Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for intelligent power control in a wireless communication system. In accordance with an example embodiment, a first device will operate in a dynamic-power state in which it responds to each power-increment command and power-decrement command received from a second device by incrementing or decrementing transmission power on an air interface. While operating in the dynamic-power state, the first device will recognize when a first threshold number of alternating power-increment and power-decrement commands have been received, and responsively will transition to operating in a steady-power state in which it no longer increments or decrements transmission power in response to power-control commands from the second device. While operating in the steady-power state, the first device will recognize when receives a particular sequence of power-control commands from the first device, and based at least on the recognition will transition to operating in the dynamic power state.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus are provided for providing handoff information to a candidate mobile node initially served on a first carrier. The candidate mobile node may inform a wireless-communication network that hard-handoff criteria are met for the first carrier. The network may identify a plurality of neighboring mobile nodes served on a second carrier and within a threshold distance of the candidate. The network may receive a measurement of forward-link signal quality of the second carrier from each neighboring mobile node. Using the received forward-link-signal-quality measurements, the network may estimate the forward-link signal quality of the second carrier at the location of the candidate mobile node. If that estimated forward-link signal quality exceeds a signal-quality threshold, the network may provide hard-handoff information about the second carrier to the candidate mobile node.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for dynamically adapting operation of an auxiliary pilot according to reverse noise. An access terminal in a wireless communication system that includes a base station may operate in a first state in which the access terminal transmits a primary pilot signal on an air interface communication link to the base station, and also transmits an auxiliary pilot signal on the air interface communication link to the base station concurrently with transmission of the primary pilot signal. While operating in the first state, responsive at least to receiving a noise-level message from the base station indicating excessive reverse-link noise, the access terminal may transition to a second state in which it ceases to transmit the auxiliary pilot signal but continues to transmit the primary pilot signal.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring data rate requests (DRRs) transmitted from an access terminal (AT) to an access network (AN). Each DRR includes a parameter indicating whether it is a null or non-null DRR. Upon the AT transitioning to a null-DRR state, the AT and AN determine an average parameter of a given number of DRRs and compare the average to a threshold. The AT selects a time duration based on the average and starts a timer. When the timer counts to the selected duration, the AT transitions from a mode in which the AT transmits data channel traffic and other traffic to a mode in which the AT prevents transmission of data channel traffic but allows transmission of other traffic. The AN compares the average to another threshold and determines whether it should transmit forward-link traffic channel data to the AT at a null or non-null data rate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a forward-link power-control step size. An initial active set of coverage areas for a mobile station is maintained within which a first coverage area in the initial active set has a signal strength that is stronger than that of each of the other coverage areas in the initial active set. The first coverage area is determined to have dropped from the initial active set, resulting in a modified active set. In response, a signal-strength factor is calculated based on (a) a last non-zero signal-strength measurement of the first coverage area and (b) a second value. One or more forward-link power-control step sizes is selected based on at least the calculated factor. The one or more selected step sizes is used to increase the forward-link transmission power of at least one coverage area in the modified active set.

Abstract: A mobile station receives a target pilot signal transmitted by a target transmitter in a spread spectrum communication system and measures its phase. The mobile station then defines a search window to search for the target pilot signal at a later time. The mobile station defines the center point of the search window based on the previously-measured phase and the mobile station's direction of motion and speed relative to the target transmitter. If the mobile station is moving toward the target transmitter, the center point is less than the previously-measured phase by an adjustment amount. If the mobile station is moving away from the target transmitter, the center point is greater than the previously-measured phase by an adjustment amount. The adjustment amount may depend on the mobile station's speed. After the search window is defined, the mobile station uses the search window to search for the target pilot signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for selecting one or more capsules in which to include a traffic channel assignment message. The method may be carried out in a wireless communication network that provides wireless service in a coverage area, wherein the coverage area comprises a plurality of sectors, wherein a control channel is provided in each sector, and wherein the wireless communication network is configured to transmit synchronous capsules and asynchronous capsules in each control channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting a metric that influences power management of an access terminal are provided. Initially, an access node is configured to distribute reverse-activity bits (RAB's) to the access terminal, which conveys data, at a particular rate, to the access node. Adjusting the dynamic metric involves establishing a number of slots allocated for a filtered reverse-activity bit (FRAB) window and a hybrid reverse-activity bit (HRAB) window, wherein each of the slots are allocated to accept a RAB. The RAB's accepted to the slots of the FRAB window and the HRAB window are recursively averaged to derive a FRAB parameter and an HRAB parameter, respectively. The dynamic metric is adjusted by incorporating either the FRAB parameter or an HRAB parameter therein based on whether ramping conditions are satisfied. The rate of data conveyed from the access terminal is controlled based on the adjusted dynamic metric.

