Method and apparatus for controlling power in a variable rate communication system

Claim 2

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising: receiver means for receiving said data frame; power measurement means for measuring power of said received data frame; comparison means for comparing said measured power against a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses determined in accordance with a set of allowed rate transitions to provide a power control signal; and transmitter means for transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said comparison means is further responsive to a signal indicating a rate of each of a plurality of previous received data frames.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said comparison means is further responsive to a signal indicating a rate of a previous received data frame.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said set of allowed rate transitions comprises 2 n -1 allowed transitions, where n is an integer.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said set of allowed rate transitions comprises 3 allowed transitions.

Claim 7

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising: data source means for generating frames of data at a variable data rate wherein said frames of data are generated in accordance with a set of allowed transition rates; receiver means for receiving a power control signal; control processor means for determining a power adjustment signal in accordance with said power control signal; and transmitter means responsive to said power adjustment signal, for transmitting each of said frames of data at a corresponding predetermined power level.

Claim 8

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising: data source means for generating frames of data at a variable data rate wherein said frames of data are generated in accordance with a set of allowed transition rates; receiver means for receiving a power control signal; control processor means for determining a power adjustment signal in accordance with said power control signal; and transmitter means responsive to said power adjustment signal, for transmitting each of said frames of data at a corresponding predetermined power level.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control processor means is responsive to said set of allowed rate transitions.

Claim 10

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising: receiver means for receiving said data frame; power measurement means for measuring power of said received data frame; comparison means for comparing said measured power against a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses to provide a power control signal wherein said power control signal is indicative of a power adjustment command for a rate hypothesis and wherein said rate hypothesis is selected in accordance with the probability of said data frame being of a rate equal to said rate hypothesis; and transmitter means for transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 11

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising: receiver means for receiving said data frame; power measurement means for measuring power of said received data frame; comparison means for comparing said measured power against a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses to provide a power control signal wherein said power control signal is indicative of a power adjustment command for a rate hypothesis and wherein said rate hypothesis is selected in accordance with the probability of said data frame being of a rate equal to said rate hypothesis; and transmitter means for transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said rate hypothesis selection is further a function of a level of data packet bit repetition associated with frames transmitted at said rate hypothesis.

Claim 13

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising: receiver means for receiving a power control signal for a rate hypothesis; control processor means for determining a power adjustment signal in accordance with said power control signal and with a predetermined rate hypothesis format determining the rate of said rate hypothesis and wherein said rate hypothesis format is determined in accordance with the data frame having been transmitted at a rate equal to the rate hypothesis to provide a transmitter adjustment signal; and transmitter means responsive to said transmitter adjustment signal, for transmitting said data frame at a predetermined power level.

Claim 14

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising: receiver means for receiving a power control signal for a rate hypothesis; control processor means for determining a power adjustment signal in accordance with said power control signal and with a predetermined rate hypothesis format determining the rate of said rate hypothesis and wherein said rate hypothesis format is determined in accordance with the data frame having been transmitted at a rate equal to the rate hypothesis to provide a transmitter adjustment signal; and transmitter means responsive to said transmitter adjustment signal, for transmitting said data frame at a predetermined power level.

Claim 15

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a method for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising the steps of: receiving said data frame; measuring power of said received data frame; comparing said measured power against a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses determined in accordance with a set of allowed rate transitions to provide a power control signal; and transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 16

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a method for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising the steps of: receiving said data frame; measuring power of said received data frame; comparing said measured power against a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses determined in accordance with a set of allowed rate transitions to provide a power control signal; and transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11 wherein said step of comparing is responsive to a signal indicating a rate of each of a plurality of previous received data frames.

Claim 18

The method of claim 11 wherein said step of comparing is responsive to a signal indicating a rate of a previous received data frame.

Claim 19

The method of claim 11 wherein said set of allowed rate transitions comprises 2 n -1 allowed transitions, where n is an integer.

Claim 20

The method of claim 11 wherein said set of allowed rate transitions comprises 3 allowed transitions.

