Patent ID: 8767567
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a wireless communication system, wherein a series of repeating overhead control cycles of a control channel of a wireless link provided by a wireless access node each comprise a plurality of time slots, and wherein the wireless communication system exchanges overhead information with wireless communication devices over the control channel during individual ones of the time slots, the method comprising: in the wireless access node, wirelessly receiving a registration request for wireless communication service from one of the wireless communication devices; in response to the registration request, processing loading information for the overhead control cycles of the control channel indicating at least a quantity of the wireless communication devices already assigned to each of the overhead control cycles of the control channel to identify one of the overhead control cycles of the control channel to assign the one of the wireless communication devices; assigning the one of the wireless communication devices to the one of the overhead control cycles of the control channel of the wireless link provided by the wireless access node; and wirelessly indicating the assigned one of the overhead control cycles of the control channel to the one of the wireless communication devices, wherein the one of the wireless communication devices monitors the time slots during the assigned one of the overhead control cycles of the control channel and does not monitor the time slots during the not assigned overhead control cycles of the control channel.