Adaptive gain adjustment control

Abstract

Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to telecommunications which include transmitting a plurality of data groups to a receiver at a first power level, retransmitting a first one of the data groups to the receiver at a second power level lower than the first power level, providing feedback from the receiver relating to the retransmission of the first one of the data groups, and retransmitting a second one of the data groups to the receiver at a third power level different from the second power level, the third power level being a function of the feedback. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

1 . A method of communications, comprising: 
 transmitting a plurality of data groups to a receiver at a first power level;    decoding the plurality of data groups by the receiver; and    retransmitting one of the data groups at a second power level lower than the first power level if the one of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded by the receiver.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising retransmitting another of the data groups at third power level different from the second power level if the another of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further including adjusting the third power level as a function of the second power level.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further including: 
 lowering the third power level relative to the second power level if the one of the data groups is successfully decoded; and    increasing the third power level relative to the second power level if the one of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded.    
   
   
       5 . A method of communications, comprising: 
 transmitting a plurality of data groups to a receiver at a first power level;    retransmitting a first one of the data groups to the receiver at a second power level lower than the first power level;    providing feedback from the receiver relating to the retransmission of the first one of the data groups; and    retransmitting a second one of the data groups to the receiver at a third power level different from the second power level, the third power level being a function of the feedback.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the third power level is set relative to the second power level as a function of the feedback.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein each of the data groups comprises a data frame.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the third power level is less than the first power level.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising encoding each of the data groups, and wherein the feedback indicates whether the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the third power level is set higher than the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and the third power level is set lower than the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the third power level is set half-way between the first power level and the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and the third power level is set half-way between a minimum power level and the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver, the minimum power level being less than the second power level.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising computing a reference power level for transmitting a reference signal with each of the data groups, computing a first power ratio as function of a parameter, setting the first power level as a function of the reference power level and the first power ratio, deriving a second power ratio, setting of the second power level as a function of the reference power level and the second power ratio, deriving a third power ratio as a function of the feedback, and setting the third power level as a function of the reference power level and the power ratio.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the third power ratio is set relative to the second power ratio as a function of the feedback.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first power ratio is defined as the first power level divided by the reference power level, the second power ratio is defined as the second power level divided by the reference power level, and the third power ratio is defined as the third power level divided by the reference power level.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the third power ratio is less than the first power ratio.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising encoding each of the data groups, and wherein the feedback indicates whether the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first power ratio is defined as the first power level divided by the reference power level, the second power ratio is defined as the second power level divided by the reference power level, and the third power ratio is defined as the third power level divided by the reference power level, the third power ratio being set higher than the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and third power ratio being set lower than the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the third power ratio is set half-way between the first power ratio and the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and the third power ratio is set half-way between a minimum power ratio and the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver, the minimum power ratio being less than the second power ratio.  
   
   
       19 . Computer-readable media embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer program to perform a method of communications, the method comprising: 
 transmitting a plurality of data groups to a receiver at a first power level;    decoding the plurality of data groups by the receiver; and    retransmitting one of the data groups at a second power level lower than the first power level if the one of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded by the receiver.    
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable media of  claim 19  wherein the method further comprising retransmitting another of the data groups at third power level different from the second power level if the another of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable media of  claim 20  wherein the method further including adjusting the third power level as a function of the second power level.  
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable media of  claim 21  wherein the method further including: 
 lowering the third power level relative to the second power level if the one of the data groups is successfully decoded; and    increasing the third power level relative to the second power level if the one of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded.    
   
