Abstract: A digital communications network system for multiple access has a head-end node and at least one station node at at least one other end node; the system comprises a head-end controller (3) capable of transmitting data and medium-access control information to at least one station (6), preferably a plurality of station means, over a set of downstream channels within a first frequency range, and receiving information from the station or stations over an upstream channel within a second frequency range; the upstream channel comprises at least one upstream subchannel, preferably a plurality of upstream subchannels; the system further comprises at least one connection, preferably a plurality of connections, for connecting the head-end controller with the station or stations; each station includes means for receiving data and medium-access control information from the head-end controller; further means are provided for sending a data stream at a first signal level over at least one upstream subchannel, preferably a

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication system comprising a main station, a transmission medium, and terminals. The terminals transmit requests to the main station have reservations granted to them on the transmission medium. Each request indicates a number of reservations. Upon receiving a request, the main station adds the number of reservations indicated to an allocation counter associated with the requesting terminal. The invention enables the requesting method to be less vulnerable to data losses. It consists in a resetting of the request counter and allocation counter, for example when an anomaly is detected in the transmission of the data.

Abstract: A system-on-a-chip with a variable bandwidth bus. The integrated circuit includes at least one bus, a clock, a plurality of modules coupled to the bus and operable to transfer and receive data on the bus, and a bus controller coupled to the bus that controls data transfers on the bus. The modules are operable to generate requests to the bus controller to perform transfers on the bus. Each request comprises an identifier which identifies one or more receiving modules, a transfer size value which specifies the amount of data to be transferred, and a timing value providing a time frame within which the requested data transfer should occur.

Abstract: A next generation wireless data network and method for handing off a mobile node is presented. The network includes a core network (CN) coupled to a plurality of radio access networks (RANs). The RAN servicing the mobile node examines overload factors in the wireless data network while the CN examines admission capabilities to neighboring RANs. The wireless data network determines a traffic situation of the neighboring RANs and admits a new user to one of the neighboring RANs based on results of the examinations and the determination.

Abstract: A method for employing timestamps received by a media access controller (MAC) of a cable modem from a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to schedule upstream transmissions of the cable modem. A plurality of adjustment values, at least one of which is calculated using a least-square estimation algorithm, are used to adjust a local clock counter of the cable modem MAC. The local clock counter of the MAC is adjusted by one count for every number of cycles equal to a first adjustment value. The local clock counter of the MAC is further adjusted by a number of counts equal to a second adjustment value each time a corrected timestamp is calculated.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data, includes providing selectable data channels through a data forwarding device, at least two of the selectable data channels having different transmission characteristics, reserving one of the selectable data channels based on a received channel request message, and transmitting a data packet through the reserved data channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented that may dynamically characterize network traffic so that a user application can reserve appropriate network resources for submitting traffic to a network. According to one embodiment, at least one value characterizing the traffic is generated and transmitted to the network. This value can be dynamically updated to ensure that an appropriate amount of network resources is reserved. Using this method and apparatus, the risk of either over-subscribing network resources or failing to reserve enough resources to provide necessary quality of service (QoS) may be eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for providing access priority in a MAC protocol of a communications system such as, for example, with respect to UMTS RACH. Particularly, the invention introduces several access priority methodologies including: (i) random chip delay access priority (RCDAP); (ii) random backoff based access priority (RBBAP); (iii) variable logical channel based access priority (VLCAP); (iv) UMTS-specific variable logical channel based access priority (VLCAP′); (v) probability based access priority (PBAP); and (vi) retransmission based access priority (REBAP). Each methodology associates some parameter or parameters to access priority classes in order to influence the likelihood of a remote terminal completing a successful access request to a base station.

Abstract: A method is provided for achieving admission control to a public connectionless packet network. This provides a method of access control which allows service differentiation in a form which permits a user to receive a quality of service guarantee which is better than a “best effort” service. Each transmission by a user across the network includes a ticket message sent to the user from the network. The ticket message includes information about the priority level of the transmission, and can be used in a connectionless network to determine the resources available for future transmission requests.

