Method and apparatus for forward link gain control in a power controlled repeater

• US 20040001464A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wheatley, Charles E. III, Adkins, Keith L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,355,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0604 with predefined switching scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15535 Control of relay amplifier gain amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0042 intra-user or intra-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0083 symbol-by-symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/225 Calculation of statistics, e.g. average, variance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks

Abstract

A power controlled repeater is disclosed for use in a wireless communication system to control the forward link gain. The power controlled repeater includes a forward link for communications from a base station to a mobile station. In addition, the power controlled repeater includes a reverse link for communications from the mobile station to the base station. An embedded subscriber unit is used at the power controlled repeater and is inserted into the forward link. A microprocessor is in electronic communications with the subscriber unit and implements a method for controlling the forward link gain. The method for controlling the forward link gain includes using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system, a method for controlling forward link gain in a power controlled repeater, the method comprising:

embedding a subscriber unit in a power controlled repeater used to extend the coverage of a base station, wherein the subscriber unit includes a subscriber unit forward link, wherein the repeater includes a repeater forward link, and wherein the repeater forward link is inserted into the subscriber unit forward link;

transmitting a wireless signal from the base station;

receiving the wireless signal at the power controlled repeater; and

using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to detect receive pilot signal strength and to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater through use of the receive pilot signal strength.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a spread-spectrum communication system.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the spread-spectrum communication system is based on CDMA.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is a CDMA signal.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

measuring forward link path loss; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

obtaining a receive power level;

obtaining a receive Ec/lo level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level;

averaging the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level to substantially remove fading; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

placing the embedded subscriber unit into traffic;

waiting for closed-loop power control to settle;

obtaining a transmit power level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the transmit power level; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

storing a reference power level;

measuring a current power level;

comparing the current power level with the reference power level to identify changes in forward link path loss;

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of any identified changes in the forward link path loss.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference receive power level and wherein the current power level comprises a receive power level.

10. The method as in claim 8, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference receive Ec/lo level and wherein the current power level comprises a receive Ec/lo level.

11. The method as in claim 8, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference transmit power level and wherein the current power level comprises a transmit power level.

12. A power controlled repeater for use in a wireless communication system, the power controlled repeater comprising:

a forward link for communications from a base station to a mobile station;

a reverse link for communications from the mobile station to the base station;

an embedded subscriber unit inserted into the forward link; and

a microprocessor in electronic communications with the subscriber unit, the microprocessor implementing a method for controlling forward link gain, the method comprising;

using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to detect receive pilot signal strength and to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater through use of the receive pilot signal strength.

13. The power controlled repeater as in claim 12, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a spread-spectrum communication system.

14. The power controlled repeater as in claim 13, wherein the spread-spectrum communication system is based on CDMA.

15. The power controlled repeater as in claim 12, wherein a CDMA signal is transmitted on the forward link.

16. The power controlled repeater as in claim 12, wherein the method implemented by the microprocessor further comprises:

measuring forward link path loss; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

17. The power controlled repeater as in claim 12, wherein using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

obtaining a receive power level;

obtaining a receive Ec/lo level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level;

averaging the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level to substantially remove fading; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

18. The power controlled repeater as in claim 12, wherein using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

placing the embedded subscriber unit into traffic;

waiting for closed-loop power control to settle;

obtaining a transmit power level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the transmit power level; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

19. The power controlled repeater as in claim 12, wherein using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

storing a reference power level;

measuring a current power level;

comparing the current power level with the reference power level to identify changes in forward link path loss;

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of any identified changes in the forward link path loss.

20. The power controlled repeater as in claim 19, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference receive power level and wherein the current power level comprises a receive power level.

21. The power controlled repeater as in claim 19, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference receive Ec/lo level and wherein the current power level comprises a receive Ec/lo level.

22. The power controlled repeater as in claim 19, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference transmit power level and wherein the current power level comprises a transmit power level.

