Method and mobile station for activating a playback device in a communication system

A method of activating a playback device in a communication system, the playback device coupled to a mobile station compatible with the communication system, the communication system in communication with a plurality of mobile stations, the method comprising the steps of:

• at a base-station in communication with a portion of the plurality of mobile stations:
• determining an offending mobile station out of the portion of the plurality of mobile stations based on the amount of degradation it contributes to an overall communication system degradation;
• estimating a hold time period corresponding to a time when the offending mobile station would contribute less to the overall communication system degradation;
• and
• sending a message, including the estimate of the hold time period, to the mobile station;
• at the mobile station:
• receiving the message, including the estimate of the hold time period, sent by the base-station;
• and
• activating the playback device such that a user of the offending mobile station is informed that the communication associated with the offending mobile station will be placed on hold for a time related to the hold time period estimate.

A method of activating a playback device in a communication system, the playback device coupled to a mobile station compatible with the communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

• at a base-station compatible with the communication system:
• receiving a signal from the mobile station requesting access to a communication channel;
• determining if a communication channel is available for use by the mobile station;
• if a communication channel is unavailable, estimating a queue time period corresponding to a time when a communication channel is likely to become available;
• and
• sending a message, including the estimate of the queue time period, to the mobile station;
• at the mobile station:
• receiving the message, including the estimate of the queue time period, sent by the base-station;
• and
• activating the playback device such that a user of the mobile station is informed that a communication channel is likely to become available within a time related to the queue estimate.

A mobile station for use in a communication system comprising:

• a receiver front-end for demodulating messages transmitted by a base-station to produce demodulated messages;
• a processing function, coupled to the receiver front-end, for processing the demodulated messages;
• and
• a playback device, coupled to the processing function, for audibly informing a user of the mobile station of retry/hold/queue time estimates based on estimates of retry/hold/queue time periods.