Abstract:
The invention is comprised of communication devices designed to provide an array of communication services from network systems to a residential or business consumer through broadband wireless communications. The invention provides a diverse mixture of communication services by utilizing a media access control (MAC) and asynchronous time division multiplexing technique. The invention uses a time slotted transmission scheme where data from communication services are multiplexed according to their delivery requirements which include bandwidth, delay and loss requirements. The invention primarily is comprised of a subscriber unit system and a base station system. The base station system is connected to network systems by a metropolitan fiber ring or terrestrial microwave system using SONET and/or ATM/optic protocols. A base station provides the communication service to the consumer by; 1) receiving a request for a communication service over a wireless transmission link; 2) in response to receiving the request, dynamically configuring a media access control layer in a wireless transmission link for the requested communication service; and 3) generating and transmitting an instruction to provide the requested communication service over the wireless transmission link using the dynamically configured media access control layer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention is related to the field of communication systems, and in particular, to a broadband wireless communication system. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the past, wireless communications solved problems of time and cost expense in providing telecommunication services to the end user. However, a wireless solution traditionally has been limited to specific service applications such as radio broadcast or wireless telephony. Both wired and wireless capacity would be allocated based on the traffic patterns. Spectral bearer channel allocations would be rearranged based on a demand pattern matched to traffic patterns. The numerous delivery requirements of different telecommunication services make providing a host of services over wireless communications a difficult task. Recently with the proliferation of the Internet, new types of communications have been added to the array of communication services offered to consumers. Relatively new Internet applications such as web browsing, chat rooms, and PUSH technology have joined e-mail and bulletin boards as conventional communication services. 
     With each new communication service, a new challenge arises due to a new set of delivery requirements that usually differ from delivery requirements of other communication services. The delivery requirements describe the characteristics which control how communication services are provided to the consumer. Certain services such as video and audio are time dependent, while e-mail and text are not. Telephone conversations and web browsing require delivery in real time, while video mail can be observed at a later point. Another delivery requirement is quality of service. Voice communications can have some errors or static and still be understood by the listener. On the other hand, downloading a computer program must be error free. Other delivery requirements include traffic pattern, bandwidth, priority, and grade of service. New communication services will bring about needs for new kinds of delivery requirements. 
     Providing a wired solution to every residence and business can be costly and time consuming. Also, current wired solutions may not have the speed and capacity to handle new communication services. For example, the emergence of the Internet and more specifically the World Wide Web has brought about the need for dedicated computer lines such as ISDN lines in order to bypass speed and capacity restrictions of telephone lines. Telephone lines could support new video cameras linked to people&#39;s Internet home pages, but the result would be too slow. Other wired solutions could use current cable wires in residential homes, but cable companies may be reluctant to enter new markets by offering a host of communication services for various business reasons. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention solves the above problem by providing a host of communications services from network systems to a residential or business consumer through broadband wireless communications. Some examples of communication services that could be provided are telephony, multimedia, Internet applications, digital audio, and video entertainment. The invention supports the varying delivery requirements for multiple communication services. Some examples of the delivery requirements are time dependency, quality of service, real time dependency, and traffic pattern. 
     The invention primarily is comprised of a subscriber unit system and a base station system. The base station system is connected to network systems by a metropolitan fiber ring or terrestrial microwave system using SONET and/or ATM protocols. The base station is positioned close enough so that wireless communications are feasible with the subscriber unit system. The invention uses packet transmission network architecture to provide always-connected communication services, even for connectionless services. The invention provides the communication service to the consumer by: 1) receiving a request for a communication service into a base station system over a wireless transmission link, 2) in response to receiving the request, dynamically configuring a media access control layer in a wireless transmission link for the requested communication service, and 3) generating and transmitting an instruction to provide the requested communication service over the wireless transmission link using the dynamically configured media access control layer. 
     The invention advantageously provides a diverse mixture of communication services by utilizing a media access control (MAC) and asynchronous time division multiplexing technique. The invention uses a time slotted transmission scheme where data from communication services are multiplexed according to their delivery requirements which include bandwidth, delay, and loss requirements. In a typical MAC frame, time slots are allocated to communication services which have quality of service requirements, and then the remaining time slots are allocated to communication services without quality of service requirements. The MAC frame will also include a fixed length request slot for MAC, contention/resolution, and signaling/supervision information. The remainder of the MAC frame is the bearer capacity which includes constant bit rate, variable bit rate, and data slots. This bearer capacity will be shared by multiple users and multiple communication services. 
