Error handling within power amplifier modules in wireless base-station

• US 6,904,013 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Weibull, Hans, Skoog, Göran
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N.
• Application Number:
  US09/778,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20010017852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 370/335, 370/342, 370/374, 370/332, 370/315, 370/320, 370/331, 370/333, 370/358, 370/216, 370/220, 370/217, 370/338, 330/124.D, 330/124.R, 330/298, 330/57, 455/561, 455/562.1, 455/423, 455/422, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/444, 455/522
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/00 Current supply arrangements for telephone systems for selecting-equipment H04Q1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/12 Marking faulty circuits "busy"; Enabling equipment to disengage itself from faulty circuits ; Using redundant circuits; Response of a circuit, apparatus or system to an error
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

CDMA base-station comprising a transmit stage (2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12) and a receive stage (3, 5, 8, 13) for communicating with mobile terminals has been provided. The transmit stage comprises a multi carrier power amplifier having at least two independent power modules (10, 11) for transmitting signals on at least one traffic channel (TCH) and control and pilot signals on at least one control channel (CCH). Each power module (10, 11) is capable of being operational although the other power module is non-operational. The at least two power modules are normally operating simultaneously and each is contributing with emitting power. The CDMA base station moreover comprises a control module (16) monitoring the error status of the power modules in the base station. When an error signal is detected in base-station indicative of an error in a power module (10, 11), the system immediately ends operation of all traffic channels associated with the erroneous power module (10, 11), but sustains operation of the at least one control channel.

Claims

1. CDMA base-station comprising a transmit stage (2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12) end a receive stage (3, 5, 8, 13) for communicating with mobile terminals, the transmit stage comprising a power amplifier having at least two independent power modules (10, 11) for transmitting signals on at least One traffic channel (TCH) end control and pilot signals on at least one control channel (CCH), each power module (10, 11) being capable of being operational even though one other power module is non-operational, the at least two power modules normally being adapted for operating simultaneously and each contributing with emitting power, whereby

the CDMA base station moreover comprises a control module (16) monitoring error status of the power modules in the base station, the control module carrying out an error routine, in which the following steps are undertaken,

when an error signal is detected in the base-station indicative of an error in one of said power modules (10, 11),

immediately ending operation of all traffic channels associated with the erroneous power module (10, 11), but sustaining operation of the at least one control channel (CCH);

wherein when the control channel (CCH) is restored after a fault in one of said power modules has occurred, the base-station;

disables the traffic channel power control (TPC ) power loop;

deletes traffic for a predetermined group terminals;

enables the TPC power loop;

sets up communication with remaining terminals in sector; and

allocates traffic channels (TCH) in sector to remaining terminals at a new reduced power level (Prmaxf).

2. CDMA system according to claim 1, whereby, when one of said faulty power module (10,11) in a given cell has been detected, the emission power levels and thereby the capacity of adjacent cells are enhanced.

3. CDMA base station according to claim 1, comprising a power splitter (9) and a power combiner (12), the power splitter (9) selectively feeding each power module in response to a power splitter control signal (23), such power module (10, 11) having diagnostic lines (19) on which the error states of the power modules are indicated.

4. Method for controlling a CDMA base station comprising a transmit stage and a receive stage for communicating with mobile terminals, the transmit stage comprising a power amplifier having at least two independent power modules (10, 11) transmitting signals on at least one traffic channel (TCH) and control and pilot signals on at least one control channel (CCH), each power module (10, 11) being capable of being, operational even though one other power module is non-operational, the at least two power modules normally being adapted for operating simultaneously and each contributing with emitting power, whereby the method comprises the following steps,

continuously monitoring a status of individual power modules in the base station,

if a fault in a power module is detected, turning off the faulty power module (10, 11),

stopping traffic channels (TCH) in sector associated with faulty power module (10, 11),

increase power on control channel (CCH) to nominal level disable TPC power loop,

delete traffic for predetermined group of terminals,

enable TPC power loop,

set up communication with remaining terminals in sector,

allocate traffic channels (TCH) in sector to remaining terminals at new reduced power level (Prmaxf).

5. Method according to claim 4, whereby the base-station under regular operation continuously defines the predetermined group of mobile terminals meant to have their communication cancelled.

6. Method according to claim 5, whereby the predetermined group as a priority comprises the mobile terminals being in soft handover or softer handover.

7. Method according to claim 5, whereby, the predetermined group comprises a random selection of the mobile terminals.

8. Method according to claim 5, whereby the predetermined group is prioritised by those the mobile terminals which receives or issues most power or bandwidth.