POWER CONTROL PROTOCOL FOR HIGHLY VARIABLE DATA RATE REVERSE LINK OF A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20100202317A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Proctor, James A JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/763,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20100202317A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2628 using code-division multiple access [CDMA] or spread spectrum multiple access [SSMA] H04B7/2618 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/08 Closed loop power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/58 Format of the TPC bits

Abstract

A subscriber unit performs power control of a reverse link by sending heartbeat messages to a base station, permitting the base station to determine a reverse link quality report. Using a reverse link quality report message received from the base station, the subscriber unit calculates its reverse power level and maintains the reverse power level during the standby state.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a subscriber unit for power control during periods when no traffic channels are allocated, the method comprising:

sending an initialization message to a base station;

receiving an allocation from the base station for a reverse link maintenance channel;

sending periodic heartbeat messages during a standby state, the heartbeat messages sent to the base station over the reverse link to permit the base station to determine a link quality metric for the reverse link signal;

receiving a link quality report message having the link quality metric over a paging or a sync channel;

calculating a reverse power level based on the link quality report; and

setting the reverse power level for the standby state based on the calculated reverse power level.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the link quality metric includes a bit error rate.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the link quality metric includes a noise energy level.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the link quality metric includes a power level.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising maintaining the reverse power level by performing continued iterations of the method.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving allocations of subchannels during times when large amounts of data are to be transferred to the subscriber unit;

releasing the subchannels allocated during times when the data transfer amounts are relatively lighter; and

maintaining the reverse link power level during the standby state so that a transmit power level for the subchannels does not need to be reestablished with each allocation and release of subchannels.