     Another advantage is the use of wireless communications for providing the diverse array of communications services. Wireless communications will allow new communication services to be provided to end user without the burdens of wiring the residence or business for the new services. Also, existing communication services will be freed from constraints of the existing wired solution. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a system-level block diagram in an example of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a media access control (MAC) frame format in a MAC layer in an example of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a flow chart for providing communication service in an example of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a subscriber unit system in an example of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a base unit system in an example of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a subscriber call request in an example of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a subscriber internet request in an example of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a flow chart for the generation or modification of allocation rules and control families in an example of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a flow chart for configuring the MAC layer in an example of the broadband wireless access system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     System Configuration and Operation— FIGS. 1–2   
       FIG. 1  discloses a broadband wireless access system comprised of a subscriber unit system  100  and a base station system  120 . The subscriber unit system  100  is comprised of a subscriber control system  102 , a communication interface system  104 , a MUX  106 , and a subscriber wireless transceiver  108 . The subscriber control system  102  is connected to the communication interface system  104 , the MUX  106 , and the subscriber wireless transceiver  108 . A communication device  110  and a communication device  112  are connected to the communication interface system  104 . The MUX  106  is connected to the communication interface system  104  and the subscriber wireless transceiver  108 . 
     The base station system  120  is comprised of a connection admission control system  122  (CAC), a base wireless transceiver  124 , a MUX  126 , and a network interface system  128 . The CAC  122  is connected with the base wireless transceiver  124 , the MUX  110 , and the network interface system  128 . The base wireless transceiver  124  is connected to the MUX  126 . The network interface system  128  is connected to the MUX  126  and network systems  130 . The subscriber wireless transceiver  108  communicates with the base wireless transceiver  124  through wireless communications. 
     The communication service could mean any service provided to a subscriber in which the subscriber unit system  100  exchanges information with another device or person. Some examples of communication services are voice communications, FAX communications, audio broadcasts, pay-per-view video broadcasts, web browsing, transferring data files, and e-mail. The communication devices  110  and  112  could be any device that transfers or receives information such as voice or data. Some examples of communications devices are telephones, cellular telephones, fax machines, answering machines, private branch exchange, computers, personal LANs, stereos, and televisions. 
     The communication interface system  104  could be any device that receives requests for communication service from the communication devices  110  and  112 , transmits requests for communication service to the MUX  106 , receives control information from the subscriber control system  102 , and exchanges communication services between the communication devices  110  and  112  and the MUX  106 . The communication interface system  104  could be a voice interface that acts as a POTS interface, supervises signals, channels voice lines, or resolves contention between voice lines. The communication interface system  104  could also be a data interface that manages data stream, performs asynchronous time division, or concentrates data lines. 
     The MUX  106  could be any conventional multiplexer that receives and transmits communication service requests from the communication interface system  104  to the subscriber wireless transceiver  108 , receives control information from the subscriber control system  102 , and exchanges communication services between the communication interface system  104  and the subscriber wireless transceiver  108 . The MUX  106  typically is an electronic device which passes a plurality of signals over one communications circuit. 
     The subscriber wireless transceiver  108  could be any conventional transceiver that receives and transmits communication service requests from the MUX  106  to the base wireless transceiver  124 , receives control information from the subscriber control system  102 , and exchanges communication services between the MUX  106  and the base wireless transceiver  124 . The term “wireless transceiver” could mean any device or plurality of devices that transmits and/or receives transmissions without the use of wires. 
     The subscriber control system  102  communicates with the connection admission control system  122  to coordinate the operation of the communication interface system  104 , the MUX  106 , and the subscriber wireless transceiver  108 . The subscriber control system  102  requests and receives instructions to manage the dynamically configured MAC layer. Those skilled in the art may appreciate that the subscriber control system  102  may be distributed within the communication interface system  104 , the MUX  106 , and the subscriber wireless transceiver  108 . 
     The base wireless transceiver  124  could be any conventional transceiver that receives and transmits communication service requests from the subscriber wireless transceiver  108  to the MUX  126 , receives control information from the CAC  122 , and exchanges communication services between the subscriber wireless transceiver  108  and the MUX  126 . 
     The MUX  126  could be any conventional multiplexer that receives and transmits communication service requests from the base wireless transceiver  124  to the network interface system  128 , receives control information from the CAC  122 , and exchanges communication services between the base wireless transceiver  124  and the network interface system  128 . The MUX  126  typically is an electronic device which passes a plurality of signals over one communications circuit. 
