Method and apparatus for generating control information for packet data

A communications system, comprising:

• a base station having a channel element configured to generate a data packet extending over at least one time slot and compute a value from an initial value and information, the initial value being a function of the number of time slots of the data packet, and a transmitter configured to transmit the data packet, the value and the information;
• and
• a subscriber station having a receiver configured to receive the value and the information from the base station, and a processor configured to recalculate the value from the received information and determine the number of time slots of the data packet from the calculated and recalculated values.

A transmitting device, comprising:

• a channel element configured to generate a data packet extending over at least one time slot and compute a value from an initial value and information, the initial value being a function of the number of time slots of the data packet;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit the data packet, the value and the information.

A receiving device, comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a data packet transmitted over at least one time slot, and a value and information, the value being computed from an initial value and the information, the initial value being a function of the number of time slots of the data packet transmission;
• and
• a processor configured to recalculate the value from the received information, and determine the number of time slots of the data packet transmission from the calculated and recalculated values.

A communications system, comprising:

• a base station having means for generating a data packet extending over at least one time slot and means for compute a value from an initial value and information, the initial value being a function of the number of time slots of the data packet, and means for transmitting the data packet, the value and the information;
• and
• a subscriber station having means for receiving the value and the information from the base station, means for recalculating the value from the received information, and determination means for determining the number of time slots of the data packet from the calculated and recalculated values.