Method and apparatus for a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol in a wireless communication system

• US 7,548,534 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bourlas, Yair, Stanwood, Kenneth L., Spinar, Brian, Serok, Amir, Zimmerman, Ofer
• Primary Examiner(s): Sefcheck; Gregory B
• Application Number:
  US10/848,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20040213197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/346
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/561 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol in a broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. The self-correcting bandwidth request/grant protocol utilizes a combination of incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests. In accordance with the present inventive protocol, CPEs primarily transmit incremental bandwidth requests to their associated base stations, followed by periodic transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests. The use of incremental bandwidth requests reduces risks that a base station erroneously issues duplicate bandwidth allocations to the same CPE for the same connection. Race conditions that may have occurred using only aggregate bandwidth requests are eliminated by requiring the CPEs to request bandwidth in an incremental manner. However, use of periodic aggregate bandwidth requests (that express the current state of their respective connection queues) allows the present bandwidth allocation method and apparatus to be “self-correcting.” The present method is self-correcting because errors that may have been introduced due to lost incremental bandwidth requests are corrected by the base stations when the aggregate bandwidth requests are received and processed. Upon receipt of the aggregate bandwidth requests, the base stations reset their records to correctly reflect the current bandwidth requirements of their associated CPEs. Periodic use of aggregate bandwidth requests provides a self-correcting bandwidth allocation protocol yet without the bandwidth overhead (e.g., bandwidth required to transmit acknowledgements) typically associated with the prior art protocols (such as the guaranteed delivery protocols).

Claims

1. A method of operating a system in which multiple remote units share access to a common base station, the method being to allocate bandwidth in the system, the method comprising:

periodically, or in response to receiving a packet from a first remote unit, the received packet including a poll-me indication to poll the first remote unit, allocating more bandwidth to the first remote unit and;

sending a bandwidth indication to the first remote unit of an increase in-uplink bandwidth allotment to the first remote unit such that the bandwidth indication can be used by the first remote unit for either data transfer or to make a bandwidth request as determined by the first remote unit; and

as a result of sending the bandwidth indication to the first remote unit, either

receiving a bandwidth request message from the first remote unit as a result of the first remote unit deciding to use the bandwidth indication for to make bandwidth request, or

receiving data-bearing traffic from the first remote unit as a result of the first remote unit deciding to use the bandwidth indication for data transfer to the base station,

wherein the bandwidth request message includes an incremental bandwidth request unless the first remote station has determined that an aggregate bandwidth request should be transmitted, in which case the bandwidth request message includes an aggregate bandwidth request based on a determined aggregate bandwidth requirement, such that it can be determined from a received aggregate bandwidth request if at least one incremental bandwidth request that was sent by the first remote unit was not received.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the result of sending the indication includes receiving data-bearing traffic from the first remote unit to the base station as a result of the first remote unit deciding to use the bandwidth indication for data transfer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of more bandwidth allocated is sufficient to allow the first remote unit to respond with a bandwidth request message, such that the result of sending the bandwidth indication includes receiving a bandwidth request message from the first remote unit as a result of the first remote unit deciding to use the bandwidth indication for to make bandwidth request.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the bandwidth indication need not include any express acknowledgement of receipt of the packet.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the result of sending the bandwidth indication to the first remote unit includes receiving the bandwidth request message from the first remote unit, and wherein the bandwidth request message includes the incremental bandwidth request

6. A method of operating a system in which multiple remote units share access to a common base station, the method being to allocate bandwidth in the system, the method comprising:

periodically, or in response to receiving a packet from a first remote unit, the received packet including a poll-me indication, sending a bandwidth indication of an increase in a general uplink bandwidth allotment to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit for either data transfer or bandwidth request purposes as determined by the remote unit; and

receiving a responsive bandwidth request message from the first remote unit, the responsive bandwidth request message indicating an incremental need for additional uplink bandwidth resources

wherein the bandwidth indication need not include any express acknowledgement of receipt of the packet, and

wherein the responsive bandwidth request message specifies an individual connection of a set of connections serviced by the first remote unit, the method further comprising incrementing a queue length storage indictor corresponding to the individual connection in response to receiving the responsive bandwidth request message.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising using a bandwidth allocation algorithm to determine whether to grant the additional bandwidth in response to the responsive bandwidth request message.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising sending a second indication of a second general bandwidth grant to the first remote unit without specifying the individual connection and which can be used by the first remote unit to communicate data from any one of the set of connections as determined by the first remote unit.

