Method for distributing sets of collision resolution parameters in a frame-based communications network

摘要

A method for distributing sets of collision resolution parameters to be used for resolution of network access contention events among nodes of a non-centralized media access control shared medium network. A set of collision resolution parameters is provided which includes a sequence of fixed numbers for resolving a single network access contention event. A single collision signal slot master node is identified when one or more candidate collision signal slot master nodes exist. Collision signal slot request messages are sent from client nodes addressed to all network nodes. Collision signal slot assignment messages are sent from the master node to the client nodes. A collision resolution parameter set to be employed by that given client node is obtained at a given client node from within a received collision signal slot assignment message. Collision signal slot acknowledgment messages are sent from client nodes addressed to all network nodes. Collision signal slot drop messages are sent from client nodes addressed to all network nodes.