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Abstract

A medium-access protocol is disclosed for use in a communication network to provide a two-way broadband communication network. The communication network comprises a central network controller (CNC) and a plurality of user nodes, and the protocol comprises the steps of: (a) providing an RF modulator and a receiver tuner for each of the user nodes; (b) allocating a plurality of vacant CATV channel for the CNC, each channel being assigned a separate frequency band; (c) causing a first user node, which intents to communicate with a second user node, to send a request-to-communicate signal to the CNC via a first frequency band centered at first frequency, the first user node having a first RF modulator and a first receiver tuner, and the second user node having a second RF modulator and a second receiver tuner; (d) causing the CNC to send a checking signal to the second user via a second frequency band centered at second frequency to see whether the second user is busy; (e) if the second user is not busy, then causing the CNC to assign a third frequency band centered at a third carrier frequency to the first RF modulator provided for the first user node and a fourth frequency band centered at a fourth carrier frequency to the second RF modulator provided for the first user node, and tuning the first receiver tuner to the fourth carrier frequency and tuning the second receiver tuner to the third carrier frequency; and (f) causing the first user node and the second user node to communicate via the third and fourth frequency bands. With this protocol, about 600 (analog) to 10,000 (digital) pairs of users can be allowed to communicate with each other at the same time. A security checking procedure can be provided by: (a) roll-call polling each user node to check a status thereof; and (b) warning a network manager if no response is received from any of the user nodes within a predetermined period of time.

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First Claim