Methods for enhancing service and reducing service cost in mobile satellite systems

• US 6,208,835 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Shou, Davarian, Faramaz
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANTT, ALAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/109,012
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3, 455/69, 455/504, 455/505, 455/506, 455/67.6, 455/428, 455/429, 455/445, 455/10
• US Class Current: 455/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18543 for adaptation of transmission parameters, e.g. power control for detecting or preventing errors in the information received H04L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods are provided for determining and enhancing the service efficiency of mobile communications. To assess communication efficiency in each communication region of interest, a signal-fading record is generated for that region and this record is then analyzed to find availability and energy cost for each of a plurality of power-control parameter sets. The results facilitate the selection of power-control parameter sets that enhance system efficiency in each communication region.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing service and service cost in a communication region served by a mobile communication system in which reception during the absence of power fades requires that transmitted power exceed a power threshold P_th, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving transmitted signals in said communication region to obtain a signal-fading record;

analyzing said signal-fading record to find availability and energy cost for each of a plurality of power-control parameter sets S_i wherein availability is the percentage of transmitting time in which signals are received, energy cost represents the average energy needed to transmit a received bit of information, and an ith power-control parameter set S_i includes a selected static power margin M_i a selected power boost B_i and a selected hold time T_i;

choosing a minimum availability Amin to be provided in said communication region;

selecting, from said power-control parameter sets, a selected power-control parameter set that realizes said minimum availability A_min for the lowest energy cost; and

subsequent to said receiving, analyzing, choosing and selecting steps, transmitting communication signals to said communication region with said selected power-control parameter set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step includes, for a power-control parameter set S_i, the steps of:

transmitting signals with power equal to the sum of said power threshold P_th plus said static power margin M_i;

in response to the start of each power fade F that exceeds said static power margin M_i, boosting the transmitted power of said signals by said power boost B_i; and

in response to the end of each power fade F, terminating said boosting step after said hold time T_i.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein said i^th power-control parameter set S_i also includes a selected larger power boost B_Ilgr that is larger than said power boost B_i;

and wherein said boosting step includes the step of boosting the transmitted power of said signals by said larger power boost B_Ilgr in response to the start of each power fade F that exceeds the sum of said static power margin M_i and said power boost B_i.

7. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

selecting said power margin M_i from a group that includes 1, 3 and 5 decibels;

selecting said boost B_i from a group that includes 1, 3 and 5 decibels; and

selecting said hold time T_i from a group that includes 0, 2 and 4 seconds.

4. A method of enhancing service and service cost in a communication region served by a mobile communication system in which reception during the absence of power fades requires that transmitted power exceed a power threshold P_th, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving transmitted signals in said communication region to obtain a signal-fading record;

analyzing said signal-fading record to find availability and energy cost for each of a plurality of power-control parameter sets S_i wherein availability is the percentage of transmitting time in which signals are received, energy cost represents the average energy needed to transmit a received bit of information, and an ith power-control parameter set S_i includes a selected static power margin M_i, a selected power boost B_i and a selected hold time T_i;

choosing a maximum energy cost C_max for said communication region;

from those power-control parameter sets whose energy cost does not exceed said maximum energy cost C_max, selecting a selected power-control parameter set which has the greatest availability; and

subsequent to said receiving, analyzing, choosing and selecting steps, transmitting communication signals to said communication region with said selected power-control parameter set.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said transmitting step includes, for a power-control parameter set S_i, the steps of:

transmitting signals with power equal to the sum of said power threshold P_th plus said static power margin M_i;

in response to the start of each power fade F that exceeds said static power margin M_i, boosting the transmitted power of said signals by said power boost B_i; and

in response to the end of each power fade F, terminating said boosting step after said hold time T_i.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein said i^th power-control parameter set S_I also includes a selected larger power boost B_Ilgr that is larger than said power boost B_i;

and wherein said boosting step includes the step of boosting the transmitted power of said signals by said larger power boost B_Ilgr in response to the start of each power fade F that exceeds the sum of said static power margin M_I and said power boost B_i.

8. The method of claim 4, further including the steps of:

selecting said power margin M_i from a group that includes 1, 3 and 5 decibels;

selecting said boost B_i from a group that includes 1, 3 and 5 decibels; and

selecting said hold time T_i from a group that includes 0, 2 and 4 seconds.