Managing a reverse link transmission power level setpoint during periods of inactivity on the reverse link in a wireless communications system

摘要

Embodiments include managing a reverse link transmission power level setpoint during periods of data inactivity on a reverse link traffic channel in a wireless communications system. At an access terminal, upon detecting reverse link data inactivity above a time threshold, a message is generated and transmitted on the reverse link traffic channel at a power level sufficient for the access network to measure transmission statistics to determine whether to adjust the current transmission power level setpoint of the access terminal. Alternatively, the access terminal notifies the access network of an upcoming reverse link data inactivity period, and then lowers its transmission power level setpoint to reduce power consumption during the reverse link data inactivity period. Then, upon detection of a potential reverse link data transmission, the access terminal may then send one or more messages to prompt the access network to modify the access terminal's transmission power level setpoint.

主权项

1. A method of managing a reverse link transmission power level setpoint during periods of data inactivity on a reverse link traffic channel in a wireless communications system, comprising:
determining, at an access terminal that is actively monitoring downlink transmissions associated with a communication session, that no reverse link data transmissions from the access terminal to an access network have occurred on the reverse link traffic channel in more than a threshold period of time, the threshold period of time established at least in part based on one or more criteria associated with expected drift of a transmission power level setpoint of the access terminal during periods of reverse link data transmission inactivity; generating a message based on the determining; and transmitting, while the access terminal continues to monitor downlink transmissions associated with the communication session, the message on the reverse link traffic channel to the access network at a first transmission power level based on a current transmission power level setpoint of the access terminal, the transmitted message sufficient for the access network to measure transmission statistics from which the access network can determine whether to adjust the current transmission power level setpoint of the access terminal.