System and method for dynamically assigning channels for wireless packet communications

A method for controlling media access in a wireless telecommunications network, the telecommunications network including a plurality of base stations and at least one wireless station that is in communication with a base station of the plurality of base stations, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a paging message at the wireless station when a data packet is pending for downlink transmission to the wireless station;
• detecting a level of each of a plurality of pilot frequency signals at the wireless station, each pilot frequency signal corresponding to a downlink traffic channel and being transmitted by each base station of the plurality of base stations to which the downlink traffic channel is assigned;
• generating a list of preferred traffic channels based on detected levels of the pilot frequency signals;
• and
• transmitting the list of preferred traffic channels to the base stations;
• wherein the step of detecting the level of each of the plurality of pilot frequency signals is based on a fast Fourier transform performed on the plurality of pilot frequency signals;
• receiving a downlink traffic channel assignment for the wireless station at the wireless station;
• and
• receiving the data packet at the wireless station using the assigned downlink traffic channel;
• wherein the step of generating the list of preferred traffic channels is performed at the wireless station and includes the step of determining the list of preferred traffic channels according to a priority order.