Method and apparatus for providing adaptive thresholding for adjustment to loading conditions

1. A method comprising:

setting a threshold relating to loading condition of a communication link; and

adaptively adjusting the threshold based on an overshoot rate parameter that specifies number of times a target rate is exceeded.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting step is further performed based on number of occurrences of an overshoot event, the overshoot event indicating number of times the target rate is exceed over a predetermined period.

3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

specifying a maximum value that the threshold can be set to;

specifying a minimum value that the threshold can be set to; and

selectively modifying the adjusted threshold to be within a range defined by the maximum value and the minimum value.

4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the loading condition of the communication link;

comparing the determined loading with the threshold; and

generating a control message for transmission to a terminal, the control message indicating that the loading condition is either high or not high based on the comparison.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the threshold specifies a rise over thermal (ROT) ratio.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the control message is generated according to a reverse traffic channel medium access control (RTCMAC) protocol, the control message being transmitted to the terminal using spread spectrum.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting step is performed according to a predetermined time interval.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to set a threshold relating to loading condition of a communication link, wherein the processor is further configured to adaptively adjust the threshold based on an overshoot rate parameter that specifies number of times a target rate is exceeded.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the processor performs the adjustment based on number of occurrences of an overshoot event, the overshoot event indicating number of times the target rate is exceed over a predetermined period.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a memory configured to store a maximum value that the threshold can be set to, and a minimum value that the threshold can be set to,

wherein the processor is further configured to selectively modify the adjusted threshold to be within a range defined by the maximum value and the minimum value.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the loading condition of the communication link, to compare the determined loading with the threshold, and to generate a control message for transmission to a terminal, the control message indicating that the loading condition is either high or not high based on the comparison.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the threshold specifies a rise over thermal (ROT) ratio.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the control message is generated according to a reverse traffic channel medium access control (RTCMAC) protocol, the control message being transmitted to the terminal using spread spectrum.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustment of the threshold is performed according to a predetermined time interval.

15. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 8 , the system further comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit a control message to a terminal, the control message indicating whether the loading condition is high or not high based on the adjusted threshold.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a control message indicating that a loading condition of a communication link is either high or not high, wherein the control message is generated by comparing the loading condition with a threshold that is adaptively adjusted based on an overshoot rate parameter that specifies number of times a target rate is exceeded; and

adjusting a transmission rate for communication over the communication link in response to received control message.

17. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the threshold adjustment is further performed based on number of occurrences of an overshoot event, the overshoot event indicating number of times the target rate is exceed over a predetermined period.

18. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the adjusted threshold is selectively modified to be within a range defined by a maximum value and a minimum value.

19. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the threshold specifies a rise over thermal (ROT) ratio.

20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein the control message is generated according to a reverse traffic channel medium access control (RTCMAC) protocol, the control message being transmitted from a base station using spread spectrum.

21. A method according to claim 16 , wherein the threshold adjustment is performed according to a predetermined time interval.

22. A method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

adjusting transmission power in response to the control message.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive a control message indicating that a loading condition of a communication link is either high or not high, wherein the control message is generated by comparing the loading condition with a threshold that is adaptively adjusted based on an overshoot rate parameter that specifies number of times a target rate is exceeded, the processor being further configured to adjust a transmission rate for communication over the communication link in response to received control message.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the threshold adjustment is further performed based on number of occurrences of an overshoot event, the overshoot event indicating number of times the target rate is exceed over a predetermined period.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the adjusted threshold is selectively modified to be within a range defined by a maximum value and a minimum value.

26. An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the threshold specifies a rise over thermal (ROT) ratio.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the control message is generated according to a reverse traffic channel medium access control (RTCMAC) protocol, the control message being transmitted from a base station using spread spectrum.

28. An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the threshold adjustment is performed according to a predetermined time interval.

29. An apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the processor is further configured to adjust transmission power in response to the control message.

30. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 23 , the system further comprising:

a keyboard configured to receive input from a user to initiate communications over the communication link;

a display coupled to the keyboard for displaying the input; and

a transceiver configured to transmit a signal over the communication link in response to the input according to the adjusted transmission rate.

31. A method comprising:

setting a rise over thermal (ROT) threshold corresponding to a reverse link of a spread spectrum communication system, wherein the ROT threshold defines a threshold for a ratio of a reverse link receive power to thermal noise level; and

adaptively adjusting the ROT threshold based on an overshoot rate parameter that specifies number of times a target rate is exceeded and based on number of occurrences of an overshoot event, the overshoot event indicating number of times the target rate is exceed over a predetermined period, wherein the adjusted ROT threshold is restricted to a range of values defined by a maximum value and a minimum value.

32. A method according to claim 31 , further comprising:

measuring a rise over thermal (ROT) value for the reverse link;

comparing the determined ROT value with the ROT threshold; and

setting a reverse activity bit (RAB) indicating either the ROT value is high or not high based on the comparison, wherein the RAB is transmitted to a terminal for adjustment, by the terminal, of a reverse traffic channel transmission data rate and a traffic-to-pilot channel power ratio.

33. A system comprising:

a processor configured to set a rise over thermal (ROT) threshold corresponding to a reverse link of a spread spectrum communication system, wherein the ROT threshold defines a threshold for a ratio of a reverse link receive power to thermal noise level, the processor being further configured to adaptively adjust the ROT threshold based on an overshoot rate parameter that specifies number of times a target rate is exceeded and based on number of occurrences of an overshoot event, the overshoot event indicating number of times the target rate is exceed over a predetermined period, wherein the adjusted ROT threshold is restricted to a range of values defined by a maximum value and a minimum value.

34. A system according to claim 33 , further comprising:

means for measuring a rise over thermal (ROT) value for the reverse link, wherein the processor is further configured to compare the determined ROT value with the ROT threshold, and to set a reverse activity bit (RAB) indicating either the ROT value is high or not high based on the comparison; and

means for transmitting the RAB to a terminal for adjustment, by the terminal, of a reverse traffic channel transmission data rate and a traffic-to-pilot channel power ratio.