Apparatus and method for assigning a common packet channel in a CDMA communication system

A method of base station operation in a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) communication system, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting use status formation of physical packet channels and maximum available data rate information of currently unused physical packet channels on a channel status indicator channel;
• receiving, in the base station, information indicating that a mobile station has data to transmit and selecting a desired data rate, using an access preamble;
• and
• transmitting an acquisition indicator signal for indicating an allowance of usage of the desired data rate to the mobile station on an acquisition indicator channel when the base station can support the selected data rate.

A method of mobile station operation in a CDMA mobile communication system, comprising the steps of:

• receiving, in a mobile station, use status information of physical packet channels and maximum available data rate information through an acquisition indicator channel indicating acquisition of an access preamble from a base station;
• and
• selecting an access preamble representing a desired data rate;
• transmitting to the base station the access preamble for requesting allocation of a physical packet channel that can support the desired data rate.