Assigning an access channel based on a timer in a wireless communication system

1. A method of operating a wireless communication system comprising:

wirelessly receiving a call request from a wireless communication device, and in response, starting an access channel timer and transferring call set-up signaling to extend the call;

if the access channel timer expires before a negative response is received to the call set-up signaling, then allocating a wireless access channel to the wireless communication device for the call;

if the negative response is received to the call set-up signaling before the access channel timer expires, then denying the wireless access channel to the wireless communication device for the call;

if the negative response is received to the call set-up signaling after the access channel timer expires, then releasing the wireless access channel from the wireless communication device;

if a positive response is received to the call set-up signaling before the access channel timer expires, then allocating the wireless access channel to the wireless communication device for the call.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if a call acceptance is received, establishing a call with a destination over the wireless access channel.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

searching for a destination indicated by the call request; and

transferring the call signaling to the destination.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising transferring a locate message over a wireless control channel to the wireless communication device indicating that the destination is being notified of the call request.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the wireless communication device indicating to a user that the destination is being notified of the call request.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein indicating to the user that the destination is being notified of the call request comprises providing the user with a ring back tone.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the call signaling is paging signaling to the destination.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the call request is received over a wireless control channel.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, upon receiving the negative response, transferring a call failure message to the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless access channel uses a Code Division Multiple Access protocol.

11. A wireless access node in a wireless communication system comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a call request from a wireless communication device and, in response, transfer call set-up signaling to extend the call and receive responses to the call set-up signaling;

a processing system configured to, in response to receiving the call request, start an access channel timer;

if the access channel timer expires before a negative response is received to the call set-up signaling, then the processing system is configured to allocate a wireless access channel to the wireless communication device for the call;

if the negative response is received to the call set-up signaling before the access channel timer expires, then the processing system is configured to deny the wireless access channel to the wireless communication device for the call;

if the negative response is received to the call set-up signaling after the access channel timer expires, then the processing system is configured to release the wireless access channel from the wireless communication device;

if a positive response is received to the call set-up signaling before the access channel timer expires, then the processing system is configured to allocate the wireless access channel to the wireless communication device for the call.

12. The wireless access node of claim 11 wherein, if a call acceptance is received, then the processing system is configured to establish a call with a destination over the wireless access channel.

13. The wireless access node of claim 11 wherein the processing system is further configured to search for a destination indicated by the call request and indicate the call request to the destination.

14. The wireless access node of claim 13 wherein the communication interface is further configured to transfer a locate message over a wireless control channel to the wireless communication device indicating that the destination is being notified of the call request.

15. The wireless access node of claim 14 wherein the wireless communication device indicates to a user that the destination is being notified of the call request.

16. The wireless access node of claim 15 wherein the wireless communication device indicates to the user that the destination is being notified of the call request by providing the user with a ring back tone.

17. The wireless access node of claim 13 wherein communication interface is configured to indicate the call request to the destination by transferring paging signaling to the destination.

18. The wireless access node of claim 11 wherein the communication interface receives the call request over a wireless control channel.

19. The wireless access node of claim 11 wherein the communication interface is further configured to, upon receiving the negative response, transferring a call failure message to the wireless communication device.

20. The wireless access node of claim 11 wherein the wireless access channel uses a Code Division Multiple Access protocol.