     The network interface system  128  could be any device or plurality of devices that receives and transmits communication service requests from the MUX  126  to the CAC  122  and exchanges communication services between the MUX  126  and the network systems  130 . The network interface system  128  could perform POTS line concentration or manage ATD or packet data stream. 
     The network systems  130  could be any system or plurality of systems that bill, authorize, or exchange communication services with the network interface system  128 . Some examples of networks systems  130  are public internet servers, private corporate intranet servers, video programming systems, multimedia network servers, and POTS servers. 
     The connection admission control system  122  could be any computer processing platform that: 1) receives a request for a communication service over a wireless transmission link, 2) in response to receiving the request, dynamically configures a media access control layer in a wireless transmission link for the requested communication service, and 3) generates and transmits an instruction to provide the requested communication service over the wireless transmission link using the dynamically configured media access control layer. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a media access control (MAC) frame format in a MAC layer for one embodiment of the invention. A MAC control frame format (MAC frame)  200  is comprised of a fixed allocation sub frame  202  and a dynamic allocation sub frame  204 . The fixed allocation sub frame  202  has requests slots  206  and constant bit rate slots  208 . The dynamic allocation sub frame  204  has variable bit rate slots  210  and data slots  212 . Each slot will contain packets of information. Each packet of information is in a certain position of the MAC frame  200 . A section of the MAC frame format comprises of a group of positions in the MAC frame  200 . 
     Reservation information  214  is placed in the request slots  206 . Reservation information  214  is control information for the communication service. Some examples of reservation information are user profile of authorized services, capacity parameters based on service priorities, service prioritization table, and system user ID correlation to service addresses (ex. IP address and phone numbers). In one embodiment of the invention, voice packets  216  are positioned in CBR slots  208  by circuit mode reservation. VBR packets  218  are placed in VBR slots  210  by using a statistical multiplexing algorithm where available capacity is allocated among demands based on usage parameters declared during call set-up. Data packets  220  are placed in the data slots  212  by using a first-come-first-serve queuing method. Those skilled in the art will understand the various queuing methods that could be used to reserve packets in the slots. Other examples of queuing methods are fair queuing, burst servicing policies, last come first serve logic, and time of expiry queuing. 
     Those skilled in the art can appreciate an error checking structure in order to prevent errors in error free communications such as file downloading and e-mail. The error checking structure can include sequence numbers or the equivalent to detect if a packet received has been corrupted in which case retransmission can be requested. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a flow chart for providing communication service in the broadband wireless access system. The flow chart begins in step  300 . In step  302 , the communications interface system  104  receives a request from the communication device  110  for communication service with network element systems  130 . The communication interface system  104  transmits the request for communication service to the CAC  122  via the MUX  106 , the subscriber wireless transceiver  108 , the base wireless transceiver  124 , and the MUX  126  in step  304 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the communication service request can originate from the network systems  130  and can be transmitted to the CAC  122  via the network interface system  128  and the MUX  126 . For example, the network systems  130  may have an incoming call for the communication device  110 . 
     In response to receiving the request, the CAC  122  identifies a section in the MAC layer of a wireless transmission for the requested communication service in step  306 . In step  308 , the CAC  122  then arbitrates access between the request and other requests for communication services within the section of the MAC layer identified in step  306 . In step  310 , the CAC  122  then identifies a position in the section of the MAC layer for the requested communication service based on the arbitration in step  308 . The CAC  122  dynamically configures the MAC layer for the requested communication service in steps  306 – 310 . Steps  306 – 310  may be based on the delivery requirements of the communication service. Some examples of the delivery requirements are time dependency, need for real time communication, quality of service, traffic pattern, bandwidth, priority, and grade of service. 
     The CAC  122  generates an instruction to provide the communication service using the position in the dynamically configured MAC layer. The CAC  122  then transmits the instruction for the MUX  126  and the MUX  106  to coordinate the provision of the communication service. In alternative embodiments, the CAC  122  may also transmit the instruction to the subscriber control system  102 , the interface system  104 , and/or the interface system  128 . The communication service is then provided between the network system  130  and the communication device  110  through the network interface system  128 , the MUX  126 , the base wireless transceiver  124 , the subscriber wireless transceiver  108 , the MUX  106 , and the communication interface system  104 . Once the communication service concludes, the session terminates connections and wireless capacity tears down in reverse order ending the session. 
