METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTED QUEUE DIGITAL DATA TRANSMISSION EMPLOYING VARIABLE LENGTH DATA SLOTS

摘要

A data transmitting and receiving network includes a plurality of nodal apparatus for sending and receiving digital data in variable length data slots. The nodal apparatus includes a storage device [76] for maintaining a conflict resolution queue representative of a nodal apparatus sending simultaneous requests for transmission causing a collision during a minislot. The nodal apparatus also includes a transmission queue [86], stored in the storage device [76]. The transmission queue [86] is indicative of a nodal apparatus that has successfully transmitted during a minislot. The apparatus includes a transmitter [66] for sending a variable length data slot signal comprising digital data in response to the state of the transmission queue [86]. The nodal apparatus also includes a receiver [300] for receiving a variable length data slot signal.