Abstract: During a contention-free period, or silent measurement period, of a first wireless communications channel, signals received on a second wireless communications channel are analyzed. The results of the analysis are used to perform advanced radio resource management functions, such as frequency selection, load balancing, or power management. Each of a plurality of wireless channels may be measured in order to perform the advanced radio resource management functions. During the analysis, an energy detect threshold may be lowered to a minimal value.

Abstract: A method and strategy for transport format combination (TFC) selection and related algorithms in wireless communications. The method provides procedures used by the MAC layer in both the UE and the RNC to schedule data transmission. In the inventive method, each time the maximum transmit power is reached in a time slot, the physical layer will send a notification to the MAC layer, including the time slot number where maximum power was reached. The invention provides a low cost method and algorithm avoiding the need for the MAC to determine the power needed by each TFC in each time slot.