Abstract: For transmitting delay-critical data in a digital, time division form in an additional channel of a cable television system, the slots of the channel are further divided into smaller mini slots, for the indication of which the same cyclic indication is used as with which the superframes controlling the use of the channel indicate the original slots. A method based on mini slots is compatible with DAVIC 1.0 and 1.1 specifications.

Abstract: A full service channel access protocol that supports the integrated transport of voice, video and data communications is provided by dividing a communication channel into a plurality of frames, dividing each of the frames into a plurality of slots, and dividing some of the plurality of slots into a plurality of mini-slots. The mini-slots are provided for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel. Additionally, a second one of the plurality of slots is divided into a plurality of second mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel and for use by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel. The method enables timely and power efficient communications over communication network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing high speed wireless media access is disclosed. A local transceiver is provided, which is capable of transmitting data via a transmit path while receiving a feedback signal via a receive path. The local transmitter is connected to a feedback generator for generating and transmitting a feedback signal in response to receiving data from a wireless transceiver. A feedback detector is also connected to the local transceiver for detecting feedback signals received from other wireless transceivers. When a feedback signal is detected, data associated with the signal is decoded. The wireless transceivers then transmit a feedback signal within the series of wireless transceivers in order to stop the transmission of data until a destination of the data is determined.

Abstract: A method and strategy for transport format combination (TFC) selection and related algorithms in wireless communications. The method provides procedures used by the MAC layer in both the UE and the RNC to schedule data transmission. In the inventive method, each time the maximum transmit power is reached in a time slot, the physical layer will send a notification to the MAC layer, including the time slot number where maximum power was reached. The invention provides a low cost method and algorithm avoiding the need for the MAC to determine the power needed by each TFC in each time slot.

Abstract: A method for control of packet data transmissions in a TDMA wireless network to provide for additional choices in the allocation of communication channels. The fixed relationship in the timing of the downlink allocation signalling and subsequent uplink transmission is altered for certain classes of mobile station to avoid physical constraints. Examples of variations in USF signalling in GPRS are given.

Abstract: An apparatus generally comprising a plurality of writeable registers, a control circuit, and a transmitter circuit. The writeable registers may be configured to store (i) a first burst value and (ii) a first gap value. The control circuit may be configured to generate an idle signal (i) in a transmit state for a first duration determined by the first burst value and (ii) in an idle state for a second duration determined by the first gap value in response to a first command signal. The transmitter circuit may be configured to (i) enable transmitting while the idle signal is in the transmit state and (ii) disable transmitting while the idle signal is in the idle state.

Abstract: A data transferring apparatus includes a ring bus, which circularly transfers data by holding in a slot to one direction and a plurality of nodes connected to the ring bus. Each of the plurality of nodes includes a detector and a controller. The detector detects whether or not data destined for a self-node is held in a slot arrived to another node connected to an upstream side of the self-node. The controller captures the data destined for the self-node from the slot when the detector detects presence of the data destined for the self-node and the slot arrives to the self-node.

Abstract: A method for control of packet data transmissions in a TDMA wireless network to provide for additional choices in the allocation of communication channels. Measurement and recovery periods are re-assigned to avoid conflicts in operating conditions. The re-assignments for the GPRS system may be reduced to a simple formula.

Abstract: A system and method for improved vertical handoff between different types of wireless network. Network allocation vector occupation and packet collision probability are used as quality of service measures, enabling vertical handoffs to be delayed until actually beneficial to quality of service. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection in vertical handoff scenarios is achieved with a Fourier-based technique in conjunction with an adaptively determined minimum operating signal strength threshold. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection enables vertical handoffs from high quality of service networks to be delayed as long as possible. Together, practical wireless network quality of service measures and improved detection of wireless network cell boundaries in vertical handoff scenarios reduce the rate of unnecessary vertical handoff resulting in higher overall quality of service experienced by a mobile computing device roaming between wireless network types.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, computer program products and computer data signals for broadcasting a beacon packet to one or more client stations and for processing a beacon packet. The beacon packet includes a preamble, a header and a data portion. In one broadcasting method, it is determined if there is any data buffered for any of the client stations. If there is data buffered, a traffic indicator flag located before the data portion of the beacon packet is set to a first logic value. If there is not any data buffered, the traffic indicator flag is set to a second logic value. The beacon packet is broadcast to the client stations.

