Abstract: A peer device (132) is arranged and programmed for maintaining a virtual queue for an event, and a personal presence identifier (122) is carried by a user and coupled to the peer device by a short-range two-way wireless link. The peer device and the personal presence identifier are arranged and programmed to establish (58) a two-way personal area network with one another when the personal presence identifier is within wireless transmission range of the peer device. The personal presence identifier and the peer device are also arranged and programmed to exchange (82) needs specifications and capability specifications with one another after establishing the two-way personal area network.

Abstract: In a wireless communications system (20), a beacon having a first radiation pattern (28) covering a portion of a subscriber service area (34) covered by a base station is transmitted. A subscriber (36) reception quality is then measured to produce a first beacon quality measurement (210). Thereafter, the first radiation pattern is changed to a second radiation pattern (32, 212), and a subscriber reception quality of the beacon transmitted with a second radiation pattern is measured to produce a second beacon quality measurement (214). In response to the first and second beacon quality measurements, a traffic channel radiation pattern (32) is selected (218), wherein such radiation pattern covers a portion of the subscriber service area. In a preferred embodiment, the beacon carrier frequency is the same as the traffic channel carrier frequency.

Abstract: In a resource limited communication system having at least one physical channel shared by a plurality of time divided users, a method is provided of dynamically adjusting a maximum number of users allowed access to the at least one physical channel. The method includes the steps of calculating a voice activity factor for each user of the plurality of time divided users and adjusting the maximum number of users based upon the calculated voice activity factors. An apparatus is provided for implementing the described method.