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

Abstract

A subscriber unit receives a control message, wherein the control message includes an indication of periodic time intervals and an indication of a phase, and wherein each of the periodic time intervals include at least one time slot. The subscriber unit further receives power commands. The subscriber unit transmits signals in the indicated periodic time intervals, wherein each of the transmitted signals is derived from a sequence having the indicated phase and having a transmission power level derived from the received power commands, and wherein the transmitted signals are not transmitted simultaneously with traffic data by the subscriber unit. The subscriber unit transmits traffic data signals, wherein the traffic data signals have a transmission power level also derived from the received power commands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A subscriber unit comprising:
 an antenna;   a transceiver operatively coupled to the antenna;   the transceiver is configured to receive a control message, wherein the control message includes an indication of periodic time intervals and an indication of a phase, and wherein each of the periodic time intervals include at least one time slot;   the transceiver is further configured to receive power commands;   the transceiver is further configured to transmit signals in the indicated periodic time intervals, wherein each of the transmitted signals is derived from a sequence having the indicated phase and having a transmission power level derived from the received power commands, and wherein the transmitted signals are not transmitted simultaneously with traffic data by the subscriber unit; and   the transceiver is further configured to transmit traffic data signals, wherein the data signals have a transmission power level also derived from the received power commands.   
     
     
         2 . The subscriber unit of  claim 1  wherein the transmitted signals are used by a base station to determine a link quality. 
     
     
         3 . The subscriber unit of  claim 1  wherein the transceiver is further configured to monitor a downlink control channel for messages, wherein at least one of the messages indicates that the transceiver is to transmit a signal having the sequence with the indicated phase. 
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a subscriber unit, a control message, wherein the control message includes an indication of periodic time intervals and an indication of a phase, and wherein each of the periodic time intervals include at least one time slot;   receiving, by the subscriber unit, power commands;   transmitting, by the subscriber unit, signals in the indicated periodic time intervals, wherein each of the transmitted signals is derived from a sequence having the indicated phase and having a transmission power level derived from the received power commands, and wherein the transmitted signals are not transmitted simultaneously with traffic data by the subscriber unit; and   transmitting, by the subscriber unit, traffic data signals, wherein the traffic data signals have a transmission power level also derived from the received power commands.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the transmitted signals are used by a base station to determine a link quality. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 monitoring, by the subscriber unit, a downlink control channel for messages, wherein at least one of the messages indicates that the transceiver is to transmit a signal having the sequence with the indicated phase. 
 
     
     
         7 . A base station comprising:
 an antenna;   a transceiver operatively coupled to the antenna;   the transceiver is configured to transmit a control message to a subscriber unit, wherein the control message includes an indication of periodic time intervals and an indication of a phase; wherein each of the periodic time intervals include at least one time slot;   the transceiver is further configured to transmit power commands to the subscriber unit;   the transceiver is further configured to receive signals in the indicated periodic time intervals from the subscriber unit, wherein each of the transmitted signals is derived from a sequence having the indicated phase and having a transmission power level derived from the received power commands, and wherein the transmitted signals are not received simultaneously with traffic data by the subscriber unit; and   the transceiver is further configured to receive traffic data signals from the subscriber unit, wherein the data signals have a transmission power level also derived from the received power commands.   
     
     
         8 . The base station of  claim 7  wherein the transceiver is further configured to use the received signals to determine a link quality of the subscriber unit. 
     
     
         9 . The base station of  claim 7  wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive a plurality of signals received simultaneously with one to the received signals; wherein the plurality of signals have different phases of the sequence and were transmitted from different subscriber units.