Power control apparatus, and associated method, for a sending station of a communication system

• US 20020160821A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kari Saukko, Muhammad Kaikati
• Inventors: Kaikati, Muhammad, Saukko, Kari
• Granted Patent: US 6,879,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/228 using past power values or information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/36 with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for controlling the power levels at which an EDGE-modulated signal, or other signal which includes envelope varying-portions, during operation of a communication system. Changes in the power levels of the EDGE-modulated signal are permitted when closed-loop power control is done on nonamplitude-modulated component portions of the signal. Changes in the power levels of the EDGE-modulated signal are prevented by open-loop power control on amplitude-modulated component portion of the signal.

Claims

1. In a communication system having a sending station operable to send a burst data signal upon a communication channel during at least a selected interval, the burst data signal including an envelope varying component portion and an envelope nonvarying component portion, an improvement of power control apparatus for controlling power levels at which the burst data signal is sent, said power control apparatus comprising:

a comparator coupled to receive indications of actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent, said comparator at least selectably operable for comparing values of the indications of the actual power levels with values of specified power levels and for generating a power-level change command signal responses thereto; and

a power-change effectuator coupled to said comparator, said power change effectuator at least selectably operable to permit effectuation of change in the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent, said power change effectuator operable to permit effectuation of changes of the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent when the indications of the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent to which said comparator is coupled to receive are of the envelope-nonvarying portion of the burst data signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the values of the specified power levels to which said comparator is coupled to receive comprises values of a power control signal, the power control signal of the time-varying values.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the communication system is operable pursuant to a system operational specification which defines time-varying power-level values permitted of the burst data signal and wherein the power control signal of which said comparator is coupled to receive is of values corresponding to the time-varying power-level values permitted of the burst data signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the power control signal formed of the time-varying power level values of which said comparator is coupled to receive comprises a first signal portion and a second signal portion, the first signal portion of a first range of time-varying values and the second signal portion of a second range of time-varying values.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first signal portion of the power control signal of which said comparator is coupled to receive comprises a power ramp-up subportion and a power ramp-down subportion and wherein the second signal portion of the power control signal of which said comparator is coupled to receive comprises a data portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said power-change effectuator is time-synchronized to the power-level values permitted of the burst data signal, the power-level values of the burst data signal permitted to be of a first range of values during the envelope-nonvarying portion of the burst data signal and the power-level values of the burst data signal permitted to be a second range of values during the envelope-varying portion of the burst data signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the power control signal to which said comparator is coupled to receive is time-synchronized to operation of said power-change effectuator.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first power-change effectuator is selectably operable responsive to values of a power-change effectuation signal applied thereto, the power-change effectuation signal time-synchronized to the power control signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power-change effectuator comprises a switch selectably operational to permit effectuation of the changes of the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent when the indications of the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent are of the envelope-nonvarying portion of the burst data signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said switch is alternately positionable to prevent effectuation of the changes of the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent when the indications of the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent are of the envelope-varying portion of the burst data signal.

11. The apparatus in claim 9 wherein the switch forming said power-change effectuator is connected to receive and, selectably, to pass the power-level change command signal generated by said comparator.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the sending station includes an attenuator which exhibits a selected level of attenuation and wherein, when the switch passes the power-level change command signal, the power-level change command signal is used to alter the level of attenuation of the attenuator.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein positioning of the switch forming said power-change effectuator is determined by values of a power-change effectuation signal applied thereto, the power-change effectuation signal maintained in time-synchronization with the burst data signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the power-change effectuation signal is of a first value during the envelope-nonvarying portion of the burst data signal and is of a second value during the envelope varying portion of the burst data signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the communication system comprises a cellular communication system which provides for EDGE (enhanced data rate for GSM evolution) communications, wherein the burst data signal includes an EDGE-modulated burst including an amplitude-modulated portion and nonamplitude-modulated ramp portions and wherein said power-change effectuator selectably permits effectuation of change in the actual power levels at which the EDGE-modulated burst is transmitted.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the values of the specified power levels with which the actual power levels are compared during said operation of comparing comprise values of a power control signal of time-varying values.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the communication system is operable pursuant to a system operational specification which defines time-varying power-levels permitted of the burst data signal and wherein the power control signal, for which the values thereof are compared during said operation of comparing, correspond to values of the time-varying power levels permitted of the burst data signal.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the power-level change command generated during said operation of generating comprises, alternately, a power-up command and a power-down command.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the sending station comprises a power-level altering element and wherein said operation of selectably permitting comprises selectably connecting the power-level change command to the power-level altering element.

16. In a method of communicating in a communication system having a sending station operable to send a burst data signal upon a communication channel during at least a selected interval, the burst data signal including an envelope varying component portion and an envelope-nonvarying component portion, an improvement of a method for controlling power levels at which the burst data signal is sent, said method comprising:

comparing values of indications of actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent with values of specified power levels;

generating a power-level change command responsive to comparisons made during said operation of comparing; and

selectably permitting effectuation of changes of the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent in manners corresponding to the power-level change command when the indications of the actual power levels at which the burst data signal is sent are of the envelop-nonvarying portion of the burst data signal.