Method and apparatus for dynamic bandwidth allocation in a digital communication session

An apparatus for synchronously transmitting and receiving a single digital signal between a first unit at a first location and a second unit at a second location, in a single communication session, wherein said digital signal contains data signals and non-data signals, the density of data signals in said digital signal (hereinafter:

• data rate) varying with time, wherein said units are connected by a plurality of channels, having a total transmission capacity rate (hereinafter:
• "total rate"), wherein said first unit has means for receiving the single digital signal, means for transmitting said single digital signal by cyclically distributing the single digital signal along the plurality of channels in the same order in each cycle, and wherein said second unit has means for receiving the digital signal from each of said channels, means for reconstituting the digital signals received from said plurality of channels, by said receiving means, into the transmitted single digital signal, wherein said apparatus comprising:
• means for measuring said data rate;
• and
• means for changing the number of said plurality of channels in response to changes in said data rate in said total rate.

A method of synchronously transmitting and receiving a single digital signal between a first unit at a first location and a second unit at a second location, in a single communication session, wherein said digital signal contains data signals and non-data signals, the density of non-data signals in said digital signal (hereinafter:

• non-data rate) varying with time, wherein said units are connected by a plurality of channels, having a total transmission capacity rate (hereinafter:
• "total rate"), wherein said first unit has means for receiving the single digital signal, means for transmitting said single digital signal by cyclically distributing the single digital signal along the plurality of channels in the same order in each cycle, and wherein said second unit has means for receiving the digital signal from each of said channels, means for reconstituting the digital signals received from said plurality of channels, by said receiving means, into the transmitted single digital signal, wherein said method comprising:
• measuring the non-data rate;
• and
• changing the number of said plurality of channels in response to changes in said non-data rate in said total rate.

An apparatus for synchronously transmitting and receiving a single digital signal between a first unit at a first location and a second unit at a second location, in a single communication session, wherein said digital signal contains data signals and non-data signals, the density of non-data signals in said digital signal (hereinafter:

• non-data rate) varying with time, wherein said units are connected by a plurality of channels, having a total transmission capacity rate (hereinafter:
• "total rate"), wherein said first unit has means for receiving the single digital signal, means for transmitting said single digital signal by cyclically distributing the single digital signal along the plurality of channels in the same order in each cycle, and wherein said second unit has means for receiving the digital signal from each of said channels, means for reconstituting the digital signals received from said plurality of channels, by said receiving means, into the transmitted single digital signal, wherein said apparatus comprising:
• means for measuring the non-data rate;
• and
• means for changing the number of said plurality of channels in response to changes in said non-data rate in said total rate.