9. A method of operating a system in which multiple remote units share access to a common base station, the method being to allocate bandwidth in the system, the method comprising:

periodically, or in response to receiving a packet from a first remote unit, the packet including a poll-me indication, sending an indication of an increase in a general uplink bandwidth allotment to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit for either data transfer or bandwidth request purposes as determined by the remote unit; and

receiving a bandwidth request message from the first remote unit, the bandwidth request message indicating an incremental need for additional uplink bandwidth resources for an individual connection of a set of connections serviced by the first remote unit,

the method further comprising at least one of;

updating a queue length storage indictor corresponding to the individual connection in response to receiving the bandwidth request message, and/or

sending a second indication of a general bandwidth grant to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit to communicate data from any one of the set of connections as determined by the first remote unit.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising updating a queue length storage indictor corresponding to the individual connection in response to receiving the bandwidth request message.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising sending a second indication of a general bandwidth grant to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit to communicate data from any one of the set of connections as determined by the first remote unit.

12. An apparatus configured to allocate bandwidth in a system in which multiple remote units share access to a common base station, the apparatus comprising:

means, responsive to a periodic indicator or to receiving a packet from a first remote unit, the received packet including a poll-me indication, for sending a bandwidth indication of an increase in uplink bandwidth allotment to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit for either data transfer or bandwidth request purposes as determined by the remote unit;

means for receiving bandwidth request messages; and

receiving data-bearing traffic,

wherein as a result of the means for sending the bandwidth indication to the first remote unit, either

the means for receiving bandwidth request messages receives a bandwidth request message from the first remote unit as a result of the first remote unit deciding to use the bandwidth indication for to make bandwidth request, or

the means for receiving data-bearing traffic receives data-bearing traffic from the first remote unit as a result of the first remote unit deciding to use the bandwidth indication for data transfer to the base station,

wherein the bandwidth request message includes an incremental bandwidth request unless the first remote station has determined that an aggregate bandwidth request should be transmitted, in which case the bandwidth request message includes an aggregate bandwidth request based on a determined aggregate bandwidth requirement,

such that it can be determined from a received aggregate bandwidth request if at least one incremental bandwidth request that was sent by the first remote unit was not received.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the result of sending the bandwidth indication includes the means for receiving data-bearing traffic receiving data-bearing traffic from the first remote unit as a result of the first remote unit deciding to use the bandwidth indication for data transfer.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the amount of more bandwidth allocated is sufficient to allow the first remote unit to respond with a bandwidth request message, such that the result of sending the bandwidth indication includes the means for receiving bandwidth request messages receiving a bandwidth request message from the first remote unit as a result of the first remote unit deciding to use the bandwidth indication for to make bandwidth request.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bandwidth indication need not include any express acknowledgement of receipt of the packet.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the result of sending the bandwidth indication includes the means for bandwidth request messages receiving a bandwidth request message from the first remote unit, the bandwidth request message indicating an incremental need for additional uplink bandwidth resources.

17. An apparatus configured to allocate bandwidth in a system in which multiple remote units share access to a common base station, the method being to allocate bandwidth in the system, the apparatus comprising:

means, responsive to a periodic indicator or to receiving a packet from a first remote unit, the received packet including a poll-me indication, for sending a bandwidth indication of an increase in uplink bandwidth allotment to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit for either data transfer or bandwidth request purposes as determined by the remote unit; and

means for receiving a responsive bandwidth request message from the first remote unit, the responsive bandwidth request message indicating an incremental need for additional uplink bandwidth resources,

wherein the bandwidth indication need not include any express acknowledgement of receipt of the packet, and

wherein the responsive bandwidth request message specifies an individual connection of a set of connections serviced by the first remote unit,

the apparatus further comprising means, responsive to receiving the responsive bandwidth request message, for incrementing a queue length storage indictor corresponding to the individual connection.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising means for using a bandwidth allocation algorithm which determines whether to grant the additional bandwidth in response to the responsive bandwidth request message.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means for sending a second indication of a second general bandwidth grant to the first remote unit without specifying the individual connection and which can be used by the first remote unit to communicate data from any one of the set of connections as determined by the first remote unit.

