A code-division-multiple-access (CDMA)
system employing spread-spectrum modulation. The CDMA
system has a
base station (BS), and a plurality of subscriber units. The signals transmitted between the
base station and subscriber unit use spread-spectrum modulation. The improvement method for adaptive reverse
power control (APC) from a subscriber unit (SU) to a
base station (BS), comprises the steps of sending from the subscriber unit, using spread-spectrum modulation, a SU-spreading code on a reverse channel. The base
station despreads the SU-spreading code on the reverse channel as a despread
signal, determines a first
power level Pd which includes power of the despread
signal plus
noise and a second
power level PN, which includes despread-
noise power. The base
station determines a first
error signal e1, from the first
power level Pd, the second power level PN, and a required
signal-to-
noise ratio SNRREQ for service type, and a second
error signal e2, from a measure of total received power Prt at the base
station, and an
automatic gain control (AGC)
set point Po. The base station forms a combined
error signal from the first error signal e1, the second error signal e2, a first weight a1, and a second weight a2, and hard limits the combined error signal to form a single APC bit. The APC bit is transmitted to the subscriber unit. In response to the APC bit, the subscriber adjusts
transmitter power to the base station.