Patent ID: 8798088
Filing Date: 2014-08-05
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. In an access network, a method for managing usage of traffic-channel resources that results from a traffic channel assignment (TCA) process, the method comprising: a base station determining a usage level of at least one traffic-channel resource in a coverage area of the access network, wherein the base station is configured to use the TCA process to assign a separate traffic channel in the coverage area to each of one or more access terminals, and each separately assigned traffic channel accounts for a respective amount of usage of at least a portion of the at least one traffic-channel resource, and wherein determining the usage level of the at least one traffic-channel resource in the coverage area comprises determining an amount of the at least one traffic-channel resource utilized as a result of the base station having assigned one or more separate traffic channels in the coverage area; based at least in part on the determined usage level, updating one or more TCA parameters for the TCA process, wherein the TCA process is configured for assigning respective traffic channels to one or more access terminals for establishing communication sessions in the coverage area, and wherein the one or more TCA parameters are updated so as to affect expected usage of the traffic-channel resource that results from the TCA process; and after updating the one or more TCA parameters, performing the TCA process according to the updated TCA parameters for at least a first access terminal.