Patent ID: 7831271

Claim:
A method of operating a communication station (MS) adapted to transmit a plurality of signals simultaneously at respective power levels, the method comprising: transmitting one or more first signals (DPCCH, DPDCH) simultaneously at a specified maximum combined transmit power level (P max ); wherein, in response to a received signal, reducing the transmit power of the one or more first signals (DPCCH, DPDCH) and transmitting simultaneously with the one or more first signals (DPCCH, DPDCH) an additional one of a second signal (ACK or NACK) at a respective second specified power level (P A or P N ) and a third signal (NACK or ACK) at a respective third specified power level (P N or P A ), wherein the second specified power level (P A or P N ) exceeds the third specified power level (P N or P A ); wherein the reduction in transmit power of the one or more first signals (DPCCH, DPDCH) corresponds to the second specified power level (P A or P N ) irrespective of whether the additional signal is the second signal (ACK or NACK) or the third signal (NACK or ACK), such that when the additional signal is the third signal (NACK or ACK) the combined transmit power level is less than the specified maximum combined transmit power level (P max ).