Reducing power consumption in mobile terminals by changing modulation schemes

1. A method of reducing power consumption in a code division multiple access terminal, said method comprising:

receiving an uplink load indicator from a base station that indicates a current load on the uplink;

determining a current transmit power level of the mobile terminal; and

transmitting over the uplink using a selected modulation scheme based on the current uplink load, and on the current transmit power level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting over the uplink using a selected modulation scheme comprises:

transmitting over the uplink using a first modulation scheme if the current uplink load does not exceed a predetermined load, and if the current transmit power level exceeds a predetermined power level; and

transmitting over the uplink using a second modulation scheme if the current uplink load exceeds the predetermined load, or if the current transmit power level does not exceed the predetermined power level.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first modulation scheme comprises a Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation scheme, and wherein the second modulation scheme comprises a Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation scheme.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the uplink load indicator is based on a detected Rise over Thermal noise level at the base station.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the uplink load indicator is based on a number of mobile terminals communicating with the base station over the uplink.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the uplink load indicator is based on a total received signal power at the base station.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

dynamically selecting the modulation scheme based on the current uplink load and the current transmit power level of the mobile terminal;

notifying the base station of the selected modulation scheme; and

transmitting over the uplink using the selected modulation scheme.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising adjusting a spreading factor based on the selected modulation scheme.

9. A mobile terminal comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit signals over an uplink using a selected modulation scheme;

a control circuit configured to:

receive an uplink load indicator from a base station that indicates a current load on the uplink;

determine a current transmit power level of the mobile terminal; and

select the modulation scheme to modulate the transmit signals based on the current uplink load and the current transmit power level.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

select a first modulation scheme if the current uplink load does not exceed a predetermined load, and if the current transmit power level exceeds a predetermined power level; and

select a second modulation scheme if the current uplink load exceeds the predetermined load, or if the current transmit power level does not exceed the predetermined power level.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 wherein the first modulation scheme comprises a Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation scheme, and wherein the second modulation scheme comprises a Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation scheme.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the uplink load indicator is based on a detected Rise over Thermal noise level at the base station.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the uplink load indicator is based on a number of mobile terminals communicating with the base station over the uplink.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the uplink load indicator is based on a total received signal power at the base station.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

dynamically select the modulation scheme based on the current uplink load and the current transmit power level of the mobile terminal;

notify the base station of the selected modulation scheme; and

transmit over the uplink using the selected modulation scheme.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 9 wherein the control circuit is further configured to adjust a spreading factor based on the selected modulation scheme.

17. A method of reducing power consumption in a code division multiple access terminal, said method comprising:

modulating signals to be transmitted to a base station over an uplink;

altering a modulation scheme used to modulate the signals responsive to changes in an uplink load and on a current transmit power of the code division multiple access terminal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein altering a modulation scheme comprises changing the modulation scheme from Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation to Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation if the uplink load exceeds a predetermined load or if the current transmit power level does not exceed a predetermined power level.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein altering a modulation scheme comprises changing the modulation scheme from Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation to Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation if the uplink load does not exceed a predetermined load and if the current transmit power level exceeds a predetermined power level.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising notifying the base station of the change in modulation schemes.