# US 2017/0288809 A1 · Efficient signaling over access channel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288809 A1 - Document ID: US20170288809A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/499,705 - Filed: 2017-04-27 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2004-07-21 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Arak Sutivong; Edward Harrison Teague; Alexei Gorokhov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288809A1 ## CPC - H04W 74/004: {in the uplink, i.e. towards network} - H04L 1/0023: {characterised by the signalling} - H04L 1/1692: {Physical properties of the supervisory signal, e.g. acknowledgement by energy bursts} - H04W 52/04: Transmission power control [TPC] - H04L 1/0026: {Transmission of channel quality indication} - H04W 72/542: using measured or perceived quality - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An apparatus and method for transmitting an indicator of channel quality while minimizing the use of a broadcast channel is described. A metric of forward link geometry of observed transmission signals is determined. An indicator of channel quality value is determined as a function of the observed transmission signals. An access sequence is selected, randomly, from one group of a plurality of groups of access sequences, wherein each of the plurality of groups of access sequences correspond to different ranges of channel quality values. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a wireless communication system, a method of determining an indicator of channel quality, the method comprising: determining a metric of an observed transmission; determining an estimate of channel quality based on at least the metric of the observed transmission; selecting an access sequence, randomly, from one group of a plurality of groups of access sequences, wherein the plurality of groups of access sequences correspond to different ranges of channel quality values, and wherein the selected access sequence is from the group of the plurality of groups corresponding to the determined estimate of channel quality; and transmitting the selected access sequence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein determining the metric further comprises determining the power of an observed pilot signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein determining the estimate of channel quality further comprises determining the ratio of received pilot power to noise. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein determining the estimate of channel quality further comprises determining the ratio of received pilot power to the sum of received pilot and power and noise. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of access sequences in the plurality of groups of access sequences are distributed non-uniformly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises transmitting in accordance with a Frequency Division Multiplex (FDM) scheme. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises transmitting in accordance with a Code Division Multiplex (CDM) scheme. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the act of transmitting further comprises transmitting in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein selecting further comprises selecting information indicative of one or more access terminal requirements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method set forth in claim 9, wherein selecting information further comprises selecting information buffer level needs, quality of service requirements, a forward-link channel quality indicator, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 11 In a wireless communication system, an apparatus to determine an indicator of channel quality, the apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive observed transmissions; a processor configured to determine a metric of the observed transmission, and to determine an estimate of channel quality as a function of at least the metric of the observed transmission; a memory element configured to store a plurality of groups of access sequences, wherein the plurality of groups of access sequences correspond to different ranges of channel quality values; a selector configured to select an access sequence, randomly, from the group of the plurality of groups corresponding to the determined channel quality value; and a transmitter configured to transmit the selected access sequence. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus set forth in claim 11, the processor further comprises determining the ratio of received pilot power to noise. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus set forth in claim 11, the plurality of access sequences in the plurality of groups of access sequences are distributed non-uniformly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit in accordance with a Frequency Division Multiplex (FDM) scheme. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit in accordance with a Code Division Multiplex (CDM) scheme. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the selector is further configured to select information indicative of access terminal requirements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus set forth in claim 17, wherein the information indicative of access terminal requirements comprises buffer level, quality of service requirements, a forward-link channel quality indicator. ### Claim 19 In a wireless communication system, an apparatus for determining an indicator of channel quality, the apparatus comprising: means for determining a power level of an observed transmission; means for determining a CQI value as a function of the power level of the observed transmission; means for selecting an access sequence, randomly, from one group of a plurality of groups of access sequences, wherein the plurality of groups of access sequences correspond to different ranges of CQI values, and wherein the selected access sequence is from the group of the plurality of groups corresponding to the determined CQI value; and means for transmitting the selected access sequence. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein means for determining a power level further comprises means for determining the power level of an observed pilot signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein the plurality of access sequences in the plurality of groups of access sequences are distributed non-uniformly. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting in accordance with a Frequency Division Multiplex (FDM) scheme. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting in accordance with a Code Division Multiplex (CDM) scheme. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) scheme. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting in accordance with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein means for selecting further comprises means for selecting information indicative of one or more access terminal requirements. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus set forth in claim 26, wherein means for selecting information further comprises selecting information regarding buffer level needs, quality of service requirements, a forward-link channel quality indicator, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 28 In a wireless communication system, a method of transmitting information regarding access terminal needs, the method comprising: determining a received power level of an observed pilot signal; determining a CQI value as a function of the received power level; selecting an access sequence, randomly, from one group of a plurality of groups of access sequences, wherein the plurality of groups of access sequences correspond to a plurality of predetermined factors, the predetermined factors include a plurality of ranges of CQI values; and transmitting the selected access sequence. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method set forth in claim 28, wherein the predetermined factors further include one or more of ranges of buffer levels, packet size, traffic type, frequency bandwidth request and ranges of quality of service indicators. ### Claim 30 (canceled) ### Claim 31 (canceled) ### Claim 32 (canceled) ### Claim 33 (canceled) ### Claim 34 (canceled) ### Claim 35 (canceled) ### Claim 36 (canceled) ### Claim 37 (canceled) ### Claim 38 (canceled) ### Claim 39 (canceled) ### Claim 40 (canceled) ### Claim 41 (canceled) ### Claim 42 (canceled) ### Claim 43 (canceled) ### Claim 44 (canceled) ### Claim 45 (canceled)