Patent ID: 8363604

Claim:
A wireless communication network entity comprising: a) a processor configured to regulate the data rate of transmissions over a wireless channel from a base station to a subscriber station based on feedback of a data rate control (DRC) value from the subscriber station relating to wireless channel conditions, the processor being further configured to; b) determine a substitute data rate for one or more transmissions over the wireless channel from the base station to the subscriber station when the feedback is corrupted; wherein the processor is further configured to; c) determine if a corruption criteria comprising a DRC erasure is met; and further configured to; d) transmit the substitute data rate on a forward link to a subscribe station if the corruption criteria is met; and wherein the one or more criteria further requires a minimum time between the DRC erasure and the last known DRC value received from the subscriber station; and wherein the processor is further configured to monitor additional feedback from the subscriber station relating to the ability of the subscriber station to decode a transmission from the base station, wherein; the processor is configured to incrementally increase the substitute data rate for one or more transmissions from the base station to the subscriber station while the feedback remains corrupted and the subscriber station is able to decode transmissions; and the processor is configured to incrementally decrease the substitute data rate for one or more transmissions from the base station to the subscriber station while the feedback remains corrupted and the subscriber station is unable to decode transmissions.