Abstract: A wireless communication network includes numerous mobile terminals and numerous transceivers (“base stations”). In this wireless communication network, messages sent from the base stations to the mobile terminals are transmitted at a higher data rate than the messages sent from the mobile terminals to the base stations. In one embodiment, a “half-duplex” protocol assigns separate times slots for base stations and mobile terminal transmissions. In another embodiment, a modified “full-duplex” protocol provides “half-duplex” operation in the mobile terminals and “full-duplex”operation in the base stations.

Abstract: A wireless data network provides message control center broadcasting over a paging channel covering a wide service area and base stations distributed in said wide service area providing two-way communication over a local channel in local service areas within said wide service area. The wireless data network provides asymmetrical data transmission rates between the base station and subscriber wireless data terminals. In addition, the base stations and wireless data terminals can each transmit at different data rates according to desired range and to minimize probability of collision. In one embodiment, a registration procedure is provided to establish continuous communication between a wireless data terminal and a base station in the local channel.

Abstract: A wireless data network, including a base station and multiple mobile wireless terminals, implements a synchronous 2-way communication protocol in which the availability of a communication channel is signalled by the base station in a control packet. The multiple mobile wireless terminals compete for acquisition of the communication channel by sending a request packet, upon detecting from the control packet that the communication channel is available. The base station grants the channel by acknowledging the request packet of a selected one of the mobile wireless data terminal. The mobile wireless data terminal communicates with the base station over the communication channel subsequent to acquisition. Upon the wireless data terminal relinquishing the communication channel, the base station sends out the next control packet indicating that the communication channel is again available.

Abstract: A network access scheme enhances channel utilization under the ALOHA protocol by making use of the FM capture effect. The resulting network access scheme allows a transmitter to transmit a message simultaneously with other transmitters to a receiver without the need for retransmission when the message reaches the receiver with sufficient strength over the strengths of the other transmissions. In one embodiment, the network access scheme is applied to a wireless data network, which includes support to a two-way paging application. Another network access scheme combines the high channel utilization of the carrier sensing multi-access (CSMA) protocol with the FM capture effect to provide even higher expected channel utilization. The resulting network access scheme uses a channel access protocol ("CSMA/AT") which provides an adaptive threshold. An RF transmitter determines, using the adaptive threshold, whether or not to transmit its message.

Abstract: A system and a method provide a communication network using time-division multiplexing and a single frequency to achieve maximum utilization of the spectrum and the available bandwidth. In one embodiment, time-division multiplexing is used to share the bandwidth between a wide-area transmitter, operating over a designated service area, and numerous simultaneous channels using the same frequency between local base stations and their associated user terminals. Each local base station is assigned a different non-overlapping portion of the designated service area. The communication network can accommodate devices of different data rates.