CELLULAR SYSTEM HAVING IMPROVED FORWARD LINK MANAGEMENT

摘要

A wireless communication system facilitates wireless communication with a mobile unit operating within a respective service area. The wireless communication system includes a mobile switching center and a plurality of base stations with each base stations coupled to the mobile switching center and providing wireless coverage within a respective portion of the service area. The mobile unit wirelessly connects to at least two of the base stations (or sectors of the base stations) that transmit to the mobile unit via respective forward links at respective transmit levels. These respective transmit levels are based upon forward link requirements of the mobile unit. The mobile unit transmits to the at least two base stations/sectors via a respective plurality of reverse links. Forward link transmit levels may be determined based upon the quality of corresponding reverse link transmissions or from the quality of pilot signals or forward link transmissions received by the mobile unit. Forward link transmissions are made via the most favorable forward links (at least one) while transmissions are not made, or are made at reduced power levels on the least favorable forward links. During management of the wireless communication system, forward link transmissions are initiated and discontinued based upon the forward link transmission power requirements of the mobile unit. While managing the forward link transmissions, the forward link transmission power requirements of the mobile unit may be compared to a plurality of thresholds. When these thresholds are exceeded, the management requires altering which base stations make forward link transmissions and at what levels such transmissions are made. In a particular embodiment of the wireless communication system, the system operates according to a code division multiple access protocol.