Patent ID: 7428423

Claim:
A method for providing talk around in an OFDMA communication system comprised of OFDMA time slots, wherein each OFDMA time slot is subdivided into a plurality of sub-channels, comprising the steps of: sending a talk around request from a subscriber unit to a base unit; acknowledging the request at the base unit and sending a signal from the base unit to the subscriber unit; determining at the subscriber unit a RSSI (received signal strength indication) of the signal received from the base unit; sending the RSSI from the subscriber unit to the base unit; comparing in the base unit the RSSI to a predetermined window: (a) denying, if the RSSI is above the window, the request from the subscriber unit, the subscriber unit thereby not going into a talk around mode; (b) assigning, if the RSSI is within the window, (i) a sub-channel of the OFDMA communication system and (ii) a power level to the subscriber unit, the subscriber unit thereby going into talk around mode; and (c) not responding, if the RSSI is below the window, to the subscriber unit, the subscriber unit thereby going into a direct communication mode.