Methods and apparatus for managing an in-band data transmission via a communications link shared by multiple terminals
US5995611A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M1/57
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method which, in response to an alerting signal from a source, manages a data transfer from the source, via a communications link, to at least two terminals coupled with the communications link. The method (a) dynamically designates one of the at least two terminals as a token terminal, (b) generates an acknowledgment signal with the token terminal, and (c) terminates the communications link during the data transfer with the token terminal. The dynamic designation of the token terminal is performed by (a) assigning a time delay for each of the terminals, and (b) determining, with each of the terminals, after the assigned time delay, whether the terminal will accept the data transfer from the source based on a condition of the communications link.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.