Abstract: A media access control (MAC) unit in a CMTS assigns a normal time slot to a cable modem being tested for its upstream transmission quality. An FFT generator or engine operating in conjunction with the CMTS is informed of this normal time slot. A dummy time slot, not assigned to any cable modem, is created and the FFT generator is informed of the dummy time slot. A number of FFT measurements of the upstream channel are generated during the normal time slot and during the dummy time slot. FFT measurements of the upstream spectrum taken during the normal time slot are compared to FFT measurements taken during the dummy time slot. Through this comparison, undesirable noise spurs, if any, can be detected in the upstream spectrum caused by the cable modem being tested.

Abstract: A transmission managing apparatus included in an information transmitting system comprising a communication bus (B), an indicating device (NI), which has a transmission state memory (5) for storing a channel used for an information transmission executed in a time division manner on the communication bus and a transmission occupation period occupied for the information transmission, for indicating the channel and the transmission occupation period and an information processing apparatus (N) for reserving a non-used channel and a preservable period, while referring to a memory content of the transmission state memory.

Abstract: Transmissions within a communication channel utilized by devices of a computer network that are outside of a device's designated time slot are accommodated through the use of a clear channel assessment time. The clear channel assessment time takes into account the device's designated transmission time slot within the communication channel with respect to those of other network devices. Thus, the clear channel assessment time may be a time period that is the product of a predetermined clear channel waiting time and a numerical representation of the difference between the device's designated transmission time slot within the communication channel and that of another network device that completed a preceding transmission.

Abstract: A novel media access control (MAC) mechanism utilizing synchronization signaling that enables nodes from different networks having different technologies and protocols to coexistence using the same shared media. The present invention is suitable for use with a wide range of different types of network and technologies and is particularly useful in providing coexistence capabilities to powerline based data communication systems. Specific time slots are assigned for the transmission of a frame occupation signal to indicate to all nodes that the channel is occupied. A synchronization signal is randomly transmitted during a preassigned time slot within the frame to provide accurate timing for the frame occupation signal. During times that a node does not transmit the synchronization signal, it listens to the channel. A timing signal is derived from the synchronization signals received from other nodes during this quiet period wherein the node is in a listening mode.

Abstract: A method for transmission of high-speed digital signals includes transmitting a data signal over a communication line responsive to input data, the data signal having a data frequency spectrum. During an idle interval in the input data, two idle signals are transmitted in alternation: a first idle signal, having a first frequency spectrum that is substantially stationary relative to the data frequency spectrum, and a second idle signal, having a second frequency spectrum that is substantially non-stationary relative to the data frequency spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to being able to adjust a time period of a time slot in a communication channel, depending on the information being sent in the time slot. In one embodiment of the present invention, a process and system for automatically adjusting a time period of a time slot in a communication channel is presented. The communication channel is monitored. A determination is made to see whether data are being transmitted in a time slot in the communication channel. The time slot is adjusted to a first time period if data are being transmitted in the time slot. The time slot is adjusted to a second time period if data are not being transmitted in the time slot.

Abstract: A multi-source data multiplexing system that accepts information packets from a plurality of signal sources, evaluates the relative efficiencies of data transmission, and transmits the information packets in provided grant regions for maximum efficiency. The multi-source data multiplexing system may accept any form of information packet from any form of signal source. The system receives a grant region, typically comprising a transmission time on a data channel, and inserts a information packet into the grant region. The actual information packet placed in the grant region may be one other than the packet for which the grant region was intended. Further, the multi-source data multiplexing system may fragment an information packet and transmit only a portion of the information packet in the grant region.

Abstract: A time-shared communications architecture for communicating digitized information for an industrial process control system, which architecture includes various programmed operating units (8, 10, 11) in particular site units (8) situated at a process interface level, which units process and store information which can be accessed by at least one other unit internal to the system or by an external computer, via at least one industrial local area network of said communications architecture. At least some of the units contain servers (9) of the HTTP type so as to be capable of sending optionally interactive computer documents in response to requests received from another unit of the system or from a computer, in particular external to the system, equipped with an HTTP/TCP/IP protocol stack and acting as a customer, without disturbing the priority and deterministic interchange related to the real time control of the process.

