Abstract: The invention is applied to communication networks in the connection mode, for example, cable TV distribution networks which utilize the ATM standard (standards DAVIC, IEEE802.14). In such systems, the network head-end assigns a connection identifier to each user station that requests a connection. As the number of connection identifiers likely to be assigned simultaneously is limited, the invention consists of permitting the re-assignment of the identifiers of the user stations which are connected to the network, but which are inactive (that is to say, which have not made use of the network for a certain period of time). When a station whose identifier has been re-assigned starts transmitting again, the network head-end sets up a new connection to this station. These operations are transparent to the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a TV distribution system which comprises a network head-end, user stations and an upstream channel from the user stations to the network head-end. Each upstream channel transports an upstream frame divided into time slot regions, each region corresponding to a different type of access for the stations. Each frame can notably contain a contention based region to which all the stations have free access.