Communications resource assignment in a wireless telecommunications system

Fast resource assignments, especially needed in microcellular network architectures having many fast moving subscribers (e.g.42) and high traffic volume, is provided through the use of a priority based resource assignment apparatus and procedure. Part of the communications resources in a cellular network, for example, one carrier frequency and/or one time slot, or particular code division multiple access sequences, are dedicated to the execution of the assignment procedure. Available communications resources are auctioned to cellular subscribers (42) contending for resources (e.g.,in 32) based upon a level of priority assigned to each contending subscriber. The priority level may be based on such things as the quality of service to which a customer subscribes or the particular needs of a subscriber at the time the subscriber is contending for resources, for example, the subscriber's request for resources may be prompted by a need to make a handoff (from 32 to elsewhere). The procedure involves an auction period when a determination is made regarding which of a group of contending subscribers has the highest priority level. The procedure then enters a resource assignment period where an available communications resource is actually assigned to the subscriber having the highest priority level. The auction and assignment periods are then repeated for the remaining contending subscribers until there are no longer any contending subscribers or there are no longer any available resources. Fast resource assignment could be used to increase system capacity and efficiency of spectrum utilization through the ability to perform speech activity resource sharing.