Adjusting transmit power of a wireless communication device

• US 7,634,290 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VIXS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VIXS Systems Incorporated (Pixelworks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Girardeau, Jr., James Ward, Kelton, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US11/140,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20060270433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/228 using past power values or information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/26 using transmission rate or quality of service QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/265 taking into account the quality of service QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/267 taking into account the information rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range

Abstract

A method for adjusting transmit power of a wireless communication device begins by determining requirements of a wireless communication between the wireless communication device and a receiving wireless communication device. The method continues by determining whether a current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication. The method continues by when the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, adjusting the current transmit power level to a second transmit power level, wherein the second transmit power level is less than the current transmit power level.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting transmit power of a wireless communication device, the method comprises:

determining requirements of a wireless communication between the wireless communication device and a receiving wireless communication device;

determining whether a current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, the determination being made prior to adjusting the current transmit power level;

when the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, adjusting the current transmit power level to a second transmit power level, wherein the second transmit power level is less than the current transmit power level;

when the current transmit power level of the wireless communication cannot be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, determining whether at least one of the requirements of the wireless communication can be adjusted to produce adjustable requirements of the wireless communication;

when the at least one of the requirements of the wireless communication can be adjusted, determining whether the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered based on the adjustable requirements of the wireless communication; and

when the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered based on the adjustable requirements of the wireless communication;

adjusting the current transmit power level to a third transmit power level,

wherein the third transmit power level is less than the current transmit power level; and

adjusting the at least one of the requirements of the wireless communication to produce adjusted requirements of the wireless communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the current transmit power level to the second transmit power level comprises:

determining whether the current transmit power level can be adjusted to a minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication; and

when the current transmit power level can be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, adjusting the current transmit power level to the minimal transmit power level as the second transmit power level.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises:

when the current transmit power level cannot be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, determining a transmit power level to which the current transmit power level can be adjusted to without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication;

determining whether the transmit power level provides a desired quality of service of the wireless communication; and

when the transmit power level provides the desired quality of service of the wireless communication, adjusting the current transmit power level to the transmit power level.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprises:

when the transmit power level does not provide the desired quality of service of the wireless communication, adjusting the at least one of the requirements of the wireless communication to produce an adjusted wireless communication;

determining whether the transmit power level can be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the adjusted wireless communication;

when the transmit power level can be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the adjusted wireless communication, adjusting the current transmit power level to the minimal transmit power level as the second transmit power level;

when the transmit power level cannot be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the adjusted wireless communication, determining a third transmit power level to which the current transmit power can be adjusted to without adjusting the requirements of the adjusted wireless communication;

determining whether the third transmit power level provides a desired quality of service of the adjusted wireless communication; and

when the third transmit power level provides the desired quality of service of the adjusted wireless communication, adjusting the current transmit power level to the third transmit power level.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the requirements of the wireless communication comprises at least one of:

bandwidth;

data rate;

signal-to-noise ratio; and

adjacent channel interference.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication comprises:

determining a minimal desired quality of service for the wireless communication, wherein the minimal desired quality of service includes at least one of;

signal-to-noise ratio;

adjacent channel interference, data throughput, and bandwidth allocation;

determining a current quality of service of the wireless communication based on the current transmit power level;

comparing the minimal desired quality of service with the current quality of service; and

when the comparing of the minimal desired quality of service with the current quality of service is favorable, indicating that the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

determining whether a total transmit power level of a power amplifier for the wireless communication on a first channel and for a second wireless communication on a second channel is unacceptable;

when the total transmit power level is unacceptable, determining whether the total transmit power level can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication and requirements of the second wireless communication; and

when the total transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication and the requirements of the second wireless communication, reducing the total transmit power level.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

determining whether the current transmit power level of the wireless communication on a first channel and a second current transmit power level of a second wireless communication on a second channel create an unacceptable level of adjacent channel interference or an unacceptable level of total transmit power;

when the unacceptable level of total transmit power or the unacceptable level of adjacent channel interference is determined, determining whether the second current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting requirements of the second wireless communication; and

when the second current transmit power level of the second wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the second wireless communication, adjusting the second current transmit power level to a third transmit power level, wherein the third transmit power level is less than the current transmit power level.

