Allocating transmit power among multiple air interfaces

• US 9,386,587 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hu, Jun, Lin, Yu-Chuan, Shahidi, Reza, Ramasami, Vijaya Chandran, Garach, Ravindra Mahendrakumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Junpeng
• Application Number:
  US14/309,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20140302804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0026 Division using four or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0028 Variable division signaling therefor H04L5/0092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0058 Allocation criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for allocating transmit power among multiple interfaces in a wireless communication system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a first power level used for transmission over a first air interface, determining a second power level used for transmission over a second air interface, comparing a composite of the first power level and the second power level to a threshold power level, and adjusting the second power level based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method for allocating transmit power among multiple air interfaces for a communication device, the method comprising:

determining a first power level used for transmission over a first air interface;

determining an available power level for transmitting over a second air interface;

comparing a difference between the available power level and the first power level to a power differential threshold; and

adjusting a second power level for transmitting over the second air interface, wherein adjusting the second power level comprises;

setting the second power level to the available power level in response to a determination that the difference fails to exceed the power differential threshold; and

setting the second power level to an adjusted power level in response to a determination that the difference exceeds the power differential threshold, wherein the adjusted power level is less than the available power level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an allocation of power to the first air interface is prioritized over an allocation of power to the second air interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an allocation of power to the first air interface is prioritized over an allocation of power to the second air interface up to a priority power level.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the allocation of power to the second air interface is prioritized over the allocation of power to the first air interface from a range between the priority power level and a total available power for transmitting over the first air interface and over the second air interface.

5. A wireless communication device supporting simultaneous transmission over multiple air interfaces, the wireless communication device comprising:

a first interface power level calculator configured to determine a first power level for transmission over a first air interface;

a second interface power level calculator configured to determine an available power level for transmission over a second air interface;

a differential check unit configured to compare a difference between the available power level and the first power level to a power differential threshold; and

a second interface power level adjuster configured to;

set a second power level for transmitting over the second air interface to the available power level in response to a determination that the difference fails to exceed the power differential threshold; and

set the second power level to an adjusted power level in response to a determination that the difference exceeds the power differential threshold, wherein the adjusted power level is less than the available power level.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein an allocation of power to the first air interface is prioritized over an allocation of power to the second air interface.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the allocation of power to the first air interface is prioritized over the allocation of power to the second air interface up to a priority power level, and wherein the allocation of power to the second air interface is prioritized over the allocation of power to the first air interface from a range between the priority power level and a total available power for transmitting over the first air interface and over the second air interface.

8. A wireless communication device supporting simultaneous transmission over multiple air interfaces, the wireless communication device comprising:

means for determining a first power level used for transmission over a first air interface;

means for determining an available power level for transmitting over a second air interface;

means for comparing a difference between the available power level and the first power level to a power differential threshold; and

means for adjusting a second power level for transmitting over the second air interface, wherein adjusting the second power level comprises;

setting the second power level to the available power level in response to a determination that the difference fails to exceed the power differential threshold; and

setting the second power level to an adjusted power level in response to a determination that the difference exceeds the power differential threshold, wherein the adjusted power level is less than the available power level.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein an allocation of power to the first air interface is prioritized over an allocation of power to the second air interface.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein an allocation of power to the first air interface is prioritized over an allocation of power to the second air interface up to a priority power level.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the allocation of power to the second air interface is prioritized over the allocation of power to the first air interface from a range between the priority power level and a total available power for transmitting over the first air interface and over the second air interface.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for allocating transmit power among multiple air interfaces for a communication device, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine a first power level used for transmission over a first air interface;

determine an available power level for transmitting over a second air interface;

compare a difference between the available power level and the first power level to a power differential threshold; and

adjust a second power level for transmitting over the second air interface, wherein adjusting the second power level comprises;

setting the second power level to the available power level in response to a determination that the difference fails to exceed the power differential threshold; and

setting the second power level to an adjusted power level in response to a determination that the difference exceeds the power differential threshold, wherein the adjusted power level is less than the available power level.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein an allocation of power to the first air interface is prioritized over an allocation of power to the second air interface.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein an allocation of power to the first air interface is prioritized over an allocation of power to the second air interface up to a priority power level.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the allocation of power to the second air interface is prioritized over the allocation of power to the first air interface from a range between the priority power level and a total available power for transmitting over the first air interface and over the second air interface.