20. An apparatus configured to allocate bandwidth in a system in which multiple remote units share access to a common base station, the method being to allocate bandwidth in the system, the apparatus comprising:

means, responsive to a periodic indicator or to receiving a packet from a first remote unit, the packet including a poll-me indication, for sending an indication of an increase in uplink bandwidth allotment to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit for either data transfer or bandwidth request purposes as determined by the remote unit;

means for receiving a bandwidth request message from the first remote unit, the bandwidth request message indicating an incremental need for additional uplink bandwidth resources for an individual connection of a set of connections serviced by the first remote unit; and

at least one of;

means for updating a queue length storage indictor corresponding to the individual connection in response to receiving the bandwidth request message, and/or

means for sending a second indication of a general bandwidth grant to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit to communicate data from any one of the set of connections as determined by the first remote unit.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising means for updating a queue length storage indictor corresponding to the individual connection in response to receiving the bandwidth request message.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising means for sending a second indication of a general bandwidth grant to the first remote unit which can be used by the first remote unit to communicate data from any one of the set of connections as determined by the first remote unit.

23. A method of uplink resource allocation performed by a base station in a system in which multiple remote units compete for limited uplink resources, comprising:

periodically or as a result of determining whether a “

poll-me”

bit has been sent by a first remote unit and if the “

poll-me”

bit has been sent and the “

poll-me”

bit is set,

creating an uplink map which allocates additional uplink bandwidth to the first remote unit,

polling the first remote unit by sending an indication of the additional uplink bandwidth allocation to the first remote unit, wherein the additional bandwidth can be used by the first remote unit to send data or to send a bandwidth request as determined by the first remote unit, and

determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed since a second remote unit has been polled; and

if the predetermined time has expired, amending the uplink map to allocate additional uplink bandwidth to the second remote unit, wherein the additional bandwidth can be used by the second remote unit to send data or to send a bandwidth request as determined by the second remote unit.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising monitoring an uplink channel for a bandwidth request message from the first remote unit, such that no explicit acknowledgement of the polling need be received.

25. A method of uplink resource allocation performed by a base station in a system in which multiple remote units compete for limited uplink resources, comprising:

determining if additional uplink bandwidth is available for use by individual remote units to request uplink resources;

scheduling an uplink resource for a first remote unit and transmitting an uplink map allocating sufficient bandwidth to the first remote unit to respond with a bandwidth request message; and

awaiting a responsive message from the first remote unit wherein the responsive message is determined by the first remote unit and includes one of connection data, a bandwidth request for a specified connection or stuff bytes if no additional resources are needed,

wherein, in the case the responsive message includes a bandwidth request, the bandwidth request is an incremental bandwidth request or an aggregate bandwidth request, and wherein the bandwidth requests from the first remote unit include incremental bandwidth requests and from time to time an aggregate bandwidth request,

such that no explicit acknowledgement of receipt of any transmitted uplink map is needed.

26. A method in a first base station of a wireless communication system, the method for allocating bandwidth, the wireless communication system including at least one subscriber station, including a selected subscriber station with which the first base station is associated and for which the first base station is the associated and corresponding base station, each subscriber station in communication with an associated and corresponding base station, each base station maintaining uplink and downlink data structures representative of the bandwidth allocations in the uplink and downlink communication paths, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an incremental bandwidth request from a selected subscriber station for which the first base station is the associated and corresponding base station, the incremental bandwidth request containing information indicative of an incremental bandwidth requirement determined at the selected subscriber station;

(b) thereafter, in the case that the selected subscriber station has determined an aggregate bandwidth requirement for the selected subscriber station, and has ascertained that an aggregate bandwidth request should be made containing information indicative of the determined first aggregate bandwidth requirement, receiving an aggregate bandwidths request from the selected subscriber unit containing the information indicative of the determined first aggregate bandwidth requirement; and

(c) returning to step (a),

such that the first base station receives aggregate bandwidth requests from time to time from the selected subscriber station.

27. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 26, wherein the incremental bandwidth requirement includes the change in bandwidth requirements for the selected subscriber station since the selected subscriber station last requested bandwidth from the first base station.

28. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 26, wherein the aggregate bandwidth requirement determined in step (b) comprises in each step a total immediate bandwidth requirement for the selected subscriber station.

29. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 26, wherein the ascertaining in step (b) of whether the selected subscriber station should transmit an aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station includes:

the selected subscriber station counting consecutive transmissions of incremental bandwidth requests;

the selected subscriber station comparing the number of consecutive transmissions counted in the counting step to a pre-determined incremental bandwidth request threshold value; and

the selected subscriber station ascertaining that an aggregate bandwidth request is required if the number of consecutive transmissions of incremental bandwidth requests equals the pre-determined threshold.

30. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 26, wherein the ascertaining in step (b) of whether the selected subscriber station should transmit an aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station includes:

waiting a pre-determined time interval between transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests;

ascertaining that an aggregate bandwidth request is required if the pre-determined time interval has expired.

31. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 26, further comprises:

in the case in step (b) an aggregate bandwidth request is received from the selected subscriber station, and in response to the receiving, resetting records in the first base station representative of the total bandwidth requirements of the selected subscriber station.

32. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 26, wherein the incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests received from the selected subscriber station are in packets of existing bandwidth allocations included in the packets using a piggybacking technique using otherwise unused bandwidth in the packets of existing bandwidth allocations.

33. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 26, wherein the incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests are received from the selected subscriber station as a result of the selected subscriber station being polled by the first base station for its bandwidth requirements.

34. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 33, further comprising:

allocating bandwidth to the selected subscriber station in an uplink sub-frame map of the maintained uplink data structures;

ascertaining whether the selected subscriber station requests polling by checking a bit associated with the selected subscriber station requesting polling, the bit received in a packet from the selected subscriber station.

35. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 26, wherein any bandwidth requests received from the selected subscriber unit are received from the selected subscriber station using a bandwidth request message.

36. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 35, wherein the bandwidth request message includes at least one field of the set of fields consisting of a first field including a pre-determined constant value indicating that a bandwidth request message is being transmitted, a field that is either an identifier for a connection between the selected subscriber station and the first base station, or a quality of service associated with the connection between the selected subscriber station and the associated base station, a field indicating whether an incremental or an aggregate bandwidth request is being transmitted, and a field indicating the amount of bandwidth being requested by the selected subscriber station.

37. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 36, wherein the bandwidth request message includes a first field including a pre-determined constant value indicating that a bandwidth request message is being transmitted, a second field that is either an identifier for a connection between the selected subscriber station and the first base station, or a quality of service associated with the connection between the selected subscriber station and the associated base station, a third field indicating whether an incremental or an aggregate bandwidth request is being transmitted, and a fourth field indicating the amount of bandwidth being requested by the selected subscriber station.

38. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 36, wherein the amount of bandwidth being requested is expressed in bytes.

39. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 36, wherein the amount of bandwidth being requested is expressed in packets.

40. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 36, wherein the quality of service associated with the connection is assigned at a time when the connection is first established between the subscriber station and the first base station.

41. A method in a first subscriber station of an associated and corresponding first base station in a wireless communication system, the method for allocating bandwidth, the wireless communication system including at least one subscriber station including the first subscriber station, each subscriber station in communication with an associated and corresponding base station, each base station maintaining uplink and downlink data structures representative of the bandwidth allocations in the uplink and downlink communication paths, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining an incremental bandwidth requirement;

(b) transmitting an incremental bandwidth request to the first base station, the incremental bandwidth request containing information indicative of the determined incremental bandwidth requirement;

(c) determining an aggregate bandwidth requirement;

(d) ascertaining whether an aggregate bandwidth request should be transmitted to the first base station, the aggregate bandwidth request contains information indicative of the aggregate bandwidth requirement determined in step (c); and

(e) if the aggregate bandwidth request is ascertained to be required in step(d), transmitting the aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station and returning to step (a), else returning to step(a) without transmitting the aggregate bandwidth request,

such that the first subscriber station transmits aggregate bandwidth requests from time to time to the first base station.

42. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 41, wherein said step (c) includes determining the change in bandwidth requirements for the first subscriber station since the first subscriber station last requested bandwidth from the first base station.

43. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 41, wherein the aggregate bandwidth requirement determined in step (c) comprises in each step a total immediate bandwidth requirement for the first subscriber station.

44. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 41, wherein the ascertaining in step (d) of whether the first subscriber station should transmit an aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station includes:

counting consecutive transmissions of incremental bandwidth requests;

comparing the number of consecutive transmissions counted in the counting step to a pre-determined incremental bandwidth request threshold value; and

ascertaining that an aggregate bandwidth request is required if the number of consecutive transmissions of incremental bandwidth requests equals the pre-determined threshold.

45. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 41, wherein the ascertaining in step (d) of whether to transmit an aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station includes:

waiting a pre-determined time interval between transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests;

ascertaining that an aggregate bandwidth request is required if the pre-determined time interval has expired.

46. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 41, further comprises:

in the case in step (e) an aggregate bandwidth request is transmitted to the first base station, and in response to the base station receiving the transmitted aggregate bandwidth request, resetting records in the first base station representative of the total bandwidth requirements of the first subscriber station.

47. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 41, wherein the incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests are transmitted to the first base station in packets of existing bandwidth allocations using a piggybacking technique that makes use of otherwise unused bandwidth in the packets of existing bandwidth allocations.

48. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 41, wherein the incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests are transmitted from the first subscriber station as a result of the first subscriber station being polled by the base station for its bandwidth requirements.

49. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 48, further comprising:

receiving a bandwidth allocation that are in an uplink sub-frame map of the uplink data structure maintained in the first base station; and

requesting polling from the first base station by sending a bit associated with the first subscriber station in a packet from the first subscriber station, such that the base station can ascertain if the first subscriber station should be polled by checking the bit.

50. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 41, wherein any bandwidth requests transmitted from the first subscriber station to the first base station are transmitted using a bandwidth request message.

51. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 50, wherein the bandwidth request message includes at least one field of the set of fields consisting of a first field including a pre-determined constant value indicating that a bandwidth request message is being transmitted, a field that is either an identifier for a connection between the first subscriber station and the first base station, or a quality of service associated with the connection between the first subscriber station and the associated base station, a field indicating whether an incremental or an aggregate bandwidth request is being transmitted, and a field indicating the amount of bandwidth being requested by the first subscriber station.

52. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 51, wherein the bandwidth request message includes a first field including a pre-determined constant value indicating that a bandwidth request message is being transmitted, a second field that is either an identifier for a connection between the first subscriber station and the first base station, or a quality of service associated with the connection between the first subscriber station and the associated base station, a third field indicating whether an incremental or an aggregate bandwidth request is being transmitted, and a fourth field indicating the amount of bandwidth being requested by the first subscriber station.

53. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 51, wherein the amount of bandwidth being requested is expressed in bytes.

54. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 51, wherein the amount of bandwidth being requested is expressed in packets.

55. A method for allocating bandwidth as recited in claim 51, wherein the quality of service associated with the connection is assigned at a time when the connection is first established between the subscriber station and the first base station.

56. An apparatus in a first base station of a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system including at least one subscriber station, including the selected subscriber station with which the first base station is associated and for which the first base station is the associated and corresponding base station, each subscriber station in communication with an associated and corresponding base station, each base station maintaining uplink and downlink data structures representative of bandwidth allocations in the uplink and downlink communication paths, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving arranged in operation to receive an incremental bandwidth request from a selected subscriber station for which the first base station is the associated and corresponding base station, the incremental bandwidth request containing information indicative of an incremental bandwidth requirement determined at the selected subscriber station, the means for receiving further arranged in operation to receive an aggregate bandwidth request from the selected subscriber unit containing the information indicative of the determined first aggregate bandwidth requirement in the case that means for determining an aggregate bandwidth requirement in a selected subscriber station has determined an aggregate bandwidth requirement for the selected subscriber station, and has ascertained that an aggregate bandwidth request should be made containing information indicative of the determined first aggregate bandwidth requirement;

means for allocating bandwidth, operatively coupled to the means for receiving, the means for allocating arranged in operation to allocate bandwidth according to one or more requests received from the first subscriber station.

