# US 2008/0186859 A1 · Code multiplexed requests for controlling access to a shared communication medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186859 A1 - Document ID: US20080186859A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/771,810 - Filed: 2007-06-29 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-06 - Assignees: ViaSat, Inc. - Inventors: Donald W. Becker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186859A1 ## CPC - H04B 7/18582: {Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access} - H04W 72/1273: of downlink data flows - H04W 72/21: in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network - H04W 84/06: Airborne or Satellite Networks (space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses are presented for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, involving (a) sending a request from a first node, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space utilizing a plurality of request code words each corresponding to a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent using a request code word that is one of the plurality of request code words, (b) obtaining an assignment associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space, and (c) from the first node, sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, the method comprising: (a) sending a request from a first node in the plurality of nodes, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space utilizing a plurality of request code words each corresponding to a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent using a request code word that is one of the plurality of request code words; (b) obtaining an assignment associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space; and (c) from the first node, sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request in accordance with the assignment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the request signal space and the scheduled transmission signal space are defined over different time slots and a common frequency range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the request signal space comprises a first collection of time slots in a frame of time slots, and the scheduled transmission signal space comprises a second collection of time slots in the frame of time slots. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the request signal space and the scheduled transmission signal space are defined over a common time duration and different frequency ranges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the request signal space and the scheduled transmission signal space are defined over a common time duration and a common frequency range, using different code words. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein an inner code comprises a plurality of inner code words, including at least one first inner code word and a at least one second inner code word, the at least one first inner code word used to define the request signal space, the at least one second inner code word used to define the scheduled transmission signal space, and wherein an outer code comprises a plurality of outer code words, the request sent by using one of the at least one first inner code word and one of the plurality of outer code words. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of inner code words has a 32-chip spread interval, and each of the plurality of the outer code words has a 16-chip spread interval. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of inner code words correspond to a Walsh code, and the plurality of outer code words correspond to another Walsh code. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of request code words correspond to a Walsh code. ### Claim 10 A method for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes including a first node and a second node, the method comprising: (a) at the second node, receiving a request from the first node, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space utilizing a plurality of request code words each having a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent using a request code word that is one of the plurality of request code words; (b) at the second node, making an assignment associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space, and sending a corresponding assignment message; and (c) at the second node, receiving a data transmission from the first node in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, comprising: (a) a first node capable of sending a request over the shared communication medium, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space utilizing a plurality of request code words each having a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the first node capable of sending the request using a request code word that is one of the plurality of request code words; (b) wherein the first node is capable of obtaining an assignment associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space; and (c) wherein the first node is capable of sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request in accordance with the assignment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the request signal space and the scheduled transmission signal space are defined over different time slots and a common frequency range. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the request signal space comprises a first collection of time slots in a frame of time slots, and the scheduled transmission signal space comprises a second collection of time slots in the frame of time slots. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the request signal space and the scheduled transmission signal space are defined over a common time duration and different frequency ranges. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the request signal space and the scheduled transmission signal space are defined over a common time duration and a common frequency range, using different code words. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an inner code comprises a plurality of inner code words, including at least one first inner code word and a at least one second inner code word, the at least one first inner code word used to define the request signal space, the at least one second inner code word used to define the scheduled transmission signal space, and wherein an outer code comprises a plurality of outer code words, the request sent by using one of the at least one first inner code word and one of the plurality of outer code words. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of inner code words has a 32-chip spread interval, and each of the plurality of the outer code words has a 16-chip spread interval. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the plurality of inner code words correspond to a Walsh code, and the plurality of outer code words correspond to another Walsh code. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the plurality of request code words correspond to a Walsh code. ### Claim 20 An apparatus for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, comprising: (a) a second node capable of receiving a request from a first node, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space utilizing a plurality of request code words each having a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the second node capable of receiving the request using a request code word that is one of the plurality of request code words; (b) wherein the second node is capable of making an assignment associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space, and sending a corresponding assignment message; and (c) wherein the second node is capable of receiving a data transmission from the first node in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request.