METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A VIRTUAL CIRCUIT DATA AREA WITHIN A PACKET DATA FRAME

1 . A method comprising:

operating in a multiple connections sharing packet data frame structure with a packet oriented switching wireless access point and a related network for providing data to a wireless communication device engaged in data communications;

determining if a pseudo-circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection;

setting up a virtual circuit data area within a packet data frame using a control configuration if a pseudo-circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection; and

sending data in the virtual circuit data area.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein setting up a virtual circuit data area within a packet data frame comprises setting up a virtual circuit data area of a fixed size at a fixed location within a packet data frame for multiple frames using a control configuration if a pseudo-circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control configuration comprises an information element that indicates a duration of the virtual circuit data area.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the information element comprises an indicator that the information element is defining a virtual circuit data area and a period field that indicates a number of frames during which the virtual circuit data area is active.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining comprises determining if a pseudo-circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection based on at least one of quality of service requirements and an amount of data in a buffer.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein setting up comprises setting up a virtual circuit data area within a packet data frame for downlink and uplink frames using a control configuration in an existing downlink and uplink map.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein sending data comprises sending data in the virtual circuit data area without sending corresponding map information when the virtual circuit area maintains a static format from one frame to another frame.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual circuit data area comprises a fixed length block area within uplink and downlink burst areas of data sub-frames to carry fixed length data packets for a fixed duration of time intervals.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising changing the quality of service requirement for a connection based on different parameters during a period of the connection.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising multiplexing multiple connections with different frames in the same virtual circuit data area.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising redirecting certain data areas within the virtual circuit area from an original to different connections if the original connection does not have data to send.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising rescheduling data from the virtual circuit data area into a regular packet data area during overflow conditions of the virtual circuit data area.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising performing at least one of setting up a connection, changing a connection, re-directing a connection and terminating a connection, using separate control messages within a regular packet data area.

14 . An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to send and receive signals in a multiple connections sharing packet data frame structure with a packet oriented switching wireless access point and a related network for providing data to a wireless communication device engaged in data communications;

a controller coupled to the transceiver, the controller configured to control the operations of the apparatus;

a virtual circuit data area determination module configured to determine if a virtual circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection; and

a virtual circuit data area set up module configured to set up a virtual circuit data area within a packet data frame using a control configuration if a virtual circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection,

wherein the transceiver is configured to send data in the virtual circuit data area.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the virtual circuit data area set up module is configured to set up a virtual circuit data area within a packet data frame by setting up a virtual circuit data area of a fixed size at a fixed location within a packet data frame for multiple frames using a control configuration if a virtual circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the control configuration comprises an information element that indicates duration of the virtual circuit data area over a plurality of frames.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the information element comprises an indicator that the information element is defining a virtual circuit data area and a period field that indicates a number of frames during which the virtual circuit data area is active.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the virtual circuit data area comprises a fixed length block area within uplink and downlink burst areas of data sub-frames to carry fixed length data packets for a fixed duration of time intervals.

19 . A method comprising:

operating in a multiple connections sharing packet data frame structure with a packet oriented switching wireless access point and a related network for providing data to a wireless communication device engaged in data communications;

determining if a virtual circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection;

setting up, if a virtual circuit switched data area within a packet data frame format is optimal for a connection, a virtual circuit data area of a fixed size at a fixed location within a packet data frame for multiple frames using an interval usage code that indicates duration, size, and location of the virtual circuit data area,

wherein the virtual circuit data area comprises a fixed length block area within uplink and downlink burst areas of data sub-frames to carry fixed length data packets for a fixed duration of time intervals, and

wherein the interval usage code comprises a flag field that indicates the interval usage code is defining a virtual circuit data area and a period field that indicates a number of frames during which the virtual circuit data area is active; and

sending data in the virtual circuit data area.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , further comprising rescheduling data from the virtual circuit data area into a regular packet data area during overflow conditions of the virtual circuit data area.