Method and apparatus for assigning data rate in a multichannel communication system

• US 7,289,771 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Davis, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sing; Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/383,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20060194547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 455/69, 455/522
• US Class Current: 455/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/267 taking into account the information rate

Abstract

A method of assigning transmission data rate in a multi-channel communication system based upon a comparison between projected transmitter power output for transmission at a selected data rate, and the maximum transmitter power capability. Relative power requirements for high and low processing gain channels are stored in a LUT in memory, for a variety of data transmission rates. By accessing the LUT, the relative power required for transmission over a low processing gain channel at a selected data rate can be determined. This power is then added to the current output power required by active high processing gain channels to determine the projected output power required once the low processing gain, or data, channel is brought online at the selected data rate. Data rate is increased or decreased until the projected output power is within a pre-selected transmitter output power tolerance, then that data rate is proposed to the receiver.

Claims

1. A method of assigning a transmission data rate in a communication system comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:

estimating a current transmitter output power due to transmission by averaging output power over a stated time period;

determining a relative transmitter output power required for transmission over a channel based upon a first data transmission rate for the channel;

determining a projected output power required for transmission by adding the relative transmitter output power to the estimated current transmitter output power;

comparing the projected output power to a maximum transmitter output power; and

selecting a second data transmission rate for the channel based upon the comparison between the projected output power and the maximum transmitter output power.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring transmitter output power comprises measuring transmitter output power due to transmission over at least one high processing gain channel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring transmitter output power comprises measuring transmitter output power due to transmission over at least one high processing gain channel and at least one low processing gain channel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining the relative transmitter output power comprises:

storing the relative transmission power required for each channel at particular data transmission rates in a memory;

accessing the relative transmitter power required for each channel at a particular data rate from the memory; and

converting the relative transmission power to an absolute transmission power based upon the measured transmitter output power.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the storing relative transmission power comprises storing a decibel power for each channel with reference to one of the channels.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining the projected output power required comprises adding the relative power required for each low processing gain channel to the measured output power.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the determining the projected output power required comprises adding the relative power required for each low processing gain channel to the output power required for transmission over active high processing gain channels.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the comparing the projected output power to a maximum transmitter output power comprises determining whether the projected output power is within a tolerance range of the maximum transmitter output power.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically repeating the measuring, the two determining, and the comparing steps.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting a second data transmission rate comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

repeatedly decreasing the data transmission rate until the projected output power is within a maximum transmitter output power tolerance, and

repeatedly increasing the data transmission rate until the projected output power is within a maximum transmitter output power tolerance.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising proposing the selected second data transmission rate to the receiver.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising limiting the number of times that an increased data rate is proposed to the receiver within a stated time period.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the selected second data transmission rate as a default data rate.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining the projected output power comprises converting the determined projected output power into a digital value.

15. An apparatus for assigning a data transmission rate in a communication system comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a plurality of high and low processing gain communication channels, the apparatus comprising:

means for estimating a current transmitter output power due to transmission by averaging output power over a stated time period;

means for determining a relative transmitter output power required for transmission over a channel based upon a first data transmission rate for the channel;

means for determining a projected output power required for transmission by adding the relative transmitter output power to the estimated current transmitter output power;

means for comparing the projected output power to a maximum transmitter output power; and

means for selecting a second data transmission rate for the channel based upon the comparison between the projected output power and the maximum transmitter output power.

16. A wireless mobile communication device comprising:

a transmitter,

a receiver;

a processor coupled to the transmitter an the receiver, the processor executing a method for assigning a data transmission rate in a communication system, the method comprising;

estimating a current transmitter output power due to transmission by averaging output power over a stated time period;

determining a relative transmitter output power required for transmission over a channel based upon a first data transmission rate for the channel;

determining a projected output power required for transmission by adding the relative transmitter output power to the estimated current transmitter output power;

comparing the projected output power to a maximum transmitter output power; and

selecting a second data transmission rate for the channel based upon the comparison between the projected output power and the maximum transmitter output power.