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In an exemplary communications system a multiplicity of mobile terminals are to share a communications link with a primary processor. The primary processor may transmit a multiterminal polling signal defining a series of successive response time slots which the terminals may randomly select. A termi

In an exemplary communications system a multiplicity of mobile terminals are to share a communications link with a primary processor. The primary processor may transmit a multiterminal polling signal defining a series of successive response time slots which the terminals may randomly select. A terminal wishing to send a message transmits a brief response burst in the selected time slot giving its identification. The primary processor may then sequentially poll specific individual terminals having messages to send. The primary processor may maintain a record of currently active terminals and/or of collisions (where more than one terminal seeks to transmit in the same response time slot), and as needed may automatically send e.g. with its multiterminal poll, a time slot number change, creating a greater or lesser number of time slots for future use by the active terminals. The system is thus highly adaptable on a dynamic basis during operation so as to readily maintain optimum throughput under changing conditions. As a consequence additional terminals may become active simply by transmitting their respective identifications in randomly selected response time slots. The multiterminal poll may include a listing of one or more terminals for which the primary processor has a message so that the primary processor may be assured that such terminal is available (as indicated by its response in a random time slot) before a lengthy message is sent.

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A method of effecting communication between a primary processor means and a group of secondary processor means having respective distinctive identification means, with communication link means for affording communication therebetween, said method comprising: (a) operating said primary processor mean

A method of effecting communication between a primary processor means and a group of secondary processor means having respective distinctive identification means, with communication link means for affording communication therebetween, said method comprising: (a) operating said primary processor means to transmit a polling message via said communication link means, (b) operating the secondary processor means which receive said polling message and which have reason to respond thereto, (b1) to select from a series of response time slots less than the number of secondary processor means, and (b2) in the respective selected time slots, to send respective response messages which contain the respective identification means such that the primary processor means may identify respective secondary processor means of the group which have responded to the polling message, and (c) operating the primary processor means to time the expiration of the series of response time slots defining a response time interval and after expiration of such response time interval, to initiate communication via said communication link means with a particular one of said secondary processor means which has responded to said polling messages.