Allocation of access slots to mobile stations in order to count the number of stations interested in a MBMS (multimedia broadcast/multicast service)

A radio network comprising:

• a primary station (PS) and a plurality of secondary stations (SS1, SS2, SS3), wherein the primary station (PS) includes means for determining an estimated level of interest by users of secondary stations in a service, the means providing a plurality of random access slots that are selectively configured for permitting a temporary or permanent allocation of a portion of the plurality of random access slots based on the estimated level of interest of the users of the secondary stations,
• wherein a secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations indicates the estimated level of interest by transmitting a predetermined signal in a preselected one of the plurality of random access slots, the estimated level of interest based on at least a threshold value;
• and
• wherein each access slot includes a combination of one time slot and one signature, wherein the primary station (PS) comprises means for mapping each of the plurality of random access slots to a different service such that all the secondary stations interested in one service transmit using one of the plurality of random access slots, and wherein each combination of one time slot and one signature is contained in not more than one of the plurality of random access slots.

A primary station for use in a radio network comprising:

• at least one primary station (PS) and a plurality of secondary stations (SS1, SS2, SS3),
• wherein the primary station (PS) includes means for determining an estimated level of interest by users of secondary stations in a service, the means providing a plurality of random access slots that are selectively configured for permitting a temporary or permanent allocation of a portion of the plurality of random access slots based on the estimated level of interest of the users of the secondary stations,
• wherein a secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations indicates the estimated level of interest by transmitting a predetermined signal in a preselected one of the plurality of random access slots, the estimated level of interest based on at least a threshold value;
• and
• wherein each access slot of the plurality of random access slots includes a combination of one time slot and one signature, and wherein the at least one primary station maps each of the plurality of random access slots to a different service such that the plurality of secondary stations interested in one service transmit using one of the plurality of random access slots, and in that each combination of one time slot and one signature is contained in not more than one of the plurality of random access slots.

A secondary station for use in a radio network comprising:

• a primary station (PS) and a plurality of the secondary stations (SS1, SS2, SS3),
• wherein the primary station (PS) includes means for determining an estimated level of interest by users of secondary stations in a service, the means providing a plurality of random access slots that are selectively configured for permitting a temporary or permanent allocation of a portion of the plurality of random access slots based on the estimated level of interest of the users of the secondary stations,
• wherein a secondary station of the plurality of secondary stations indicates the estimated level of interest by transmitting a predetermined signal in a preselected one of the plurality of random access slots, the estimated level of interest based on at least a threshold value;
• and
• wherein each access slot of the plurality of random access slots includes a combination of one time slot and one signature, and wherein the primary station maps each of the plurality of random access slots to a different service such that all the secondary stations interested in one service transmit using one of the plurality of random access slots, and in that each combination of one time slot and one signature is contained in not more than one of the plurality of random access slots.