Patent ID: 6975611

Claim:
In a communication system, a method for media access control feedback over a packet channel divided in channel time slots comprising the steps of: dividing the channel time slots into sub-channel time slots; defining a packet channel feedback field associated with each sub-channel time slot; forming a sub-channel feedback field in the packet channel feedback field to indicate acknowledgments; forming a sub-channel assignment field in the packet channel feedback field to indicate time slot assignments; assigning a first temporary mobile identity to a first active mobile station and a second temporary local mobile identity to a second active mobile station; inserting the first temporary mobile identity into the sub-channel feedback field to indicate an acknowledgment for the first active mobile station; inserting the second temporary mobile identity into the sub-channel assignment field to indicate a time slot assignment for the second active mobile station; and sending the packet channel feedback field in a signaling message to the first and second active mobile stations.