Random access slot selection in a communications system

US8098645B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• David Moon Yee · Scottsdale, US
• Gerard Anthony Smorowski, Jr. · Gilbert, US
• Taul Eric Aragaki · Scottsdale, US
• Mark Lawrence Wormley · Scottsdale, US
• James Lynn Warthman · Phoenix, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 21, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 17, 2012
• Expiry date: Oct 29, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W74/0866
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A communications system (20) includes a resource controller (22) and a terminal (24) in communication with the resource controller (22). Periodically, the resource controller (22) sends a service announcement (46) that identifies a set (50) of timeslots (52) within a communication resource (40) configured for random access within a future frame (42). The terminal (24) ascertains a burst characteristic (118) of a message (54) to be sent from the terminal (24) and generates a random access parameter (128). The terminal (24) selects one of the timeslots (52) from the set (50) in accordance with the random access parameter (128), the timeslot exhibiting a burst type (62) corresponding to the burst characteristic (118) of the message (54). The terminal (24) transmits the message (54) in the selected timeslot (52).