57. An apparatus as recited in claim 56, wherein the incremental bandwidth requirement includes the change in bandwidth requirements for the selected subscriber station since the selected subscriber station last requested bandwidth from the first base station.

58. An apparatus as recited in claim 56, wherein the aggregate bandwidth requirement determined comprises in each step a total immediate bandwidth requirement for the selected subscriber station.

59. An apparatus as recited in claim 56, wherein the ascertaining of whether the selected subscriber station should transmit an aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station includes:

the selected subscriber station counting consecutive transmissions of incremental bandwidth requests;

the selected subscriber station comparing the number of consecutive transmissions counted in the counting step to a pre-determined incremental bandwidth request threshold value; and

the selected subscriber station ascertaining that an aggregate bandwidth request is required if the number of consecutive transmissions of incremental bandwidth requests equals the pre-determined threshold.

60. An apparatus as recited in claim 56, wherein the ascertaining of whether the selected subscriber station should transmit an aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station includes:

waiting a pre-determined time interval between transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests;

ascertaining that an aggregate bandwidth request is required if the pre-determined time interval has expired.

61. An apparatus as recited in claim 56, further comprises:

in the case the means for receiving receives an aggregate bandwidth request from the selected subscriber station, and in response to the receiving, resetting records in the first base station representative of the total bandwidth requirements of the selected subscriber station.

62. An apparatus as recited in claim 56, wherein the incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests receivable by the means for receiving from the selected subscriber station are in packets of existing bandwidth allocations included in the packets using a piggybacking technique using otherwise unused bandwidth in the packets of existing bandwidth allocations.

63. An apparatus as recited in claim 56, further comprising:

means for polling a subscriber unit for the subscriber unit'"'"'s bandwidth requirement coupled to the means for allocating,

wherein the incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests receivable are received from the selected subscriber station as a result of the selected subscriber station being polled by the means for polling for its bandwidth requirements.

64. An apparatus as recited in claim 63, further comprising:

means for checking for polling requests coupled to the means for receiving,

wherein means for checking is arranged in operation to ascertain whether the selected subscriber station requests polling by checking a bit associated with the selected subscriber station requesting polling, the bit received in a packet from the selected subscriber station, and

wherein the means for allocating bandwidth allocated bandwidth to the selected subscriber station in an uplink sub-frame map of the maintained uplink data structures.

65. An apparatus as recited in claim 56, wherein any bandwidth requests received from the selected subscriber unit are received from the selected subscriber station using a bandwidth request message.

66. An apparatus as recited in claim 65, wherein the bandwidth request message includes at least one field of the set of fields consisting of a first field including a pre-determined constant value indicating that a bandwidth request message is being transmitted, a field that is either an identifier for a connection between the selected subscriber station and the first base station, or a quality of service associated with the connection between the selected subscriber station and the associated base station, a field indicating whether an incremental or an aggregate bandwidth request is being transmitted, and a field indicating the amount of bandwidth being requested by the selected subscriber station.

67. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein the bandwidth request message includes a first field including a pre-determined constant value indicating that a bandwidth request message is being transmitted, a second field that is either an identifier for a connection between the selected subscriber station and the first base station, or a quality of service associated with the connection between the selected subscriber station and the associated base station, a third field indicating whether an incremental or an aggregate bandwidth request is being transmitted, and a fourth field indicating the amount of bandwidth being requested by the selected subscriber station.

68. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein the amount of bandwidth being requested is expressed in bytes.

69. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein the amount of bandwidth being requested is expressed in packets.

70. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein the quality of service associated with the connection is assigned at a time when the connection is first established between the subscriber station and the first base station.

