a method and system for assigning uplink slots to optimize time division duplex ul power . in order to assure proper power control gain , ul slots are judiciously allocated close to the beacon slot . the ul slots may be allocated based on channel sensing . all users are sorted in the order of reducing fading losses . sorting information is also used to allocate the ul slots . the ul slots may also be allocated based on signal interference information , code usage availability estimates and spread signal interference values . alternatively , block error rate and signal to interference ratio measurements may be used to allocate the ul slots .