23. A wireless communication system capable of controlling forward link gain through use of a power controlled repeater, the wireless communication system comprising:

a base station for relaying communications to a plurality of mobile stations;

a power controlled repeater in a coverage area of the base station, wherein the power controlled repeater is used to extend the coverage area of the base station, and wherein the repeater includes a repeater forward link; and

a subscriber unit embedded in the power controlled repeater, wherein the subscriber unit includes a subscriber unit forward link, wherein the repeater forward link is inserted into the subscriber unit forward link, and wherein the embedded subscriber unit is used to detect receive pilot signal strength and to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater through use of the receive pilot signal strength.

24. The wireless communication system as in claim 23, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a spread-spectrum communication system.

25. The wireless communication system as in claim 24, wherein the spread-spectrum communication system is based on CDMA.

26. The wireless communication system as in claim 23, wherein the communications comprise CDMA signals.

27. The wireless communication system as in claim 23, wherein the power controlled repeater implements a method comprising:

measuring forward link path loss; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

28. The wireless communication system as in claim 23, wherein the power controlled repeater implements a method comprising:

obtaining a receive power level;

obtaining a receive Ec/lo level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level;

averaging the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level to substantially remove fading; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

29. The wireless communication system as in claim 23, wherein the power controlled repeater implements a method comprising:

placing the embedded subscriber unit into traffic;

waiting for closed-loop power control to settle;

obtaining a transmit power level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the transmit power level; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

30. The wireless communication system as in claim 23, wherein the power controlled repeater implements a method comprising:

storing a reference power level;

measuring a current power level;

comparing the current power level with the reference power level to identify changes in forward link path loss;

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of any identified changes in the forward link path loss.

31. The wireless communication system as in claim 30, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference receive power level and wherein the current power level comprises a receive power level.

32. The wireless communication system as in claim 30, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference receive Ec/lo level and wherein the current power level comprises a receive Ec/lo level.

33. The wireless communication system as in claim 30, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference transmit power level and wherein the current power level comprises a transmit power level.

34. A power controlled repeater for use in a wireless communication system, the power controlled repeater comprising:

means for maintaining a forward link for communications from a base station to a mobile station;

means for maintaining a reverse link for communications from the mobile station to the base station;

means for wireless communications inserted into the forward link; and

means for processing in electronic communications with the wireless communication means, the processing means implementing a method for controlling forward link gain, the method comprising;

using the wireless communication means in the power controlled repeater to detect receive pilot signal strength and to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater through use of the receive pilot signal strength..

35. The power controlled repeater as in claim 34, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a spread-spectrum communication system.

36. The power controlled repeater as in claim 35, wherein the spread-spectrum communication system is based on CDMA.

37. The power controlled repeater as in claim 34, wherein a CDMA signal is transmitted on the forward link.

38. The power controlled repeater as in claim 34, wherein the method implemented by the processing means further comprises:

measuring forward link path loss; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

39. The power controlled repeater as in claim 34, wherein using the wireless communication means in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

obtaining a receive power level;

obtaining a receive Ec/lo level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level;

averaging the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level to substantially remove fading; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

40. The power controlled repeater as in claim 34, wherein using the wireless communication means in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

placing the wireless communication means into traffic;

waiting for closed-loop power control to settle;

obtaining a transmit power level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the transmit power level; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

41. The power controlled repeater as in claim 34, wherein using the wireless communication means in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising:

storing a reference power level;

measuring a current power level;

comparing the current power level with the reference power level to identify changes in forward link path loss;

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of any identified changes in the forward link path loss.

42. The power controlled repeater as in claim 41, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference receive power level and wherein the current power level comprises a receive power level.

43. The power controlled repeater as in claim 41, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference receive Ec/lo level and wherein the current power level comprises a receive Ec/lo level.

44. The power controlled repeater as in claim 41, wherein the reference power level comprises a reference transmit power level and wherein the current power level comprises a transmit power level.