Method and apparatus for congestion control in a wireless communication
system. In one embodiment, the status of a congestion bit indicates the
type of adjustment, such as increase or decrease, to be performed at an
access terminal to determine the next data rate for transmissions on the
reverse link. The status of the congestion bit is determined by comparing
a congestion parameter to a predetermined threshold. One embodiment
implements an outerloop threshold having a margin with respect to the
desired congestion metric threshold. The outerloop threshold is adjusted
in response to comparing a measured congestion metric to the desired
threshold. The outerloop threshold adjustment maintains the congestion
metric to within a predetermined probability of exceeding the desired
threshold.