Abstract: A terminal receives one or more input frames comprising one or more logical channels and may generate one or more output frames including the data received in the logical channels. Each logical channel is dispersed throughout the input frame in one or more timeslots, and each logical channel has an associated buffer. The data of each logical channel received from the timeslot(s) of the input frame(s) is stored in the corresponding buffer. The terminal uses channel sequencing for round-robin scheduling to transfer the data of the received logical channels, if present, in each buffer to one or more output frames. Channel sequencing may apply round-robin scheduling of service of buffers in ascending or descending order of non-empty buffers, accounting for newly filled buffers. Channel sequencing generates a binary word, termed a channels service request (CSR) word, with each bit of the CSR word corresponding to a buffer and indicating whether the buffer requests service.

Abstract: Assigning inbound ringing ISDN channels to a particular endpoint's call uses a framing listening technique to distinguish between H.221 framing, master bonding channel framing and slave bonding channel framing. If the channel is receiving Master Bonding Channel framing, the MCU detects that this is a new call from a unique far endpoint and may then begin a process to address this new call. If the channel is receiving Slave Bonding Channel framing, the MCU then transmits a multi-frame pattern and looks for a Physical Video Unit Identifier the MCU sent to this far end via the Master Channel upon initial negotiation. If the channel is receiving H.221 framing, a H.243 terminal address assigned using a Terminal Indicate Assignment (TIA) message in the initial channel is used. The far endpoint may then send this address in its additional channels through the use of a Terminal Indicate Additional Channel X (TIX) message.

Abstract: A non-frequency-hopping node and a method for using such a node to transmit and receive data in a frequency-hopping system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-frequency-hopping node interacts with a frequency-hopping spread-spectrum (FHSS) system, which comprises a wireless medium or electromagnetic airwaves, a frequency-hopping node coupled to the wireless medium and an access point coupled to the wireless medium. The non-frequency-hopping node connects to the wireless medium and listens for an active signal generated by the FHSS system on a predetermined frequency channel. Upon detecting the active signal, the non-frequency-hopping node exchanges information with the FHSS system on the predetermined frequency channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining data from first and second separate data transceivers onto a common data link. The method involves transceiving data at the first data transceiver using the common communications link, at regular intervals of time, and monitoring the common communications link to identify idle periods during which data associated with the first data transceiver is not present. The second data transceiver is synchronized with a corresponding transceiver in communication with the common communications link and communications are established between the second data transceiver and the corresponding transceiver, during the idle periods.

Abstract: In a digital bus, such as the IEEE 1394 serial bus, the procedure for sending data from a link layer IC onto the data bus is that the link layer IC requests access to the bus and then waits until the physical layer IC grants the desired access. Upon detecting the grant status, the link layer IC is free to send data onto the bus. But if in the meantime the link layer IC refrains from sending data onto the bus, the granted bus access will not be given up. As a consequence the bus is blocked for an indefinite time period because the bus access granted cannot be overwritten by the physical layer IC. According to the invention an additional timer function is implemented in the link layer IC. This ‘bus grant missed’ timer function controls the link layer IC in such a way that it automatically gives back the bus control to the physical layer IC after a predetermined time period has elapsed during which the link layer IC has sent no data onto the bus.

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 method for monitoring with discontinuous BCCH carriers in GSM, in which a mobile station can monitor a neighboring base station in each frame, or one in each frame. i.e. once in 4.615 ms, even where the base stations do not transmit continuously on a beacon carrier. Control information is intermittently transmitted from one or more base stations to one or more mobile stations. Traffic information is transmitted between the base station and the mobile station. The base station using n (n less than 8) time slots of a TDMA frame. The base station is monitored by the mobile station within a predetermined time slot of the TDMA frame during which the base station transmits additional information that is neither control information nor traffic information. The monitoring by the mobile station during the predetermined time slot (TS) is synchronized with the monitoring of further provided mobile stations.

