Abstract: Various embodiments are described to address the need to lower backhaul costs for EGPRS operators while maintaining the low and constant delay characteristics they require. 20 msec TRAU frames (221-226) are still used for backhaul to maintain the low and constant delay. However, to eliminate the restriction of mapping TRAU timeslots to air timeslots (211-218) one-to-one, the TRAU slots are collectively treated as a one large 20 msec TRAU frame for a group of air timeslots. The data for the air timeslots can be packed efficiently into this giant TRAU frame, ignoring backhaul timeslot boundaries. In this way, the appropriate amount of backhaul for the carrier can be allocated and the data for the air interface timeslots more efficiently packed into the backhaul.

Abstract: A packet data protocol system for a telecommunications system includes an application control layer (214) of the packet data protocol system (200), a lower layer of the packet data protocol system, and an information element (302) that includes an identification of an application to be run in the application control layer, the identification of the application provided to the lower layer of the packet data protocol system. The identification of the application (302) optionally includes an application description (304) and optionally an application version (306) for communicating a description of an application from the application control layer (214) to a lower layer of the packet data protocol system.

Abstract: A communication system assigns a combination of values of multiple combinations of values to a first control channel parameter and a second control channel parameter. Based on the values assigned to the first and/or second control channel parameters, repeat periods corresponding to each of a first, second, and third control messages are determined. New combinations of values of the multiple combinations of values are then assigned to the first and second control channel parameters and new repeat periods corresponding to each of the first, second, and third control messages are determined in association with each new combination. Optimal repeat periods corresponding to each of the first, second, and third control messages are then selected from among the repeat periods determined with respect to each combination of values. Based on the selected repeat periods, an optimal combination of values is selected for each of the first and second control channel parameters.

Abstract: To address the need for a communication infrastructure and method to speed uplink data setup, the present invention provides for the assignment of uplink packet data resources by basestation transceiver systems (BTSs) without the need to communicate with any packet control unit (PCUs) first. The present invention accomplishes this by reserving packet data resources before they are needed or requested and providing them to BTSs for assignment. Thus, BTS-PCU communication occurs in the period before an uplink connection is needed and after uplink data is established, effectively eliminating the BTS-PCU delay from uplink data setup. Moreover, the present invention provides for the transmission of transmit allowance messages before an uplink request is made by the communication unit, further reducing uplink data setup time.

Abstract: A communication system assigns a combination of values of multiple combinations of values to a first control channel parameter and a second control channel parameter. Based on the values assigned to the first and/or second control channel parameters, repeat periods corresponding to each of a first, second, and third control messages are determined. New combinations of values of the multiple combinations of values are then assigned to the first and second control channel parameters and new repeat periods corresponding to each of the first, second, and third control messages are determined in association with each new combination. Optimal repeat periods corresponding to each of the first, second, and third control messages are then selected from among the repeat periods determined with respect to each combination of values. Based on the selected repeat periods, an optimal combination of values is selected for each of the first and second control channel parameters.

Abstract: To address the need for a communication infrastructure and method to speed uplink data setup, the present invention provides for the assignment of uplink packet data resources by basestation transceiver systems (BTSs) without the need to communicate with any packet control unit (PCUs) first. The present invention accomplishes this by reserving packet data resources before they are needed or requested and providing them to BTSs for assignment. Thus, BTS-PCU communication occurs in the period before an uplink connection is needed and after uplink data is established, effectively eliminating the BTS-PCU delay from uplink data setup. Moreover, the present invention provides for the transmission of transmit allowance messages before an uplink request is made by the communication unit, further reducing uplink data setup time.