9. A wireless transmitter comprises:

processing module operably coupled to convert outbound data into outbound baseband signals; and

transmitter section operably coupled to convert the outbound baseband signals into outbound radio frequency (RF) signals, wherein the processing module is further operably coupled to;

determine requirements of a wireless communication between the wireless transmitter and a receiving wireless communication device;

determine whether a current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, the determination being made prior to adjusting the current transmit power level;

then the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, adjust the current transmit power level to a second transmit power level, wherein the second transmit power level is less than the current transmit power level;

wherein the processing module is further operably coupled to;

when the current transmit power level of the wireless communication cannot be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, determine whether at least one of the requirements of the wireless communication can be adjusted to produce adjustable requirements of the wireless communication;

when the at least one of the requirements of the wireless communication can be adjusted, determine whether the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered based on the adjustable requirements of the wireless communication; and

when the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered based on the adjustable requirements of the wireless communication;

adjust the current transmit power level to a third transmit power level, wherein the third transmit power level is less than the current transmit power level; and

adjust the at least one of the requirements of the wireless communication to produce adjusted requirements of the wireless communication.

10. The wireless transmitter of claim 9, wherein the processing module is further operably coupled to adjust the current transmit power level to the second transmit power level by:

determining whether the current transmit power level can be adjusted to a minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication; and

when the current transmit power level can be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, adjusting the current transmit power level to the minimal transmit power level as the second transmit power level.

11. The wireless transmitter of claim 10, wherein the processing module is further operably coupled to:

when the current transmit power level cannot be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication, determine a transmit power level to which the current transmit power level can be adjusted to without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication;

determine whether the transmit power level provides a desired quality of service of the wireless communication; and

when the transmit power level provides the desired quality of service of the wireless communication, adjust the current transmit power level to the transmit power level.

12. The wireless transmitter of claim 11, wherein the processing module is further operably coupled to:

when the transmit power level does not provide the desired quality of service of the wireless communication, adjust the at least one of the requirements of the wireless communication to produce an adjusted wireless communication;

determine whether the transmit power level can be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the adjusted wireless communication,

when the transmit power level can be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the adjusted wireless communication, adjust the current transmit power level to the minimal transmit power level as the second transmit power level;

when the transmit power cannot be adjusted to the minimal transmit power level without adjusting the requirements of the adjusted wireless communication, determine a third transmit power level to which the current transmit power can be adjusted to without adjusting the requirements of the adjusted wireless communication;

determine whether the third transmit power level provides a desired quality of service of the adjusted wireless communication; and

when the third transmit power level provides the desired quality of service of the adjusted wireless communication, adjust the current transmit power level to the third transmit power level.

13. The wireless transmitter of claim 9, wherein the requirements of the wireless communication comprises at least one of:

bandwidth;

data rate;

signal-to-noise ratio; and

adjacent channel interference.

14. The wireless transmitter of claim 9, wherein the processing module is further operably coupled to determine whether the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication by:

determining a minimal desired quality of service for the wireless communication, wherein the minimal desired quality of service includes at least one of;

signal-to-noise ratio;

adjacent channel interference, data throughput, and bandwidth allocation;

determining a current quality of service of the wireless communication based on the current transmit power level;

comparing the minimal desired quality of service with the current quality of service; and

when the comparing of the minimal desired quality of service with the current quality of service is favorable, indicating that the current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication.

15. The wireless transmitter of claim 9, wherein the processing module is further operably coupled to:

determine whether a total transmit power level of a power amplifier for the wireless communication on a first channel and for a second wireless communication on a second channel is unacceptable;

when the total transmit power level is unacceptable, determine whether the total transmit power level can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication and requirements of the second wireless communication; and

when the total transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the wireless communication and the requirements of the second wireless communication, reduce the total transmit power level.

16. The wireless transmitter of claim 9, wherein the processing module is further operably coupled to:

determine whether the current transmit power level of the wireless communication on a first channel and a second current transmit power level of a second wireless communication on a second channel create an unacceptable level of adjacent channel interference or an unacceptable level of total transmit power;

when the unacceptable level of total transmit power or the unacceptable level of adjacent channel interference is determined, determine whether the second current transmit power level of the wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the second wireless communication; and

when the second current transmit power level of the second wireless communication can be lowered without adjusting the requirements of the second wireless communication, adjust the second current transmit power level to a third transmit power level, wherein the third transmit power level is less than the current transmit power level.