals is assigned to RQ number = 0, thereby increasing the probability of properly transmitting a reservation request.

Alternatively, a particular type of subscriber terminal is:
In order for these types of subscriber terminals to be able to properly send reservation requests, RQ numbers = 0 are assigned using selected group addresses or specific individual addresses. Thus, the meter is read during off-peak hours when traffic from other types of subscriber terminals is typically low.

Certain variations of the present invention have been discussed above. Other variations may occur in implementing the techniques of the present invention. For example, as described above, each subscriber terminal determines its transmission parameter RN as a random number forced to be within the range established by the range parameter R.
Instead, the transmission parameters RN are determined by each subscriber terminal under a pseudo-random criterion or any other criterion that tends to extend the transmission parameters RN of the subscriber terminal through the range R. Therefore, it should be understood that the random occurrence of the transmission parameter RN includes not only the random occurrence of the transmission parameter RN, but also the pseudo-random generation of the transmission parameter RN and the generation of the transmission parameter RN in the same manner.

The sizes of the upstream data frame and the downstream data frame are assumed to be fixed in the above description. However, the sizes of the uplink data frame and the downlink data frame are dynamically varied such that the size of these data frames depends on, for example, the traffic load. Further, a specific procedure for determining the range parameter R has been described above. Instead, the range parameter R is determined in other ways. For example, the range parameter is determined as a function of the appropriate parameter SUC or as a function of both the collision parameter COL and the appropriate parameter SUC.

Further, as described above, the competition range parameter
The meter R indicates that the subscriber terminal has no relation to the data priority.
The transmission parameter RN when transmitting data
Used by the subscriber terminal. Instead, the competition
Parameter R_LIndicates that the subscriber terminal sends a lower priority
One transmission parameter RN when having transmission data_LDeparture
Used by subscriber terminals in the live
Range parameter R _HIndicates that the subscriber terminal has higher priority
When other transmission parameters RN_Hof
Used by subscriber terminals in generation. Competitive range
Parameter R_LTransmission parameter RN corresponding to_LIs a subscription
Determined if user terminal can send low priority data
And the competing range parameter R_HThe transmission path corresponding to
Parameter RN_HIndicates that the subscriber terminal has high priority data.
Decide if you can send. Therefore, the subscriber terminal is
Reservation request when sending data with high priority
You are given a great opportunity to send.

As described above, the cable 16 is
Terminal 12 and subscriber terminal 14₁~ 14 _nInterconnect
You. However, the headend 12 and the subscriber terminal 14
₁~ 14_nIs a twisted pair, fiber optic cable,
By any communication medium, such as line, satellite radio, etc.
Interconnected. As mentioned above, the active terminal
The number N is determined from the parameters SUC and / or COL
You. However, the number N of active terminals is
Number (ie parameter EMP) instead of
In the data frame or the parameters EMP, SU
It is determined by the combination of C and / or COL.

Further, as described above, the extension coefficient E is determined again for each competitive layer. Instead, the expansion factor E is determined according to the first competition layer and is subsequently reduced by a fixed amount for the subsequent competition layer. Furthermore, the invention has been described above in the context of a CATV system.
However, it will be appreciated that the invention is useful in a wide range of communication systems.

As described above, if the uplink data frame includes a minislot, the minimum number of forward message minislots that the uplink data frame can have is NMS _min . To accommodate this minimum number of binary message minislots, it is desirable to adjust the size of the upstream data frame. If there are not enough expansion minislots for a given number of upstream data frames to effectively resolve the conflict, it is necessary to adjust the size of the upstream data frames.

Further, a new message mini-slot NMS
The minimum number of _min does not need to be fixed. Instead, the number of expansion minislots is determined first and the minislot MS
Is subtracted from the total number of If the result of this subtraction is one minislot assigned as a new message minislot, the slot is subdivided by m to yield m + 1 new message minislots. Similarly, if there are two minislots whose result of this subtraction is assigned as a new message minislot, the slot is subdivided by m to yield m + 2 new message minislots. If the result of this subtraction is three minislots assigned as new message minislots, the slots are subdivided by m to yield m + 3 new message minislots. The cap is placed in this procedure so that if there are four minislots whose result of this subtraction is assigned as a new message minislot, only four minislots are assigned as a new message minislot.

Further, as mentioned above, contention occurs in new message minislots (NMS) and extended minislots (EMS). However, contention occurs instead in regular slots such as the new message slot (NS) and in the expansion slot (ES). Also,
As described above, contention occurs in new message minislots (NMS) and extended minislots (EMS). However, contention occurs instead in regular slots such as the new message slot (NS) and in the expansion slot (ES). In this case, equation (1) can be rewritten by the following equation.

