Methods and apparatus for using multiple connection identifiers based on traffic requirements

A communications device supporting having multiple connection identifiers corresponding to a single connection, said multiple connection identifiers having different transmission resource priorities, the communications device comprising:

• a connection identifier selection hardware module for selecting one of said multiple connection identifiers to use at a point in time based on current traffic communications requirements of said communications device;
• a resource selection module for determining a mapping between an identified request resource and the selected connection identifier, the identified request resource corresponding to a particular priority for a generated transmission request;
• and
• a wireless transmitter hardware module for transmitting the generated traffic transmission request using the identified request resource corresponding to the selected connection identifier;
• wherein the connection identifier selection hardware module is operable to select another one of said multiple connection identifiers with a different transmission resource priority if the current communication requirements change on the single connection.

A communications device supporting having multiple connection identifiers corresponding to a single connection, said multiple connection identifiers having different transmission resource priorities, the communications device comprising:

• connection identifier selection means for selecting one of said multiple connection identifiers to use at a point in time based on current traffic communications requirements of said communications device;
• means for determining a mapping between an identified request resource and the selected connection identifier, the identified request resource corresponding to a particular priority for a generated transmission request;
• and
• wireless transmitter means for transmitting the generated traffic transmission request using the identified request resource corresponding to the selected connection identifier;
• wherein the connection identifier selection means is operable to select another one of said multiple connection identifiers with a different transmission resource priority if the current communication requirements change on the single connection.

A computer program product for use in controlling a communications device, the communications device having multiple connection identifiers corresponding to a single connection, said multiple connection identifiers having different transmission resource priorities, the computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
• code for causing a computer to select one of said multiple connection identifiers to use at a point in time based on current traffic communications requirements of said communications device;
• code for causing a computer to determine a mapping between a request resource and the selected connection identifier, the request resource corresponding to a particular priority for a traffic transmission request;
• and
• code for causing a computer to transmit the traffic transmission request using the request resource corresponding to the selected connection identifier;
• wherein the code for causing the computer to select one of said multiple connection identifiers is operable to select another one of said multiple connection identifiers with a different transmission resource priority if the current communication requirements change on the single connection.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to control a communications device, the communications device having multiple connection identifiers corresponding to a single connection, said multiple connection identifiers having different transmission resource priorities, to:
• select one of said multiple connection identifiers to use at a point in time based on current traffic communications requirements of said communications device;
• determine a mapping between a request resource and the selected connection identifier, the request resource corresponding to a particular priority for a traffic transmission request;
• and
• transmit the traffic transmission request using the request resource corresponding to the selected connection identifier;
• wherein the communication processor is operable to select another one of said multiple connection identifiers with a different transmission resource priority if the current communication requirements change on the single connection.