Radio communications system with a shared broadcast channel

A method comprising:

• receiving a first broadcast message in a broadcast channel at a first specific time within a first assigned slot of a predetermined frame from a first broadcasting terminal of a radio communications system, the first broadcast message including a first broadcast information sequence that includes a load sequence that is related to the current traffic load at the first broadcasting terminal;
• receiving a second broadcast message in the broadcast channel at a second specific time within a second assigned slot of the predetermined frame from a second broadcasting terminal of the radio communications system, the second broadcast message including a second broadcast information sequence that includes a load sequence that is related to the current traffic load at the second broadcasting terminal;
• and
• transmitting a message from a user terminal having a timing relationship with the predetermined frame, the message being directed to a specific broadcasting terminal based on the timing relationship with the predetermined frame.

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

• transmitting a first broadcast message in a broadcast channel at a first specific time within a first assigned slot of a predetermined frame from a first broadcasting terminal of a radio communications system, the first broadcast message including a first broadcast information sequence that includes a load sequence that is related to the current traffic load at the first broadcasting terminal;
• transmitting a second broadcast message in the broadcast channel at a second specific time within a second assigned slot of the predetermined frame from a second broadcasting terminal of the radio communications system, the second broadcast message including a second broadcast information sequence that includes a load sequence that is related to the current traffic load at the second broadcasting terminal;
• and
• receiving a message from a user terminal, the received message being timed relative to the first broadcast message to distinguish the received message as being directed to the first broadcasting terminal.

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a first broadcast message in a broadcast channel at a first specific time within a first assigned slot of a predetermined frame from a first broadcasting terminal of a radio communications system, the first broadcast message including a first broadcast information sequence that includes a power sequence that is related to the power used to transmit the first broadcast message;
• receiving a second broadcast message in the broadcast channel at a second specific time within a second assigned slot of the predetermined frame from a second broadcasting terminal of the radio communications system, the second broadcast message including a second broadcast information sequence that includes a power sequence that is related to the power used to transmit the second broadcast message;
• and
• transmitting a message from a user terminal having a timing relationship with the predetermined frame, the message being directed to a specific broadcasting terminal based on the timing relationship with the predetermined frame.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first transmitter at a first broadcasting terminal of a radio communications system to transmit a first broadcast message in a broadcast channel at a first specific time within a first assigned slot of a predetermined frame, the first broadcast message including a first broadcast information sequence that includes a power sequence that is related to the power used to transmit the first broadcast message;
• a second transmitter at a second broadcasting terminal of the radio communications system to transmit a second broadcast message in the broadcast channel at a second specific time within a second assigned slot of the predetermined frame, the second broadcast message including a second broadcast information sequence that includes a power sequence that is related to the power used to transmit the second broadcast message;
• and
• a receiver at the first and second broadcasting terminals, respectively to receive a message from a user terminal, the received message being timed relative to the first broadcast message to distinguish the received message as being directed to the first broadcasting terminal.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for transmitting a first broadcast message in a broadcast channel at a first specific time within a first assigned slot of a predetermined frame from a first broadcasting terminal of a radio communications system, the first broadcast message including a first broadcast information sequence, the first broadcast information sequence containing no explicit channel assignment and no explicit broadcasting terminal assignment and including a load sequence that is related to the current traffic load at the first broadcasting terminal;
• means for transmitting a second broadcast message in the broadcast channel at a second specific time within a second assigned slot of the predetermined frame from a second broadcasting terminal of the radio communications system, the second broadcast message including a second broadcast information sequence that includes a load sequence that is related to the current traffic load at the second broadcasting terminal;
• and
• means for receiving a request message at the first broadcasting terminal from a user terminal, the request message being timed relative to the first broadcast message to indicate that the request message is directed to the first broadcasting terminal and not to the second broadcasting terminal, the request message containing no explicit identification of the first broadcasting terminal.

A method for accessing a wireless network, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of timing sequences on a broadcast channel, each timing sequence being received from a different one of a plurality of broadcasting terminals and each timing sequence including a power sequence that is related to the power used to transmit the respective timing message;
• determining network timing using the received timing sequences;
• selecting one from among the plurality of broadcasting terminals using the received timing sequences;
• transmitting a message to the selected broadcasting terminal, the message being timed relative to a selected one of the timing sequences to distinguish the message as being directed to the selected one of the broadcasting terminals.

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a plurality of timing sequences on a broadcast channel, each timing sequence being received from a different one of a plurality of broadcasting terminals and each timing sequence including a load sequence that is related to the current traffic load at the respective broadcasting terminal;
• determining network timing using the received timing sequences;
• selecting one from among the plurality of broadcasting terminals using the received timing sequences;
• transmitting a message to the selected broadcasting terminal, the message being timed relative to a selected one of the timing sequences to distinguish the message as being directed to the selected one of the broadcasting terminals.