Method, device and router for providing a contention-based reservation mechanism within a mini-slotted dynamic entry polling slot supporting multiple service classes

A device/router for providing a contention-based reservation mechanism within a mini-slotted dynamic Entry Polling (EP) slot in a multiple-access communication system having a central controller with the local and global system state information, having a microprocessor that includes a computer program embodying the contention-based reservation mechanism and the computer program, stored in memory, for:

• upon contending, by a plurality of multi-class users, each having a service class, for minislots assigned to the service class to provide a reservation of an allocation of bandwidth for a service class request, providing contention outcomes,
• wherein the computer program comprises:
• A) means for processing the contention outcomes and assigning a service class to each of the minislots for a next mini-slotted dynamic EP slot to each of the minislots, and updating local and global system state information;
• B) means for providing feedback and minislot assignments to the multi-class users wherein the multi-class users determine whether the reservation was accepted and if a multi-class user is eligible to contend/recontend, wherein eligibility of each service class is updated immediately following an entry poll,
• wherein
• B1) where the reservation is accepted, means for waiting, by the multi-class users, for bandwidth to be allocated by the central controller and upon allocation, transmitting the service class request and updating local state information;
• and
• B2) where users must contend again, means for determining eligibility and,
• where eligible, contending on a next broadcast entry poll that supports the multi-class user's service class, and
• where ineligible, waiting for entry poll feedback to determine a time when the multi-class user may contend.