Timeslot Shifting for Lower-Priority Packets in Time Slotted Networks

The patent segments the time slotted schedule into multiple priority levels (first priority and second priority schedules). Each priority level operates with its own dedicated timeslots, preventing interference between different priority traffic while maintaining overall network capacity. This segmentation allows critical packets to have guaranteed transmission slots while less critical traffic utilizes remaining slots.

The patent introduces a priority dimension to the traditional single-dimension time slotted schedule. By adding priority levels as an additional dimension, the system can allocate timeslots not just by time but also by priority level, enabling multi-dimensional resource allocation that prevents collisions while maximizing network utilization.

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-allocating dedicated timeslots for lower-priority packets that do not overlap with higher-priority receive slots. Instead of deferring lower-priority transmissions until after higher-priority traffic is handled, the system proactively schedules non-conflicting slots in advance, ensuring both priority levels can transmit without loss.

The patent introduces a scheduling mechanism as an intermediary that mediates between higher-priority and lower-priority traffic requirements. This intermediary scheduler analyzes the channel distribution/usage matrix and priority requirements to allocate timeslots that satisfy both higher-priority reliability requirements and lower-priority transmission opportunities, preventing lost slots.