Patent ID: 8111253

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining information indicative of a target load value for a group of access terminals in a sector of a radio access network, with the sector comprising other access terminals that differ from the access terminals in the group; determining, using a computer, a load value for the group, with the load value being less than the target load value; decreasing one or more transmission rates of one or more of the other access terminals to free power resources for an increase in transmission power for the group; and increasing transmission power for the group from the load value to another value that is (i) greater than the load value, and (ii) less than or equal to the target load value; wherein the load value is defined as a ratio of total signal power received by a base transceiver station in the radio access network, from the access terminals in the group, to a total power received by the base transceiver station; and wherein the total power comprises a sum of (i) the total signal power for the group, (ii) a total interference power received by the base transceiver station, and (iii) a baseline noise power of a receiver of the base transceiver station.