[0091]

[Equation 30]

Here, CS (n + 1) is the total number of contention slots in the data frame, and CS = NS + M
S and n + 1 designate the next uplink data frame, and e is 2.718281828. . . . Where k is the average number of data slots reserved by the reservation request and M is the number of steady states of contention. Equation (2) can be rewritten by the following equation.

[0093]

(Equation 31)

Here, DQ (n) is the reservation request D in the reservation request queue DQ of the head end 12 at time n.
Q (n). Equation (3) can be rewritten by the following equation.

[0095]

(Equation 32)

Here, DS (n) is the number of reserved data slots in the just received uplink data frame.
Equation (4) can be rewritten by the following equation.

[0097]

[Equation 33]

Where N is the number of new active terminals, NS is the total number of new message slots in the just received uplink data frame, and SUC is a non-empty new message slot in the uplink data frame where no collision occurred. Is the number of Equation (5) can be rewritten by the following equation.

[0099]

(Equation 34)

Where N is the number of new active terminals, NS is the total number of new message slots in the just received uplink data frame, and COL is the new Number of message slots. Thus, if slots are not otherwise specified, here all slots,
Partial slots, mini-slots, etc. are mentioned.

Accordingly, the description of the present invention is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of suggesting to those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all variants is reserved within the scope of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a CATV system that includes a head end connected to a plurality of subscriber terminals by cables and illustrates an example of a communication system illustrated in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a downlink data frame transmitted by a head end to the subscriber terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an uplink data frame transmitted from a subscriber terminal to the head end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of minislots in uplink data frames F1 to F7 according to a dynamic extension search tree extension algorithm.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of minislots in uplink data frames F1 to F7 according to a fixed extended masterpiece tree extension algorithm.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an uplink data frame / slot format.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a program (part 1) executed by the head end of FIG. 1 in an execution example of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a program (part 2) executed by the head end of FIG. 1 in an execution example of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a graph (1) useful for explaining the programs of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a graph (part 2) useful for explaining the programs of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 11 is a graph (part 3) useful for explaining the programs of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 12 is a graph (part 4) useful for explaining the programs in FIGS. 7 and 8;

13 is a diagram showing a program (part 1) executed by each subscriber terminal of FIG. 1 in an execution example of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a program (part 2) executed by each subscriber terminal of FIG. 1 in an execution example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... CATV system 12 ... headend 14 ₁ to 14 _n ... subscriber terminal 16 ... cable

Claims (61)

