Method and apparatus for uplink scheduling in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing communication system

A scheduler operable in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing communication system, the scheduler comprising:

• an at least one memory device;
• a processor that is configured to receive, from each mobile station of a plurality of mobile stations, and store in the at least one memory device, a request for an allocation of bandwidth, wherein the requests comprise one or more requests for a bandwidth allocation of a first size range and one or more requests for a bandwidth allocation of a second size range and wherein each bandwidth allocation request of the second size range requests more bandwidth than any bandwidth allocation request of the first size range, allocate bandwidth in an uplink data packet field of an uplink sub-frame to the bandwidth allocation requests in order of priority, and when enough allocations are made such that a maximum size of the uplink packet data field is reached and when the allocated bandwidth does not fill the uplink data packet field and one or more bandwidth allocation requests of the second size range remains unallocated, substitute an allocation of bandwidth to an unallocated bandwidth allocation request of the second size range for an allocation of bandwidth to a bandwidth allocation request of the first size range in the uplink data packet field if there is sufficient space to substitute the bandwidth allocation.