Reverse link rate and stability control

Abstract

In a radio access network, the reverse link rate of an access terminal is controlled and stabilized by determining a number of connections in one or more sectors in which the access terminal has a connection and setting a rate limit based on at least one of the determined number of connections. The number of connections can be determined for each sector in which the access terminal has a connection or for some subset of these sectors. If the number of connections is determined for more than one sector, the radio access network may limit the reverse link rate based on the sector having the greatest number of connections.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method for controlling a rate of transmission of an access terminal in a sector of a radio access network, the method comprising:
 determining an effective number of connections for the sector, wherein the effective number of connections for the sector is less than a number of reverse link connections for the sector;   comparing the effective number of connections with one or more ranges of values; and   setting a rate limit for the access terminal based on the comparing.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the sector comprises a first sector and the effective number of connections comprises a first effective number of connections, and wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a second effective number of connections for a second sector of the radio access network serviced by a common radio node.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein setting the rate limit comprises:
 accessing a maximum rate limit table; and   setting the rate limit based on the maximum rate limit table.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the sector comprises a first sector and the effective number of connections comprises a first effective number of connections and wherein setting the rate limit comprises:
 setting the rate limit for the access terminal based on a second effective number of connections for a second sector of the radio access network, wherein the second effective number of connections is equal to or greater than a third effective number of connections for a third sector of the radio access network.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising:
 performing a rise over thermal measurement for the sector; and   transmitting a signal to the access terminal indicating that the sector is becoming overloaded if the rise over thermal measurement (ROT) exceeds a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising:
 performing a post automatic gain control ROT estimation for the sector; and   transmitting a signal to the access terminal indicating that the sector is becoming overloaded if the post automatic gain control ROT estimation exceeds a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein setting the rate limit comprises:
 using a first rate limit scheme when the ROT is performed for the sector; and   using a second rate limit scheme when the post automatic gain control ROT estimate is performed for the sector.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the radio access network comprises a evolution data-only compliant network. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising:
 transmitting the rate limit to the access terminal.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein transmitting the rate limit comprises:
 broadcasting a rate limit message to the access terminal in at least one sector in which the access terminal has the connection.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the sector comprises a first sector and wherein transmitting the rate limit comprises:
 unicasting a rate limit message to the access terminal in a second sector of the radio access network in which the access terminal has a traffic channel established.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the sector comprises a first sector and the connection comprises a first connection, the method further comprising:
 transmitting, to the access terminal, a rate limit message immediately upon the access terminal establishing a second connection in a second sector of the one or more sectors.   
     
     
         48 . A radio node configured to transmit radio signals to, and to receive radio signals from, an access terminal in a sector of a radio access network, the radio node comprising:
 one or more processing devices; and   memory for storing instructions that are executed by the one or more processing devices to:
 determine an effective number of connections for the sector, wherein the effective number of connections for the sector is less than a number of reverse link connections for the sector; 
 compare the effective number of connections with one or more ranges of values; and 
 set a rate limit for the access terminal based on the compare. 
   
     
     
         49 . The radio node of  claim 48  wherein the sector comprises a first sector and the effective number of connections comprises a first effective number of connections and wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processing devices to:
 set the rate limit for the access terminal based on a second effective number of connections for a second sector of the radio access network, wherein the second effective number of connections is equal to or greater than a third effective number of connections for a third sector of the one or more sectors.   
     
     
         50 . The radio node of  claim 48  wherein the sector comprises a first sector and the effective number of connections comprises a first effective number of connections and wherein the radio node is further configured to:
 receive a second effective number of connections for a second sector of the radio access network.   
     
     
         51 . The radio node of  claim 50  wherein the radio node comprises a first radio node and wherein the second effective number of connections is received from a second radio node. 
     
     
         52 . The radio node of  claim 50  wherein the second effective number of connections for the second sector is received from a radio network controller. 
     
     
         53 . The radio node of  claim 48  wherein the instructions cause the one or more processing devices to set the rate limit by:
 accessing a maximum rate limit table; and   setting the rate limit based on the maximum rate limit table.   
     
     
         54 . The radio node of  claim 48  wherein the memory also stores instructions that cause the one or more processing devices to:
 transmit the rate limit to the access terminal.   
     
     
         55 . The radio node of  claim 54  wherein the instructions cause the one or more processing devices to transmit the rate limit to the access terminal via a unicast message. 
     
     
         56 . The radio node of  claim 54  wherein the instructions cause the one or more processing devices to transmit the rate limit to the access terminal via a broadcast message.