[Claims] 1. A range parameter R and a parameter MA
Receiving means for receiving a downlink data frame having P, wherein the parameter MAP is the number of new message minislots NMS, the number of extended minislots EMS extended by the dynamic search tree extension procedure, and the next uplink data frame A transmission parameter generating means for generating a transmission parameter RN forced by the range parameter R, wherein the transmission parameter RN is a new message mini-slot. When responding, the terminal transmits a reservation request in a new message mini-slot of the next uplink data frame, and the terminal issues a reservation request in a mini-slot in the previous uplink data frame and extended in the next uplink data frame. When already transmitted, the extended mini slot of the next uplink data frame Resend reservation request by preparative, and data communication terminal and a transmission means for transmitting data by the terminal in the reserved data slots. 2. The next uplink data frame has a slot S, the slot is divided into m mini-slots,
The terminal according to claim 1, wherein S = (NMS + EMS) / m + DS. 3. The transmission means transmits a reservation request when the transmission parameter RN corresponds to the new message mini-slot, and stops transmitting the reservation request when the transmission parameter RN does not correspond to the range parameter R. The terminal according to 1. 4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the transmission parameter RN is a random number. 5. The EMS is based on a number of active terminals.
The terminal according to claim 1. 6. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the EMS is a fixed number. 7. The number of active terminals is given by: Determined, where by, N is the number of active stations, MS _l is the total number of minislots in the competitive layer of the previous upstream data frames, SUC competitive layer of a previous uplink data frame collision did not occur 6. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the number of non-empty mini-slots in. 8. The number of active terminals is given by: , Where N is the number of active terminals, MS is the total number of minislots in the contention layer of the previous uplink data frame, and SUC is the previous uplink without collision. The terminal according to claim 5, wherein the number of non-empty mini-slots in a contention layer of a data frame. 9. The number of active terminals is given by: Where N is the number of active terminals, MS is the total number of minislots in the contention layer of the previous uplink data frame, and COL is the number of collisions in the contention layer of the previous uplink data frame just received. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the number of minislots generated. 10. The number of active terminals is given by: , Where N is the number of active terminals, MS is the total number of minislots in the contention layer of the previous uplink data frame, and COL is the previous uplink data frame just received. The terminal according to claim 5, wherein the number of minislots in which a collision occurred in the contention layer of the terminal. 11. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the EMS is based on a number of mini-slots in the uplink data message where the collision occurred. 12. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the EMS is based on a number of non-empty mini-slots in uplink data messages for which no collision occurred. 13. The transmission means according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means comprises: means for randomly selecting one of extended mini-slots; and means for inserting a reservation request in a randomly selected extended mini-slot. Terminal. 14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the EMS is based on a number of minislots in an upstream data message before a collision occurred. 15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the EMS is based on a number of non-empty mini-slots in a previous uplink data message in which no collision occurred. 16. The next uplink data frame is MS (n
+1) has minislot and MS (n + 1) = NM
The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is S + EMS. 17. DS (n) <DQ (n) <αDS
If (n), then: Where MS is the number of minislots corresponding to parameter MAP in the data frame at discrete time n + 1, and DS (n) is the number corresponding to the data slot in the data frame at discrete time n. And
DQ (n) is the number of reservation requests awaiting processing at discrete time n, α is constant, M is the number of minislots in steady state, S is the number of slots in the data frame, k Is the number corresponding to the average number of data slots reserved by the reservation request, and m is the MS when the number of data frames is DQ (n) <DS (n).
(N + 1) = m (S-DQ (n)), and DQ (n)
When αDS (n), 2. The number of mini-slots subdivided by
The terminal according to 6. 18. A data transmission terminal in a slot of an uplink data message on a communication medium, comprising: a) receiving means for receiving a downlink data message;
The downlink data message includes a slot parameter, the slot parameter indicating a new message slot and an extension slot in the transmission of the reservation request, the extension slot resulting from a dynamic search tree extension procedure; First slot selecting means for selecting one of the following: c) second slot selecting means for selecting one of the new message slots, at least under a pseudo-random criterion; d) a designated future uplink Insertion means for inserting a previously transmitted reservation request in one of the selected expansion slots of the message and inserting a new reservation request in one of the selected new message slots of the future uplink message; A data transmission terminal comprising: 19. The uplink data message has S slots, where S depends on NS and ES, NS specifies the number of new message slots in the uplink data message, and
The terminal according to claim 18, wherein specifies the number of extension slots in an uplink data message. 20. The ES is based on the number of active terminals.
The terminal according to claim 19. 21. The terminal according to claim 19, wherein the ES is a fixed number. 22. The number of active terminals is given by: Where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of contention slots in the contention layer of the previous uplink data message, and SUC is the contention layer of the previous uplink data message where no collision occurred. 21. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the number of non-empty slots in. 23. The number of active terminals is given by: , Where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of contention slots in the contention layer of the previous upstream data message, and SUC is the number of previous contention-free slots. The number of non-empty slots in the contention layer of the uplink data message of
The terminal according to claim 20. 24. The number of active terminals is given by: Where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of contention slots in the contention layer of the previous uplink data message, and COL is the number of collisions in the contention layer of the previous uplink data frame just received. 21. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the number of slots generated. 25. The number of active terminals is given by: , Where N is the number of active terminals, MS is the total number of contention slots in the contention layer of the previous uplink data frame, and COL is the previous uplink data just received. The terminal according to claim 20, wherein the number of slots in which a collision occurred in a contention layer of a frame. 26. The terminal according to claim 19, wherein the ES is based on a number of slots in an uplink data message in which a collision has occurred. 27. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the ES is based on a number of non-empty slots in an uplink data message in which no collision occurred. 28. The terminal of claim 18, wherein the expansion slot is based on a number of active terminals. 29. The terminal of claim 28, wherein the extension slot is based on a number of slots in an upstream data message before a collision occurred. 30. The terminal of claim 28, wherein the extension slot is based on a number of non-empty slots in a previous uplink data message in which no collision occurred. 31. The downlink data frame includes a range parameter R, the insertion means generates a transmission parameter RN enforced by the range parameter R, and further comprising: if the transmission parameter RN corresponds to a new message slot R. The terminal according to claim 18, wherein a reservation request is inserted in a new message slot. 32. The terminal according to claim 31, wherein the transmission parameter RN is a random number. 33. The first slot selection means randomly selects one of the selected expansion slots, and the insertion means inserts a digest request in one of the randomly selected expansion slots. 19. The terminal according to 18. 34. The slot is subdivided into contention slots CS, and the upstream data message is a new message slot N
