Power control protocol for highly variable data rate reverse link of a wireless communication system
First Claim
1. A method for providing wireless communication of digital signals, the digital signals being communicated between a plurality of wireless subscriber units and a base station over at least one radio frequency channel via radio signals using a modulation that requires synchronization over the radio channel between each of the plurality of wireless subscriber units and the base station, the digital signals also having a given nominal data rate, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) making available a plurality of subchannels within each radio channel, wherein a data rate of each subchannel is much less than the nominal data rate of the digital signals;
b) allocating available subchannels only on an as-needed basis, with the number of subchannels allocated thereby changing during the duration of a given session;
c) on a reverse link, providing a standby mode connection for subscriber units which are powered on, but not presently having traffic channels allocated, the standby mode connection sending a heartbeat signal from the subscriber unit to the base station, the heartbeat signal being sent from the subscriber unit to the base station at a data rate which is sufficiently fast enough to maintain bit synchronization on the reverse link; and
d) during the standby mode, sending a link quality report message to the subscriber unit in response to the heartbeat signal, the link quality report message containing a link quality report that is used to control the transmit power level of the subscriber unit.
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Abstract
A technique for implementing closed loop power control in a wireless system using a modulation that requires synchronization over the radio channel, which dynamically assigns coded channels on a demand basis. The technique maintains a proper power level, even when no traffic channels are allocated, by determining a link quality metric based upon the reverse link power received. This determination is made in response to a heartbeat signal sent at a rate which is only sufficiently fast to maintain code phase lock, for example, depending upon the expected maximum rate at which the subscriber unit will travel.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for providing wireless communication of digital signals, the digital signals being communicated between a plurality of wireless subscriber units and a base station over at least one radio frequency channel via radio signals using a modulation that requires synchronization over the radio channel between each of the plurality of wireless subscriber units and the base station, the digital signals also having a given nominal data rate, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) making available a plurality of subchannels within each radio channel, wherein a data rate of each subchannel is much less than the nominal data rate of the digital signals; b) allocating available subchannels only on an as-needed basis, with the number of subchannels allocated thereby changing during the duration of a given session; c) on a reverse link, providing a standby mode connection for subscriber units which are powered on, but not presently having traffic channels allocated, the standby mode connection sending a heartbeat signal from the subscriber unit to the base station, the heartbeat signal being sent from the subscriber unit to the base station at a data rate which is sufficiently fast enough to maintain bit synchronization on the reverse link; and d) during the standby mode, sending a link quality report message to the subscriber unit in response to the heartbeat signal, the link quality report message containing a link quality report that is used to control the transmit power level of the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for providing wireless communication of digital signals, the digital signals being communicated between a plurality of wireless subscriber units and a base station, the digital signals being communicated using at least one radio frequency channel via radio signals using a modulation that requires synchronization over the radio channel between each of the plurality of wireless subscriber units and the base station, the digital signals also having a given nominal data rate, the system having a base station comprising:
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a radio transceiver making available a plurality of subchannels within each radio channel, wherein a data rate of each subchannel is much less than the nominal data rate of the digital signals; a bandwidth manager allocating available subchannels only on an as-needed basis, with the number of subchannels allocated thereby changing during the duration of a given session; the bandwidth manager providing a standby mode connection on a reverse link for subscriber units which are powered on, but not presently having traffic channels allocated; the radio transceiver receiving a heartbeat signal over the standby mode connection from a subscriber unit at a data rate which is sufficiently fast enough to maintain bit synchronization on the reverse link; and the radio transceiver sending a link quality report message to the subscriber unit during the standby mode in response to the heartbeat signal, the link quality report message containing a link quality report that is used to control the transmit power level of the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for providing wireless communication of digital signals, the digital signals being communicated between a plurality of wireless subscriber units and a base station, the digital signals being communicated using at least one radio frequency, channel via radio signals using a modulation that requires synchronization over the radio channel between each of the plurality of wireless subscriber units and the base station, the digital signals also having a given nominal data rate, the system having a subscriber unit comprising:
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a radio transceiver tuning to at least one subchannel of a plurality of subchannels within a radio channel, wherein a data rate of each subchannel is much less than the nominal data rate of the digital signals; a bandwidth manager allocating the at least one subchannel only on an as-needed basis, with the number of subchannels allocated thereby changing during the duration of a given session; the bandwidth manager opening a standby mode connection on a reverse link during a standby mode, the bandwidth manager not presently having traffic channels allocated; the radio transceiver sending a heartbeat signal over the standby mode connection to a base station at a data rate which is sufficiently fast enough to maintain bit synchronization on the reverse link; and the radio transceiver receiving a link quality report message from the base station during the standby mode in response to the heartbeat signal, the link quality report message containing a link quality report that is used to control the transmit power level of the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification