Method and apparatus for a hybrid limited contention and polling protocol

Claim 1

A method of controlling access to a network for information transmission and reception, the network having a primary station coupleable to a plurality of secondary stations via a communications channel, each of the plurality of secondary stations having a plurality of states, the plurality of states of the plurality of secondary stations including an unresponsive state, a first responsive state referred to as an active state, and a second responsive state referred to as an idle state, the method comprising: (a) providing network access to a first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state by transmitting a specific poll from the primary station, the specific poll containing an identification of the first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state; (b) the primary station receiving information, in response to the specific poll, from the first secondary station in an active state identified in the specific poll; (c) transmitting a limited contention poll from the primary station to a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, the limited contention poll containing an identification of at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; (d) providing network access to a second secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state by the primary station receiving information, in response to the limited contention poll, from the second secondary station in an idle state identified in the limited contention poll and transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the second identified secondary station; (e) transmitting a general contention poll from the primary station to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state; (f) receiving information from any of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state in response to the general contention poll; (g) determining whether the information received in step (f), in response to the general contention poll, is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in the event that the information received is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station, transferring the third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state, and providing network access to the transferred, third identified secondary station; (h) dynamically determining the relative frequencies of repetition of steps (a) and (b), steps (c) and (d), and steps (e) through (g), inclusive; and (i) repeating steps (a) and (b). steps (c) and (d), and steps (e) through (g), inclusive, in relative proportion to the dynamically determined relative frequencies.

Claim 2

A method of controlling access to a network for information transmission and reception, the network having a primary station coupleable to a plurality of secondary stations via a communications channel, each of the plurality of secondary stations having a plurality of states, the plurality of states of the plurality of secondary stations including an unresponsive state, a first responsive state referred to as an active state, and a second responsive state referred to as an idle state, the method comprising: (a) providing network access to a first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state by transmitting a specific poll from the primary station, the specific poll containing an identification of the first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state; (b) the primary station receiving information, in response to the specific poll, from the first secondary station in an active state identified in the specific poll; (c) transmitting a limited contention poll from the primary station to a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, the limited contention poll containing an identification of at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; (d) providing network access to a second secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state by the primary station receiving information, in response to the limited contention poll, from the second secondary station in an idle state identified in the limited contention poll and transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the second identified secondary station; (e) transmitting a general contention poll from the primary station to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state; (f) receiving information from any of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state in response to the general contention poll; (g) determining whether the information received in step (f), in response to the general contention poll, is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in the event that the information received is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station, transferring the third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state, and providing network access to the transferred, third identified secondary station; (h) dynamically determining the relative frequencies of repetition of steps (a) and (b), steps (c) and (d), and steps (e) through (g), inclusive; and (i) repeating steps (a) and (b). steps (c) and (d), and steps (e) through (g), inclusive, in relative proportion to the dynamically determined relative frequencies.

Claim 27

A method of controlling access to a network for information transmission and reception, the network having a primary station coupleable to a plurality of secondary stations via a communications medium, the communications medium having a plurality of communications channels, each of the plurality of secondary stations having a plurality of states, the plurality of states of the plurality of secondary stations including an unresponsive state, a first responsive state referred to as an active state, and a second responsive state referred to as an idle state, the method comprising: (a) providing network access to a first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state by transmitting a specific poll from the primary station, on a first communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, the specific poll containing an identification of the first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state; (b) the primary station receiving information on a second communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, in response to the specific poll, from the first secondary station in an active state identified in the specific poll; (c) transmitting a limited contention poll from the primary station, on a third communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, to a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, the limited contention poll containing an identification of at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; (d) providing network access to a second secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state by the primary station receiving information on a fourth communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, in response to the limited contention poll, from the second secondary station in an idle state identified in the limited contention poll and transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the second identified secondary station; (e) transmitting a general contention poll from the primary station, on a fifth communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state; (f) receiving information, on a sixth communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, from any of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state in response to the general contention poll; (g) determining whether the information received in step (f), in response to the general contention poll, is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in the event that the information received is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station, transferring the third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state, and providing network access to the transferred, third identified secondary station on at least one of the plurality of communications channels; (h) dynamically determining the relative frequencies of repetition of steps (a) and (b), steps (c) and (d), and steps (e) through (g), inclusive; and (i) repeating steps (a) and (b). steps (c) and (d), and steps (e) through (g), inclusive, in relative proportion to the dynamically determined relative frequencies.

Claim 28

A method of controlling access to a network for information transmission and reception, the network having a primary station coupleable to a plurality of secondary stations via a communications medium, the communications medium having a plurality of communications channels, each of the plurality of secondary stations having a plurality of states, the plurality of states of the plurality of secondary stations including an unresponsive state, a first responsive state referred to as an active state, and a second responsive state referred to as an idle state, the method comprising: (a) providing network access to a first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state by transmitting a specific poll from the primary station, on a first communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, the specific poll containing an identification of the first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state; (b) the primary station receiving information on a second communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, in response to the specific poll, from the first secondary station in an active state identified in the specific poll; (c) transmitting a limited contention poll from the primary station, on a third communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, to a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, the limited contention poll containing an identification of at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; (d) providing network access to a second secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state by the primary station receiving information on a fourth communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, in response to the limited contention poll, from the second secondary station in an idle state identified in the limited contention poll and transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the second identified secondary station; (e) transmitting a general contention poll from the primary station, on a fifth communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state; (f) receiving information, on a sixth communications channel of the plurality of communications channels, from any of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state in response to the general contention poll; (g) determining whether the information received in step (f), in response to the general contention poll, is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in the event that the information received is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station, transferring the third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state, and providing network access to the transferred, third identified secondary station on at least one of the plurality of communications channels; (h) dynamically determining the relative frequencies of repetition of steps (a) and (b), steps (c) and (d), and steps (e) through (g), inclusive; and (i) repeating steps (a) and (b). steps (c) and (d), and steps (e) through (g), inclusive, in relative proportion to the dynamically determined relative frequencies.

Claim 55

An apparatus for controlling access to a network for information transmission and reception, the network having a primary station coupleable to a plurality of secondary stations via a communications channel, each of the plurality of secondary stations having a plurality of states, the plurality of states of the plurality of secondary stations including an unresponsive state, a first responsive state referred to as an active state, and a second responsive state referred to as an idle state, each of the plurality of secondary stations further having a distinct address, the primary station having a receiver coupleable to the communications channel for the reception of information from the plurality of secondary stations, the primary station further having a transmitter coupleable to the communications channel for the transmission of information to the plurality of secondary stations; the network access controlling apparatus comprising: a first memory storing a first database, the first database containing the addresses of a plurality of secondary stations in an active state; a second memory storing a second database, the second database containing the addresses of a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; a third memory storing a third database, the third database containing the addresses of a plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state; and a controller, the controller coupled to the first memory, to the second memory and to the third memory, the controller coupleable to the receiver and to the transmitter, the controller providing network access to a first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state by transmitting a specific poll, the specific poll containing an identification address of the first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state, and by receiving information, in response to the specific poll, from the first secondary stations in an active state identified in the specific poll; the controller providing network access to a second secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state by transmitting a limited contention poll to a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, the limited contention poll containing an identification of at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, by receiving information, in response to the limited contention poll, from the second secondary station in an idle state identified in the limited contention poll and transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the second identified secondary station; the controller further providing network access to a third secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state by transmitting a general poll to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state, by receiving information from any of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state in response to the general poll, by determining whether the information received, in response to the general poll, is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in response to a transfer request from a third identified secondary station, the controller transferring the third identified secondary stations in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state; the controller further responsive to the information received to dynamically determine the relative frequencies of transmission of a plurality of specific polls, transmission of a plurality of limited contention polls, and transmission of a plurality of general contention polls, the controller further responsive to transmit a plurality of specific polls, limited contention polls and general polls in relative proportion to the dynamically determined relative frequencies.

Claim 56

An apparatus for controlling access to a network for information transmission and reception, the network having a primary station coupleable to a plurality of secondary stations via a communications channel, each of the plurality of secondary stations having a plurality of states, the plurality of states of the plurality of secondary stations including an unresponsive state, a first responsive state referred to as an active state, and a second responsive state referred to as an idle state, each of the plurality of secondary stations further having a distinct address, the primary station having a receiver coupleable to the communications channel for the reception of information from the plurality of secondary stations, the primary station further having a transmitter coupleable to the communications channel for the transmission of information to the plurality of secondary stations; the network access controlling apparatus comprising: a first memory storing a first database, the first database containing the addresses of a plurality of secondary stations in an active state; a second memory storing a second database, the second database containing the addresses of a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; a third memory storing a third database, the third database containing the addresses of a plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state; and a controller, the controller coupled to the first memory, to the second memory and to the third memory, the controller coupleable to the receiver and to the transmitter, the controller providing network access to a first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state by transmitting a specific poll, the specific poll containing an identification address of the first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state, and by receiving information, in response to the specific poll, from the first secondary stations in an active state identified in the specific poll; the controller providing network access to a second secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state by transmitting a limited contention poll to a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, the limited contention poll containing an identification of at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, by receiving information, in response to the limited contention poll, from the second secondary station in an idle state identified in the limited contention poll and transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the second identified secondary station; the controller further providing network access to a third secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state by transmitting a general poll to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state, by receiving information from any of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state in response to the general poll, by determining whether the information received, in response to the general poll, is a transfer request from a third identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in response to a transfer request from a third identified secondary station, the controller transferring the third identified secondary stations in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state; the controller further responsive to the information received to dynamically determine the relative frequencies of transmission of a plurality of specific polls, transmission of a plurality of limited contention polls, and transmission of a plurality of general contention polls, the controller further responsive to transmit a plurality of specific polls, limited contention polls and general polls in relative proportion to the dynamically determined relative frequencies.

Claim 75

A method of controlling access to a network for information transmission and reception, the network having a primary station coupleable to a plurality of secondary stations via a communications channel, each of the plurality of secondary stations having a plurality of states, the plurality of states of the plurality of secondary stations including an unresponsive state, a first responsive state referred to as an active state, and a second responsive state referred to as an idle state, the method comprising: (a) providing network access to a first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state by transmitting a specific poll from the primary station, the specific poll containing an identification of the first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state; (b) the primary station receiving information, in response to the specific poll, from the first secondary station in an active state identified in the specific poll; (c) transmitting a limited contention poll from the primary station to a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, the limited contention poll containing an identification of at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; (d) the primary station receiving information, in response to the limited contention poll, from a second secondary station in an idle state identified in the limited contention poll; (e) determining if the information received in response to the limited contention poll is a valid response, and if the information received in response to the limited contention poll is a valid response, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the second identified secondary station and providing network access to the second secondary station; (f) determining if the information received by the primary station in response to the limited contention poll is collision information; (g) transmitting a first limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station to a first subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state which had been identified in the preceding limited contention poll; (h) receiving information from at least one of the secondary stations of the first subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state in response to the first limited contention poll for collision resolution; (i) determining whether the information received in response to the first limited contention poll for collision resolution is a valid response from a fourth identified secondary station in an idle state, and in the event that the information received is a valid response from a fourth identified secondary station, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the fourth identified secondary station and providing network access to the fourth identified secondary station; (j) determining whether the information received by the primary station in response to an immediately preceding limited contention poll for collision resolution is further collision information; (k) transmitting a successive limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station, in response to further collision information, to a successive subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state which had been identified in the immediately preceding limited contention poll for collision resolution; (l) receiving information from at least one of the secondary stations of the successive subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state in response to the successive limited contention poll for collision resolution; (m) determining whether the information received in response to the successive limited contention poll for collision resolution is a valid response from a fifth identified secondary station in an idle state, and in the event that the information received is a valid response from a fifth identified secondary station, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the fifth identified secondary station and providing network access to the fifth identified secondary station; (n) repeating steps (j) through (m), inclusive, until no further collision information has been received by the primary station in response to a successive limited contention poll for collision resolution; (o) transmitting a second limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station to a second subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state which had been identified in the limited contention poll and which had not been identified in the first limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station to the first subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; (p) receiving information from at least one of the secondary stations of the second subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state in response to the second limited contention poll for collision resolution; and (q) determining whether the information received in response to the second limited contention poll for collision resolution is a valid response from a sixth identified secondary station in an idle state, and in the event that the information received is a valid response from a sixth identified secondary station, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the sixth identified secondary station and providing network access to the sixth identified secondary station; (r) determining whether the information received by the primary station in response to an immediately preceding limited contention poll for collision resolution is further collision information; (s) transmitting a successive limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station, in response to further collision information, to a successive subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state which had been identified in the immediately preceding limited contention poll for collision resolution; (t) receiving information from at least one of the secondary stations of the successive subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state in response to the successive limited contention poll for collision resolution; (u) determining whether the information received in response to the successive limited contention poll for collision resolution is a valid response from a seventh identified secondary station in an idle state, and in the event that the information received is a valid response from a seventh identified secondary station, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the seventh identified secondary station and providing network access to the seventh identified secondary station; (v) repeating steps (r) through (v), inclusive, until no further collision information has been received by the primary station in response to a successive limited contention poll for collision resolution; (w) transmitting a general contention poll from the primary station to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state; (x) receiving information from any of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state in response to the general contention poll; (y) determining whether the information received in step (x), in response to the general contention poll, is a transfer request from an identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in the event that the information received is a transfer request from an identified secondary station, transferring the identified secondary station in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state, and providing network access to the transferred, identified secondary station; step (g) further comprises: (z) determining whether the information received by the primary station in step (x) in response to the general poll is collision information; transmitting a general poll for collision resolution from the primary station to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state, in the event that the information received by the primary station in response to the general poll is collision information; receiving information from at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state which had responded to the preceding general poll of step (w); determining whether the information received in response to the general poll for collision resolution is a request from an identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in the event that the information received is the transfer request from an identified secondary station, transferring the identified secondary stations in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state, and providing network access to the transferred, identified secondary station; (aa) dynamically determining the relative frequencies of repetition of specific polling procedures, limited contention access procedures, and general contention access procedures; and (bb) repeating specific polling procedures, limited contention access procedures, and general contention access procedures, in relative proportion to the dynamically determined relative frequencies.

