Establishment of multiple low-rate inbound signaling links in CDMA dispatch system

摘要

A quality dispatch service on a CDMA based wireless system. To achieve spectral efficiency and fast access for follow-up calls, in response to a request by a talkgroup member to have a group call established, the non-requesting (listening-only) members are allowed to establish a low-rate (non-voice) signaling link in the reverse direction (inbound) for the limited purpose of (i) providing forward power control information to the fixed infrastructure; (ii) requesting soft hand-off when required; and (iii) maintaining the correct reverse link power control to allow for fast channel access for a follow-on call. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the establishment of low-rate inbound signaling links occurs prior to beginning the voice communications. Because a low-rate signaling link, as contemplated by the present invention, is a non-voice link which signals at a predetermined rate substantially less than that of a full-rate traffic link, proportionately less average power is required for dispatch communications than would otherwise be the case if full-rate traffic links were provided instead to non-talking talkgroup members. The present solution results in less interference to the CDMA system and thus substantially less impact on overall system capacity.