Abstract: Two-way resource reservation techniques for use in UMTS and other telecommunication systems. A determination is made as to whether a user requires resource reservations in both an uplink direction and a downlink direction within the system, and if the user requires such two-way resource reservations, a two-way protocol is implemented to establish the required resource reservations. The two-way protocol integrates resource negotiation procedures for both the uplink direction and the downlink direction so as to ensure that the required resource reservations are provided for both directions. The two-way protocol may be a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) based on a Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) resource negotiation procedure. The determination may be based on one or more flag bits which identify whether the user requires resource reservations for both the uplink and downlink directions.

Abstract: A wireless communication network includes a plurality of mobile nodes each including a transceiver, a phased array antenna connected to the transceiver, and a controller connected to the transceiver. The controller schedules time slots for each time frame to establish a communication link with each neighboring mobile node. An initiating mobile node transmits a request for time slots to the receiving mobile node, which transmits a reply to the initiating mobile node. The initiating mobile node transmits a confirmation to the receiving mobile node, and the receiving mobile node transmits the reply again if the confirmation is not received. Alternatively, the receiving mobile node may transmit an acknowledgment to the initiating mobile node, and the initiating mobile node transmits the confirmation again if the acknowledgment is not received.

Abstract: In a code division multiple access communicating system, a base station has a receiving means receiving access signals from plural terminal apparatus, and an acknowledge information transmitting means collectively putting acknowledge information to reception of the access signals for the terminal apparatus in a transmission frame when the receiving means receives the access signals from the terminal apparatus and transmitting the frame to the plural terminal apparatus, while each of the terminal apparatus has an acknowledge information receiving means receiving a plural pieces of acknowledge information from the acknowledge information transmitting means of the base station, and a transmitting means again accessing to the base station according to the acknowledge information for its own terminal apparatus among the plural pieces of acknowledge information, thereby avoiding conflict of access timings between the terminal apparatus whose acknowledge information has been put, and thus suppressing a decrease of t

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications network having superior quality of service is provided. A system and method for assigning future slots of a transmission frame to a data packet in the transmission frame for transmission over a wireless telecommunication network system includes applying an advanced reservation algorithm, reserving a first slot for a first data packet of an internet protocol (IP) flow in a future transmission frame based on the algorithm, reserving a second slot for a second data packet of the IP flow in a transmission frame subsequent in time to the future transmission frame based on the algorithm, wherein the second data packet is placed in the second slot in an isochronous manner to the placement of the first data packet in the first slot. There may be a periodic variation between the placement of the first data packet in the first slot and the placement of second data packet in the second slot or no periodic variation between placements of slots.

Abstract: In order to secure the resources on a bus positively and execute the data transmission during a time zone set by a timer of a plurality of electronic equipment connected by a serial bus, a reserve operation setting unit 22 inputs reserve operation setting information for setting a predetermined equipment connected to the bus in a predetermined state at a predetermined time. A reserve operation execution unit 23 sets a predetermined equipment connected to the bus in a predetermined state at a predetermined time based on the information input from the reserve operation setting unit 22 or the information stored in a reserve operation storage unit 22. The reserve operation storage unit 24 stores the information for setting a reserve operation input to the reserve operation setting unit 22. A bus resources reservation unit 25 acquires or releases the bus resources based on the input to the reserve operation setting unit 22 or the storage in the reserve operation storage unit 24.

Abstract: Unsolicited grants are allocated a selected time interval for scheduling transmission of audio packets at a network endpoint. A network processing node switches from outputting unsolicited grants to polling for packet transmission requests when Voice Activity Detection (VAD) at the transmitting endpoint stops generating audio packets. The network processing node switches back to outputting unsolicited grants when the endpoint resumes generation of audio packets. The unsolicited grants include one or more additional grants within the selected time interval that flush out one or more audio packets that may already be queued for transmitting. These additional grants reduce the latency normally caused when Voice Activity Detection (VAD) stops and then restarts audio packet transmission.

Abstract: In a multiple access communication network a primary station (2) is coupled to a plurality of secondary stations (4 . . . 18). The secondary stations (4 . . . 18) transmit packets to the primary station in timeslots in a frame. These timeslots are chosen according to the DECT standard. The problem is that it is not possible to transmit 53 bytes ATM cells in an efficient way in the standard DECT packets. According to the present invention, the guard space to deal with the differing transmission delays between several secondary stations and the primary station is reduced. To prevent problems due to the above mentioned delay differences, the secondary stations (4 . . . 18) comprise compensation means for adjusting the transmission instants of the packets they transmit. By reducing the guard space, it becomes possible to transmit two 53 bytes ATM cells in a double DECT slot, enabling an efficient transmission of ATM cells over a DECT like frame.