   
       23 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a transmitter;    a buffer configured to provide a plurality of data groups to the transmitter for initial transmission to a receiver, and provide at least first and second ones of the data groups to the transmitter for retransmission to the receiver; and    a gain control configured to set each of the data groups to a first power level for initial transmission, set the first one of the data groups to a second power level lower than the first power level, receive feedback from the receiver relating to the first one of the data groups, and set the second one of the data groups to a third power level as a function of the feedback.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the gain control is further configured to set the third power level relative to the second power level as a function of the feedback.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein each of the data groups comprises a data frame.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the gain control is further configured to set the third power level lower than the first power level.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising an encoder configured to encode each of the data groups from the buffer before transmission, and wherein the feedback indicates whether the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the gain control is further configured to set the third power level higher than the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and set the third power level lower than the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the gain control is further configured to set the third power level half-way between the first power level and the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and set the third power level half-way between a minimum power level and the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver, the minimum power level being less than the second power level.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising a reference signal generator configured to generate a reference signal and provide it to the transmitter for transmission with each of the data groups, the reference signal having a reference power level, and wherein the gain control is further configured to compute a first power ratio as function of a parameter, set the first power level as a function of the reference power level and the first power ratio, derive a second power ratio, set the second power level as a function of the reference power level and the second power ratio, derive a third power ratio as a function of the feedback, and set the third power level as a function of the reference power level and the power ratio.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein gain control is further configured to set the third power ratio relative to the second power ratio as a function of the feedback.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the first power ratio is defined as the first power level divided by the reference power level, the second power ratio is defined as the second power level divided by the reference power level, and the third power ratio is defined as the third power level divided by the reference power level.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the gain control is further configured to set the third power ratio lower than the first power ratio.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 30  further comprising an encoder configured to encode each of the data groups from the buffer before transmission, and wherein the feedback indicates whether the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the first power ratio is defined as the first power level divided by the reference power level, the second power ratio is defined as the second power level divided by the reference power level, and the third power ratio is defined as the third power level divided by the reference power level, and wherein the gain control is further configured to set the third power ratio higher than the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and set the third power ratio lower than the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the gain control is further configured to set the third power ratio half-way between the first power ratio and the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and set the third power ratio half-way between a minimum power ratio and the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver, the minimum power ratio being less than the second power ratio.  
   
   
       37 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a transmitter;    a buffer configured to provide a plurality of data groups to the transmitter, and identify whether each of the data groups provided to the transmitter is an initial transmission or retransmission to a receiver; and    a gain control configured to set each of the data groups identified as an initial transmission to an initial power level, receive feedback from the receiver related to each of the data groups identified as a retransmission, and adjust the power level for each of the data groups identified as a retransmission based on the feedback from the respective previous retransmission.    
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the gain control is further configured to adjust the power level for each of the data groups identified as a retransmission based on both the feedback for the respective previous retransmission and the adjusted power level for that previous retransmission.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein each of the data groups comprises a data frame.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the adjusted power level is less than the initial power level.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 37  further comprising an encoder configured to encode each of the data groups from the buffer before transmission, and wherein the feedback indicates whether the retransmission of each of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the gain control is further configured to adjust the power level upward relative to the adjusted power level for the previous retransmission if the feedback indicates that the previous retransmission was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and adjust the power level downward relative to the adjusted power level for the previous retransmission if the feedback indicates that the previous retransmission was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein the adjusted power level is less than the initial power level, and wherein the gain control is further configured to adjust the power level half-way between the initial power level and the adjusted power level for the previous retransmission if the feedback indicates that the previous retransmission was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and adjust the power level half-way between a minimum power level and the adjusted power level for the previous retransmission if the feedback indicates that the previous retransmission was successfully decoded by the receiver, the minimum power level being less than the adjusted power level for the previous retransmission.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 37  further comprising a reference signal generator configured to generate a reference signal and provide it to the transmitter for transmission with each of the data groups, the reference signal having a reference power level, and wherein the gain control is further configured to compute an initial power ratio as function of a parameter, set the initial power level as a function of the reference power level and the initial power ratio, adjust the power ratio as a function of the feedback for the previous retransmission, and adjust the power level as a function of the reference power level and the adjusted power ratio.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein gain control is further configured to adjust the power ratio as a function of both the feedback for the previous retransmission and the adjusted power ratio for that retransmission.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein the initial power ratio is defined as the initial power level divided by the reference power level, and the adjusted power ratio is defined as the adjusted power level divided by the reference power level.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 46  wherein the gain control is further configured to adjust the power level lower than the initial power ratio.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 44  further comprising an encoder configured to encode each of the data groups from the buffer before transmission, and wherein the feedback indicates whether the respective retransmission was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 48  wherein the initial power ratio is defined as the initial power level divided by the reference power level, and the adjusted power ratio is defined as the adjusted power level divided by the reference power level, and wherein the gain control is further configured to adjust the power ratio upward with respect to the adjusted power ratio for the previous retransmission if the feedback indicates that the previous retransmission was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and adjust the power ratio downward with respect to the adjusted power ratio for the previous transmission if the feedback indicates that the previous retransmission was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 49  wherein the adjusted power level is less than the initial power level, and wherein the gain control is further configured to adjust the power level half-way between the initial power level and the adjusted power level for the previous retransmission if the feedback indicates that the previous retransmission was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and adjust the power level half-way between a minimum power level and the adjusted power level for the previous retransmission if the feedback indicates that the previous retransmission was successfully decoded by the receiver, the minimum power level being less than the adjusted power level for the previous retransmission.  
   
