Patent ID: 8059542

Claim:
In an access terminal operating in a wireless communication system that includes a base station, a method comprising: operating in a first state in which the access terminal transmits a primary beacon signal on an air interface communication link to the base station, and also 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, responsive at least to receiving a noise-level message from the base station, the noise-level message carrying an indication of a measurement by the base station of aggregate transmission noise received at the base station from a plurality of access terminals including the access terminal, transitioning to a second state in which the access terminal ceases to transmit the secondary beacon signal and continues to transmit the primary beacon signal, wherein operating in the first state comprises transmitting data packets having sizes larger than a threshold packet size, and wherein transitioning to the second state comprises ceasing to transmit the secondary beacon signal and continuing transmitting data packets having sizes larger than a threshold packet size.