Patent ID: 7433340
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for allocating wireless channels in a wireless communications unit comprising: identifying a plurality of forward channels dedicated for wireless communication from the wireless communications unit to one or more remote wireless communications units; identifying a plurality of reverse channels dedicated for communication from the one or more remote wireless communications units to the wireless communications unit; scheduling the plurality of forward channels according to a first predetermined cycle, wherein each forward channel is assigned a corresponding forward time slot in the first predetermined cycle; scheduling the plurality of reverse channels according to a second predetermined cycle, wherein each reverse channel is assigned a corresponding reverse time slot in the second predetermined cycle; and allocating the plurality of forward and reverse channels for communication between the wireless communications unit and one or more remote wireless communications units, wherein each forward time slot has a partial time overlap with a corresponding reverse time slot for wireless communication with a particular remote wireless communications unit such that the second predetermined cycle is out of phase with the first predetermined cycle by an offset value of less than one time slot and such that return messages for wireless communication with the particular remote wireless communications unit are processed and transmitted in less than one time slot, wherein the offset value is determined based on at least one of a volume of message traffic, an availability of channels, and a likelihood of processing and enqueueing of the return messages before a next time slot.