Patent ID: 9215645
Filing Date: 2015-12-15
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A radio terminal configured to communicate with an access network over a radio interface using access resources, the radio terminal being associated with one of a set of access classes, each access class being associated with an access priority level, where the radio terminal's ability to access the access network depends on whether the access class and associated access priority level of the radio terminal is permitted to access the access network, the radio terminal comprising: radio circuitry configured to receive information from the access network about limited access resources related to one or more access classes permitted to access the access network, where radio terminals that are not associated with a permitted access class are prohibited from using the limited access resources, and processing circuitry, coupled to the radio circuitry, configured to distribute use of the limited access resources by determining, based on the access class and associated access priority level of the radio terminal, a first set of one or more time periods during which one or more available access resources, permitted for use by the access class and associated access priority level of the radio terminal, may be used by the radio terminal to communicate an initial access attempt to acquire a connection with the access network, the first set of one or more time periods being different from other sets of one or more time periods permitted for use by radio terminals in other access classes to communicate with the access network, wherein the radio circuitry is configured to self-restrict communication with the access network using the one or more available access resources such that the initial access attempt to acquire the connection with the access network is not made before the first set of one or more time periods thereby reducing a load on the limited access resources.