Power and timing control methods and apparatus

A wireless terminal, comprising:

• means for controlling said wireless terminal to operate, at different times, in each one of at least three different operational states, the three different operational states including a first state, a second state and a third state;
• means for communicating power control information between said wireless terminal and a base station at a first rate while operating the wireless terminal in the first state;
• means for communicating power control information between said wireless terminal and the base station at a second rate while operating the wireless terminal in the second state, the second rate being greater than zero and lower than the first rate;
• wherein, while operating said wireless terminal in said second state, a dedicated uplink communications resource is utilized to transmit information to said base station, said dedicated uplinik communications resource being in addition to any power signaling communication resource utilized by said base station during said second state;
• wherein power control information is not communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal while said wireless terminal is operating in the third state or is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is lower than said second rate;
• and
• wherein operating the wireless terminal in at least one of said second and said third states includes operating said wireless terminal for at least a period of 10 ms during which said wireless terminal does not transmit any signals.

A method operating on at least a wireless terminal, the method comprising:

• controlling said wireless terminal to operate, at different times, in each one of at least three different operational states, the three different operational states including an first state, a second state and a third state;
• wherein operating the wireless terminal in the first state includes communicating power control information between said wireless terminal and a base station at a first rate;
• wherein operating said wireless terminal in said second state, includes using a dedicated uplinik communications resource to transmit information to said base station, said dedicated uplinik communications resource being in addition to any power control signaling and timing control signaling communication resource used by said base station during said second state;
• wherein power control is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is non-zero and is lower than said first rate;
• and
• wherein power control information is not communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal while said wireless terminal is operating in the third state or is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is lower than said second rate.

A wireless terminal comprising:

• means for controlling said wireless terminal to operate, at different times, in each one of at least three different operational states, the three different operational states including an first state, a second state and a third state;
• means for communicating power control information between said wireless terminal and a base station at a first rate while operating the wireless terminal in the first state;
• means for using a dedicated uplinik communications resource to transmit information to said base station, while operating said wireless terminal in said second state, said dedicated uplinik communications resource being in addition to any power control signaling and timing control signaling communication resource used by said base station during said second state;
• wherein power control information is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is greater than zero and lower than said first rate;
• and
• wherein power control information is not communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal while said wireless terminal is operating in the third state or is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is lower than said second rate.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to operate, at different times, in each one of at least three different operational states, the three different operational states including a first state, a second state and a third state;
• wherein operating said processor, associated with a wireless terminal in the first state includes communicating power control information between said wireless terminal and a base station at the a first rate;
• wherein operating said processor in said second state, includes using a dedicated uplinik communications resource to transmit information to said base station, said dedicated uplinik communications resource being in addition to any power control signaling and timing control signaling communication resource used by said base station during said second state;
• wherein while said processor is operating in the second state, power control information is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a second rate which is non-zero and which is lower than said first rate;
• and
• wherein power control information is not communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal while said processor is operating in the third state or is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is lower than said second rate.

A method operating on at least a wireless terminal, the method comprising:

• controlling the wireless terminal to operate, at different times, in each one of at least three different operational states, the three different operational states including a first state, a second state and a third state;
• wherein operating the wireless terminal in the first state includes communicating power control information between said wireless terminal and a base station at a first rate;
• wherein operating said wireless terminal in said second state, including using a dedicated uplinik communications resource to transmit information to said base station, said dedicated uplinik communications resource being in addition to any power signaling communication resource used by said base station during said second state;
• wherein while said wireless terminal is operating in the second state, power control information is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is non-zero and which is lower than said first rate;
• and
• wherein power control information is not communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal while said wireless terminal is operating in the third state or is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is lower than said second rate.

A wireless terminal comprising:

• a control module for controlling said wireless terminal to operate, at different times, in each one of at least three different operational states, the three different operational states including a first state, a second state and a third state;
• a power control communications module for communicating power control information between said wireless terminal and a base station at a first rate while operating the wireless terminal in the first state;
• an uplinik communications module for using a dedicated uplinik communications resource to transmit information to said base station, while operating said wireless terminal in said second state, said dedicated uplinik communications resources being in addition to any power control signaling and timing control signaling communication resource used by said base station during said second state;
• wherein while said wireless terminal is operating in the second state power control information is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a second rate which is non-zero and which is lower than said first rate;
• and
• wherein power control information is not communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal while said wireless terminal is operating in the third state or is communicated between said base station and said wireless terminal at a rate which is lower than said second rate.