Packet-based downlink level control

• US 20030048761A1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Jarett, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/54 Signalisation aspects of the TPC commands, e.g. frame structure

Abstract

A packet-based downlink level control subsystem is provided for a wireless communication system. The subsystem includes a mechanism for embedding into each packet a power level code. The subsystem further includes a packet transmitter mechanism responsive to the embedded power level code for adjusting the power of the transmitted signal in accordance with the embedded power level code. This enables the transmitted power levels to be tailored to fit the needs of different individual receiving stations.

Claims

1. A packet-based downlink level control subsystem for a wireless communication system, such subsystem comprising:

an embedding mechanism for embedding into each packet a power level code; and

a packet transmitter mechanism responsive to the power level code for adjusting the power of the transmitted signal in accordance with the power level code.

2. A subsystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein the code embedding mechanism embeds the power level code into a packet header.

3. A subsystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein the embedded power level code is determined by a location of a receiving station relative to a center of a transmitted beam.

4. A subsystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein the embedded power level code is determined by a signal strength report received from a receiving station.

5. A subsystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein the code embedding mechanism includes a power level database listing power level codes in accordance with packet destinations and the code embedding mechanism accesses such database for determining the power level code to embed into a packet.

6. A subsystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein the code embedding mechanism includes:

a parser mechanism responsive to incoming packets for determining the destination user identities of the packets; and

a mechanism coupled to the parser mechanism for embedding into the incoming packets power level codes in accordance with the determined destination user identities.

7. A subsystem in accordance with claim 6 wherein the mechanism for embedding power level codes includes a power level database listing power level codes in accordance with destination user identities and the embedding mechanism accesses such database with the destination user identities determined by the parser mechanism for determining the power level codes embedded into the packets.

8. A subsystem in accordance with claim 1 wherein the packet transmitter mechanism includes:

a power amplifier for feeding amplified packet signals to a downlink antenna; and

a power control mechanism responsive to the power level codes in the packets to be transmitted for supplying gain control signals to the power amplifier for controlling signal strengths of transmitted packet signals.

9. A subsystem in accordance with claim 8 wherein the power control mechanism includes a parser mechanism for locating and decoding the power level codes.

10. A subsystem in accordance with claim 8 further including a time delay mechanism for delaying arrival of the packets at the power amplifier for allowing for settling of the power amplifier following a change in the gain control signal.

11. A subsystem in accordance with claim 10 wherein the power control mechanism includes a parser mechanism for locating and decoding the power level codes and the time delay mechanism also provides a time delay to allow for the time required for locating and decoding the power level code.

12. A packet-based downlink level control subsystem for a wireless communication system, such subsystem comprising:

a parser mechanism located in an asynchronous packet switching portion of the subsystem and responsive to incoming packets for locating and reproducing their destination user identity fields;

a power level database located in the asynchronous packet switching portion of the subsystem and having stored therein a listing of power level codes for different destination user identities, this database being responsive to the parsed destination user identity fields for producing the corresponding power level codes;

a packet buffer for receiving and buffering the incoming packets, such packet buffer including circuitry for embedding into the incoming packets the power level codes produced by the power level database;

a power amplifier located in a synchronous transmitter portion of the subsystem for feeding amplified packet signals to a downlink antenna;

a time delay mechanism located in the synchronous transmitter portion of the subsystem for receiving packets from the packet buffer and supplying same to the power amplifier for downlink transmission; and

a parser mechanism located in the synchronous transmitter portion of the subsystem and responsive to packets output by the packet buffer for locating and decoding the power level codes embedded in such packets and producing and supplying corresponding gain control signals to the power amplifier for controlling signal strengths of the transmitted packet signals.

13. A method of controlling the power of downlink signals transmitted by a wireless communication system, such method comprising the steps of:

determining the identity of an intended receiving station; and

adjusting a power of a transmitted signal in accordance with the identity of the intended receiving station, whereby different power levels are used for different receiving stations.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the downlink signals are packet signals and the identities of the intended receiving stations are determined from destination user identity fields of the packets.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the packet signals are parsed to pick off the destination user identity fields and these fields are used for embedding power level codes into the packets.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the embedded power level codes are used for adjusting the power of the transmitted signals.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the embedded power level codes are used to adjust a gain of a power amplifier which feeds amplified packet signals to a downlink antenna.