Implicit resource allocation in a communication system

The present invention relates to resource allocation in communications systems. One advantageous application of the invention relates to allocation of scrambling codes used to distinguish dedicated mobile-to-network connections in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular radio communications system. In a communications system, communications resources are allocated in a dynamic, "as needed" fashion. No explicit signaling is needed to exchange information pertaining specifically to an allocated communications resource. Instead, resources are implicitly allocated by using one or more parameters known to both the radio access network and mobile station that are more or less unique to the mobile station. Such parameters are used to generate or address a communications resource for use by the mobile station. The parameters might, for example, be information readily acquired or communicated as a result of a synchronization procedure, a mobile station registration procedure, a mobile station access procedure, a paging procedure, etc. Example parameters may include a system frame number, a system identification, a radio access network identification, a base station identification, a cell identification, a mobile station-associated signature, an access reference number corresponding to the mobile station, a time instant when an acknowledgment message is received, etc.