The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1995
Richard Corrigan, LaGrange, IL (US);
Bruce D Mueller, Palatine, IL (US);
Timothy M Burke, Algonquin, IL (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus in a communications system (100) for providing communications units (134) access to the communications system (100). The communications. system (100) includes a cable distribution network (106) with an base communications unit (102) and a number of downstream communications units (134) all connected to the cable distribution network (106). A plurality of channels are used to transmit data between the base communications unit (102) and the downstream communications units (134). A first set of channels are used primarily for access the communications system (100) and a second set of channels are used for transmitting data within the communications system (100) after access to the communications system (100) has been gained. The base communications unit (102) sends a first type of data transmission including an identification of access channels used for requesting access to the communications system (100). The base communications unit (102) assigns channels within the second set of channels response to receiving a request for access to the communications system (100) on the first set of channels. A mechanism also is provided for handling collisions in transmissions between the downstream communications units (134) to the base communications unit (102) in attempting to gain access to the communications system (100).