Abstract: A radio communication system in which secondary stations can request services from a primary station using random access or dedicated signalling methods. The primary station partitions a single uplink channel between random access and dedicated signalling transmissions, thereby enabling the advantages of both types of transmissions to be provided on a single channel without the need for the duplication of hardware otherwise required to handle two different types of channel.

Abstract: A method of allocating time slots in a time division multiple access cellular telephone system increases the traffic capacity of a base station's RF channel. A method is provided for operating in half rate mode while maintaining adequate signal quality over the RF channel communications link between a base station and a mobile station. In full rate mode, each mobile station is allocated at least four of the twelve slots. For mobile stations experiencing little or no signal deterioration from other sources, a channel can be operated in half rate mode with little or no adverse effect to the signal quality. For mobile stations that are experiencing signal deterioration, the same channel can provide full rate mode support.

Abstract: Requests are processed to transmit data packets upstream from a cable modem to a cable headend in a manner that minimizes the use of CPU operations and/or memory capacity. Data packets to be transmitted upstream are stored at the cable modem. The data packets each have a given transmission data byte length value. Burst profiles are received successively at the cable modem. Each time a new bust profile is received, a set of physical data length values corresponding to respective transmission data byte length values is calculated from the parameters of the received burst profile. The calculated set of physical data length values is stored in memory so the individual values can be retrieved from the transmission data byte length values again and again, rather than being re-calculated each time a conversion is made from transmission data byte length values to physical data length values. The same set of physical data length values is used until a new burst profile is received by the cable modem.

Abstract: A transmitting unit for use in sending data in packets in timeslots within time frames, each packet being sent in a timeslot, the unit comprising means to reserve for uplink transmission in the next uplink time frame a number of timeslots (X), the number of timeslots (X) being determined dependent upon a value which is the number of timeslots (Y) used for uplink transmission in the previous uplink time frame plus the number of packets (Z) remaining for uplink transmission during the last time frame minus the number of time slots (Q) to be used in the present uplink time frame.

Abstract: In a mobile communication network, the chance of achieving multichannel connections is increased by determining if certain physical channels should be made idle to facilitate multi-channel connections and marking the channels that should be made idle. The marked channels may be moved actively, in which case the channels to which connections should be moved are selected, and the moving of connections to the selected channels is initiated. The marking and/or moving of the connection or connections is initiated, for example, when a predetermined number of attempts to allocate multichannel connections have failed, or when the network situation is such that the chance of establishing multichannels is low and should be increased, or when an establishment of multichannel connection is attempted unsuccessfully.

Abstract: A GE-PON (Gigabit Ethernet-Passive Optical Network) system is provided that configures upstream and downstream frames on the basis of a variable-length Ethernet frame. The GE-PON system employs TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) for upstream packet transmission in a tree structure for a point-to-multipoint connection. A structure of a frame format is also provided that is capable of effectively accommodating Gigabit Ethernet traffic in the GE-PON system and a method is provided for implementing various functions such as initial ONU registration, late ONU registration, ranging, and dynamic bandwidth allocation in the GE-PON system.

Abstract: Data transfer efficiencies of a frequency division and/or time division multiple access (FDMA/TDMA) communication systems are improved over prior art systems by distributing signalling and messaging activities over all return channels of a channel group, by varying forward to return channel data rate ratios, and by reducing message transport delays with respect to prior art communication systems, based on message traffic over such channel group. Return channels of a defined channel group are time division controlled and are generic to operate either in a signalling mode or in a messaging mode. Data rates for the forward channel and the return channels may be selected from predefined combinations of forward and return channel data rates.

Abstract: An efficient medium dedication schedule is generated. The schedule gives wireless medium an ability to concurrently serve real-time and non real-time application and still be able to maintain the Quality of Service as requested by the real-time application. Furthermore, QoS registration request is delivered in a time bound manner and a time slot is chosen for transmission during controlled contention phase that give lesser collision and higher throughput.