     Broadband Wireless Communication System— FIGS. 4–9   
       FIGS. 4–9  disclose one embodiment of the invention, but the invention is not restricted to the configuration provided below. Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous variations in broadband wireless system configuration and operation that are within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate how the principles illustrated in this example can be used in other examples of the invention. A particular reference number in one figure refers to the same element in all of the other figures. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a subscriber unit system  400 . The subscriber unit system  400  is comprised of a voice communication interface (VCI)  406 , a MUX receive system  412 , a 64 QAM modem  414 , an RF receiver  416 , an antenna  418 , a data communication interface (DCI)  426 , a MUX transmit system  440 , a QPSK modem  442 , a RF transmitter  444 , and an antenna  446 . A telephone  402  and a telephone  404  are connected to the voice communication interface  406 . The VCI  406  is coupled to the MUX receive system  412  by a signal link  408  and a downstream voice link  410 . The MUX receive system  412  is connected to the 64 QAM modem  414 . The RF receiver  416  is connected to the 64 QAM modem  414  and the antenna  418 . 
     A computer  420  and a set top box  424  are connected to the DCI  426 . A television  422  is connected to the set top box  424 . The DCI  426  is connected to the MUX receive system by a downstream data link  438 . The DCI  426  is coupled to the MUX transmit system  440  by an upstream data link  436  and a MAC layer link  434 . The VCI  406  is connected to the MUX transmit system by an upstream voice link  428 , an upstream signal link  430 , and a MAC layer link  432 . The MUX transmit system is connected to the QPSK modem  442 . The RF transmitter  444  is connected to the QPSK modem  442  and the antenna  446 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a base station system  500 . The base station system  500  is comprised of an antenna  502 , an RF transmitter  504 , a 64 QAM modem  506 , a MUX transmit system  508 , a POTS line concentration system (POTS LCS)  514 , a connection admission control system (CAC)  522 , an antenna  526 , an RF receiver  528 , a 64 QAM modem  530 , a MUX receive system  532 , a data stream management system (DSM)  544 , a POTS server interface (POTS SI)  524 , and a data network element interface (DNE)  546 . The RF transmitter  504  is connected to the antenna  502  and the 64 QAM modem  506 . The 64 QAM modem  506  is connected to the MUX transmit system  508 . The MUX transmit system  508  is coupled to the POTS LCS  514  by an upstream voice link  510  and an upstream signal link  512 . The POTS SI  524  is connected to the POTS LCS  514 . 
     The connection admission control system  522  is connected to the POTS LCS  514  and the DSM  544 . The RF receiver  528  is connected to the antenna  526  and the 64 QAM modem  530 . The 64 QAM modem  530  is connected with the MUX receive system  532 . The MUX receive system  532  is connected with the POTS LCS  514  by a downstream voice link  534  and a downstream signal link  536 . The MUX receive system  532  is also connected to the DSM  544  by a downstream data link  538  and a MAC layer link  540 . The MUX transmit system  508  is connected with the DSM  544  by an upstream data link  516  and a MAC layer link  518 . The DNE  546  is connected to the DSM  544 . 
     The subscriber unit system  400  can be either fixed or portable which provides the user with greater freedom and flexibility to change locations within a coverage area. The base station systems  500  are placed strategically to direct radiant energy to cells within a coverage area. The base station systems  500  are designed to only use frequencies within its coverage area. This configuration allows the reuse of frequencies throughout the entire system. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the use of repeaters to fill holes where wireless communications do not exist and increase signal strength where wireless signals are weak. The use of repeaters will improve the coverage of wireless communications. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a flow chart for a subscriber calling in the broadband wireless access system.  FIG. 6  begins at step  600 . In step  602 , the subscriber picks up the telephone  402  and the telephone  402  goes off hook. The VCI  406  sends an Initial Address Message (IAM) signal to the POTS LCS  514  through an upstream signaling connection. The upstream signaling connection is comprised of the upstream signal link  430 , the MUX transmit system  440 , the QPSK modem  442 , the RF transmitter  444 , the antenna  446 , a wireless signaling channel, the antenna  526 , the RF receiver  528 , the 64 QAM modem  530 , the MUX receive system  532 , and the downstream signal link  536 . 
     In step  604 , the POTS LCS  514  transmits the IAM signal to the POTS SI  524 . In response to receiving the IAM signal, the POTS SI  524  then responds with a dial tone to the POTS LCS  514  in step  608 . While the IAM signal is transmitted to the POTS SI  524 , the CAC  522  receives a request for the voice communication service from the POTS LCS  514  in step  606 . In step  610 , the CAC  522  then identifies positions in the dynamically configured MAC layer for an upstream voice communication and a downstream voice communication. In step  612 , the CAC  522  generates and transmits an instruction to the POTS LCS  514  to provide the requested voice communication based on the positions in the MAC layer. The POTS LCS  514  transmits the instruction to the MUX transmit system  508  and  440  and the MUX receive system  412  and  532  to coordinate the provision of the voice communication service in the dynamically configured MAC layer. Steps  606  and  610  are discussed in detail in  FIGS. 8–9  below. 
