Patent ID: 7286847

Claim:
A wireless code division multiple access (CDMA) subscriber unit comprising: a circuit configured to synchronize to a pilot signal transmitted by a base station associated with a CDMA network wherein, during idle periods of the subscriber unit, the circuit is further configured to remain synchronized to the pilot signal by periodically acquiring the pilot signal; and a transmitter configured such that, when the subscriber unit is first accessing the CDMA network, the transmitter successively transmits signals until the subscriber unit receives from the base station an indication that a transmitted one of the signals has been detected by the base station, wherein each transmission of one of the signals by the transmitter, other than a transmission of a first one of the signals, is at an increased power level with respect to a prior transmission of another one of the signals and wherein the transmitted signals carry no data of the subscriber unit; the transmitter further configured such that, subsequent to the subscriber unit receiving the indication, the transmitter facilitates closed loop power control with respect to a communication channel associated with the base station, wherein, prior to receiving the indication, the subscriber unit is not uniquely identified to the base station.