Patent ID: 6970437

Claim:
An access terminal that is configured for wireless communication with an access network within a sector, comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a reverse traffic channel to the access network; an antenna for receiving signals from the access network; a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to implement a method comprising: estimating a current value of a reverse activity bit transmitted by the access network; if the estimated current value of the reverse activity bit indicates that the sector is busy, decreasing a current power allocation for each flow of a plurality of flows on the access terminal, the magnitude of the decrease for a particular flow being determined according to a downward ramping function that is designed for the flow, the downward ramping function being a function of the current power allocation for the flow; and if the estimated current value of the reverse activity bit indicates that the sector is idle, increasing the current power allocation for each flow of the plurality of flows on the access terminal, the magnitude of the increase for a particular flow being determined according to an upward ramping function that is designed for the flow, the upward ramping function being a function of the current power allocation for the flow.