   
       51 . An apparatus for communications, comprising: 
 means for transmitting a plurality of data groups to a receiver at a first power level;    means for receiving feedback from the receiver; and    means for retransmitting one of the data groups at a second power level lower than the first power level if the one of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded by the receiver.    
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 51  further comprising means for retransmitting another of the data groups at third power level different from the second power level if the another of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 52  further including means for adjusting the third power level as a function of the second power level.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 53  further including: 
 means for lowering the third power level relative to the second power level if the one of the data groups is successfully decoded; and    means for increasing the third power level relative to the second power level if the one of the data groups is unsuccessfully decoded.    
   
   
       55 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a transmitter;    means for providing a plurality of data groups to the transmitter for initial transmission to a receiver;    means for providing at least first and second ones of the data groups to the transmitter for retransmission to the receiver;    means for setting each of the data groups to a first power level for initial transmission;    means for setting the first one of the data groups to a second power level lower than the first power level;    means for receiving feedback from the receiver relating to the first one of the data groups; and    means for setting the second one of the data groups to a third power level as a function of the feedback.    
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 55  wherein the third power level is set relative to the second power level as a function of the feedback.  
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 55  wherein each of the data groups comprises a data frame.  
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 55  wherein the third power level is set below the first power level.  
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 55  further comprising means for encoding each of the data groups before transmission, and wherein the feedback indicates whether the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 59  wherein the third power level is set above the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and the third power level is set lower than the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 60  wherein the third power level is set half-way between the first power level and the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and the third power level is set half-way between a minimum power level and the second power level if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver, the minimum power level being less than the second power level.  
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 55  further comprising means for generating a reference signal having a reference power level, means for providing the reference signal to the transmitter for transmission with each of the data groups, and means for computing a first power ratio as function of a parameter, wherein the first power level is set as a function of the reference power level and the first power ratio, the apparatus further comprising means for deriving second and third power ratios, the third power ratio being a function of the feedback, and wherein the second power level is set as a function of the reference power level and the second power ratio, and the third power ratio is set as a function of the reference power level and the power ratio.  
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 62  wherein the third power ratio is set relative to the second power ratio as a function of the feedback.  
   
   
       64 . The apparatus of  claim 62  wherein the first power ratio is defined as the first power level divided by the reference power level, the second power ratio is defined as the second power level divided by the reference power level, and the third power ratio is defined as the third power level divided by the reference power level.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 64  wherein the third power ratio is set lower than the first power ratio.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus of  claim 62  further comprising means for encoding each of the data groups before transmission, and wherein the feedback indicates whether the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       67 . The apparatus of  claim 66  wherein the first power ratio is defined as the first power level divided by the reference power level, the second power ratio is defined as the second power level divided by the reference power level, and the third power ratio is defined as the third power level divided by the reference power level, and wherein the third power ratio is set higher than the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and the third power ratio is set lower than the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver.  
   
   
       68 . The apparatus of  claim 67  wherein the third power ratio is set half-way between the first power ratio and the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was not successfully decoded by the receiver, and set the third power ratio half-way between a minimum power ratio and the second power ratio if the feedback indicates that the retransmission of the first one of the data groups was successfully decoded by the receiver, the minimum power ratio being less than the second power ratio.