Abstract: A non-frequency-hopping node and a method for using such a node to transmit and receive data in a frequency-hopping system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-frequency-hopping node interacts with a frequency-hopping spread-spectrum (FHSS) system, which comprises a wireless medium or electromagnetic airwaves, a frequency-hopping node coupled to the wireless medium and an access point coupled to the wireless medium. The non-frequency-hopping node connects to the wireless medium and listens for an active signal generated by the FHSS system on a predetermined frequency channel. Upon detecting the active signal, the non-frequency-hopping node exchanges information with the FHSS system on the predetermined frequency channel.

Abstract: A serial/parallel converter 2—converts a B channel data in an ISDN into an 8-bit parallel data and outputs it to a latch circuit 3. A comparator 4—compares an octet data latched by the latch circuit 3 with a preset idle pattern and, when the octet is different from the preset idle pattern, outputs a disaccord signal to a pulse generator 5. When an idle pattern appears continuously on the B channel, a timer circuit 6 outputs a significant signal. With using the significant signal from the timer circuit 6, it is possible to judge that the B channel is in non-use state, so that it can be determined by the simple circuit construction whether or not the B channel is in the use state.

Abstract: During allocation of time slots of a UMTS frame to a terminal, the UMTS network provides a continuous gap having a duration at least equal to 5 ms in a UMTS frame to enable the receiver of the terminal to measure the power of any GSM signals received and to prepare for possible handover by pre-synchronizing to an adjoining GSM cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a visual telephone apparatus which can assure a high speed of response of a user data application. An image compression section compresses an image signal imaged by a video camera with an image compression ratio based on control information from a terminal control section. A speech compression section compresses a speech signal collected by a microphone with a speech compression ratio based on control information from the terminal control section. The terminal control section produces such control information based on keyboard input data from a keyboard, mouse input data from the mouse and common application operation information from a computer. A multiplexer multiplexes transmission compressed image data and transmission compressed speech data based on the control information outputted from the terminal control section and outputs transmission multiplexed data to a line interface.

Abstract: A communication device includes a transmitter and a first idle detector. The transmitter is adapted to transmit digital data. The digital data includes user data. The transmitter includes a first idle symbol buffer for storing a first idle symbol. The first idle detector is adapted to detect an absence of user data. The transmitter is adapted to transmit the first idle symbol in response to detecting the absence of user data. A method for transmitting data includes defining a first idle symbol. The user data is stored in a buffer. The user data is modulated to generate a user symbol. An absence of user data in the buffer is detected, and the first idle symbol is transmitted in response to detecting the absence of user data.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for interleaving data in a multi-channel multi-rate telecommunications network. The invention provides for identifying channels having data in readiness for transmission and systematically polling such channels. The invention provides interleaving management which permits the changing of data rates and activation or deactivation of channels without major disruptions. The polling order of active channels is determined according to a state machine providing at least one state for each data rate supported by the plurality of channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus implementing the method for controlling the use of idle frames by a mobile station operating in a wireless telecommunication network. A control unit of the mobile station comprises the information on activities that can be carried out during idle frames in accordance with the mobile station's operating mode. At each idle frame, the mobile station checks said operating mode and activities to be carried out and of the activities to be carried out, determines the one that has the highest priority on the basis of said operating mode. For example, if necessary, the number of idle frames used for synchronisation burst search can be arranged as high as possible and, thus, enhance synchronisation.

Abstract: In a communication method, even when the same channel is used to perform another communication based on the time division multiple access, a signal can avoid continuously suffering interference from the other communication. Idle slots (I) which are not used for communication are inserted between frames at random to change the period of time slots (TS0 to TS3) at random and moreover, a transmission signal is transmitted at timing of time slot (TS0) which is assigned to its own station, out of time slots of which the period is changed at random, thereby even when the same channel is used to perform another communication based on the time division multiple access, it is possible to avoid continuous agreement of the transmission timing with the other communication, so that it is possible to prevent continuous reception of communication interference from the other communication.

