Time slot allocation method

Claim 1

In a communication system that includes a communication unit, an uplink communication channel, a downlink communication channel, and a time slot allocator, the uplink communication channel being divided into a plurality of uplink time slots, the downlink communication channel being divided into a plurality of downlink time slots having a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of uplink time slots, a method for allocating the plurality of uplink time slots to the communication unit, the method comprising the steps of: a) transmitting, by the communication unit, a first packet in an available uplink time slot of the plurality of uplink time slots; b) upon receiving the first packet, determining, by the time slot allocator, whether the first packet contains a request for allocation of N uplink time slots, wherein N is an integer greater than one; c) when the first packet contains the request for allocation of N uplink time slots, determining, by the time slot allocator, whether N uplink time slots are available; d) when the N uplink time slots are available, allocating, by the time slot allocator, the N uplink time slots to the communication unit to produce N allocated uplink time slots, wherein the N allocated uplink time slots are substantially contiguous in time; and e) transmitting, by the time slot allocator, an allocation indication to the communication unit in each of N downlink time slots, wherein the N downlink time slots correspond to the N allocated uplink time slots and wherein the allocation indication indicates a number of the N allocated uplink time slots remaining in said allocation.