Claim 76

A method of controlling access to a network for information transmission and reception, the network having a primary station coupleable to a plurality of secondary stations via a communications channel, each of the plurality of secondary stations having a plurality of states, the plurality of states of the plurality of secondary stations including an unresponsive state, a first responsive state referred to as an active state, and a second responsive state referred to as an idle state, the method comprising: (a) providing network access to a first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state by transmitting a specific poll from the primary station, the specific poll containing an identification of the first secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations in an active state; (b) the primary station receiving information, in response to the specific poll, from the first secondary station in an active state identified in the specific poll; (c) transmitting a limited contention poll from the primary station to a plurality of secondary stations in an idle state, the limited contention poll containing an identification of at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; (d) the primary station receiving information, in response to the limited contention poll, from a second secondary station in an idle state identified in the limited contention poll; (e) determining if the information received in response to the limited contention poll is a valid response, and if the information received in response to the limited contention poll is a valid response, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the second identified secondary station and providing network access to the second secondary station; (f) determining if the information received by the primary station in response to the limited contention poll is collision information; (g) transmitting a first limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station to a first subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state which had been identified in the preceding limited contention poll; (h) receiving information from at least one of the secondary stations of the first subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state in response to the first limited contention poll for collision resolution; (i) determining whether the information received in response to the first limited contention poll for collision resolution is a valid response from a fourth identified secondary station in an idle state, and in the event that the information received is a valid response from a fourth identified secondary station, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the fourth identified secondary station and providing network access to the fourth identified secondary station; (j) determining whether the information received by the primary station in response to an immediately preceding limited contention poll for collision resolution is further collision information; (k) transmitting a successive limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station, in response to further collision information, to a successive subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state which had been identified in the immediately preceding limited contention poll for collision resolution; (l) receiving information from at least one of the secondary stations of the successive subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state in response to the successive limited contention poll for collision resolution; (m) determining whether the information received in response to the successive limited contention poll for collision resolution is a valid response from a fifth identified secondary station in an idle state, and in the event that the information received is a valid response from a fifth identified secondary station, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the fifth identified secondary station and providing network access to the fifth identified secondary station; (n) repeating steps (j) through (m), inclusive, until no further collision information has been received by the primary station in response to a successive limited contention poll for collision resolution; (o) transmitting a second limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station to a second subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state which had been identified in the limited contention poll and which had not been identified in the first limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station to the first subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state; (p) receiving information from at least one of the secondary stations of the second subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state in response to the second limited contention poll for collision resolution; and (q) determining whether the information received in response to the second limited contention poll for collision resolution is a valid response from a sixth identified secondary station in an idle state, and in the event that the information received is a valid response from a sixth identified secondary station, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the sixth identified secondary station and providing network access to the sixth identified secondary station; (r) determining whether the information received by the primary station in response to an immediately preceding limited contention poll for collision resolution is further collision information; (s) transmitting a successive limited contention poll for collision resolution from the primary station, in response to further collision information, to a successive subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state which had been identified in the immediately preceding limited contention poll for collision resolution; (t) receiving information from at least one of the secondary stations of the successive subset of the plurality of secondary stations in an idle state in response to the successive limited contention poll for collision resolution; (u) determining whether the information received in response to the successive limited contention poll for collision resolution is a valid response from a seventh identified secondary station in an idle state, and in the event that the information received is a valid response from a seventh identified secondary station, transmitting a limited contention poll acknowledment to the seventh identified secondary station and providing network access to the seventh identified secondary station; (v) repeating steps (r) through (v), inclusive, until no further collision information has been received by the primary station in response to a successive limited contention poll for collision resolution; (w) transmitting a general contention poll from the primary station to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state; (x) receiving information from any of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state in response to the general contention poll; (y) determining whether the information received in step (x), in response to the general contention poll, is a transfer request from an identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in the event that the information received is a transfer request from an identified secondary station, transferring the identified secondary station in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state, and providing network access to the transferred, identified secondary station; step (g) further comprises: (z) determining whether the information received by the primary station in step (x) in response to the general poll is collision information; transmitting a general poll for collision resolution from the primary station to at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state, in the event that the information received by the primary station in response to the general poll is collision information; receiving information from at least one of the plurality of secondary stations in an unresponsive state which had responded to the preceding general poll of step (w); determining whether the information received in response to the general poll for collision resolution is a request from an identified secondary station in an unresponsive state to transfer to a responsive state, and in the event that the information received is the transfer request from an identified secondary station, transferring the identified secondary stations in an unresponsive state, to a responsive state, and providing network access to the transferred, identified secondary station; (aa) dynamically determining the relative frequencies of repetition of specific polling procedures, limited contention access procedures, and general contention access procedures; and (bb) repeating specific polling procedures, limited contention access procedures, and general contention access procedures, in relative proportion to the dynamically determined relative frequencies.