Patent ID: 6212174
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: G06F,H03H,H04B,H04J,H04L,H04N,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
A method for capacity management in a spread-spectrum communication system including a base station and a plurality of subscriber units (SUs), wherein the base station transmits to the SUs a plurality of spread-spectrum channels including an access channel having a traffic access value which is received by each SU, and a respective plurality of message channels; and wherein each SU transmits to the base station an assigned channel having a power alarm value and a SU message channel, the method comprising the steps of:measuring, by the base station, a transmit power level of the access channel and the plurality of message channels;comparing, by the base station, the transmit power level to a first predetermined power value;blocking transmission of an assigned channel and a respective SU message channel, for each SU not transmitting on the assigned channel, by changing the traffic access value from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value when the transmit power level is equivalent to or greater than the first predetermined power value, wherein one SU of the plurality of SUs, responsive to the traffic access value, does not transmit the assigned channel and the SU message channel;measuring, by each one of the SUs, a SU transmit power level of the respective SU for the respective assigned channel and SU message channel;comparing by each one of the SUs the SU transmit power level of the respective SU to a second predetermined power value; andindicating a maximum power condition to the base station, by one SU, by setting the respective power alarm value to an alarm condition value when the transmit power level of the SU is equivalent to or greater than the second predetermined power value.