Random access slot selection in a communications system

A communication system comprising:

• a resource controller, said resource controller periodically sending a service announcement, said service announcement identifying a set of timeslots within a communication resource configured for random access within a future frame, each of said timeslots exhibiting a burst type that defines a message transmit size and a slot transmit rate;
• and
• a plurality of terminals in communication with said resource controller for receiving said service announcement, each of said plurality of terminals being configured to perform operations comprising:
• ascertaining a burst characteristic of a message to be sent from said each terminal, said burst characteristic including a payload size and a transmission rate;
• generating a random access parameter;
• selecting a timeslot from said set of timeslots in accordance with said random access parameter, said timeslot exhibiting a burst type, said burst type defining a message transmit size that is at least equivalent to said payload size, and said burst type defining a slot transmit rate that matches said transmission rate;
• and
• transmitting said message from said each terminal in said selected timeslot.

A method of random access by a terminal to a timeslot within a communication resource comprising:

• ascertaining a burst characteristic of a message to be sent from said terminal, said burst characteristic including a payload size and transmission rate;
• generating a random access parameter;
• selecting said timeslot from a set of timeslots within said communication resource in accordance with said random access parameter, said timeslot exhibiting a burst type corresponding to said burst characteristic of said message, said burst type defining a message transmit size and a slot transmit rate, said selecting operation selects said timeslot with said burst type defining said message transmit size as being at least equivalent to said payload size, and said burst type defining said slot transmit rate that matches said transmission rate;
• and
• transmitting said message from said terminal in said selected timeslot.