     In step  614 , a virtual connection path for the call is set up between the telephone  402  and the POTS SI  524  based on the positions in the MAC layer for upstream and downstream voice communications. The virtual connection path is comprised of a downstream virtual connection and an upstream virtual connection. The downstream virtual connection is established between the telephone  402  and the POTS SI  524  for transmission from the base station system  500  to the subscriber unit system  400  via the POTS LCS system  514 , the upstream voice link  510 , the MUX transmit system  508 , the 64 QAM modem  506 , the RF transmitter  504 , the antenna  502 , the antenna  418 , the RF Receiver  416 , the 64 QAM modem  414 , the MUX receive system  412 , the downstream voice link  410 , and the VCI  406 . The upstream virtual connection is established for transmission from the subscriber unit system  400  to the base station system  500  via the VCI  406 , the upstream voice link  428 , the MUX transmit system  440 , the QPSK modem  442 , the RF transmitter  444 , the antenna  446 , the antenna  526 , the RF receiver  528 , the 64 QAM modem  530 , the MUX receive system  532 , the downstream voice link  534 , and the POTS LCS  514 . 
     After the virtual path connection is set up and the POTS LCS  514  receives the dial tone from the POTS SI  524 , the dial tone is transmitted to the telephone  402  over the transmitting virtual connection in step  616 . The subscriber then dials a telephone number. The VCI  406  converts the phone number to digits and sends the digits through the upstream signaling connection to the POTS LCS  514 . The POTS LCS  514  then transmits the digits to the POTS SI  524  to complete the call. Once the call is completed to the dialed number, the call is transmitted and received  628  through the virtual connection path between the telephone  402  and the POTS SI  524  in step  618 . Once the call is terminated, the virtual path connection and wireless capacity tears down  630  in reverse order in step  620 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the call in  FIG. 6  can be voice, facsimile, modem, or any other communication over telephone lines. Those skilled in the art will also understand that an incoming call from the POTS SI  524  to the telephone  402  would use the same virtual connection path as in  FIG. 6 . The initial signaling for the incoming call would go to the telephone  402  via the upstream signal link  512 , the MUX transmit system  508 , the 64 QAM modem  506 , the RF transmitter  504 , the antenna  502 , the antenna  418 , the RF receiver  416 , the 64 QAM  414 , the MUX receive system  412 , the signal link  408 , and the VCI  406 . Also, the request for the communication service for the incoming call would originate at the POTS SI  524  and be transmitted to the CAC  522  via the POTS LCS  514 . Those skilled in the art will understand that steps  606 ,  610 , and  612  would be the same for the incoming call and step  616  would not be needed. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a flow chart for a subscriber requesting an Internet session for world wide web browsing in the broadband wireless access system.  FIG. 7  begins at step  700 . The subscriber requests the Internet session over a computer  420 . In step  702 , the DCI  426  transmits a request for the Internet session to the DSM  544  via the MAC layer link  434 , the MUX transmit system  440 , the QPSK modem  442 , the RF transmitter  444 , the antenna  446 , the antenna  526 , the RF receiver  528 , the 64 QAM modem  530 , the MUX receive system  532 , and the MAC layer link  540 . The DSM  544  also transmits the request for the Internet session to the CAC  522 . 
     In step  704 , the DSM  544  transmits the request for the Internet session to the DNE  546 . In step  708 , the DNE  546  after receipt of the request performs authentication and authorization of the Internet session. For example, the DNE  546  will check if the subscriber has a valid Internet account for web browsing or e-mail. If no authorization or authentication, the session ends at step  716 . If the session is authorized and authenticated, the session continues to step  714 . 
     In step  706 , the CAC  522  receives a request for the Internet session from the DSM  544 . In step  710 , the CAC  522  then identifies a position in the dynamically configured MAC layer for the requested communication service. In step  712 , the CAC  522  generates and transmits an instruction to the DSM  544  to provide the request communication service based on the position in the MAC layer. The DSM  544  transmits the instruction to the MUX transmit system  508  and  440  and the MUX receive system  412  and  532  to coordinate the provision of the Internet session in the dynamically configured MAC layer. Steps  706  and  710  are discussed in detail in  FIGS. 8–9  below. 