Abstract: The invention is a novel slot structure and method of transmitting data at a controllable power level. The slot comprises a header, a DATA field adjacent the header and a ramp interval adjacent the DATA field. The method consists of transmitting the entire slot at a sufficiently high power when the DATA field is occupied by data traffic or control information but to lower the power during transmission of the DATA field when the slot is a null slot. In the latter case, a gradual decrease of the transmitted power is effected during the first few symbols of the DATA field, whereas the power is brought back to a higher level during the ramp interval. The new power level may be higher or lower than the initial power level, depending on the destination mobile unit associated with the following slot.

Abstract: A method for saving power in a network system, such as the Ethernet. Assume that all nodes in the network system can support at least two transmission protocols, such as 10 BaseT and 100 BaseTX in the Ethernet. First, network nodes may continuously detect the status of the network system and determine whether the network is in an idle state. If the idle period exceeds a pre-determined period, a first auto-negotiation function, in which priorities of the transmission protocols are inversely proportional to the power consumption, will be activated to select 10 BaseT. When the network system attempts to transmit data, a second auto-negotiation function, in which priorities of the transmission protocols are directly proportional to the data transmission performance, will be activated to select 100 BaseTX.

Abstract: The software and hardware within a base station controller and within a mobile station are modified to redefine a flag which is used for controlling communications there between. Additionally, a new flag is created. The system with the modified flag and the new flag allow a channel which is carrying communication control information to be temporarily interrupted so that a data burst may be transmitted on the same channel. In general, the base station controller transmits to the mobile station a plurality of signals which include specified counter values and information relating to a plurality of flags. The preferred embodiment includes six flags and three counters. The flags include the Not Received flag, Received flag, Busy flag, Reserved flag, Idle flag, and Check flag. It is the functionality of the Idle flag which has been redefined. The Check flag is new. The methods for determining when to transmit a data burst are responsive to multiple combinations of the flags.

Abstract: A method of and system for managing a SONET ring computes an optimally balanced demand loading for the SONET ring and generates an updated time slot assignment map for each node of the SONET ring based upon the optimally balanced demand loading. The method causes each node of the SONET ring to switch substantially simultaneously to its updated time slot assignment map, thereby reconfiguring the SONET ring.

Abstract: In a wireless mesh topology data communications network, a communications method having a type of handshaking protocol for data exchange. A portion of the protocol is synchronous, using a schedule of control channel sessions held at all mutually communicating nodes of the network and a portion of the protocol is asynchronous, relying upon gaps between control channel sessions for transmission of requested data. Nodes which are in line of sight relation request data from each other using a request to send message and a clear to send message. A requesting node sends an RTS message to a neighbor node with information about gaps specifying the location of requested data. A supplying node transmits a potential schedule for sending requested information and the requesting node sends a CTS message agreeing upon the schedule. The potential schedule includes a number of available gaps between known control channel sessions.

Abstract: A scheduling device for use in a packet-switched network, belonging to the class of non-work conserving or idling weighted round robin (WRR) arbiters, assigns a packet stream slots in a fixed-length time division multiple access (TDMA) frame by selecting free slots which are closest to ideal slot positions that would, if assigned, eliminate jitter or cell delay variation. The scheduler is able to simultaneously determine if a new constant bit rate connection requiring a predetermined bandwidth conforms to a leaky bucket or GCRA algorithm characterized by a peak packet or cell emission interval T=1/PCR and a packet or cell delay variation time, CDVT, i.e., whether the new connection is GCRA (T, CDVT) conformant.

Abstract: A TDMA in a CATV center and a CAU in a subscriber home communicate a B-ch idle/busy map indicating the idle/busy state of a B channel in synchronization with each other, so that the allocation of the B channel dedicated to sound and the C channel dedicated to data in a transmission frame can be dynamically changed according to the contents of the B-ch idle/busy map. Consequently, it becomes possible to effectively use a transmission bandwidth up to its maximum.

Abstract: A backplane for a dynamic synchronous transfer mode network that comprises two dual ring topologies having opposite fiber direction. The ring topologies has a plurality of disjointed segments that permits the simultaneous transmission of signals in the same time slots over the disjointed segments.

Abstract: A method and means for information transmission over a medium for a wireless communication system comprising a network of stations capable of sending and receiving data transmissions over a number of communication channels. The method includes sending a data transmission in a packet including a header and a data portion, the header includes identification (ID) of the network; identification of the next channel to be used in communications; an address; a channel busy count field; and a network command.

