Method and apparatus for group calls in a wireless CDMA communication system

• US 6,181,685 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chinitz, Leigh M., Wilson, Timothy J., Needham, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/065,314
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 370/335, 370/342, 370/320, 370/252, 375/200, 455/518, 455/519, 455/416
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/247 where the output power of a terminal is based on a path parameter sent by another terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

A controller (120), in response to receiving a request for a group call (201) targeting a group (101), allocates at least one power adjustment channel to the group call (202) and sends identification of the at least one power adjustment channel to at least some of the subscriber units in the group (203). Using the at least one power adjustment channel, the controller also sends unique power adjustment information to each of the at least some subscriber units (204). Unique power adjustment channel access information is also sent to the subscriber units so that each subscriber unit can receive its own unique power adjustment information (503) and adjust its inbound transmission power (504) in response. In this manner, efficient reverse power control is provided for multiple subscriber units thereby facilitating group calls in CDMA systems.

Claims

1. A controller for use in a wireless CDMA communication system comprising at least one base station coupled to the controller, the at least one base station being in wireless communication with a plurality of subscriber units via at least one outbound traffic channel, the plurality of subscriber units being in wireless communication with the at least one base station via a respective plurality of inbound traffic channels, the controller comprising:

means for receiving, from a requesting subscriber unit of a group, a request for a group call, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of subscriber units are logically arranged into the group;

means, coupled to the means for receiving, for allocating at least one outbound power adjustment channel to the group call the at least one outbound power adjustment channel being in addition to the at least one outbound traffic channel and the plurality of inbound traffic channels and enabling the controller to provide unique inbound power adjustment information to at least some subscriber units of the group; and

means, coupled to the means for allocating, for sending, to the at least some subscriber units of the group, identification of the at least one outbound power adjustment channel responsive to the request.

2. The controller of claim 1, further comprising:

means for sending, to each of the at least some subscriber units, the unique inbound power adjustment information via the at least one outbound power adjustment channel.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the means for sending the identification of the at least one outbound power adjustment channel further comprises means for sending, to each of the at least some subscriber units, an identification of a uniquely assigned portion of the at least one outbound power adjustment channel, wherein the uniquely assigned portion comprises the unique inbound power adjustment information.

4. The controller of claim 2, wherein the means for sending the identification of the at least one outbound power adjustment channel further comprises means for sending, to each of the at least some subscriber units, a unique address relative to the at least one outbound power adjustment channel, wherein the unique inbound power adjustment information is sent via the at least one outbound power adjustment channel based on the unique address.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the means for allocating further deallocates the at least one outbound power adjustment channel when the group call has ended.