Enhanced reverse-link auxiliary pilot trigger

In a base station configured to operate as part of a wireless communication system, a method comprising:

• at the base station, receiving a primary beacon signal transmitted from an access terminal;
• at the base station, making a first determination that particular signals received from the access terminal have been detected below a first threshold level;
• and
• responsive to the first determination, transmitting a first message to the access terminal, the first message comprising a command to unconditionally transmit a secondary beacon signal concurrently with transmission of the primary beacon signal,
• wherein the primary beacon signal is used by the base station to maintain a common timing reference between the base station and the access terminal, the common timing reference facilitating decoding by the base station of other signals received from the access terminal, and
• wherein the secondary beacon signal is used by the base station to enhance reliability of the common timing reference.

An access terminal configured to operate in a wireless communication system that includes a base station, the access terminal comprising:

• means for operating in a first state in which at least (i) the access terminal transmits a primary beacon signal on an air interface communication link to the base station, and (ii) upon a condition that the access terminal transmits a packet having a size larger than a threshold packet size, the access terminal activates and transmits a secondary beacon signal on the air interface communication link to the base station concurrently with transmission of the primary beacon signal;
• means for receiving a first message from the base station while operating in the first state, the first message comprising a command to transmit the secondary beacon signal;
• and
• means for, responsive to receiving the first message, transitioning to operating in a second state in which at least (i) the access terminal transmits the primary beacon signal, and (ii) the access terminal concurrently and unconditionally activates and transmits the secondary beacon signal.

A base station configured to operate as part of a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:

• means for receiving a primary beacon signal transmitted from an access terminal;
• means for making a first determination that particular signals received from the access terminal have been detected below a first threshold level;
• and
• means for transmitting a first message to the access terminal in response to the first determination, the first message comprising a command to unconditional transmit a secondary beacon signal concurrently with transmission of the primary beacon signal,
• wherein the primary beacon signal is used by the base station to maintain a common timing reference between the base station and the access terminal, the common timing reference facilitating decoding by the base station of other signals received from the access terminal, and
• wherein the secondary beacon signal is used by the base station to enhance reliability of the common timing reference.