Power control in a local network node (LNN)

• US 8,290,527 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Airvana Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Richardson, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US11/572,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,633 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/67.11, 455 68- 70, 455/115.3, 455/126, 455/127.1, 455/127.2, 455/135, 455/226.3, 455/277.2, 455/296, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/515, 455/206, 455/443
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/26 using historical data, averaging values or statistics
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/327 Received signal code power [RSCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/12 Reselecting a serving backbone network switching or routing node
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/247 where the output power of a terminal is based on a path parameter sent by another terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• 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 52/36 with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system of setting transmitter power levels, particularly in a Local Network Node transmitter, providing a pico cell for private use. A User Equipment (UE) is used to make measurements of the transmission link properties, such as downlink power and round trip time. Based on the measurements made at one or a plurality of locations, the power of the Local Network Node can be determined such that interference is minimized with any overlying cells of a macro-network. Call handovers between the UE and the cell of a macro network can also be arranged based on properties measure by the UE.

Claims

1. A local network node for providing user equipment with a local connection to a mobile network, the mobile network comprising one or more cells overlapping a coverage area of the local network node, the local network node comprising:

a processor configured to receive, from the user equipment one or more parameters related to a power of a downlink between the user equipment and the local network node, the power having been measured by the user equipment at a plurality of locations within a desired coverage area of the local network node; and

a measurement processor for determining a transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment based on the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink between the user equipment and the local network node, an average of values of power of one or more received signal codes measured at the plurality of locations, and a minimum required power for a correct reception of a downlink signal at the user equipment.

2. The local network node of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to request that the user equipment measure the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink between the user equipment and the local network node, and to transmit the one or more parameters to the local network node.

3. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to request that the user equipment measure the one or more parameters at a boundary of the desired coverage area of the local network node.

4. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to detect a code dialed by an operator of the user equipment, and if the code is detected, the controller is configured to request that the user equipment measure the one or more parameters.

5. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to request that a connection between the user equipment and the local network node be configured as a full duplex connection, the connection having a constant data rate and a constant transmit power for both the user equipment and the local network node.

6. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to request that the user equipment measure one or more of:

a downlink received signal code power,

a downlink Ec/Io measurement, wherein Ec is an energy per chip, and Io is a measure of interference,

a downlink path loss, and

a user equipment transmit power.

7. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the measurement processor is configured to determine a minimum signal power received by the user equipment at the plurality of locations, and to determine the transmit power for the downlink as a minimum transmit power that would allow a downlink signal to be received at the plurality of locations with the minimum required power.

8. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the measurement processor is configured to determine the transmit power based on a factor k derived from link budget analysis of the downlink, and fading margins required to give a predetermined outage probability based on a number of measurements.

9. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to set the transmit power based on a result of the determining a transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment by the measurement processor.

10. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to request that the user equipment measure at least a downlink received signal code power, and the processor of the local network node is configured to measure an uplink signal code power, the transmit power being determined based on both of the uplink signal code power and the downlink received signal code power.

11. The local network node of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to request, at intervals, that the user equipment measure the one or more parameters, and the measurement processor is configured to determine the transmit power, and to set the transmit power based on a result of the determining the transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment by the measurement processor.

12. The local network node of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to request that the processor measure one or more parameters of an uplink between the user equipment and the local network node, and control the measurement processor based on the one or more parameters of the uplink.

13. The local network node of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters of an uplink comprises a return trip time (RTT).

14. The local network node of claim 13, wherein the measurement processor is configured to disregard power measurements of the downlink when the return trip time indicates that the user equipment is more than a predetermined distance from the local network node.

15. The local network node of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is configured to request GPS position information from the user equipment, and

the measurement processor is configured to disregard power measurements of the downlink when the GPS information indicates that the user equipment is more than a predetermined distance from the local network node.

