Patent ID: 6327256
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
In a communication system in which a first communication station is operable at least to communicate packet data to a second communication station, an improvement of apparatus for the first communication station for facilitating communication of the packet data upon time-slots defined upon a communication channel formed between the first communication station and the second communication station, said apparatus comprising:a fixed allocation requester coupled to receive indications of when the packet data is to be communicated to the second communication system, said fixed allocation requester for indicating the first communication station to be fixed allocation capable and for requesting allocation of a fixed sequence of successive time-slots defined upon the communication channel, the successive time-slots of the fixed sequence of which the allocation is requested defining a transmission rate at which the packets of data are to be communicated upon the communication channel to the second communication station;an allocation grant detector coupled to receive indications of a grant of the fixed sequence of the successive time-slots received at the first communication station, the fixed sequence of the successive time-slots, and the grant encompassing the plurality of the successive time-slots said allocation grant detector for detecting when the fixed sequence of the successive time-slots are allocated to the first communication station to communicate the packet data thereon; anda formatter operable responsive to detection by said allocation grant detector of the allocation of the fixed sequence of the successive time-slots to communicate the packet data thereon, said formatter for formatting the packet data within the time-slots of the fixed sequence of the successive time-slots allocated to the first communication station.