Methods and devices for using silence intervals to enhance wireless communications

摘要

Methods and devices for transmission of communications during a silence interval are described. A base station (BS) provides timing data to an access terminal (AT) and AT uses timing data to synchronize with BS to carry our silence and non-silence intervals for an RF air interface. AT attempts to initiate communications by transmitting an access probe (AP) to BS during a non-silence interval. Other ATs may transmit communications to BS during non-silence interval. If BS acknowledges AP during non-silence interval, AT does not transmit during a subsequent silence interval. If AP was for an emergency communication and BS does not acknowledge AP sent during non-silence interval, AT transmits another AP during the subsequent silence interval to initiate emergency communication. If AP was not for emergency communication, AT does not transmit AP during the subsequent silence interval. The other ATs do not transmit communications to BS during the subsequent silence interval.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
detecting, using a base station, initiation of a silence interval during which an access terminal refrains from communicating on a reverse-link to the base station unless communicating on the reverse-link for an emergency communication; initiating, using the base station, a measurement during the silence interval; and terminating, using the base station, the measurement before completion of the measurement in response to the base station detecting receipt of a communication from the access terminal during the silence interval.