71. A method in a first subscriber station of an associated and corresponding first base station in a wireless communication system, the method for allocating bandwidth, the wireless communication system including at least one subscriber station including the first subscriber station, each subscriber station in communication with an associated and corresponding base station, each base station maintaining uplink and downlink data structures representative of the bandwidth allocations in the uplink and downlink communication paths, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) means for determining an incremental bandwidth requirement;

(b) means for transmitting, arranged in operation to transmit an incremental bandwidth request to the first base station , the incremental bandwidth request containing information indicative of the determined incremental bandwidth requirement;

(c) means for determining an aggregate bandwidth requirement;

(d) means for ascertaining whether an aggregate bandwidth request should be transmitted to the first base station, the aggregate bandwidth request contains information indicative of the aggregate bandwidth requirement determined in step (c); and

wherein the means of transmitting is arranged, in operation, if the aggregate bandwidth request is ascertained to be required by the means (d), to transmit the aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station after which said means (a) for determining continues determining an incremental bandwidth requirement, else said means (a) for determining continues determining an incremental bandwidth requirement without the means for transmitting the aggregate bandwidth request.

72. An apparatus as recited in claim 71, wherein said means (c) for determining is further arranged to determine the change in bandwidth requirements for the first subscriber station since the first subscriber station last requested bandwidth from the first base station.

73. An apparatus as recited in claim 71, wherein the aggregate bandwidth requirement determined in by means (c) for determining comprises in each step a total immediate bandwidth requirement for the first subscriber station.

74. An apparatus as recited in claim 71, wherein the means ascertaining in step (d) of whether the first subscriber station should transmit an aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station includes:

counting consecutive transmissions of incremental bandwidth requests;

comparing the number of consecutive transmissions counted in the counting step to a pre-determined incremental bandwidth request threshold value; and

ascertaining that an aggregate bandwidth request is required if the number of consecutive transmissions of incremental bandwidth requests equals the pre-determined threshold.

75. An apparatus as recited in claim 71, wherein the ascertaining of the means (d) of ascertaining whether to transmit an aggregate bandwidth request to the first base station includes:

waiting a pre-determined time interval between transmissions of aggregate bandwidth requests;

ascertaining that an aggregate bandwidth request is required if the pre-determined time interval has expired.

76. An apparatus as recited in claim 71, wherein the incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests are transmitted to the first base station in packets of existing bandwidth allocations using a piggybacking technique that makes use of otherwise unused bandwidth in the packets of existing bandwidth allocations.

77. An apparatus as recited in claim 71, wherein the incremental and aggregate bandwidth requests are transmitted from the first subscriber station as a result of the first subscriber station being polled by the base station for its bandwidth requirements.

78. An apparatus as recited in claim 77, farther comprising:

means for receiving, arranged to receive a bandwidth allocation that are in an uplink sub-frame map of the uplink data structure maintained in the first base station; and

means for requesting polling from the first base station by sending a bit associated with the first subscriber station in a packet from the first subscriber station, such that the base station can ascertain if the first subscriber station should be polled by checking the bit.

79. An apparatus as recited in claim 71, wherein any bandwidth requests transmitted from the first subscriber station to the first base station are transmitted using a bandwidth request message.

80. An apparatus as recited in claim 79, wherein the bandwidth request message includes at least one field of the set of fields consisting of a first field including a pre-determined constant value indicating that a bandwidth request message is being transmitted, a field that is either an identifier for a connection between the first subscriber station and the first base station, or a quality of service associated with the connection between the first subscriber station and the associated base station, a field indicating whether an incremental or an aggregate bandwidth request is being transmitted, and a field indicating the amount of bandwidth being requested by the first subscriber station.

81. An apparatus as recited in claim 80, wherein the bandwidth request message includes a first field including a pre-determined constant value indicating that a bandwidth request message is being transmitted, a second field that is either an identifier for a connection between the first subscriber station and the first base station, or a quality of service associated with the connection between the first subscriber station and the associated base station, a third field indicating whether an incremental or an aggregate bandwidth request is being transmitted, and a fourth field indicating the amount of bandwidth being requested by the first subscriber station.

82. An apparatus as recited in claim 80, wherein the amount of bandwidth being requested is expressed in bytes.

83. An apparatus as recited in claim 80, wherein the amount of bandwidth being requested is expressed in packets.

84. An apparatus as recited in claim 80, wherein the quality of service associated with the connection is assigned at a time when the connection is first established between the subscriber station and the first base station.