Patent ID: 8264964

Claim:
In an access terminal configured to operate in a wireless communication system that includes a base station, a method comprising: operating in a first state in which at least (i) the access terminal transmits a primary beacon signal on an air interface communication link to the base station, and (ii) upon a condition that the access terminal transmits a packet having a size larger than a threshold packet size, the access terminal activates and transmits a secondary beacon signal on the air interface communication link to the base station concurrently with transmission of the primary beacon signal; and while operating in the first state, upon receiving a first message from the base station, the first message comprising a command to transmit the secondary beacon signal, transitioning to operating in a second state in which at least (i) the access terminal transmits the primary beacon signal, and (ii) the access terminal concurrently and unconditionally activates and transmits the secondary beacon signal.