     In step  714 , an Internet session is then established after the DNE  546  performs the authorization and the DSM  544  receives the instruction to setup an Internet session. The subscriber then exchanges Internet data with the DNE  546 . Internet data is sent from the computer  420  to the DNE  546  through the DCI  426 , the upstream data link  436 , the MUX transmit system  440 , the QPSK modem  442 , the RF transmitter  444 , the antenna  446 , the antenna  526 , the RF receiver  528 , the 64 QAM modem  530 , the MUX receive system  532 , the downstream data link  538 , and the DSM  544 . Internet data is sent from the DNE  546  to the computer  420  through the DSM  544 , the upstream data link  516 , the MUX transmit system  508 , the 64 QAM modem  506 , the RF transmitter  504 , the antenna  502 , the antenna  418 , the RF receiver  416 , the 64 QAM modem  414 , the MUX receive system  412 , the downstream data link  438 , and the DCI  426 . Once the subscriber terminates the Internet session, the wireless capacity tears down in reverse order in step  716 . 
     Those skilled in the art will understand that the Internet session could include e-mail, world wide web browsing, PUSH technology, and chat rooms. Those skilled in the art will understand that the same steps in  FIG. 7  could apply to other communication devices such as televisions, set top boxes, and stereos. Some examples of communication services provided to other communication devices are audio broadcast, file transfers, data transfers, network games, desktop multimedia communications, video broadcasting, and video conferencing. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the instruction to provide the communication service that require only one way communication such as a video broadcast will only be sent to elements providing the communication service. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a flow chart for the generation or modification of allocation rules and control families in the CAC  522 . The allocation rules are rules that allocate the capacity for packets within the MAC layer in a wireless link. In this embodiment of the invention, the allocation rules are fuzzy rules in a fuzzy logic system. Another embodiment of the invention uses neural networks to perform the same function as the allocation rules. The control families are groups of communication services that have similar delivery requirements. The control families are determined based on analysis and traffic patterns of actual current traffic and historical traffic in the broadband wireless access system. The steps in  FIG. 8  can be executed continuously during the operation of the broadband wireless access system to monitor traffic and improve allocation rules and families. 
       FIG. 8  begins at step  800 . In step  802 , the CAC  522  receives actual traffic activity of the broadband wireless access system. In step  804 , the CAC  522  measures the actual traffic activity by wireless sector and by type of communication service. In step  804 , the CAC  522  modifies and/or generates allocation rules for determination of appropriate allocation of capacity in the MAC layer based on control objectives. These control objectives are (1) to maintain all traffic flowing during peak load of traffic, (2) to continually exchange high priority traffic between the communication device and the network system, (3) to reduce capacity for low priority traffic during congestion periods, and (4) to use a plausibility check to verify actual traffic usage of capacity in the MAC layer in the wireless transmission link with historical trends of traffic usage of capacity. In this fuzzy logic embodiment, the allocation rules will be used for rule inference. 
     In step  808 , the CAC  522  modifies and/or generates control families for requested communication services. The control families are based on the delivery requirements of the communication service. Some examples of the delivery requirements are time dependency, need for real time communication, quality of service, traffic pattern, bandwidth, priority, and grade of service. The control families will be used during the fuzzification step when a communication service is requested. The control families will then be used by the rule inference step to determine the appropriate configuration of the MAC layer. Steps  802 – 808  are repeated to improve allocation rules and control families. 
       FIG. 9  depicts a flow chart for configuring the MAC layer in an example of the broadband wireless access system.  FIG. 9  begins in step  900 . The CAC  522  receives the request for the communication service in step  902 . In step  904 , the CAC  522  identifies the appropriate control family for the requested communication service based on the delivery requirements of the communication service. In this embodiment, step  902  is the fuzzification step in fuzzy logic. In step  906 , the CAC  522  then identifies the section in the MAC layer of a wireless transmission for the selected control family based on the allocation rules from  FIG. 8 . In step  908 , the CAC  522  arbitrates access within the section of the MAC layer between the requested communication service and other communication services based on the allocation rules. Steps  906  and  908  are the rule inference steps in fuzzy logic. The control families and sections in the MAC layer are some of the fuzzy values, and the allocation rules are the fuzzy rules. In step  910 , the CAC  522  then identifies the position in the MAC layer based on the arbitration in step  908 . Step  910  is the defuzzification process in fuzzy logic.