Method and apparatus for spreading channel code selection

A method for controlling spreading channel code selection, the method comprising:

• partitioning a plurality of spreading channel codes into a plurality of code groupings that a remote unit may use for accessing a network node;
• transmitting by the network node signaling that indicates the code groupings produced by the partitioning;
• and
• receiving by the network node an initial access signal from a remote unit using a spreading channel code selected from a determined code group of the plurality of code groupings, wherein the determined code group is determined based on at least one characteristic from a group of:
• a signal strength of the received signaling and a current location of the remote unit.

A method for spreading channel code selection, the method comprising:

• partitioning a plurality of spreading channel codes into a plurality of code groupings;
• receiving by the network node an initial access signal from a remote unit using a spreading channel code selected from a determined of the plurality of code groupings, wherein the determined code group is determined based on at least one characteristic from a group of:
• a level of signal strength of a signal received by the remote unit from the network node, a current location of the remote unit, a current mobility level of the remote unit, and a current priority class associated with the remote unit;
• and
• assigning an amount of link bandwidth to the remote unit based on the code group of the spreading channel code used by the remote unit, wherein when the code group is associated with a level of signal strength of a signal received by the remote unit from the network node that is greater than a signal strength threshold, assigning a smaller amount of link bandwidth to the remote unit than would be otherwise assigned.

A remote unit comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a processing unit, communicatively coupled to the transceiver, and:
• adapted to receive, via the transceiver, signaling from a network node that indicates groupings of the spreading channel codes that the remote unit may use for accessing the network node;
• adapted to select a spreading channel code from a determined group of the indicated groupings, wherein the determined group is determined based on at least one characteristic from a group of:
• a signal strength of the received signaling and a current location of the remote unit;
• and
• adapted to transmit, via the transceiver, an initial access signal using the spreading channel code.