Abstract: In packet communications between a mobile terminal and a base station, the mobile terminal checks a priority level of a traffic and judges a type of the traffic, and transmits a reservation signal for a transmission request to the base station when the type of the traffic is a high priority level or realtime type, and does not transmits it when the type of the traffic is a low priority level or non-realtime type, while the base station determines a resource amount to be reserved for packet transmission according to a resource utilization state and the reservation signal for the traffic of the high priority level or realtime type, or an average transmission interval or transmission rate for the traffic of the low priority level or non-realtime type according to margins in remaining resources, and notifies the resource amount or the average transmission interval or transmission rate to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A method and system for managing communication resources between nodes in a network, and more particularly to a dynamic distributed multi-channel time division multiple access (TDMA) slot assignment method is presented. The method and apparatus include a set of higher level heuristics that enable the wireless channel access scheme to address predetermined characteristics of the wireless channel access system. These predetermined heuristics include using bootstrap slots, adaptive broadcast cycles, channelized neighborhoods, standby slots, speculation slots, neighbor segregation, hard circuits, and soft circuits.

Abstract: A heuristic logical neighborhooding technique is applied to dynamic wireless networking. Logical neighborhooding, provides for the formation of logical neighborhoods across a plurality of channels when such need arises due to increased network density. The technique utilizes a time division multiple access structure including bootstrap slots, broadcast slots, and traffic slots.

Abstract: A first wireless node provides a method of avoiding multiple access collision in a wireless network. The system receives a request to send data from a second wireless node (405) and determines if the system is receiving data from a third node (410). The system transmits a non-authorization message if the system is receiving data from the third node (415). If, however, the system is not receiving data from the third node, the system transmits an authorization message to the first wireless node (420). The system receives data from the second node in response to the authorization message (425) and then transmits an acknowledgment message to the second node acknowledging receipt of the data (435).

Abstract: A LAN telephone which makes voice telephone calls over a local area network (LAN) data network. Acoustic voice sounds are digitally encoded and transmitted as data, over the LAN. The disclosed telephone simultaneously receives LAN data packets and decodes them, translating the data into acoustic audio voice sounds. All communications with the network occur through the use of the LAN, including data for call control and for voice signals. The disclosed LAN telephone uses a packet scheduling technique to prevent packet collision, delay or loss. The scheduling technique relies on time of transmission and arrival to switch packets. Additionally, the disclosed LAN telephone is operable to receive power from a data switch, using LAN wiring. The instrument further includes a means for attaching peripheral devices through an electronic interface system, as well as an internal system for allowing the telephone to be moved, from one connection to another, without changing the telephone number.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, for use in a satellite-based communications network, for positioning offset zones in a spot beam coverage area to maximize call duration. The apparatus and method employs a spot beam segregator and an offset zone arranger. The spot beam segregator segregates a coverage area of a spot beam generated by a satellite in the network into at least one offset zone based on respective propagation time periods required for signals to travel between the satellite and respective different locations in the coverage area. The offset zone arranger arranges each offset zone such that each respective center of each one offset zone overlaps a respective geographical location in the coverage area, with each respective geographic location having a respective access terminal density greater than any other geographical region within its respective offset zone.

Abstract: For allocating radio resources in a time-division multiple access packet mode radio communication system, each remote station stores transmit authorizations for each time slot of a frame in a table. The packets are stored in a plurality of queues in each remote station. The table is duplicated and one table is read during a frame while the other table is being written.

Abstract: A method is provided for a remote device to monitor and communicate with a wireless network using cyclic beacons. The remote device receives a beacon, which beacon includes beacon information that defines a superframe. From the beacon information, the remote device determines whether the received beacon and the associated superframe are assigned to a network device or are unassigned. By receiving as many beacons as there are allowable devices in the network, the remote device can determine if the network is full. If the remote device runs through all of the beacons and all indicate that their associated superframes are assigned, then the remote device determines that the network is full and performs a network-full function. If the remote device receives a beacon that indicates that its associated superframe is unassigned, it determines that the network is not full and performs an association request during the unassigned superframe.

Abstract: An adhesive or coating composition prepared by mixing together at least one metathesizable highly-reactive cycloolefin (e.g., a norbornadiene) and a metathesis catalyst. The use of highly-reactive cycloolefins can provide exceptional adherence to a low-surface-tension substrate. Another embodiment is a two-part adhesive or coating system wherein the first part includes at least one first metathesizable material, and the second part includes at least one liquid metathesis oligomer or polymer and a metathesis catalyst.

