Various embodiments are described to address the need for an apparatus and
method for providing uplink communication resources that reduce some of
the existing delays in acquiring these resources. In general, they may
involve a RAN (121) transmitting data to a remote unit (101) via a
downlink communication resource. After transmitting the data and with no
additional data ready for transmission, the RAN begins transmitting
assignment messages to the remote unit for an uplink resource. However,
these assignment messages are not transmitted in response to uplink
resource requests from the remote unit. In addition to or alternatively,
the RAN detects a regular pattern in uplink activity of the remote unit
and then begins predicting, based on the pattern, when the remote unit
will next need an uplink resource. When the remote unit is predicted to
need an uplink resource, the RAN transmits an assignment message to the
remote unit.