Method and apparatus for adaptive carrier allocation and power control in multi-carrier communication systems

Abstract

An apparatus and process for allocating carriers in a multi-carrier system is described. In one embodiment, the process comprises determining a location of a subscriber with respect to a base station, selecting carriers from a band of carriers to allocate to the subscriber according to the location of the subscriber with respect to the base station, and allocating selected carriers to the subscriber.

1 . A method for wireless communication power control, said method comprising:
 receiving, at a subscriber unit, a power control command, said power control command based, at least in part, upon a determination of a transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit;   adjusting, at said subscriber unit, transmit power of said subscriber unit in response to receiving said power control command; and   transmitting data to a base station according to said adjustment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 transmitting, from said subscriber unit, an intent to transmit signal to said base station; and wherein said receiving is in response to transmitting said intent to transmit signal. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said determination of said transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit is based, at least in part, upon a calculation of path loss associated with said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit comprises adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit to keep the power of signals received at said base station from said subscriber unit at a desired level. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising
 receiving, at said subscriber unit, an updated power control command, said updated power control command based, at least in part, upon a determination of an updated transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit; 
 re-adjusting, at said subscriber unit, transmit power of said subscriber unit in response to receiving said updated power control command; and 
 transmitting data to said base station according to said re-adjustment; wherein 
 data transmitted according to said re-adjustment is transmitted at a different power than data transmitted according to said adjustment. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said determination of an updated transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit is based, at least in part, upon an updated calculation of path loss associated with said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receiving said power control command comprises:
 receiving, at said subscriber unit, a command from said base station to use a normal or extended power control range. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said command to use a normal or extended power control range is based, at least in part, upon a priority assigned to said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit comprises adjusting transmit power according to transmit power data stored in a look up table stored at said subscriber unit, said transmit power data associated with a code received from said base station. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said subscriber unit uses said code as in index into said look up table to adjust said transmit power. 
     
     
         11 . A subscriber unit comprising:
 a receiver for receiving a power control command, said power control command based, at least in part, upon a determination of a transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit;   a power control unit for adjusting, at said subscriber unit, transmit power of said subscriber unit in response to receiving said power control command; and   a transmitter for transmitting data to a base station according to said adjustment.   
     
     
         12 . The subscriber unit of  claim 11  further comprising:
 wherein said transmitter further transmits an intent to transmit signal to said base station; and wherein said receiving is in response to transmitting said intent to transmit signal. 
 
     
     
         13 . The subscriber unit of  claim 11  wherein said determination of said transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit is based, at least in part, upon a calculation of path loss associated with said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         14 . The subscriber unit of  claim 11  wherein said adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit comprises adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit to keep the power of signals received at said base station from said subscriber unit at a desired level. 
     
     
         15 . The subscriber unit of  claim 11  wherein
 said receiver further receives an updated power control command, said updated power control command based, at least in part, upon a determination of an updated transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit; 
 said power control unit re-adjusts transmit power of said subscriber unit in response to receiving said updated power control command; and 
 said transmitter further transmitting data to said base station according to said re-adjustment; wherein 
 data transmitted according to said re-adjustment is transmitted at a different power than data transmitted according to said adjustment. 
 
     
     
         16 . The subscriber unit of  claim 15  wherein said determination of an updated transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit is based, at least in part, upon an updated calculation of path loss associated with said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         17 . The subscriber unit of  claim 11  wherein said receiving said power control command comprises:
 receiving, at said subscriber unit, a command from said base station to use a normal or extended power control range. 
 
     
     
         18 . The subscriber unit of  claim 17  wherein said command to use a normal or extended power control range is based, at least in part, upon a priority assigned to said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         19 . The subscriber unit of  claim 11  wherein said adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit comprises adjusting transmit power according to transmit power data stored in a look up table stored at said subscriber unit, said transmit power data associated with a code received from said base station. 
     
     
         20 . The subscriber unit of  claim 19  wherein said subscriber unit uses said code as in index into said look up table to adjust said transmit power. 
     
     
         21 . A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein execution of said instructions directs a subscriber unit to:
 receive a power control command, said power control command based, at least in part, upon a determination of a transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit;   adjust transmit power of said subscriber unit in response to receiving said power control command; and   transmit data to a base station according to said adjustment.   
     
     
         22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21  wherein execution of said instructions directs a subscriber unit to:
 transmit an intent to transmit signal to said base station; and wherein said receiving is in response to transmitting said intent to transmit signal. 
 
     
     
         23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21  wherein said determination of said transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit is based, at least in part, upon a calculation of path loss associated with said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21  wherein said adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit comprises adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit to keep the power of signals received at said base station from said subscriber unit at a desired level. 
     
     
         25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21  wherein execution of said instructions directs a subscriber unit to:
 receive an updated power control command, said updated power control command based, at least in part, upon a determination of an updated transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit 
 re-adjust transmit power of said subscriber unit in response to receiving said updated power control command; and 
 transmit data to said base station according to said re-adjustment; wherein 
 data transmitted according to said re-adjustment is transmitted at a different power than data transmitted according to said adjustment. 
 
     
     
         26 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25  wherein said determination of an updated transmit power requirement for said subscriber unit is based, at least in part, upon an updated calculation of path loss associated with said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21  wherein said receiving said power control command comprises:
 receiving, at said subscriber unit, a command from said base station to use a normal or extended power control range. 
 
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 27  wherein said command to use a normal or extended power control range is based, at least in part, upon a priority assigned to said subscriber unit. 
     
     
         29 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21  wherein said adjusting transmit power of said subscriber unit comprises adjusting transmit power according to transmit power data stored in a look up table stored at said subscriber unit, said transmit power data associated with a code received from said base station. 
     
     
         30 . The computer readable medium of  claim 29  wherein said subscriber unit uses said code as in index into said look up table to adjust said transmit power.