Method and system of link control

Abstract

The present invention relates to retransmissions in a communications system and more especially it relates to link load control in a cellular mobile radio system particularly in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS. BLER targets are set depending on load.

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       53 . A method of link load control in a communications system using automatic repeat request, the method comprising controlling transmission power depending on at least a first target and a second target, the first target being a target to which signal level or a derivative thereof is compared, and the second target being a target to which block error rate is compared, and wherein the second target is set in relation to traffic load level.  
   
   
       54 . A method of link load control in a communications system using automatic repeat request, the method comprising: 
 determining a first target affected by a second target, and determining the second target according to a function of traffic load; and    comparing to the first target at least one of (1) signal level, (2) signal to noise level, (3) signal to interference level, or (4) signal to noise and interference level, and    comparing error rate to the second target.    
   
   
       55 . In a wireless communications system wherein transmissions detected to be in error are retransmitted, a method of link load control comprising: 
 determining a second target level as a function of traffic load level;    determining a first target level as a function of the second target level and block error rate; and    controlling transmission power such that at least one of ( 1 ) signal level, ( 2 ) signal to noise level, ( 3 ) signal to interference level, and ( 4 ) signal to noise and interference level satisfies the first target level.    
   
   
       56 . In a wireless communications system wherein transmissions detected to be in error are retransmitted, a method of link load control comprising the steps of: 
 determining a traffic load level;    depending on the traffic load level, selecting a second target level;    comparing error rate data to the second target level;    determining a first target level depending on the relation between the error rate data and the second target level;    comparing first data to the first target level;    determining a transmission power control command depending on the relation between the first data and the first target level.    
   
   
       57 . In a wireless communications system wherein transmissions detected to be in error are retransmitted, a method of link load control comprising: 
 determining a traffic load level;    depending on the traffic load level, determining whether a second target level should be changed;    comparing error rate data to the second target level, changed as need be;    determining a first target level depending on the relation between the error rate data and the second target level;    comparing first data to the first target level;    determining a transmission power control command depending on the relation between the first data and the first target level.    
   
   
       58 . In a wireless communications system wherein transmissions detected to be in error are retransmitted, a method of link load control comprising: 
 determining a traffic load level;    depending on the traffic load level, determining whether a second target level should be changed;    transferring information on second target level change as needed to a user equipment unit and changing the second target level if needed;    comparing, in the user equipment unit, error rate data to the second target level    determining a first target level depending on the relation between the error rate data and the second target level;    comparing first data to the first target level;    determining a transmission power control command depending on the relation between the first data and the first target level.    
   
   
       59 . The method according to  claim 56  wherein the first data represents signal level, signal to noise level, signal to interference level or signal to noise and interference level.  
   
   
       60 . The method according to  claim 53  further comprising determining the second target level depending on offered traffic load.  
   
   
       61 . The method according to  claim 53  further comprising determining the first target depending on the difference between the selected second target and an actual value, corresponding to the second target, estimated from data transmissions.  
   
   
       62 . The method according to  claim 53  further comprising selecting the second target level from a set of second targets.  
   
   
       63 . The method according to  claim 53  further comprising sending the first target from a control node of a radio access network.  
   
   
       64 . The method according to  claim 53  further comprising receiving the first target in an access point of a radio access network.  
   
   
       65 . The method according to  claim 53  wherein the step of controlling transmission power comprises controlling user equipment transmission power.  
   
   
       66 . The method according to  claim 64  wherein the access point is a radio base station of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.  
   
   
       67 . The method according to  claim 53  further comprising sending one or more signals carrying traffic load level data from an access point of a radio access network.  
   
   
       68 . A user equipment entity of link load control in a communications system using automatic repeat request, the user equipment entity comprising processing means adapted for transmission power control depending on at least a first target and a second target, the first target being a target to which signal level or a derivative thereof is compared, and the second target being a target to which block error rate is compared, and wherein the second target is set in relation to traffic load level.  
   
   
       69 . An access point of link load control in a communications system using automatic repeat request, the access point comprising processing means adapted for transmission power control depending on at least a first target and a second target, the first target being a target to which signal level or a derivative thereof is compared, and the second target being a target to which block error rate is compared, and wherein the second target is set in relation to traffic load level.  
   
   
       70 . A network element of link load control in a communications system using automatic repeat request, the network element comprising: 
 processing means adapted for determining a first target affected by a second target, and    processing means adapted for determining the second target according to a function of traffic load; and    a comparator for comparing signal level, signal to noise level, signal to interference level or signal to noise and interference level to the first target, and    a comparator adapted for comparing error rate to the second target.    
   
   
       71 . In a wireless communications system wherein transmissions detected to be in error are retransmitted, a network element of link load control comprising circuitry arranged for 
 determining a second target level as a function of traffic load level;    determining a first target level as a function of the second target level and block error rate; and    controlling transmission power such that at least one (1) of signal level, (2) signal to noise level, (3) signal to interference level, and (4) signal to noise and interference level satisfies the first target level.    
   
   
       72 . In a wireless communications system wherein transmissions detected to be in error are retransmitted, a network element of link load control comprising: 
 retrieval means for retrieving a traffic load level;    a selector for selecting a second target level depending on the traffic load level;    a comparator for comparing error rate data to the second target level;    processing means for determining a first target level depending on the relation between the error rate data and the second target level;    a comparator for comparing first data to the first target level;    processing means for determining a transmission power control command depending on the relation between the first data and the first target level.    
   
   
       73 . In a wireless communications system wherein transmissions detected to be in error are retransmitted, a network element of link load control comprising: 
 retrieval means for retrieving a traffic load level;    processing means for determining whether a second target level should be changed depending on the traffic load level;    processing means for determining a first target level depending on a relation between error rate data and the second target level;    a comparator for comparing first data to the first target level;    processing means for determining a transmission power control command depending on the relation between the first data and the first target level.    
   
   
       74 . The network element according to  claim 72  wherein the first data represents signal level, signal to noise level, signal to interference level or signal to noise and interference level.  
   
   
       75 . The user equipment according to  claim 68  further comprising the second target level being determined depending on offered traffic load.  
   
   
       76 . The access point according to  claim 69  further comprising the first target being determined depending on the difference between the selected second target and an actual value, corresponding to the second target, estimated from data transmissions.  
   
   
       77 . The network element according to  claim 70  wherein the second target level is selected from a set of second targets.  
   
   
       78 . The access point according to  claim 69  wherein the access point is a radio base station of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.  
   
   
       79 . The network element according to  claim 70  wherein the access point is a radio network controller of a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.  
   
   
       80 . The access point according to  claim 68 , the access point being part of a radio access network and comprising transmitter means for sending one or more signals carrying traffic load level data.