Method for efficiently transmitting communications in a system supporting dedicated and shared communication channels

Abstract

A wireless communication system (20) includes a wireless network (30) that selects between a dedicated communication channel and a shared communication channel for transmitting a real-time communication such as a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication. In one example, a radio network controller (40) portion of the wireless network (30) evaluates channel conditions of the available channels for purposes of selecting the channel for the transmission that will maintain or enhance efficiency of the network. In a disclosed example, the selection is made at the initiation of a call. In another disclosed example, the selected channel condition or conditions are periodically evaluated to determine whether switching during a call is desirable. In another example, both channel types are used simultaneously at least during a handoff where a switch is made from one channel type to the other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.