Method and apparatus for service negotiation acceleration

1. A method for accelerating a service request negotiation between a communication device and a communication system the communication device is operating in, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a signature from a plurality of signatures stored in the communication device, each of the plurality of signatures is associated with a specific service/application;

(b) transmitting an access request from the communication device to the communication system that includes the selected signature; and

(c) ceasing the service request negotiation in response to the receipt of a negative acknowledgment from the communication system.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of signatures stored in the communication device are transmitted to the communication device by the communication system.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the communication system comprises a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system and the access request comprises a RACH preamble.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein in step (a) the communication device selects the signature associated with a service/application that the communication device is requesting access from the communication system.

5. A method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of signatures stored in the communication device are transmitted to the communication device by the communication system when the communication device registers with the system.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

(d) transmitting an acquisition indicator from the communication system to the communication device, if after receiving the access request, the communication system determines it has the resources available to support the service/application associated with the signature received in the access request.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

(d) transmitting the negative acknowledgment from the communication system to the communication device, if after receiving the access request, the communication system determines it does not have the resources available to support the service/application associated with the signature received in the access request.

8. A communication device operable within a communication system, comprising:

a controller;

a memory coupled to the controller; and

stored in the memory are a plurality of signatures used during access request transmissions with the communication system, and each signature is associated with a particular service/application type, wherein the controller ceases a service request negotiation between the communication device and the communication system in response to the receipt of a negative acknowledgment from the communication system.

9. A communication device as defined in claim 8 ,

wherein the controller selects a signature from the plurality of signatures that is associated with a service/application the communication device needs access to from the communication system.

10. A communication device as defined in claim 9 , further comprising:

a transmitter coupled to the controller; and

the controller causes the transmitter to transmit an access request that includes the signature selected by the controller.

11. A communication device as defined in claim 10 , further comprising:

a receiver coupled to the controller that receives the negative acknowledgment in response to the access request sent by the communication device.

12. A communication device as defined in claim 10 , wherein the communication device comprises a communication device operable in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system.

13. A communication device as defined in claim 12 , wherein the access request comprises a Random Access Channel (RACH) preamble.

14. A Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) communication system having a communication device operating therein, wherein a service request negotiation is conducted between the communication system and the communication device, comprising:

a system control; and

a memory coupled to the system control, the memory having stared therein a plurality of signatures for use by the communication device during access requests, each of the plurality of signatures is associated with a particular service/application type, wherein the communication device ceases the service request negotiation when the communication device receives a negative acknowledgment from the communication system.

15. A WCDMA communication system as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:

at least one base station coupled to the system control; and

the system control causes the plurality of signatures stored in the memory to be transmitted from the at least one base station to the communication device.

16. A WCDMA communication system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system control causes the plurality of signatures to be transmitted to the communication device when the communication device registers with the WCDMA communication system.

17. A WCDMA communication system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the service/application type that the plurality of signatures are associated with are also transmitted to the communication device.

18. A WCDMA communication system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the communication device transmits an access request using one of the plurality of signatures, and the communication system upon receiving the access request determines if it has the resources to support the service/application associated with the signature found in the access request.

19. A WCDMA communication system as defined in claim 18 , wherein the WCDMA communication system sends the negative acknowledgment to the communication device if it determines it does not have the resources to support the service/application the communication device is requesting.