Method, system and communication unit for requesting a communication resource

A mobile station for use with a wireless communication system, comprising:

• a controller configured to accept a dedicated transport channel assignment;
• a transmitter configured to transmit a physical uplink shared channel capacity request message over an uplink of the dedicated transport channel;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive a physical uplink shared channel capacity allocation message over a downlink of the assigned dedicated transport channel.

A base transceiver station for use with a wireless communication system, comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a message granting a dedicated transport channel assignment;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive a physical uplink shared channel capacity request message over an uplink of to assigned dedicated transport channel;
• wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a physical uplink shared channel capacity allocation message over a downlink of the assigned dedicated transport channel.

A method of requesting a communication resource by a wireless communication unit operating in a packet switched wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system provides for uplink dedicated and shared channels for said wireless communication unit to communicate with a wireless serving communication unit and provides for downlink dedicated and shared channels for said wireless serving communication unit to communicate with said wireless communication unit, the method comprising:

• allocating a dedicated uplink channel to said wireless communication unit by said wireless serving communication unit;
• determining that said uplink dedicated channel can be used to send uplink allocation request messages;
• transmitting a communication resource request message on said dedicated uplink channel by said wireless communication unit to said wireless serving communication unit, wherein the communication resource request message is a uplink allocation request message;
• observing whether allocation messages are sent on a downlink dedicated channel or a downlink shared channel;
• and
• transmitting an allocation message to said wireless communication unit from said wireless serving communication unit on said dedicated downlink channel.

A method of requesting a communication resource by a wireless communication unit operating in a packet switched wireless communication system, wherein the wireless communication system provides for dedicated and shared uplink channels for said wireless communication unit to communicate with a wireless serving communication unit and provides for downlink dedicated and shared channels for said wireless serving communication unit to communicate with said wireless communication unit, the method comprising:

• allocating a dedicated uplink channel to said wireless communication unit by said wireless serving communication unit;
• determining that said dedicated uplink channel can be used to request a shared uplink channel;
• transmitting a uplink allocation request message for a shared uplink channel on said dedicated uplink channel by said wireless communication unit to said wireless serving communication unit;
• and
• transmitting an allocation message for a shared uplink channel to said wireless communication unit from said wireless serving communication unit on said downlink dedicated channel.