US Patent 7440399 Apparatus and method for efficient transmission of acknowledgments

Method and apparatus for transmission of information in multiple access communication system is described. Information from a plurality of access terminals is received. Alternatively, an access terminal determines what information needs to be sent to the access point. A determination is made as to whether sufficient resources, such as time, power level, or channels, are available to send an indication of acknowledgment. If sufficient resources are not available at the given time, the transmission of an indication of acknowledgment is delayed until sufficient resources are available.