Methods and apparatus related to power control and/or interference management in a mixed wireless communications system

• US 8,369,800 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Junyi, Laroia, Rajiv
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAI V
• Application Number:
  US11/764,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,059 Days
• Field of Search: 455/91, 455/130, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/265 taking into account the quality of service QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/30 using constraints in the total amount of available transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 power control in peer-to-peer links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

Methods and apparatus related to the sharing of wide area network (WAN) uplink bandwidth with peer to peer communication signaling usage are described. A base station transmits a signal to be used by a peer to peer wireless terminal in controlling its peer to peer transmit power level. The peer to peer wireless terminal receives and measures the strength of the base station signal. The measurement information is used in determining whether or not peer to peer signal transmission is permitted and/or in determining a peer to peer transmission power level. Current service level information and/or encoded information, e.g., an interference level indicator value, conveyed by the received base station signal are, in various embodiments, also utilized in determining a peer to peer transmission power level.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless communications device supporting peer to peer communications, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a base station;

performing a power measurement on the received first signal; and

controlling peer to peer transmission power level for at least some peer to peer signal transmissions as a function of the power measurement of said received first signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second signal from said base station at a time which is different from a time at which said first signal is received;

performing a power measurement on the second received signal; and

determining from the power measurement of the second received signal that said wireless communications device should refrain from transmitting peer to peer communications signals.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting peer to peer communications signals after determining that the wireless communications device should refrain from transmitting peer to peer communications signals until determining from measuring power of another signal from said base station that said wireless communications device is permitted to transmit peer to peer signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first signal is received in a frequency band which is an uplink frequency band used to transmit signals to said base station;

and wherein said peer to peer signals are transmitted in said uplink frequency band.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first signal is received in a frequency band which is a downlink frequency band used by said base station;

and wherein said peer to peer signals are transmitted in another frequency band.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling peer to peer transmission power includes using a first function, and

wherein said first function limits peer to peer transmission power to a lower level for a first received signal power level than for a second received signal power level which is higher than said first received signal power level.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein controlling peer to peer transmission power includes limiting peer to peer transmission power to lower levels in response to greater measured received signal power levels.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said first function determines a maximum permitted peer to peer transmission power level, the method further comprising:

determining an actual peer to peer signal transmission power level as a function of said maximum permitted transmission power level and a peer to peer signal received from a second peer to peer communications device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the actual determined transmission power level is less than the maximum peer to peer transmission power level.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

controlling transmission power of a signal transmitted to said base station to a transmission power level which is greater than said peer to peer transmission power level used for said at least some peer to peer signal transmissions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling transmission power of a signal transmitted to said base station includes using a second function which is different from said first function to determine the transmission power level of said signal transmitted to said base station based on the measured received power level of said first signal.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the peer to peer transmission signal power level is at least 10 dB below the transmission power level of said signal transmitted to said base station.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling peer to peer transmission power includes controlling peer to peer transmission signal power according to a first function, the method further comprising:

determining a transmission power level control parameter, and

wherein said step of controlling peer to peer transmission signal power according to a first function includes;

using said determined transmission power level control parameter in said first function in addition to said measured received power level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining said transmission power level control parameter includes:

accessing memory including stored transmission power level control parameters corresponding to different service levels; and

retrieving a stored transmission power level control parameter corresponding to a service level corresponding to said wireless communications device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining said transmission power level control parameter includes:

recovering a control value from a signal received by said communications device from said base station.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said signal from which the control value is recovered is said first signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining said transmission power level control parameter includes one of:

i) using the recovered control value as said transmission power level control parameter and ii) calculating said transmission power level control parameter based on said recovered control value and a service level corresponding to said wireless terminal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the recovered control value is an interference level indicator value.

19. A wireless communications device supporting peer to peer communications, the wireless communications device comprising:

a wireless receiver module for receiving a signal from a base station;

a measurement module for performing a power measurement on the received signal; and

a peer to peer transmission power control module for controlling peer to peer transmission power level for at least some peer to peer signal transmissions as a function of the power measurement of said received signal.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 19, further comprising:

an authorization module for determining from the power measurement of the received signal that said wireless communications device should refrain from transmitting peer to peer communications signals.

21. The wireless communications device of claim 20, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter module; and

a peer to peer transmission control module for controlling said wireless transmitter module to refrain from transmitting peer to peer communications signals after determining that the wireless communications device should refrain from transmitting peer to peer communications signals until determining that the wireless communications device is permitted to transmit peer to peer signals.

