Method and apparatus for maintaining desired link quality when no data is transmitted on transport channels having quality targets

Abstract

Disclosed is a mobile station executed method for updating a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) target during a discontinuous transmission (DTX) period of a downlink transport channel having a network specified quality target value, as is a mobile station () that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes measuring a quality, such as the BLER, of another downlink transport channel for which a network () has not specified a quality target value; and updating the SIR target in accordance with the measured quality. For a case where the downlink transport channel for which the network has not specified a quality target value is on a power controlled physical channel, updating the SIR target uses the measured quality. For a case where the downlink transport channel for which the network has not specified a quality target value is on a non-power controlled physical channel, updating the SIR target includes: (a) determining a mapping function, (b) applying the mapping function to the measured quality to obtain a weighted quality, and (c) using the weighted quality for updating the SIR target. In the preferred embodiment the mobile station conforms to a wide bandwidth, code division multiple access (WCDMA) third generation partnership project (3GPP) air interface standard.