System and method for maintaining wireless channels over a reverse link of a CDMA wireless communication system

1. A method for providing wireless communication of digital signals, the digital signals being communicated between a plurality of wireless subscriber units and a base station, the digital signals being communicated using at least one radio frequency (RF) channel via Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) modulated radio signals defined by orthogonal codes, the method comprising:

making available a plurality of orthogonal subchannels within each CDMA RF channel, each orthogonal subchannel having a data rate less than a nominal data rate of the digital signals;

allocating available orthogonal subchannels on an as-needed basis for subscriber units actively sending data, with the number of orthogonal subchannels being allocated changing during a given session; and

providing an idling mode connection on a reverse link for subscriber units which are powered on, but not actively sending data, by assigning a shared orthogonal subchannel to at least two different subscriber units, but utilizing different time slots of the shared orthogonal subchannel.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the different time slots of the shared orthogonal subchannel are uniquely assigned.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein providing the idling mode connection for each subscriber unit powered on but not actively sending data further comprises sending a heartbeat signal in its uniquely assigned time slot at a data rate that is low enough to maintain bit synchronization with the base station.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein a subscriber unit enters an active mode from an idling mode by sending a command signal to the base station using its uniquely assigned time slot to request allocation of additional available orthogonal subchannels.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein each subscriber unit comprises at least one data buffer; and further comprising each subscriber unit monitoring their at least one data buffer to determine when to send the command signal to the base station.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the base station uses a respective forward access channel for each subscriber unit in the active mode; and further comprising each subscriber unit in the active mode monitoring the forward access channel to determine when to return to the idling mode connection.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein for each subscriber unit monitoring the forward access channel; further comprising sending a request to the base station for changing the number of allocated subchannels dedicated to the subscriber unit sending the request.

8. A method according to claim 7 where the number of allocated subchannels is increased; and wherein the increased allocated subchannels have a predetermined relationship to the uniquely assigned time slot for the subscriber unit sending the request.

9. A method according to claim 4 wherein each subscriber unit comprises at least one data buffer; wherein the base station uses a respective forward access channel for each subscriber unit in the active mode; and further comprising each subscriber unit in the active mode monitoring their at least one data buffer to determine when to return to the idling mode connection.

10. A method according to claim 4 wherein each subscriber unit comprises at least one data buffer; and further comprising each subscriber unit in the active mode monitoring their at least one data buffer to determine when to return to the idling mode connection.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein each subscriber unit in the idling mode connection receives feedback from the base station relating to an adjustment of its transmit timing.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein each subscriber unit in the idling mode connection receives feedback from the base station relating to an adjustment of its transmit power.

13. A method for providing wireless communication of digital signals, the digital signals being communicated between a plurality of wireless subscriber units and a base station, the digital signals being communicated using at least one radio frequency (RF) channel via Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) modulated radio signals defined by orthogonal codes, the method comprising:

making available a plurality of orthogonal subchannels within each CDMA RF channel;

allocating available orthogonal subchannels on an as-needed basis for subscriber units actively sending data, with the number of orthogonal subchannels being allocated changing during a given session; and

providing an idling mode connection on a reverse link for subscriber units in an idling mode and which are powered on, but not actively sending data, by

assigning a shared orthogonal subchannel to at least two different subscriber units, but utilizing different time slots of the shared orthogonal subchannel, and

sending a heartbeat signal from each subscriber unit in the idling mode to the base station in its uniquely assigned time slot at a data rate that is low enough to maintain bit synchronization with the base station.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the different time slots of the shared orthogonal subchannel are uniquely assigned.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein a subscriber unit enters an active state from the idling state by sending a command signal to the base station using its uniquely assigned time slot to request allocation of additional available orthogonal subchannels.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein each subscriber unit comprises at least one data buffer; and further comprising each subscriber unit monitoring their at least one data buffer to determine when to send the command signal to the base station.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the base station uses a respective forward access channel for each subscriber unit in the active state; and further comprising each subscriber unit in the active state monitoring the forward access channel to determine when to return to the idling state.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein for each subscriber unit monitoring the forward access channel; further comprising sending a request to the base station for changing the number of allocated subchannels dedicated to the subscriber unit sending the request.

19. A method according to claim 18 where the number of allocated subchannels is increased; and wherein the increased allocated subchannels have a predetermined relationship to the uniquely assigned time slot for the subscriber unit sending the request.

20. A method according to claim 15 wherein each subscriber unit comprises at least one data buffer; wherein the base station uses a respective forward access channel for each subscriber unit in the active state; and further comprising each subscriber unit in the active state monitoring their at least one data buffer to determine when to return to the idling state.

21. A method according to claim 15 wherein each subscriber unit comprises at least one data buffer; and further comprising each subscriber unit in the active state monitoring their at least one data buffer to determine when to return to the idling state.

22. A method according to claim 13 wherein each subscriber unit in the idling state receives feedback from the base station relating to an adjustment of its transmit timing.

23. A method according to claim 13 wherein each subscriber unit in the idling state receives feedback from the base station relating to an adjustment of its transmit power.