Method for allocating communication resources among groups of communication units

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allocating an available communication resource when the current credit value of the first group is less than the maximum credit value of the first group comprises the step of allocating an available communication resource to the communication unit when a point value of the available communication resource plus the current credit value of the first group is less than or equal to the maximum credit value of the first group.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of increasing the current credit value of the first group by an amount equal to a point value of the allocated communication resource upon allocation of the allocated communication resource.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: de-allocating the allocated communication resource; and decreasing the current credit value of the first group by an amount equal to a point value of the allocated communication resource upon de-allocation of the allocated communication resource.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of queuing the call request to produce a queued call request when the current credit value of the first group is greater than or equal to the maximum credit value of the first group.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of processing the queued call request when the current credit value of the first group becomes less than the maximum credit value of the first group.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of processing a queued call request of a second communication unit of the first group when the current credit value of the first group becomes less than the maximum credit value of the first group.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of queuing the call request to produce a queued call request when the current credit value of the first group is greater than or equal to the maximum credit value of the first group.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of processing the queued call request when the current credit value of the first group becomes less than the maximum credit value of the first group.

Claim 13

The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of increasing the current credit value of the first group by an amount equal to a point value of the allocated communication resource upon allocation of the allocated communication resource.

Claim 14

The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of: de-allocating the allocated communication resource; and decreasing the current credit value of the first group by an amount equal to a point value of the allocated communication resource upon de-allocation of the allocated communication resource.

Claim 15

In a radio communication system that includes a system controller, at least one base site, and a plurality of communication units, the plurality of communication units being arranged into a plurality of groups, a method for a base site of the at least one base site to allocate communication resources among the plurality of groups, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a call request from a communication unit of a first group of the plurality of groups; receiving a maximum credit value for the first group from the system controller, wherein each of the communication resources has a respective point value associated therewith and wherein each group of the plurality of groups has a maximum credit value associated therewith, the maximum credit value being based on a cumulative point value associated with a predetermined quantity of communication resources that each group is permitted to utilize for communications; determining a current credit value for the first group, the current credit value of the first group being equal to a summation of point values associated with communication resources currently being utilized by communication units of the first group; and allocating an available communication resource to the communication unit based on the maximum credit value of the first group and the current credit value of the first group.

Claim 16

In a radio communication system that includes a system controller, at least one base site, and a plurality of communication units, the plurality of communication units being arranged into a plurality of groups, a method for a base site of the at least one base site to allocate communication resources among the plurality of groups, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a call request from a communication unit of a first group of the plurality of groups; receiving a maximum credit value for the first group from the system controller, wherein each of the communication resources has a respective point value associated therewith and wherein each group of the plurality of groups has a maximum credit value associated therewith, the maximum credit value being based on a cumulative point value associated with a predetermined quantity of communication resources that each group is permitted to utilize for communications; determining a current credit value for the first group, the current credit value of the first group being equal to a summation of point values associated with communication resources currently being utilized by communication units of the first group; and allocating an available communication resource to the communication unit based on the maximum credit value of the first group and the current credit value of the first group.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of allocating comprises the steps of: determining whether the current credit value of the first group plus a point value of an available communication resource is less than or equal to the maximum credit value of the first group; and when the current credit value of the first group plus a point value of an available communication resource is less than or equal to the maximum credit value of the first group, allocating the available communication resource to the communication unit to produce an allocated communication resource.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of increasing the current credit value of the first group by an amount equal to a point value of the allocated communication resource upon allocation of the allocated communication resource.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: de-allocating the allocated communication resource; and decreasing the current credit value of the first group by an amount equal to a point value of the allocated communication resource upon de-allocation of the allocated communication resource.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of queuing the call request to produce a queued call request when the current credit value of the first group plus a point value of an available communication resource is greater than the maximum credit value of the first group.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of: processing the queued call request when the current credit value of the first group plus a point value of an available communication resource becomes less than or equal to the maximum credit value of the first group.

Claim 22

The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of processing a queued call request of a second communication unit of the first group when the current credit value of the first group plus a point value of an available communication resource becomes less than or equal to the maximum credit value of the first group.