Patent ID: 7313407

Claim:
In a data transmission system for transmitting data from a transmitter to a plurality of subscriber units, wherein: fundamental channels (FCHs) are combined, in a hierarchical manner, into transmission channels of higher levels, each configured to carry data at a corresponding rate level, which is a correspondingly higher rate than the fundamental rate; and any unused channel, at any level, is periodically allocated to a corresponding one of the subscriber units, in order to carry data to the subscriber unit from a buffer storage during a subsequent period; a method for periodically allocating channels to subscriber units, comprising, prior to the beginning of any period: (a) identifying all active subscriber units being in communication with the transmitter and for which there are data, exceeding a given minimal quantity, stored in the buffer storage; (b) calculating for each active subscriber unit one or more priority factors as a function of associated power levels; (c) on the basis of said priority factors, allocating at least one channel, to a corresponding active subscriber unit; (d) repeating the channel allocation with respect to any active subscriber units to which no channels have yet been allocated, subject to an availability of unallocated channels and subject to a limitation of maximum transmitter power.