Patent ID: 8477733

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) providing service in a wireless coverage area; (b) measuring reverse noise rise (RNR) in the wireless coverage area; (c) comparing the measured RNR to each RNR threshold in a plurality of RNR thresholds, wherein each RNR threshold in the plurality of RNR thresholds corresponds to a respective reverse-activity bit (RAB) in a plurality of RABs; (d) using the RNR threshold corresponding to each particular RAB in the plurality of RABs as compared to the measured RNR as a basis for determining whether to set or clear the particular RAB; and (e) providing the plurality of RABs in the wireless coverage area, wherein the plurality of RABs comprises a first RAB, a second RAB, and a third RAB, wherein the plurality of RNR thresholds comprises a first RNR threshold that corresponds to the first RAB, a second RNR threshold that corresponds to the second RAB, and a third RNR threshold that corresponds to the third RAB, and wherein using the RNR threshold corresponding to each RAB in the plurality of RABs as compared to the measured RNR as a basis for determining whether to set or clear the particular RAB comprises (i) if the measured RNR is less than both the first RNR threshold and the second RNR threshold, then clearing the first RAB, the second RAB, and the third RAB, (ii) if the measured RNR is greater than or equal to the first RNR threshold and less than the second RNR threshold and the third RNR threshold, then setting the first RAB and clearing the second RAB and the third RAB, (iii) if the measured RNR is greater than or equal to the first RNR threshold and the second RNR threshold, and less than the third RNR threshold, then setting the first RAB and the second RAB and clearing the third RAB, and (iv) if the measured RNR is greater than or equal to the first RNR threshold, the second RNR threshold, and the third RNR threshold, then setting the first RAB, the second RAB, and the third RAB.