Guaranteed air connection

Abstract

A technique whereby a subscriber of a multiple access communication network such as a cellular communication system is permitted to make a reservation to guarantee availability of a shared physical communication resource, such as a cellular radio telephone traffic channel, at an appointed date, time and location. The reservation is made in advance by the subscriber requesting the network to mark a requested resource for the subscribers exclusive use during the requested period of time. The reservation may be made any number of ways, such as through the subscriber terminal itself, by making arrangements themselves or on their behalf by others at a conference call center, through Web servers connected through the Internet, or by other means. Whenever a resource of the requested type is available during the requested period, the controlling stations in the network reserve that resource for that subscribers' exclusive use as the appointed time draws near. Thus, when that subscriber attempts to originate or is expected to receive a call at the appointed time, the network is able to grant the on-hold resource to that subscriber. After the reserved period of time elapses, the network releases the reserved resource, and applies normal allocation rules to it.