IMPROVED CONTENTION-BASED COMMUNICATIONS

摘要

Methods and apparatus are presented for conducting communications using a shared communication medium. A message is sent over the shared communication medium. The shared communication medium is organized to include an allocation of node identification signal space and an allocation of data transmission signal space. The allocation of node identification signal space includes a plurality of node identification segments. The allocation of data transmission signal space includes a data transmission segment. The message includes a node identification portion and a data transmission portion. The node identification portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space and occupies a node identification segment. The data transmission portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space and occupies the data transmission segment.