22. The wireless communications device of claim 21, wherein said authorization module determines from power measurement information of a signal from said base station that said wireless communications device is permitted to transmit peer to peer signals.

23. The wireless communications device of claim 19, wherein said signal is received in a frequency band which is an uplink frequency band used to transmit signals to said base station;

and wherein said peer to peer signals are transmitted in said uplink frequency band.

24. The wireless communications device of claim 19, wherein said signal is received in a frequency band which is a downlink frequency band used by said base station;

and wherein said peer to peer signals are transmitted in another frequency band.

25. The wireless communications device of claim 19, wherein said peer to peer transmission power control module uses a first function which limits peer to peer transmission power to a lower level for a first received signal power level than for a second received signal power level which is higher than said first received signal power level.

26. The wireless communications device of claim 25, wherein said peer to peer transmission power control module limits peer to peer transmission power to lower levels in response to greater measured received signal power levels.

27. The wireless communications device of claim 25, wherein said peer to peer transmission power control module includes:

a maximum peer to peer transmission power level determination sub-module for using said first function to determine a maximum peer to peer transmission power level; and

an actual peer to peer transmission power level sub-module for determining an actual peer to peer signal transmission power level as a function of said maximum peer to peer transmission power level and a peer to peer signal received from a second peer to peer communications device.

28. The wireless communications device of claim 27, wherein the actual determined peer to peer transmission power level is less than or equal to the maximum peer to peer transmission power level.

29. The wireless communications device of claim 25, further comprising:

a wide area network transmission power control module for controlling transmission power of a signal transmitted to said base station to a transmission power level which is greater than said peer to peer transmission power level used for said at least some peer to peer signal transmissions.

30. The wireless communications device of claim 29, wherein said wide area network transmission power control module'"'"'s control of transmission power of a signal transmitted to said base station is performed using a second function, which is different from said first function, to determine the transmission power level of said signal transmitted to said base station based on the measured received power level of said received base station signal.

31. The wireless communications device of claim 29, wherein the peer to peer transmission signal power level is at least 10 dB below the transmission power level of said signal transmitted to said base station.

32. The wireless communications device of claim 19, wherein said peer to peer transmission power control module controls peer to peer transmission signal power according to a first function, the wireless communications device comprising:

a power level control parameter determination module for determining a transmission power level control parameter,

wherein said peer to peer transmission power control module uses said determined transmission power level control parameter in said first function in addition to said measured receive power level.

33. The wireless communications device of claim 32, wherein said power level control parameter determination module determines said transmission power level control parameter as a function of an identified service level, the wireless communications device further comprising:

memory including stored different transmission power level control parameters corresponding to different service levels; and

a service level identification module for identifying a current service level corresponding to the wireless communications device, and

wherein the power level control parameter determination module includes a retrieval module for retrieving a stored transmission power level control parameter corresponding to a service level corresponding to said wireless communications device.

34. The wireless communications device of claim 32, wherein said power level control parameter determination module includes:

a control parameter recovery module for recovering a control value from a signal received by said communications device from said base station.

35. The wireless communications device of claim 34, wherein said signal from which the control value is recovered is said received measured base station signal.

36. The wireless communications device of claim 34, wherein said power level control parameter determination module determinates said transmission power level control parameter by operations including one of:

i) using the recovered control value as said transmission power level control parameter and

ii) calculating said transmission power level control parameter based on said recovered control value and a service level corresponding to said wireless terminal.

37. The wireless communications device of claim 34, wherein the recovered control value is an interference level indicator value.

38. A wireless communications device supporting peer to peer communications, the wireless communications device comprising:

wireless receiver means for receiving a signal from a base station;

means for performing a power measurement on the received signal; and

means for controlling peer to peer transmission power level for at least some peer to peer signal transmissions as a function of the result of the power measurement of said received signal.

39. The wireless communications device of claim 38, wherein said means for controlling uses a first function which limits peer to peer transmission power to a lower level for a first received signal power level than for a second received signal power level which is higher than said first received signal power level.

40. The wireless communications device of claim 38, wherein said means for controlling controls peer to peer transmission signal power according to a first function, the wireless communications device further comprising:

control parameter determination means for determining a transmission power level control parameter,

wherein said means for controlling uses said determined transmission power level control parameter in said first function in addition to said measured signal power.

41. The wireless communications device of claim 40, wherein said control parameter determination means further includes:

means for recovering a control value from a signal received by said wireless communications device from said base station.

42. The wireless communications device of claim 41, wherein the recovered control value is an interference level indicator value.

43. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a wireless communications device supporting peer to peer communications to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a base station;

performing a power measurement on the received signal; and

controlling peer to peer transmission power level for at least some peer to peer signal transmissions as a function of the power measurement of said first received signal.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 43, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

receiving a second signal from said base station at a time which is different from a time at which said first signal is received;

performing a power measurement on the second received signal; and

determining from the power measurement of the second received signal that said wireless communications device should refrain from transmitting peer to peer communications signals.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein controlling peer to peer transmission power includes using a first function, and

wherein said first function limits peer to peer transmission power to a lower level for a first received signal power level than for a second received signal power level which is higher than said first received signal power level.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein controlling peer to peer transmission power includes controlling peer to peer transmission signal power according to a first function, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

determining a transmission power level control parameter, and

wherein said step of controlling peer to peer transmission signal power according to a first function includes;

using said determined transmission power level control parameter in said first function in addition to said measured received power level.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 46, wherein determining said transmission power level control parameter includes:

accessing memory including stored transmission power level control parameters corresponding to different service levels; and

retrieving a stored transmission power level control parameter corresponding to a service level corresponding to said wireless communications device.

48. An apparatus comprising:

a processor supporting peer to peer communications, configured to;

receive a first signal from a base station;

perform a power measurement on the received signal; and

control peer to peer transmission power level for at least some peer to peer signal transmissions as a function of the power measurement of said first received signal.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said processor is further configured to:

receive a second signal from said base station at a time which is different from a time at which said first signal is received;

perform a power measurement on the second received signal; and

determine from the power measurement of the second received signal that said wireless communications device should refrain from transmitting peer to peer communications signals.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said processor configuration to control peer to peer transmission power further includes being configured to use a first function, and wherein said first function limits peer to peer transmission power to a lower level for a first received signal power level than for a second received signal power level which is higher than said first received signal power level.

51. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said processor configuration to control peer to peer transmission power further includes being configured to use a first function, and to:

determine a transmission power level control parameter, and

wherein said step of controlling peer to peer transmission signal power according to a first function includes;

using said determined transmission power level control parameter in said first function in addition to said measured received power level.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said processor configuration to determine said transmission power level control parameter further includes being configured to:

access memory including stored transmission power level control parameters corresponding to different service levels; and

retrieve a stored transmission power level control parameter corresponding to a service level corresponding to said wireless communications device.

53. A communications system comprising:

a first wireless communications device including;

a first received signal power measurement module for measuring power of a signal received from a base station; and

a peer to peer signal transmission power control module for controlling a peer to peer signal transmission power level as a function of the power of the signal from the base station measured by the first received signal power measurement module in accordance with a first function; and

a second wireless communications device, including;

a second received signal power measurement module for measuring a power level of at least one signal received from said base station; and

a wide area network signal transmission power control module for controlling wide area signal transmission power level as a function of the power level of the at least one signal from the base station measured by the second received signal power measurement module in accordance with a second function, said second function being different from said first function.

54. The communications system of claim 53, wherein said second function determines a higher transmission power level than said first function for a given value of the measured received signal power.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the difference in dB between the transmission power level determined by said first and second functions for a given measured received signal power level is at least 10 dB.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the first wireless communications device further includes:

a difference updating module for receiving a difference indicator value from said base station and updating the first function based on said received difference indicator value.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein said difference is predetermined and wherein said first wireless communications device includes memory storing an indicator of said predetermined difference to be used by said first function.

58. The communications system of claim 54, wherein said peer to peer signal transmission power level is a maximum permitted peer to peer signal transmission power level;

and

wherein said wide area signal transmission power level is a maximum wide area signal transmission power level.

59. The communications system of claim 54, further comprising:

a third wireless communications device, said third wireless communications device including;

a received signal power measurement module for measuring the power level of signals received from said base station;

a peer to peer power control module for controlling a peer to peer signal transmission power level as a function of the measured power of the signal from the base station in accordance with said first function; and

a wide area network signal transmission power control module for controlling wide area signal transmission power level as a function of the measured power of a signal from the base station in accordance with said second function.

60. The communications system of claim 59, further comprising said base station, said base station including:

a peer to peer interference management module for determining a peer to peer transmission power level control value; and

a transmitter for transmitting said peer to peer transmission power level control value.

61. The communications system of claim 60, wherein said base station further includes:

an interference signal measurement module for measuring signal interference during a null uplink transmission period and for supplying the measured signal interference to said peer to peer interference management module.