Patent ID: 6556824
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a radio communication system having a fixed network including a plurality of spaced-apart, fixed-site transceivers positioned throughout a geographic area, each fixed-site transceiver defining a coverage area in which communications with a mobile station are permitted pursuant to a service subscription, a combination with the fixed network of apparatus for reducing a desired QoS (quality of service) level of communications between the mobile station and the fixed network to a selected degraded QoS level when continued communications pursuant to at least a first communication service at the desired QoS level is unavailable, said apparatus comprising:a service subscription register associated with the at least the first communication service, said service subscription register for storing an indication of at least a first selected degraded QoS level at which the communications pursuant to the at least the first communication service are to be maintained if the continued communications at the desired QoS level are unable to be maintained; and a resource availability determiner and service level selector coupled to receive information representative of the at least the first selected degraded QoS level when the communications are unavailable at the desired QoS level, said resource reserver for selectively reserving resources of the radio communication system to assure that the communications are able to continue pursuant to the at least the first degraded QoS level.