Reverse link scheduler for CDMA networks

A method of managing loading of a reverse link in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• assigning selected ones in a plurality of mobile stations as members in a set of rate- controlled mobile stations;
• broadcasting common rate control commands to adjust reverse link data rates of the rate-controlled mobile stations and thereby affect reverse link loading by the rate- controlled mobile stations;
• adjusting membership in the set of rate-controlled mobile stations if a targeted reverse link loading cannot be substantially maintained by broadcasting the rate control;
• and
• maintaining an activity factor for each mobile station in the plurality of mobile stations that indicates its membership time in the set of rate-controlled mobile stations.

A base station for use in wireless communication network comprising:

• transceiver circuits to send signals to a plurality of mobile stations on a forward link and receive signals from the mobile stations on a reverse link;
• processing logic including a load controller configured to generate rate control commands for a first set of mobile stations in the plurality of mobile stations based on a reverse link loading, and further configured to:
• receive feedback from each mobile station in the first set indicating whether the reverse link data rate of the mobile station is mobile-limited or is command-limited;
• add one or more new members to the first set if the reverse link data rates of more than a first threshold percentage of mobile stations in the first set are mobile-limited;
• and
• subtract one or more current members from the first set if the reverse link data rates of more than a second threshold percentage of mobile stations are command-limited.