U.S. Philips Corporation

Carel J Van Driel

Petrus A Van Grinsven

Atul N Sinha

Sabine V Giorgi

Nicos Achilleoudis

Guillene E Teboul

In a transmission system for transmitting synchronous data portions and asynchronous data portions, a transmission frame includes regularly spaced synchronous data portions interleaved with asynchronous data portions. To insure that the packing density of asynchronous data portions is optimal, the position of the synchronous data portions is allowed to deviate from its nominal value to increase the packing rate of the asynchronous data portions.

Transmission system for synchronous and asynchronous data portions

A multiple access telecommunication network wherein a primary station is coupled to a plurality of secondary stations by a shared transmission medium. Depending on traffic volume it is advantageous to be able to change the type of access protocol employed by the secondary stations in order to prevent deterioration of transmission efficiency. Accordingly, the access protocol is set by the primary station by transmitting to the secondary stations a channel indicator indicating where in an uplink frame a secondary station can submit its access request. The primary station may also specify the message key which a secondary station must use when transmitting an access request. Applicable to multimedia networks using CATV systems.

Multiple access telecommunication network

In a multiple access network, signals transmitted by a plurality of secondary stations to a primary station are to be distinguished by the primary station. One method for realizing this is by the use of Sub-Carrier Multiple Access (SCMA). According to the method of SCMA, a transmit signal is modulated on a subcarrier having its own frequency and then amplitude modulated on a main carrier in each secondary station. To reduce a mutual disturbance by the secondary stations in SCMA, according to the present invention, a transmit signal is converted into high-speed bursts of a transmit signal. As a result, fewer secondary stations on average are active, so that the mutual disturbance by the secondary stations will diminish.

Growing community of inventors

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Carel J Van Driel