Abstract: A method of selecting a type of resource-allocation to use for a call in a cellular wireless system, such as selecting a type of radio configuration to use for the call. According to the method, resource-availability in one more adjacent coverage areas may be used as a basis to select the type of resource-allocation to use in a current coverage area. For instance, given the choice between a radio configuration that consumes less base station power and a radio configuration that consumes more base station power, the radio configuration consuming more base station power may be selected if base station sufficient power is available in one or more adjacent coverage area(s), and the other radio configuration may be selected if insufficient base station power is available in the one or more adjacent coverage area(s). Distance between the mobile station and a current base station may be considered as well.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing throughput of a wireless communications network and for reducing a reverse noise rise experienced by the wireless network are described. An access network and/or one or more access terminals monitor an activity level of reverse-link communications occurring between the access network and the access terminal(s). The access network and/or the access terminal(s) make a determination of whether an activity level of the reverse-link communications exceeds a threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, the access network and the access terminal(s) each operate in states such that the access network does not measure a noise floor and the access terminal(s) transmit communications to the access network. If the threshold is not exceeded, the access network and the access terminal(s) each operate in states such that the access network measures the noise floor and the access terminal(s) do not transmit communications to the access network.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for triggered operation of a variable auxiliary pilot based on RF conditions. An access terminal operating in a wireless communication system may switch on its auxiliary pilot in response to receiving a first threshold number of power-up commands from a serving base station. Responsive to thereafter receiving each of a second threshold number of power-up commands, the access terminal may increment the gain of its auxiliary pilot while holding the gain of its primary pilot fixed. The access terminal thereby sets its auxiliary pilot gain independently of its primary pilot gain for a select number of power-control commands. The access terminal may respond to subsequent power-control commands by responsively adjusting the gain of it primary pilot, and linking the gain of its auxiliary pilot to the gain of its primary pilot. Upon receiving a third threshold number of power-down commands, the access terminal may switch off its auxiliary pilot.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for dynamic adjustment of threshold payload size for triggering an auxiliary pilot. An access terminal in a wireless communication system that includes a base station may operate in a state in which (i) the access terminal transmits a primary beacon signal on an air interface communication link to the base station, and, (ii) upon a condition that the access terminal will transmit a packet having a size larger than a threshold packet size, the access terminal activates and transmits a secondary beacon signal on the air interface communication link to the base station concurrently with transmission of the primary beacon signal. While operating in the state, upon receiving a first particular sequence of power-control commands from the base station, the access terminal will decrease the threshold packet size by a decremental amount.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting a metric that influences power management of an access terminal are provided. Initially, an access node is configured to distribute reverse-activity bits (RAB's) to the access terminal, which conveys data, at a particular rate, to the access node. Adjusting the dynamic metric involves establishing a number of slots allocated for a filtered reverse-activity bit (FRAB) window and a hybrid reverse-activity bit (HRAB) window, wherein each of the slots are allocated to accept a RAB. The RAB's accepted to the slots of the FRAB window and the HRAB window are recursively averaged to derive a FRAB parameter and an HRAB parameter, respectively. The dynamic metric is adjusted by incorporating either the FRAB parameter or an HRAB parameter therein based on whether ramping conditions are satisfied. The rate of data conveyed from the access terminal is controlled based on the adjusted dynamic metric.