Apparatus and method for controlling auxiliary pilot channel in a CDMA2000 wireless network

Abstract

A base station for use in a wireless network capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile stations in a coverage area of the wireless network. The base station comprises a controller for controlling use of an Auxiliary Pilot channel. The controller causes the base station to i) terminate use of the Auxiliary Pilot channel in a first mode, ii) transmit data traffic to a first mobile station using the Auxiliary Pilot channel in a second mode, and iii) transmit data traffic to the first mobile station using a traffic channel phase-matched to a wide sector pilot channel signal in a third mode.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . For use in a wireless network having a plurality of mobile stations in a coverage area of the wireless network, the wireless network comprising: 
 a base station configured to operate in: 
 a first mode without the use of a Auxiliary Pilot signal,  
 a second mode thereby forcing a hand-off of a first mobile station to a Auxiliary Pilot channel, and  
 a third mode thereby phase-matching the Auxiliary Pilot signal to a wide sector pilot signal and transmits the data traffic to the first mobile station using a traffic channel according to the phase-match.  
   
   
   
       23 . The wireless network as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the base station monitors reverse channel signals from the first mobile station using a RAKE receiver and determines if one of a plurality of RAKE fingers of the RAKE receiver is receiving a dominant signal.  
   
   
       24 . The wireless network as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the base station, in response to a determination that a first one of the plurality of RAKE fingers is receiving a dominant signal, transmits a plurality of Auxiliary Pilot channel signals to the first mobile station at different angles and determines a first one of the plurality of Auxiliary Pilot channel signals that is most closely phase-matched to the wide sector pilot channel signal.  
   
   
       25 . The base station as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the base station transmits the data traffic to the first mobile station using the traffic channel, wherein the traffic channel is configured using phase and power parameters similar to phase and power parameters associated with the first Auxiliary Pilot channel signal.  
   
   
       26 . The base station as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the base station, in response to a determination that none of the plurality of RAKE fingers is receiving a dominant signal, determines: 
 a first total transmit power required to transmit data traffic to the first mobile station if the Auxiliary Pilot channel is not used, and    a second total transmit power required to transmit data traffic to the first mobile station if the Auxiliary Pilot channel is used.