Patent ID: 6411815
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for a communication system to arbitrate service requests from a plurality of communication units, the communication system comprising a hierarchy of service arbitrators with at least one primary arbitrator hierarchically above at least one secondary arbitrator, the at least one primary arbitrator having full arbitration authority and the at least one secondary arbitrator having less arbitration authority than the at least one primary arbitrator, the method comprising the steps of:receiving, by a secondary arbitrator of the at least one secondary arbitrator, a service request that originated from a communication unit of the plurality of communication units; determining, by the secondary arbitrator, whether the service request should be denied based on information available to the secondary arbitrator; when the secondary arbitrator determines that the service request should be denied, notifying the communication unit that the service request is denied; when the secondary arbitrator determines that the service request should not be denied, forwarding the service request to a primary arbitrator of the at least one primary arbitrator; receiving, prior to the step of receiving a service request, an earlier service request that originated from a second communication unit of the plurality of communication units; and storing information related to the earlier service request, wherein information related to the earlier service request comprises information selected from the group consisting of a priority level of the earlier service request and a requested quality of service.