Power control during a transmission pause

Abstract

A transmitting station performs closed loop power control prior to a transmission pause. A closed loop transmission power level prior to the pause is determined. A reference signal is received and a received power level of the reference signal prior to and during the transmission pause is determined. The measured reference signal received power levels are compared to a transmit power level of the reference signals to produce a pathloss estimate of the reference signal prior to and during the transmission pause. A new transmit power level is determined by adjusting the closed loop transmission power level by a change between the prior to and during pathloss estimates. A transmission power level of the transmitting station is set to the determined new transmit power level. A communication is transmitted at the set transmission power level.

1 . A method of adaptive power control for a transmitting station, the method comprising:
 transmitting a data signal during a first time period;   receiving a transmit power command during the first time period;   receiving a reference data signal during a second time period, wherein the data signal is not transmitted during the second time period;   using the received transmit power command to adjust a transmitting power of the transmitting station during the first time period; and   using the received reference data signal to adjust the transmitting power of the transmitting station during the second time period.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received transmit power command is based on a power level of the data signal transmitted during the first time period. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reference data signal is received on one of a primary common control physical channel (P-CCPCH), a secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH) and a forward access channel (FACH). 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the using the received reference data signal to adjust a transmitting power of the transmitting station during the second time period comprises:
 measuring a path loss estimate of the reference data signal; and   adjusting the transmitting power of the transmitting station using the measured path loss estimate.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the path loss estimate comprises radio channel conditions between the transmitting and receiving stations, including at least one of fast fading, slow fading and long-term fading. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the measuring the path loss estimate comprises:
 measuring a power level of the reference data signal; and   subtracting the measured power level from a power level of the reference data signal when transmitted to obtain the path loss estimate.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the power level of the reference data signal when transmitted is known apriori by the transmit station. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the power level of the reference data signal when transmitted is received from an external source. 
   
   
       9 . A transmitting station comprising:
 an antenna configured to transmit a data signal during a first time period, to receive a transmit power command during the first time period, and to receive a reference data signal during a second time period, wherein the data signal is not transmitted during the second time period; and   a transmit power control device configured to adjust a transmitting power of the transmitting station using the reference data signal during the second time period and to adjust the transmitting power of the transmitting station using the received transmit power command during the first time period.   
   
   
       10 . The transmitting station of  claim 9 , wherein the received transmit power command is based on a power level of the data signal transmitted during the first time period. 
   
   
       11 . The transmitting station of  claim 9 , wherein the reference data signal is received on one of a primary common control physical channel (P-CCPCH), a secondary common control physical channel (S-CCPCH) and a forward access channel (FACH). 
   
   
       12 . The transmitting station of  claim 9 , further comprising a path loss determination unit configured to measure a path loss estimate of the reference data signal,
 wherein the transmit power control unit is further configured to adjust the transmitting power of the transmitting station using the measured path loss estimate.   
   
   
       13 . The transmitting station of  claim 12 , wherein the path loss estimate comprises radio channel conditions between the transmitting and receiving stations, including at least one of fast fading, slow fading and long-term fading. 
   
   
       14 . The transmitting station of  claim 12 , wherein the path loss determination unit is further configured to measure the path loss estimate by measuring a power level of the reference data signal and subtracting the measured power level from a power level of the reference data signal when transmitted to obtain the path loss estimate. 
   
   
       15 . The transmitting station of  claim 14 , wherein the power level of the reference data signal when transmitted is known a priori by the transmit station. 
   
   
       16 . The transmitting station of  claim 14 , wherein the power level of the reference data signal is received from an external source.