System and method for rate assignment

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the data rate of a reverse link communication. An embodiment includes transmitting at a null rate on the communication channel only when the station is not transmitting voice, signaling, or data. An embodiment includes determining a maximum requested rate based on the normalized average pilot transmit power and the pilot reference value, and determining the timing of the rate request. An embodiment involves determining a maximum transmission rate. An embodiment involves determining sufficient power and a power-control set point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining a maximum transmission rate, comprising:
 determining R max (power), the maximum transmission rate reported in a rate request message;   determining a maximum supportable transmission rate based on a queue estimate; and   selecting the minimum of the R max (power) and the maximum supportable transmission rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating the queue estimate to a queue size reported in the rate request message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 decoding a fundamental channel frame and decoding a supplemental channel frame; and   updating the queue estimate based on data in the decoded fundamental channel frame and the decoded supplemental channel frame.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the maximum supportable transmission rate comprises:
 determining a buffer size estimate based on the queue estimate; and   determining a maximum transmission rate at which an amount of data transmitted in a frame is equal to or less than the buffer size estimate.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for determining a maximum transmission rate, comprising:
 means for determining R max (power), the maximum transmission rate reported in a rate request message;   means for determining a maximum supportable transmission rate based on a queue estimate; and   means for selecting the minimum of the R max (power) and the maximum supportable transmission rate.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising means for updating the queue estimate to a queue size reported in the rate request message. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 means for decoding a fundamental channel frame and decoding a supplemental channel frame; and   means for updating the queue estimate based on data in the decoded fundamental channel frame and the decoded supplemental channel frame.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the means for determining the maximum supportable transmission rate comprises:
 means for determining a buffer size estimate based on the queue estimate; and   means for determining a maximum transmission rate at which an amount of data transmitted in a frame is equal to or less than the buffer size estimate.   
     
     
         9 . A station for determining a maximum transmission rate, comprising:
 an antenna for receiving and transmitting a plurality of signals;   a receiver coupled to the antenna, the receiver receives the plurality of receive signals;   a controller coupled to the receiver, the controller determines
 R max (power), the maximum transmission rate reported in a rate request message; 
 determines a maximum supportable transmission rate based on a queue estimate; and 
 selects the minimum of the R max (power) and the maximum supportable transmission rate; and 
   a transmitter coupled to the controller, the transmitter conditions the minimum for transmission.   
     
     
         10 . The station of  claim 9 , wherein the controller updates the queue estimate to a queue size reported in the rate request message. 
     
     
         11 . The station of  claim 10 , wherein the controller
 decodes a fundamental channel frame and decoding a supplemental channel frame; and   updates the queue estimate based on data in the decoded fundamental channel frame and the decoded supplemental channel frame.   
     
     
         12 . The station of  claim 9 , wherein the controller determines the maximum supportable transmission rate by:
 determining a buffer size estimate based on the queue estimate; and   determining a maximum transmission rate at which an amount of data transmitted in a frame is equal to or less than the buffer size estimate.   
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of determining a maximum transmission rate, the method comprising:
 determining R max (power), the maximum transmission rate reported in a rate request message;   determining a maximum supportable transmission rate based on a queue estimate; and   selecting the minimum of the R max (power) and the maximum supportable transmission rate.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises updating the queue estimate to a queue size reported in the rate request message. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
 decoding a fundamental channel frame and decoding a supplemental channel frame; and   updating the queue estimate based on data in the decoded fundamental channel frame and the decoded supplemental channel frame.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein determining the maximum supportable transmission rate comprises:
 determining a buffer size estimate based on the queue estimate; and   determining a maximum transmission rate at which an amount of data transmitted in a frame is equal to or less than the buffer size estimate.