Contention media access control for telecommunications

A system comprising:

• an access point configured for receiving signals, and configured for transmitting signals comprising contention frames, contention grants, and data frames;
• and
• one or more remotes comprising a first remote configured for receiving signals, and configured for transmitting signals comprising contention requests and data frames,
• wherein the first remote is configured for transmitting one of the contention requests within a selected period of time after receiving one of the contention frames from the access point,
• wherein the access point is configured for transmitting one of the contention grants to the first remote after receiving said one of the contention requests from the first remote,
• wherein the first remote is configured for transmitting one of the data frames after receiving said one of the contention grants from the access point,
• wherein the selected period of time after receiving one of the contention frames defines a contention period,
• wherein the access point is further configured for selecting a remote from among the one or more remotes if the access point receives contention requests from the one or more remotes during the contention period,
• wherein the access point is further configured for transmitting a contention grant only to the selected remote after the contention period,
• wherein the one or more remotes are each further configured to implement a first delay before transmitting a subsequent contention request, if the one or more remotes transmit a contention request and do not receive a contention grant after the contention period during which the contention request was transmitted.

A method of operating an access point and a plurality of remotes, the access point and the remotes being configured for receiving and transmitting signals, the plurality of remotes comprising a first remote and a second remote, the method comprising:

• transmitting a series of contention frames from the access point, defining contention periods between the contention frames;
• transmitting a contention request from the first remote during one of the contention periods;
• transmitting a contention request from the second remote during one of the contention periods;
• if the access point receives one contention request during one of the contention periods, then transmitting a contention grant from the access point to one of the remotes having an address indicated in the one received contention request;
• if the access point receives more than one contention request during one of the contention periods, then selecting one of the remotes having an address indicated in one of the received contention requests, and transmitting a contention grant from the access point to the selected remote;
• if one of the remotes receives a contention grant, then transmitting a data frame from said one of the remotes in a contention period subsequent to the contention grant;
• and
• if said one of the remotes does not receive a contention grant in a contention period subsequent to transmitting a contention request, then causing said one of the remotes to implement a delay prior to sending a new contention request, then transmitting a new contention request from said one of the remotes after passage of the delay.