CPC H04W 74/04 (2013.01) [H04W 72/0446 (2013.01); H04W 74/006 (2013.01); H04W 74/0816 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |
1. An access point in a communication network, the access point comprising a transmitter, a receiver and controlling electronics and configured to:
transmit, using the transmitter and via one or more scheduling messages, one or more schedules indicating a plurality of uplink transmission opportunities on a shared channel for a plurality of respective devices of the communication network, each transmission opportunity of the plurality corresponding to a respective time slot and a respective mini slot forming part of said respective time slot; and
monitor, using the receiver, the shared channel for transmissions from the plurality of devices according to the one or more schedules, each of the plurality of devices configured to determine whether to use or refrain from using each transmission opportunity assigned thereto based at least in part on an internal condition, each of the transmissions beginning in a particular mini slot of a time slot and continuing into a subsequent portion of said time slot.
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