Resource reservation for packet-switched multiple-path communication system

摘要

A method and system for reserving channel resources in a random-access, multiple-path communication system utilizes a transmit group addressing arrangement for a reservation packet. A transceiver terminal wanting to transmit a signal must first send a reservation request packet to a packet router. Each reservation request packet includes an address header identifying the entire group of terminals to which the transmitting terminal belongs as the destination for the reservation request packet, and a data segment identifying the terminal and the channel resources to be reserved. After the reservation request packet is transmitted to the packet router, each terminal in the transmit group will determine the order of transmission depending on the sequence in which all reservation packets are received from the router. When a terminal begins transmission, a synchronization packet is sent as an indicator for allowing the remaining terminals to predict the end of transmission.