Patent ID: 7230991

Claim:
A method of determining which users, from a plurality of users, access to a communications system is to be provided, such access being provided to the plurality of users over a plurality of channels, the method comprising the steps of: determining, for each of plurality of channels and for each of the plurality of users, a channel measurement feedback characteristic; determining, for each of the plurality of channels and for each of the plurality of users, a past throughput characteristic; and determining, a user to be provided access according to the following relationship: k * = arg ⁢ ⁢ max k ⁢ { w k ⁢ r k ⁡ ( t ) r ~ k ⁡ ( t ) a } where r k (t) is the channel measurement feedback characteristic of user k; {tilde over (r)} k (t) is the mean throughput of user k; w k is a weight applied to each of the users; α is the Alpha Rule tuning parameter wherein α≠0 and α≠1; and k* is the selected user; and determining, a throughput characteristic for the system; determining, a fairness characteristic for the system; and adjusting α, as a result of the determined throughput characteristic and the determined fairness characteristic; and comparing, the determined throughput characteristic for the system with a target throughput characteristic; and comparing, the determined fairness characteristic for the system with a target fairness characteristic.