Methods and apparatuses for fast power control of signals transmitted on a multiple access channel

In a communication system, a method comprising:

• transmitting a power control information packet formed from a plurality of power control bits from a base station to one or more mobile stations of a plurality of mobile stations, wherein each of the power control bits in the power control information packet has a position that is mapped to a selected access channel;
• controlling the transmission of signals from a first and second mobile stations of said plurality of mobile stations to a base station on a plurality of M multiple access channels.

In a communication system, a method comprising:

• transmitting a power control information packet formed from a plurality of power control bits from a base station to one or more mobile stations of a plurality of mobile stations, wherein the power control bits in the power control information packet are transmitted using a modulation that permits each of the power control bits to assume one of first, second and third different states;
• controlling a transmission of signals from one or more of said plurality of mobile stations to a base station on one or more of a plurality of multiple access channels.

In a communication system, a method comprising:

• transmitting a first power control information packet including at least one power control bit from a first base station associated with a first cell to a mobile radio unit, wherein the at least one power control bit from the first base station is transmitted at a first time interval that corresponds to a first access channel;
• performing an access channel handoff for the mobile radio unit as the mobile radio unit moves from the first cell to a second cell of cells.

In a communication system, an apparatus comprising:

• a base station transmitter configured for transmitting a power control information packet formed from a plurality of power control bits from the base station to one or more mobile stations, wherein each of the power control bits in the power control information packet has a position that is mapped to a selected access channel and to a time offset within the selected access channel;
• a receiver at a first mobile station configured for receiving the power control information packet.

In a mobile radio telephone system having a plurality of cells, each of the cells having at least one base station transmitter associated therewith, an apparatus for performing an access channel handoff for a mobile radio unit as the mobile radio unit moves from a first of said cells to a second of said cells, comprising:

• a first base station transmitter configured for transmitting a first power control information packet including at least one power control bit from a first base station associated with the first cell to the mobile radio unit, wherein the at least one power control bit from the first base station is transmitted at a first time interval that corresponds to a first access channel;
• a second base station transmitter that transmits a second power control information packet including at least one power control bit from a second base station associated with the second cell to the mobile radio unit, wherein the at least one power control bit from the second base station is associated with the first access channel and with the second base station, wherein each of the power control bits in the first and second power control information packets have a position that is mapped to a selected access channel and to a base station associated with the selected access channel.