Control based on adaptive spreading factor

Abstract

Near-far effect fading is counteracted by changing the spreading factor used for uplink channel spreading. The determination that a radio uplink channel power fade exists can be made in either the radio access network or the mobile station.

1 . A method, comprising the steps of: 
 determining that a fluctuation of a predetermined parameter related to a radio uplink channel transmission exists, and    changing a spreading factor used for uplink channel spreading to counteract said fluctuation in order to keep a predetermined parameter related to said fluctuation in a predetermined range, defined by a low value and a high value, by increasing or decreasing said spreading factor.    
     
     
         2 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         3 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of determining is carried out in a radio network and wherein said method further comprises the step of sending a spreading factor control signal from said network to a mobile station followed by said mobile station carrying out said step of changing said spreading factor.  
     
     
         5 . (Canceled)  
     
     
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         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of determining further comprises the step of determining a frame or block error rate of said radio uplink channel and wherein said step of changing the spreading factor is carried out only if said frame or block error rate meets a selected criterion.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of determining comprises the step of detecting in a radio network said fluctuation in said radio uplink channel from a mobile station to said network, and wherein said method further comprises the step of transmitting a transmit power control (TPC) signal from said network to said mobile station commanding a change in said spreading factor to counteract said fluctuation.  
     
     
         12 . (Canceled)  
     
     
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         29 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 means for determining that a fluctuation of a predetermined parameter related to a radio uplink channel transmission exists, and    means for changing a spreading factor used for uplink channel spreading to counteract said fluctuation in order to keep a predetermined parameter related to said fluctuation in a predetermined range, defined by a low value and a high value, by increasing or decreasing said spreading factor.    
     
     
         30 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         31 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein means for determining is located in a radio network and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for sending a spreading factor control signal from said network to a mobile station to means ( 88 ) for deciding a change in spreading factor.  
     
     
         33 . (Canceled)  
     
     
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         38 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said step of determining further comprises means for determining a frame or block error rate of said radio uplink channel and wherein said means for changing the spreading factor changes the spreading factor only if said frame or block error rate meets a selected criterion.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said step of determining comprises the step of detecting in a radio network said fluctuation in said radio uplink channel from a mobile station to said network, and wherein said method further comprises the step of transmitting a transmit power control (TPC) signal from said network to said mobile station commanding a change in said spreading factor to counteract said fluctuation.  
     
     
         40 . (Canceled)  
     
     
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         57 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low value and the high value are equal.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter is a signal-to-interference ratio.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the low value of the signal-to-interference ratio equals to the high value of said signal-to-interference ratio.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the low value and the high value are equal.  
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the predetermined parameter is a signal-to-interference ratio.  
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the low value of the signal-to-interference ratio equals to the high value of said signal-to-noise interference.