Abstract: A method for improving the performance of a random access communications system in a variable radio environment is disclosed, whereby at least one valid set of burst signatures is used for transmission by one or more mobile stations. Each set includes at least one signature with a different signature-length than the signatures in other sets. The different signature-lengths can be optimized for the operational environments involved (e.g., longer signatures for slower-moving mobile stations, and shorter signatures for high-speed mobile stations). Alternatively, at least one differentially-encoded signature is used for random access transmissions, in order to reduce the radio channel's sensitivity to large doppler spreads and frequency errors.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining an ability of a first device to use an optical trail to communicate across an optical transport network with one or more other devices. The first device and the one or more other devices are external to the optical transport network. A first signal is transmitted from the first device, where the first signal indicates that at least a first port of the first device is available to be an endpoint for an optical trail across the optical transport network. The first signal is received at a first transport network device of the optical transport network. A second signal is transmitted from the first transport network device, where the second signal identifies a second port of a second transport network device included in the optical transport network to which the first device can send signals corresponding to an optical trail. The second signal is received at the first device.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing bandwidth usage between an access point and a wireless device are described. One embodiment can include an access point, a prioritizer, and a priority storage device. These components can increase bandwidth usage between an access point and a wireless device by allocating previously unused transmission slots.

Abstract: A channel reservation control system which reserves data channels in an appropriate manner to ensure the subsequent call set-up operations in automatic call distribution services. A channel allocation unit determines how many data channels should be reserved for a specific group of subscribers who may wish to use such reserved bandwidth. Then, a reservation request transmission unit makes a provisional reservation for as many data channels as determined by the channel allocation unit, and transmits a reservation request message to initiate the reservation of those data channels. Upon receipt of this reservation request message, a recipient-side reservation unit establishes channel reservation on the side of call recipients by securing the requested data channels for exclusive use by the specific group of subscribers.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for utilizing the communication channel resources between source and destination nodes in a network of transceiver nodes, wherein each node communicates during specific times slots and uses multiple frequencies on a time division multiple access basis. Each node utilizes a soft circuit protocol so that enough slots are assigned on each node's outgoing communication links to satisfy the requirements of the traffic passing through each node. In one embodiment, a soft circuit is established by sending a route trace packet which contains the capacity requirement for a particular traffic stream from the source node to the destination node. In a second embodiment, a soft circuit is established by using a push path wherein the traffic pushes its way through the network to establish the circuit along the way from the source node to a destination node.

Abstract: A method for allocating network resources of a communication network (100) to a plurality of users is disclosed. The allocation method includes predicting future access demand from users and making resource allocation decisions based, at least in part, on the predicted demand.

Abstract: A slot assignment technique for assigning slots to a video communiction source in a slotted communication channel entails, in embodiments, using a slot from the channel to issue a coded request message containing a bit pattern indicative of a number of other slots that the video communication source requires for transmitting video information. At the receiver, the number of slots that the video communication source requires for transmitting video information is identified from the coded request via a lookup table. The requiste number of slots in the communication channel can then be allocated to the video commuinication source to transmit the video information. The bit pattern indicative of the number of slots that the video communication source requires generally comprises less data than would an uncoded request for the same number of slots. In this way, request limitations imposed by request slot size may be overcome.

Abstract: To address the need for a method to determine an optimal quantity of channel resources to reserve for data services in communication systems that support both data and voice services, the present invention provides two methods. The methods determine a minimum quantity of voice channel resources that are required to provide an acceptable voice quality of service. The methods also determine an additional quantity of data channel resources needed to provide data services. The methods then determine whether encroachment by the voice services onto the data channel resources requires that a number of the data channel resources be reserved for data services exclusively. Finally, if data channel resources need to be reserved, the methods determine a minimum number of data channel resources to reserve to provide an acceptable data quality of service.

Abstract: A communication system consisting of a number of modules that communicate with one another through a shared communications bus which accommodates different protocols. The system includes a bus clock for defining a frame having a plurality of time slots for communicating signals on the bus; and a bus management algorithm for specifying a receive assignment definition and a transmit assignment definition. The receive assignment definition defines a receive channel for each of the modules representing a set of the time slots, where the modules receive signals from the bus during the set of time slots prescribed by the receive channel. The transmit assignment definition defines a transmit channel for each of the modules representing a set of the time slots, where the modules transmit signals to the bus during the set of time slots prescribed by the transmit channel.

