Fixed rate data slot scheduling

Abstract

Described is a method, wherein consecutive data slots (1, . . . N), which are located between a beginning and an end of a frame (1, . . . 4) included in a group of successive frames (1, . . . 4), are assigned to intra frame group defined data slot connections for establishing an upstream data transfer from one or more secondary stations (3-1, . . . 3-n) through a transmission channel (CH) to a primary station (2). The system may be a hybrid fiber coax data communication system. Several of such data slot connections between one or more secondary stations and the primary station are thus defined. Those data slots (1, . . . N) that are assigned to said data slot connections are concentrated, either at the beginning or at the end of the group of successive frames (1, . . . 4) by reallocating at least one data slot connection. The method makes an effective and well balanced use of the transmission channel by carrying out a reallocation of at least one data slot connection. The reallocation involves the termination of an existing data slot connection to be reallocated, and the rescheduling thereof in a next group of frames.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.