Patent ID: 8787158

Claim:
A user terminal for use in a wireless communication system, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit to a network entity over a signalling channel, a first rate request message that requests additional resources from said network entity for transmission of data at an increased data rate over a data channel; a receiver configured to receive a rate grant message from said network entity, a channel maintainer configured to maintain said signalling channel for a period for awaiting said rate grant message; and wherein the transmitter is further configured to always transmit at least one second rate request message over said signalling channel during said period without waiting for a rate grant message or end of said period for awaiting said rate grant message, wherein the at least one second rate request message is a repeat of the first request message, and wherein the first rate request message is a single reserved bit transmitted together with other uplink signalling information and the single reserved bit has a value selected from a first value indicating that the increased data rate is required and a second value indicating that a current rate of data transmission over the data channel is sufficient.