Abstract: A communications system comprising: at least two communications resource sets, wherein each resource set includes at least one communications resource; a communications terminal connected to each of the at least two communications resource sets for transmitting and receiving messages between the resource sets; a communications router operably coupled to each communications terminal; and a control processor configured to search within a periodic time frame comprising multiple time slots for an available time slot on a control channel at frequency fc or, if a time slot is not available on the control channel, to search within a periodic time frame comprising multiple time slots for an available time slot on a slave channel at frequency fc.

Abstract: An intermixing communication modes on a TDMA network system. The system includes a relay, at least one AC channel controller, at least one DC channel controller, at least two AC users and at least one DC user. The at least one AC channel controller is capable of transmitting a master channel frame and receiving data on a master channel. The at least one DC channel controller is capable of transmitting data on a slave channel frame and receiving data on a slave channel associated with the master channel. The at least two AC users are capable of transmitting and receiving signals via the relay. The at least one DC user is capable of receiving information regarding reserved DC time slots in the slave channel frame from a CCOW of the master channel frame. A method for an intermixing communication modes on a TDMA network is also described.

Abstract: A communications system and method using slave channeling. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving a request to transmit a message from a first communications resource, the request including a destination address that identifies a second resource; (b) searching within a periodic time frame for an available time slot on a control channel, wherein the second resource is available to receive the message; (c)(1) if the slot is available on the control channel, transmitting the message therein; (c)(2) otherwise, searching for an available slot on a slave channel (d)(1) if the slot is available on the slave channel, transmitting the message therein; (d)(2) otherwise, repeating steps (c)(2)-(d)(2). If the slot is available on the slave channel, the method further includes the steps of: (e) transmitting orderwire information to the first and second communications resources on the control channel; and (f) transmitting the message on the slave channel.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is described for determining message transmission time in a time division multiple access communications network.