The terminal according to claim 18, comprising S, wherein the uplink data message further comprises an ES extension slot, and CS = NS + ES. 35. If DS <DQ <αDS, the following equation is obtained. Where S is the number of slots in the uplink data message, DS = S-CS, DQ is the number of reservation requests waiting to be processed in the reservation request queue, α is constant, M Is the number of slots in steady state,
k is the average number of data slots reserved by the reservation request; if DQ <DS, then CS = S−DQ;
If Q> αDS, 35. The terminal of claim 34, wherein 36. A method for transmitting data in a slot of an uplink data message, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a downlink data message, wherein the downlink data message includes a range parameter R and a slot parameter; Is the new message slot NS and the extension slot E in the transmission of the reservation request.
S, the extension slot ES is obtained from the dynamic search tree extension procedure, b) selecting one of the extension slots, c) one of the new message slots according to the range parameter R. D) inserting a previously transmitted reservation request in one of the selected expansion slots; and e) inserting a new reservation request in the selected new message slot. A data transmission method comprising: 37. The ES is based on a number of active terminals,
37. The method of claim 36. 38. The method of claim 36, wherein the ES is a fixed number. 39. The number of active terminals is: Where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of contention slots in the contention layer for a particular uplink data message, and SUC is the contention number in the contention layer for a particular uplink data frame where no collision occurred. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the number is a non-empty slot. 40. The number of active terminals is: , Where N is the number of active terminals, MS is the total number of slots in the contention layer for a particular uplink data message, and SUC is the specific uplink for which no collision occurred. The method of claim 37, wherein the number of non-empty slots in a contention layer of a data frame. 41. The number of active terminals is: Where N is the number of active terminals, MS is the total number of slots in the contention layer of a particular uplink data frame, and COL is the number of slots in the contention layer of the particular uplink data frame just received. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the number of slots is less than the number of slots. 42. The number of active terminals is given by: , Where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of slots in the contention layer for a particular uplink data message, and COL is the specific uplink data frame just received. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the number of slots in which a collision occurred in a contention layer of the. 43. The method of claim 37, wherein the ES is based on a number of slots in the upstream data frame where the collision occurred. 44. The method of claim 37, wherein the ES is based on a number of non-empty slots in an upstream data message in which no collision occurred. 45. The ES is based on a number of slots in an upstream data message before a collision occurred.
The method described in. 46. The method of claim 36, wherein the ES is based on a number of non-empty slots in a previous uplink data message in which no collision occurred. 47. The method according to claim 47, wherein the step c) comprises the step of:
Generating a transmission parameter RN imposed by, and selecting a new message slot N if N is within the range parameter R.
7. The method according to 6. 48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the transmission parameter RN is a random number. 49. The method of claim 37, wherein step b) comprises randomly selecting one of the selected expansion slots. 50. A data transmitting / receiving terminal for transmitting / receiving data over a communication medium, comprising: a) a slot for expanding a slot experiencing a collision in a data message received by the terminal to an expansion slot according to a dynamic search tree expansion procedure. Expansion means; b) slot parameter determination means for determining slot parameters for future uplink data messages,
The slot parameters are: (i) a new message slot in the transmission of the new reservation request to the terminal, and (ii) a slot parameter determining means indicating an extension slot; and c) a range parameter R for a future uplink data message. A range parameter determining means for determining a range parameter R based on loading of a communication medium; and d) determining a slot parameter and a range parameter R in a downlink data message for communication on the communication medium. A data transmitting / receiving terminal comprising: an insertion unit for inserting. 51. The terminal of claim 50, wherein the slot expansion means expands based on the number of active terminals. 52. The terminal according to claim 50, wherein the slot extension means extends to a fixed slot. 53. The slot expansion means is expressed by the following equation: , Where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of new message slots and expansion slots in the contention layer, and SUC is the number of non-empty slots corresponding to the contention layer. Claim 5
The terminal according to 1. 54. The slot expansion means is given by the following equation: , Where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of message slots and enhancement slots in the contention layer, and SUC corresponds to the contention layer. 52. The terminal of claim 51, wherein the terminal is a number of non-empty slots. 55. The slot expansion means is expressed by the following equation: Where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of message slots and expansion slots in the contention layer, and COL is the number of slots in which a collision occurred in the contention layer. The terminal according to claim 51. 56. The slot expansion means is expressed by the following equation: Determine the number of active terminals from the look-up table, which typically corresponds to N, where N is the number of active terminals, CS is the total number of message slots and extension slots in the contention layer, and COL is the 52. The terminal of claim 51, wherein the number of generated slots. 57. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein the slot expansion means expands slots based on the number of slots in which a collision has occurred. 58. The terminal of claim 51, wherein the slot expansion means expands the slot based on a non-empty slot where no collision occurred. 59. The terminal according to claim 50, wherein the slot expansion unit expands the slot based on the number of slots in which a collision has occurred. 60. Slot expansion means for expanding a slot based on the number of non-empty slots for which no collision occurred.
The terminal according to claim 50. 61. The range parameter determining means is as follows: Where n denotes the current frame just received by the terminal, n + 1 denotes the next upstream data frame to be received by the terminal, and R (n + 1) denotes the next upstream data frame R (n) is the range parameter for the just received uplink data frame n, N is the number of other active terminals, NMS (n
+1) is the number of new message slots in the next uplink data frame n + 1, NMS (n) is the number of new message slots in the just received uplink data frame n, and COL is based on the just received uplink data frame n. The parameter COL, e is 2.7182
81828. . . . The terminal according to claim 50, wherein: