Method and apparatus for communicating in a wireless communication system

A wireless communications system for communicating data, including at least one base station coupled to a base station controller, the at least one base station being arranged for receiving a first access request including a priority indicator from a first communication unit during at least a first access period;

• the base station controller having a channel controller being arranged for determining the priority of the first access request relative to any other pending access requests previously received and for allocating a communications resource during a first traffic period to the first communication unit for communication of a first portion of a data message when the first communication unit has a highest priority;
• the at least one base station being further arranged for monitoring in a second access period for a further access request by a further communication unit having a higher priority indicator, and when said further access request is received, allocating the communications resource during a second traffic period to the further communication unit;
• and
• the channel controller being further arranged for determining in a still further access period that the first communication unit again has the highest priority, and in response thereto, allocating the communications resource during a still further traffic period to the first communication unit for communication of a further portion of the data message.

A method of communicating data via a wireless communications system, comprising:

• receiving a control message indicating a current priority service level of communication messages being granted access on a first subchannel;
• comparing the current priority service level with a priority level of a first data message,
• transmitting an access request including a priority indicator for the first data message when the priority level of the first data message is at least as great as the current priority service level;
• and
• monitoring for an allocation of the first subchannel, wherein the step of receiving further comprises receiving at least one control message indicating the current priority service level of communication messages being granted access on a first subchannel and further current priority service levels for further subchannels;
• and further comprising:
• when the current priority service level for the first subchannel is greater than the priority level of the first data message, comparing the further current priority service levels with the priority level to determine if one of the further subchannels is available.

A method of communicating data via a wireless communications system at a communication unit, comprising:

• receiving a control message indicating a current priority service level of communication messages being granted access on a first subchannel;
• determining an access probability value based on a priority level of a first of at least one data message;
• comparing the current priority service level with the priority level of the first of the at least one data message;
• determining whether to transmit the access request based on the access probability value;
• transmitting an access request including a priority indicator for the first of the at least one data message when the priority level of the first of the at least one data message is at least as great as the current priority service level;
• and
• monitoring for an allocation of the first subchannel, wherein the step of determining an access probability value comprises receiving access control parameters indicative of a set of persistence values corresponding to a set of possible priority levels, determining which one of the set of persistence values corresponds to the priority level of the first data message, and determining the access probability value by generating a random number between one and the inverse of said one of the set of persistence values.

A method of communicating data via a wireless communications system, comprising:

• receiving a control message including access control parameters indicative of a set of persistence values corresponding to a set of possible priority levels used for determining when to send an access request for a first subchannel of a communications resource;
• determining which one of the set of persistence values corresponds to a priority level of a first data message;
• determining an access delay value based on said one of the set of persistence values;
• and
• transmitting the access request based on the access delay value.