Method and apparatus for bandwidth request/grant protocols in a wireless communication system

A cell site for providing wireless connectivity in a wireless communication system, the cell site comprising:

• a back-haul interface configured to communicate with a communications hub that interfaces a wireless communication system with public network service providers via one or more wired communications links;
• an active antenna array configured to send and receive data in a first frame with a plurality of wireless communication devices, the first frame comprised of N uplink time slots and M downlink time slots;
• the active antenna array further configured to send and receive data in a second frame with the plurality of wireless communication devices, the second frame comprised of Y uplink time slots and Z downlink time slots, wherein N and Y are not equal, the first frame and the second frame having the same duration, and the numbers N, M, Y and Z adaptable based upon conditions;
• a modem configured to detect a padding packet received from a first wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices and generate an alert in response thereto;
• and
• a CPU configured to receive the alert and reduce the number of uplink time slots assigned to the first wireless device.

A method of operating a cell site which provides wireless connectivity in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• communicating, via a back-haul interface, with a communications hub that interfaces a wireless communication system with public network service providers via one or more wired communications links;
• sending and receiving with a plurality of wireless communication devices, via an active antenna array, data in a first frame, the first frame comprised of N uplink time slots and M downlink time slots;
• sending and receiving with the plurality of wireless communication devices, via the active antenna array, data in a second frame, the second frame comprised of Y uplink time slots and Z downlink time slots, wherein N and Y are not equal, the first frame and the second frame having the same duration, and the numbers N, M, Y and Z are adaptable based upon conditions;
• detecting a padding packet received from a first wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
• and
• in response to the detecting, reducing the number of uplink time slots assigned to the first wireless device.

A base station for a wireless communication system, comprising:

• a back-haul interface configured to communicate with a communications hub that interfaces a wireless communication system with public network service providers via one or more wired communications links;
• an active antenna array configured to send and receive data in a first frame with a plurality of wireless communication devices, the first frame comprised of N uplink time slots and M downlink time slots;
• the active antenna array further configured to send and receive data in a second frame with the plurality of wireless communication devices, the second frame comprised of Y uplink time slots and Z downlink time slots, wherein N and Y are not equal, the first frame and the second frame having the same duration, and the numbers N, M, Y and Z are adaptable based upon conditions;
• a modem configured to detect a padding packet received from a first wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices and generate an alert in response thereto;
• and
• a CPU configured to receive the alert and reduce the number of uplink time slots assigned to the first wireless device.