Time slot management method and a main station and substation realizing such a method

Abstract

A time slot management method for use in a time division multiple access network. The time division multiple access network includes a main station (MS) coupled to each of a plurality of substations (S, S, S, . . . , S, S) via the cascade connection of a common transmission link (Lc) and an individual user link (L, L, L, . . . , L, L). The management method includes broadcasting substation identities (TEA, TEA, TEA, TEA, TEA, . . . ) in downstream information packets from the main station (MS) to the plurality of substations (S, S, S, . . . , S, S) to allow each one of the plurality of substations (S, S, S, . . . , S, S) upon detection of its own substation identity to transfer a predetermined amount of upstream information packets in predetermined upstream timeslots to the main station (MS). The time slot management method additionally includes embedding at least part of the substation identities (TEA, TEA, TEA, . . . ) in a physical layer operation and maintenance part. The physical layer operation and maintenance part is a predefined part of one of the downstream information packets broadcasted from the main station (MS) to the plurality of substations (S, S, S, . . . , S, S) to transport operation and maintenance information packets related to operation and maintenance functions. Such a physical layer operation and maintenance part can be a physical layer operation and maintenance cell (PLOAM).