Intelligent specification of forward-link rate-control

In an access terminal configured to operate in a wireless communication system that includes a base station, a method comprising:

• operating in a first state in which at least:
• the access terminal requests a forward-link data rate from the base station by
• (i) measuring a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a forward link from the base station,
• (ii) determining a first-state forward-link data rate by correlating the measured SNR with a forward-link data-rate value in a single tabulation of forward-link data-rate values each associated with a respective SNR threshold value of the single tabulation, regardless of whether the measured SNR is greater than or less than a previously-measured SNR of the forward link,
• and (iii) transmitting a request to the base station to receive data on the forward link at the determined first-state forward-link data rate;
• while operating in the first state, receiving a high slot-utilization message from the base station;
• and
• in response to receiving the high slot-utilization message, transitioning to operating in a second state in which at least:
• the access terminal requests a forward-link data rate from the base station by
• (i) measuring the SNR of the forward link from the base station,
• (ii) if the measured SNR is greater than the previously-measured SNR of the forward link, determining an SNR-up forward-link data rate selected from a first tabulation of forward-link data-rate values each associated with a respective SNR threshold value of the first tabulation, and transmitting a request to the base station to receive data on the forward link at the determined SNR-up forward-link data rate,
• and (iii) if the measured SNR is less than the previously-measured SNR, determining an SNR-down forward-link data rate selected from a second tabulation of forward-link data-rate values each associated with a respective SNR threshold value of the second tabulation, and transmitting a request to the base station to receive data on the forward link at the determined SNR-down forward-link data rate,
• wherein the first and second tabulations are different.

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

• at the base station, making a first determination that greater than a threshold number of data packets are to be transmitted during upcoming forward-link time slots to one or more access terminals engaged in respective active communication sessions with the base station;
• and
• in response to the first determination, transmitting to the one or more access terminals a high slot-utilization message instructing each respective access terminal of the one or more access terminals to determine respective requested forward-link data rates selected from (i) a first tabulation of forward-link data-rate values each associated with a respective forward-link Signal-to-Noise (SNR) threshold value of the first tabulation if the respective access terminal detects increasing SNR of the forward link, and (ii) a second tabulation of forward-link data-rate values each associated with a respective forward-link SNR threshold value of the second tabulation if the respective access terminal detects decreasing SNR of the forward link,
• wherein the first and second tabulations are different.

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

• one or more processors;
• memory accessible by the one or more processors;
• and
• machine-language instructions stored in the memory that when executed by the one or more processors cause the access terminal to carry out functions including:
• determining an initial forward-link data rate based on an initial signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurement of a forward link from the base station, wherein the initial SNR measurement is made by the access terminal at an initial time,
• determining an updated SNR measurement of the forward link from the base station subsequent to the initial time,
• upon determining that the updated SNR measurement is greater than the initial SNR measurement, making a determination of a first updated forward-link data rate selected from a first tabulation of forward-link data-rate values each associated with a respective SNR threshold value of the first tabulation, and transmitting a request to the base station to receive data on the forward link at the determined first updated forward-link data rate, and
• upon determining that the updated SNR measurement is less than the initial SNR measurement, making a determination of a second updated forward-link data rate selected from a second tabulation of forward-link data-rate values each associated with a respective SNR threshold value of the second tabulation, and transmitting a request to the base station to receive data on the forward link at the determined second updated forward-link data rate,
• wherein the first and second tabulations are different.