Patent ID: 6625134
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
For use in a wireless network comprising a plurality of base transceiver stations, each of said base transceiver stations capable of establishing and maintaining communication links with a plurality of a mobile stations by means of at least one overhead channel and a plurality of data traffic channels, an apparatus for allocating said plurality of data traffic channels comprising:at least one of: a failure detection circuit capable of detecting a failure in said at least one overhead channel of a first base transceiver station and generating a failure notification; and an access request detection circuit capable of detecting an access request message received from an accessing one of said plurality of mobile stations and generating an access request notification; and a channel allocator capable of receiving at least one of said failure notification and said access request notification and, in response thereto, terminating a first communication link between said first base transceiver station and a first selected one of said plurality of mobile stations, wherein said first selected mobile station maintains at least a second communication link with at least a second base transceiver station, and at least one of: reconfiguring a first data traffic channel associated with said terminated first communication link as a replacement overhead channel replacing said failed overhead channel; and allocating said first data traffic channel associated with said terminated first communication link to establish a communication link with said accessing mobile station.