Techniques for radio link resource management in wireless networks carrying packet traffic

A signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving on an uplink communication path at least one packet from a user equipment;
• responsive to the reception, determining radio link resources to be allocated on the uplink communication path for the user equipment, the determination based at least in part on an information content of the at least one packet;
• and
• allocating the determined radio link resources on the uplink communication path for the user equipment.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving on an uplink communication path at least one packet from a user equipment;
• means, responsive to the reception, for determining radio link resources to be allocated on the uplink communication path for the user equipment, the determination based at least in part on an information content of the at least one packet;
• and
• means for allocating the determined radio link resources on the uplink communication path for the user equipment.

A method comprising:

• receiving at a network access element on a first uplink communication path a bandwidth request from a user equipment, the bandwidth request for a second uplink communication path used for packet traffic from the user equipment to the network access element;
• responsive to the reception, determining radio link resources to be allocated on the second uplink communication path for the user equipment, the determination based at least in part on the bandwidth request;
• and
• allocating the determined radio link resources on the second uplink communication path for the user equipment.