16. A method of controlling transmit power of a downlink between a local network node and user equipment provided with a local connection to a mobile network by the local network node, the mobile network comprising one or more cells overlapping a coverage area of the local network node, the method comprising:

measuring, via the user equipment, one or more parameters related to a power of the downlink at a plurality of locations within the coverage area of the local network node;

transmitting the one or more measured parameters related to the power of the downlink to the local network node; and

determining a transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment based on the measured parameters, an average of values of power of one or more received signal codes measured at the plurality of locations, and a minimum required power for a correct reception of a downlink signal at the user equipment.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting a request from the local network node to the user equipment instructing the user equipment to measure the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink between the user equipment and the local network node, and transmitting the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink to the local network node.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein measuring the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink comprises performing the measuring at a boundary of a desired coverage area for the local network node.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising dialing a code, via the user equipment, to begin the measuring of the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising establishing a connection between the user equipment and the local network node that is a full duplex connection, the connection comprising a constant data rate and a constant transmit power for both the user equipment and the local network node.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the user equipment measures one or more of:

a downlink received signal code power,

a downlink Ec/Io measurement wherein Ec is an energy per chip, and Io is a measure of interference,

a downlink path loss, and

a user equipment transmit power.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment comprises determining a minimum signal power received by the user equipment at the plurality of locations, and determining the transmit power for the downlink as a minimum transmit power that would allow the downlink signal to be received at the plurality of locations with the minimum required power.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment comprises determining the transmit power based on a factor k derived from link budget analysis of the downlink, and fading margins required to give a predetermined outage probability based on a number of measurements.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

measuring, via the user equipment, at intervals, the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink; and

setting the transmit power at intervals based on a result of the measuring the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink and the determining the transmit power for the downlink.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting a request to the user equipment to measure at least a downlink received signal code power and an uplink signal code power, and to determine the transmit power based on both of the uplink signal code power and downlink received signal power.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising measuring, at the local network node, one or more parameters of an uplink between the user equipment and the local network node, and processing the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink based on the one or more parameters of the uplink.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more parameters of the uplink between the user equipment and the local network node comprise a return trip time (RTT).

28. The method of claim 27, wherein determining the transmit power for the downlink comprises discarding measurements of the one or more parameters related to the downlink when the return trip time indicates that the user equipment is more than a predetermined distance from the local network node.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting GPS position information describing a location of the user equipment, and wherein determining the transmit power for the downlink comprises discarding measurements of the one or more parameters related to the downlink when the GPS position information indicates that the user equipment is more than a predetermined distance from the local network node.

30. A method for providing user equipment with a local connection to a mobile network, the mobile network comprising one or more cells overlapping a coverage area of a local network node, the method comprising:

receiving, from the user equipment, one or more parameters related to a power of a downlink between the user equipment and the local network node, the power having been measured by the user equipment at a plurality of locations within a desired coverage area of the local network node; and

determining a transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment based on the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink between the user equipment and the local network node, an average of values of power of one or more received signal codes measured at the plurality of locations, and a minimum required power for a correct reception of a downlink signal at the user equipment.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

requesting that the user equipment measure the one or more parameters related to the power of the downlink between the user equipment and the local network node; and

transmitting the one or more parameters to the local network node.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more parameters are measured at a boundary of the desired coverage area of the local network node.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising detecting a code dialed by an operator of the user equipment, and in response to detection, requesting that the user equipment measure the one or more parameters.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising requesting that a connection between the user equipment and the local network node be configured as a full duplex connection, the connection having a constant data rate and a constant transmit power for both the user equipment and the local network node.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising requesting that the user equipment measure one or more of:

a downlink received signal code power,

a downlink Ec/lo measurement, wherein Ec is an energy per chip, and lo is a measure of interference,

a downlink path loss, and

a user equipment transmit power.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining a minimum signal power received by the user equipment at the plurality of locations; and

determining the transmit power for the downlink as a minimum transmit power that would allow the downlink signal to be received at the plurality of locations with the minimum required power.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining the transmit power based on a factor k derived from link budget analysis of the downlink, and fading margins required to give a predetermined outage probability based on a number of measurements.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising setting the transmit power based on a result of determining a transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment by the measurement processor.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

requesting that the user equipment measure at least a downlink received signal code power; and

measuring an uplink signal code power, the transmit power being determined based on both of the uplink signal code power and the downlink received signal code power.

40. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

requesting, at intervals, that the user equipment measure the one or more parameters;

determining the transmit power; and

setting the transmit power based on a result of the determining the transmit power for the downlink between the local network node and the user equipment by the measurement processor.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising measuring one or more parameters of an uplink between the user equipment and the local network node.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the one or more parameters of an uplink comprises a return trip time (RTT).

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising disregarding power measurements of the downlink when the return trip time indicates that the user equipment is more than a predetermined distance from the local network node.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

requesting GPS position information from the user equipment, and disregarding power measurements of the downlink when the GPS information indicates that the user equipment is more than a predetermined distance from the local network node.