초록 ▼

A polling procedure providing the capabilities to assign and dynamically modify a user's communication parameters (i.e., response allocation and polling rate) based on the user's bandwidth requirements. In addition, the polling procedure instructs the users to delay their responses as a function of

A polling procedure providing the capabilities to assign and dynamically modify a user's communication parameters (i.e., response allocation and polling rate) based on the user's bandwidth requirements. In addition, the polling procedure instructs the users to delay their responses as a function of round-trip propagation delay and remaining response allocation for previously polled users to ensure that poll responses from separate users do not overlap.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed:] [1.] A polling method for providing efficient access to a shared communications medium by minimizing collisions and idle time for a plurality of interactive user stations coupled to a remote station which transmits polling signals, each user station having individual bandwidth re

[ What is claimed:] [1.] A polling method for providing efficient access to a shared communications medium by minimizing collisions and idle time for a plurality of interactive user stations coupled to a remote station which transmits polling signals, each user station having individual bandwidth requirements, the method comprising the steps of:establishing connections between the remote station and user stations;assigning to each user station, upon connection, a definite and respective polling rate, polling rate being defined as the number of polls per unit time received by a user station:assigning to each user station, upon connection, a definite and respective response size,transmitting a polling signal from the remote station to each user station at the respective assigned polling rates;transmitting a response from each user station no greater in size than the respective response sizes after receiving the polling signals;transmitting a request for modification from a user station to the remote station wherein the request indicates a change in bandwidth requirements for the user station,modifying when individual bandwidth requirements are transmitted by a user station, at least one of the respective polling rates or the respective response sizes for the user stations; andcontinuing communication between the remote station and the user stations with the modified polling rates and response sizes.