Nortel Networks Corporation

David Andrew Pearce

Keith Russell Edwards

Alister Graham Burr

Timothy Conrad Tozer

This invention relates to radio communications and in particular relates to a method for allocating channels in a radio communications system having a plurality of bearers in a system which is subject to slow temporal fading. In radio communications, signals are transmitted at a particular frequency, in a frequency band or in a number of frequency bands. Obstacles in a signal path, such as buildings in built-up areas and hills in rural areas, act as signal scatterers and these, together with fading, amongst other factors can cause signalling problems whereby signals may not be communicated on certain channel The present invention provides a system and method for channel allocation method for a multi-bearer communications network, with each bearer supporting a number of channels, wherein after allocation of a channel responsive to an access request from the available bearers which can provide access, the maximum number of available slots are left on each bearer, for a particular level of subscription.

Growing community of inventors

York, United Kingdom

David Andrew Pearce