Method for selecting a channel coding scheme for use in initiating communications based on channel coding schemes used for communications in the cell, and corresponding instructions stored on a storage medium and apparatus

1 . A method for selecting a cell-based channel coding scheme, from a plurality of channel coding schemes, for use in initiating communication with subscriber units in a cell of a communication system, wherein the selection of the cell-based channel coding scheme is dependent on information relating to channel coding schemes previously used for communications with subscriber units in the cell.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 also further comprising the step of recording the channel coding scheme used for communication with at least a proportion of subscriber units in the cell.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the channel coding scheme used for each block of data in communications with subscriber units is recorded.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the channel coding scheme in use at the end of a communication with a subscriber unit is recorded.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cell-based channel coding scheme is selected based on the recorded data.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cell-based channel coding scheme is selected based on the channel coding scheme most commonly used in communication with subscriber units in the cell.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein an uplink cell-based channel coding scheme and a downlink cell-based channel coding scheme are selected separately.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the uplink cell-based channel coding scheme is selected is dependent on information relating to channel coding schemes used for uplink communications from subscriber units in the cell.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the downlink cell-based channel coding scheme is selected is dependent on information relating to channel coding schemes used for downlink communications to subscriber units in the cell.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the step of determining that initiation of a communication to a subscriber unit using the cell-selected channel coding scheme is unsuccessful and selecting a more robust channel coding scheme for a further attempt at initiating communication with that subscriber unit.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

recording a final channel coding scheme used for a communication with a subscriber unit, and

using said final channel coding scheme instead of the cell-based channel coding scheme for initiating a communication with the subscriber unit within a predetermined period from the finish of the previous communication.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of altering the channel coding scheme during the communication based on radio condition information.

13 . (canceled)

14 . An apparatus comprising

a processor for selecting a cell-based channel coding scheme, from a plurality of channel coding schemes, for use in initiating communication with subscriber units in a cell of a communication system wherein the selection of the cell-based channel coding scheme is dependent on information relating to channel coding schemes previously used for communication with subscriber units in the cell.

15 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 also comprising a memory for storing information relating to channel coding schemes used for communications with subscriber units in the cell.

16 . The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 14 wherein the apparatus is a packet control unit.

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)