Abstract: An apparatus and method provide MAC logic enabling the use of two or more reverse link rate controls at the same time in one or more sectors of a radio base station. That enables the base station to control reverse link loading via reverse link rate control, while assigning mobile stations to the type of reverse link rate control best suited to their needs. For example, the base station MAC logic may implement both a common rate controller that generates per-sector rate control commands, and a dedicated rate controller that generates per-user rate control commands and assign mobile stations having relatively lax reverse link service needs to the common rate controller, while assigning mobile stations having more demanding reverse link service requirements to the dedicated rate control. More than two rate controls can be implemented, and exemplary choices include per-user, per-sector, per-group, and scheduled rate control in any combination.

Abstract: A wireless receiver, such as in a mobile station or base station within a wireless communication network, estimates the frame error rate (FER) for one channel using signal information received on another, associated channel. As such, FER estimates may be generated for a channel of interest during discontinuous periods of that channel, or where the duty cycle of the channel is too low to support a desired FER estimation rate. Signal information received on the associated channel is manipulated as needed to conform to the format of the channel of interest, such as the encoding format, and then decoded as if it had been received on the channel of interest. Thus, the signal information is treated as virtually encoded data for the channel of interest, and may comprise essentially any type of signal that is known or determinable, such as a pilot, synchronization, traffic, or control channel.

Abstract: A mobile terminal for CDMA systems has multiple operating states including an active state and a control hold state. In the active state the mobile terminal transmits an pilot signal on a pilot channel and rate control information on a reverse rate control channel. In the active state a sector selection code is applied to the reverse rate control channel to indicate selection of a serving base station for forward link communications. In the control hold state, the mobile terminal transmits a pilot signal covered by a sector selection code. The pilot signal may be gated, i.e., transmitted at a reduced duty cycle, in the control hold mode. The pilot signal may be transmitted on either the reverse pilot channel or the reverse rate control channel. Transmission on the other channel is suspended in the control hold state.