Power control protocol for highly variable data rate reverse link of a wireless communication system

Abstract

A subscriber unit performs power control of a reverse link by sending heartbeat messages to a base station, permitting the base station to determine a reverse link quality report. Using a reverse link quality report message received from the base station, the subscriber unit calculates its reverse power level and maintains the reverse power level during the standby state.

1 . A method implemented in a subscriber unit for power control during periods when no traffic channels are allocated, the method comprising:
 sending an initialization message to a base station;   receiving an allocation from the base station for a reverse link maintenance channel;   sending periodic heartbeat messages during a standby state, the heartbeat messages sent to the base station over the reverse link to permit the base station to determine a link quality metric for the reverse link signal;   receiving a link quality report message having the link quality metric over a paging or a sync channel;   calculating a reverse power level based on the link quality report; and   setting the reverse power level for the standby state based on the calculated reverse power level.   
   
   
       2 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the link quality metric includes a bit error rate. 
   
   
       3 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the link quality metric includes a noise energy level. 
   
   
       4 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the link quality metric includes a power level. 
   
   
       5 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the reverse power level by performing continued iterations of the method. 
   
   
       6 . The method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving allocations of subchannels during times when large amounts of data are to be transferred to the subscriber unit;   releasing the subchannels allocated during times when the data transfer amounts are relatively lighter; and   maintaining the reverse link power level during the standby state so that a transmit power level for the subchannels does not need to be reestablished with each allocation and release of subchannels.