Abstract: In the radio transmission method according to the invention, which operates with a mixed frequency and time division multiplex method FDMA/TDMA, in which a relatively broad frequency band is divided according to the FDMA method into a plurality of carrier frequency ranges, namely the so-called main channels, and a plurality of time slots, namely the so-called sub-channels, distributed in a frame structure, are formed on each carrier frequency level according to the TDMA method, a grouping, that is to say a so-called cluster, of subscriber stations is assigned a limited number of main channels. A main channel signal is divided into one or more sub-channel signals which are associated with a cluster and which are transmitted using the TDMA method.

Abstract: The occurrence of collision and activity in a computer network is indicated by activation of a visual indication device. The device is activated for periods which are longer than the actual periods of collision and activity to permit the human eye to register the visual indications. This is particularly useful for high speed networks where the periods of collision and activity may be very brief.

Abstract: A CDMA packet data system is disclosed that can dynamically allocate channels in the CDMA packet data system. Using the disclosed dynamic allocation method, the utilization efficiency of multiple channels is increased and the transmission rate of packet data is increased. This is because a static, specific channel is not allocated to each terminal, but rather the system dynamically allocates multiple channels to each mobile terminal. Thus, the base station provides information on all channels used in the system to multiple terminals. The terminals check the occupied state of each channel before transmitting packet data, and thereafter transmitting packet data through an unoccupied channel.

Abstract: A method for allocating control time slots to terminals in a multipoint system based on time-division data transmission. Specific grant numbers are allocated to the terminals in downstream time slots. One grant number is associated with a grant to send information, such as one ATM cell, in corresponding upstream time slots. The terminal may be forbidden by means of a grant number to send in a certain time slot, or the time slot may be called a slotted Aloha time slot or a measurement time slot used for timing advance adjustment. The network terminal sends grant numbers at a predetermined rate to each terminal or sends grant numbers on the basis of how much information the terminals report needs to be sent. ATM channels are accessed rapidly and allocated efficiently, and a short access delay for a speech channel is achieved.

Abstract: The system of the present invention utilizes an interface unit and a controller located at a central cable station. The interface unit interfaces the controller with a cable connection, which connects the interface unit to a plurality of cable modems located at remote locations. The cable modems write transmission requests into slots that are defined by the controller as contention slots and that are communicated along a channel of the cable connection. The cable modems also write other data into slots that are defined by the controller as data slots and that are also communicated along the channel of the cable connection. The controller is configured to define certain ones of the slots communicated along the aforementioned channel as data slots and to allocate these data slots to particular ones of the cable modems in response to transmission requests received by the controller. The controller is preferably configured to define each slot not allocated to a particular cable modem as a contention slot.

Abstract: A frame structure suitable for effectively transmitting voice and data in a TDMA communication system. The TDMA communication system using the frame structure separates voice/data competition procedures, and disposes a request subslot at a leading end of every slot so as to reduce the access delay of a real-time traffic. Thus, it is possible to easily reserve the traffics, by maintaining the constant number of the request subslots. Further, the slots are first allocated to the real-time traffic, and the remaining idle slots are allocated to the non real-time traffic. Therefore, it is possible to give a priority order to a voice user and separate the voice/data contentions.

Abstract: A dynamic synchronous transfer mode network that comprises two ring topologies having opposite fiber direction. The first dynamic synchronous transfer mode ring topology has a plurality of nodes for receiving and transmitting frames. The time slots are dynamically allocated to the nodes and the first ring topology is adapted to transmit frames only in a first fiber direction. The second dynamic synchronous transfer mode ring topology also has a plurality of nodes in common with the first ring topology. The second ring topology only transmits frames in a second direction that is opposite the first fiber direction.

Abstract: The mobile station to base station access in a cellular radio system is a classical problem of random multiple access using a shared common channel. Many multiple access protocols have been invented in the past with varied degrees of success in improving the throughput of the multiple access channel. The current invention is a new multiple access protocol which enhances the throughput and reduces the access delay by providing feedback of the detailed status of the access channel from the base station to the mobile station. The feedback mechanism and multiple access protocol are also applicable to other types of radio or wire-based channels.