Patent ID: 6928064

Claim:
A method for monitoring on a reverse link idling mode connections between a base station and a plurality of idling subscriber units that are powered on, but not actively sending data, the method comprising: making available a plurality of orthogonal subchannels within at least one Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) radio frequency (RF) channel; assigning a shared orthogonal subchannel to at least two different idling subscriber units, but utilizing different time slots of the shared orthogonal subchannels; for each idling subscriber unit assigned the shared orthogonal subchannel, sending a respective heartbeat signal within its assigned time slot at a data rate that is low enough to maintain bit synchronization with the base station; and tracking the respective heartbeat signals within the assigned time slots by selecting an assigned time slot within the shared orthogonal subchannel, retrieving a previous tracking of a respective heartbeat signal for an idling subscriber unit associated with the assigned time slot, determining a current tracking of the respective heartbeat signal for the idling subscriber unit associated with the assigned time slot, updating the tracking of the idling subscriber unit associated with the assigned time slot based upon its current and previous trackings, storing the updated tracking for the idling subscriber unit associated with the assigned time slot, and selecting a next assigned time slot within the shared orthogonal subchannel, and repeating the retrieving, determining, updating and storing for a different idling subscriber unit associated with the next selected assigned time slot.