Cable television radio frequency subscriber data transmission apparatus and RF return method

A method of transferring data messages from a plurality of remote units to a central location, the method comprising the steps of:

• assigning each of the plurality of remote units to one of a plurality of groups of remote units;
• selecting a plurality of data channels for transmitting the data messages from said plurality of remote units to said central location;
• generating transmit times, at least one of which is random, for transmitting a data message from each remote unit within the time period associated with the group to which the remote unit is assigned, at least one transmit time being generated for each of said plurality of channels;
• and
• transmitting the data messages from the plurality of remote units to said central location over the plurality of data channels at the transmit times.

A remote unit for transferring a data message to a central location comprising:

• signal generating means for generating signals within a predetermined range of frequencies;
• channel selecting means for selecting a plurality of data channels within said predetermined range of frequencies;
• transmit time generator means for generating transmit times, at least one of which is random for transmitting the data message over each of said plurality of data channels;
• and
• transmitter means for transmitting the data message over the selected plurality of data channels at the transmit times.