VERFAHREN UND EINRICHTUNG ZUR BEREITSTELLUNG VON DIENSTEN UND ZUR AUSHANDLUNG VON DATENRATEN IN EINEM MOBILEN KOMMUNIKATIONSSYSTEM

In a method for negotiating service configuration in a communication system having at least one dedicated channel which is not shared by communication devices in the communication system, a request message indicative of a proposed service configuration is generated in a service negotiator (20). The request message is multiplexed, in a multiplexer (22) coupled to the negotiator (20), with an information data signal to produce a multiplexed signal. The multiplexed signal is encoded in an encoder (24) interposed between the multiplexer (22) and a transmitter (26) in accordance with a service configuration selected by the service negotiator (20). The multiplexed and encoded signal is transmitted by the transmitter (26) over the dedicated channel. Received signals are decoded a decoder (16) interposed between a receiver (14) and a demultiplexer (18). A response message indicative of a response to the proposed service configuration is received by the receiver (14). A determination is made by the service negotiator (20) whether the response message is indicative of a mutually acceptable service configuration. The encoder (24) is directed by the service negotiator (20) to encode the information data signal in accordance with the proposed service configuration if the response message is indicative of an acceptable service configuration. The encoder (24) is directed by the service negotiator (20) to encode the information data signal with a universal default service configuration if the response message is not indicative of an acceptable service configuration.