A multiple access, spread-spectrum communication
system processes a plurality of information signals received by a radio carrier
station over telecommunication lines for simultaneous transmission over a
radio frequency channel as a code-division-multiplexed
signal to a group of subscriber units. The radio carrier
station receives a call request
signal that corresponds to a telecommunication line information
signal, and a user identification signal that identifies a user to receive the call. The radio carrier
station includes a plurality of CDMA modems, one of which provides a global
pilot code signal. The modems provide message code signals synchronized to the global
pilot signal. Each modem combines an information signal with a message code signal to provide a code division multiplexed signal. The RCS includes a
system channel controller is coupled to receive a remote call. A
radio frequency transmitter is connected to all of the modems to combine the code division multiplexed processed signals with the global
pilot code signal to generate a code division multiplexed signal. The
transmitter also modulates a
carrier signal with the code division multiplexed signal and transmits the modulated
carrier signal through a
radio frequency communication channel to the subscriber units. Each subscriber unit includes a CDMA modem which is also synchronized to the global
pilot signal. The CDMA modem despreads the code division multiplexed signal and provides a despread information signal to the user. The
system includes a
closed loop power control system for maintaining a minimum system transmit
power level for the radio carrier station and the subscriber units, and
system capacity management for maintaining a maximum number of active subscriber units for improved system performance.