Abstract: A method of processing work units in a system is achieved using a throttling queue. The throttling queue assigns work units to a predetermined number of processing slots. Each slot processes an assigned work unit, sends the work units to client systems for processing, and upon finishing, works on a subsequent work unit. The predetermined number of slots, in one embodiment, may be scaled as resources are added or removed from the system. In one embodiment, the work units are network data packets.

Abstract: A multiple mode data communication system and method provides the flexibility to schedule wireless unit transmissions and/or allow the wireless unit to transmit autonomously. In certain embodiments, the wireless units can transmit autonomously and/or use scheduling depending on the data rate, the length of the data packet or the type of data. For example, the wireless units can transmit autonomously at lower data rates and use scheduling at higher data rates. Thus, the multiple mode system enables wireless unit transmissions to be scheduled and/or be transmit autonomously, and wireless units can simultaneously operate in different scheduling and/or autonomous modes.

Abstract: A wireless base station having an improved DAC operable at higher speed than heretofore achievable which exploits the sigma-delta principle in a different way. More particularly, the invention comprises a base station 300 that implement a digital-to-analog conversion circuit (105) including a storage means (110), such as a read only memory, for storing delta-sigma analog sequences corresponding to all possible values of a digital input (106) coupled to a plurality of one-bit digital to analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126). Each of the digital-to-analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126) are clocked by multi-phase clocks, such that each phase applied to each one of the digital-to-analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126) is delayed with respect to one another by the oversampling period. An summer is coupled to each digital-to-analog converter (120, 122, 124, 126) for summing each output from each digital-to-analog converter (120, 122, 124, 126) to generate an analog output.

Abstract: A packet transfer system for transferring data from or to a plurality of terminals while sectioning the data into given data-length packets, the system having a communication system that has the plurality of terminals, a base station connected through a wireless line with the plurality of terminals and a switching office connected through one or more wired lines with the base station, the wired lines being of shared channels that the plurality of terminals can use commonly and a leased channel that one terminal can use exclusively. When the amount of data transferred from or to one of the plurality of terminals is greater than a predetermined value, one of the shared channels is assigned exclusively to the one of the plurality of terminals or the leased channel is assigned to the one of the plurality of terminals.

Abstract: A system and method for GPRS MAC procedures to support delay-sensitive, real-time traffic is presented. The system comprises a mobile station able to transmit packets to and receive packets from a base station, where the base station is coupled to a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, and where the GPRS network is coupled to a data network. In an uplink dynamic scheme, the base station receives an empty packet from the mobile station. The base station releases a bandwidth allocated to the mobile station if an implementation dependent time expires and further allocates a reduced portion of the bandwidth to the mobile station if a number of the empty packets are received or if a control packet requesting additional bandwidth is received by the base station. In an uplink fixed scheme, the base station allocates a fixed number of radio resources to the mobile station.

Abstract: In a two way cable system that includes a controller and a plurality of user terminals, a method of granting rights for upstream data transmission from the user terminals includes processing contention requests to generate contention grants and maintaining a list of connections, each connection having specified therefor a predetermined bit rate. The controller sends a downstream data stream to the user terminals and receives an upstream data stream from the user terminals. The downstream data stream includes a plurality of grant fields, and the upstream data stream includes upstream data slots and upstream control slots.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically allocating bandwidth on a network bus in an audio/visual network. The present invention implements an intelligent process to automatically make adequate bus bandwidth available when a request for a connection (e.g., a communication channel used to transfer data) between a source device and a sink device is received. First, the present invention determines whether a communication channel is already allocated to the source device, and if so, the connection between the source device and the sink device is made using an overlay of the existing communication channel. Otherwise, the present invention compares the required bus bandwidth capacity for the source device with the available bus bandwidth capacity. Using voluntary and forced load shedding techniques, the present invention deallocates bus bandwidth capacity allocated to one or more of the devices on the audio/visual network if the available bus bandwidth capacity is less than the required bus bandwidth capacity.

Abstract: Devices, softwares and methods advance the scheduling of a next contention session upon premature termination of a contention free session. A Hybrid Coordinator detects when the exchange of wireless transmissions finishes before the contention free window is scheduled to end. Upon such detection, the Hybrid Coordinator transmits a notification to advance the scheduling of the next contention session. Upon sensing the notification, contention resumes by the participating peripherals.