Claim 21

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a method for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising the steps of: determining a current data rate of a plurality of variable data rates in accordance with a set of allowed transition rates; generating frames of data at said current data rate; receiving a power control signal; determining a power adjustment signal in accordance with said power control signal; determining a transmit power level in response to said power adjustment signal; and transmitting said frames of data at said power level.

Claim 22

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a method for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising the steps of: determining a current data rate of a plurality of variable data rates in accordance with a set of allowed transition rates; generating frames of data at said current data rate; receiving a power control signal; determining a power adjustment signal in accordance with said power control signal; determining a transmit power level in response to said power adjustment signal; and transmitting said frames of data at said power level.

Claim 23

The method of claim 16 wherein said step of determining a power adjustment signal is responsive to said set of allowed rate transitions.

Claim 24

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a method for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising the steps of: receiving said data frame; measuring power of said received data frame; comparing said measured power against a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses to provide a power control signal wherein said power control signal is indicative of a power adjustment command for a rate hypothesis and wherein said rate hypothesis is selected in accordance with the probability of said data frame being of a rate equal to said rate hypothesis; transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 25

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a method for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising the steps of: receiving said data frame; measuring power of said received data frame; comparing said measured power against a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses to provide a power control signal wherein said power control signal is indicative of a power adjustment command for a rate hypothesis and wherein said rate hypothesis is selected in accordance with the probability of said data frame being of a rate equal to said rate hypothesis; transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 26

The method of claim 18 wherein said rate hypothesis selection is further a function of a level of data packet bit repetition associated with frames transmitted at said rate hypothesis.

Claim 27

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a method for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising the steps of: receiving a power control signal for a rate hypothesis; determining a power adjustment signal in accordance with said power control signal and with a predetermined rate hypothesis format determining the rate of said rate hypothesis and wherein said rate hypothesis format is determined in accordance with the data frame having been transmitted at a rate equal to the rate hypothesis to provide a transmitter adjustment signal; determining a power level in response to said transmitter adjustment signal; and transmitting said data frame at said power level.

Claim 28

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a method for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising the steps of: receiving a power control signal for a rate hypothesis; determining a power adjustment signal in accordance with said power control signal and with a predetermined rate hypothesis format determining the rate of said rate hypothesis and wherein said rate hypothesis format is determined in accordance with the data frame having been transmitted at a rate equal to the rate hypothesis to provide a transmitter adjustment signal; determining a power level in response to said transmitter adjustment signal; and transmitting said data frame at said power level.

Claim 29

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising: a receiver for receiving said data frame and having an output; a power measurement circuit for measuring power of said received data frame, and having an input coupled to said receiver output and having an output; a comparison circuit having a first input coupled to said power measurement circuit output and having a second input for receiving a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses determined in accordance with a set of allowed rate transitions and having an output to provide a power control signal in response to a comparison of said measured power value to said set of threshold values; and a transmitter having an input for receiving said power control signal, said transmitter for transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 30

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for controlling said transmission power of said first communication device at said second communication device comprising: a receiver for receiving said data frame and having an output; a power measurement circuit for measuring power of said received data frame, and having an input coupled to said receiver output and having an output; a comparison circuit having a first input coupled to said power measurement circuit output and having a second input for receiving a set of threshold values wherein each threshold value of said set of threshold values corresponds to a different rate hypothesis of a set of rate hypotheses determined in accordance with a set of allowed rate transitions and having an output to provide a power control signal in response to a comparison of said measured power value to said set of threshold values; and a transmitter having an input for receiving said power control signal, said transmitter for transmitting said power control signal.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said comparison circuit has a third input for receiving a signal indicating a rate of each of a plurality of previous received data frames.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said comparison circuit has a third input for receiving a signal indicating a rate of a previous received data frame.

Claim 33

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising: a variable rate data source for generating frames of data at a variable data rate wherein said frames of data are generated in accordance with a set of allowed transition rates and having an output; a receiver having an input for receiving a power control signal and having an output; a control processor for determining a power adjustment signal in response to said power control signal and having an input for receiving said power control signal and having an output; and a transmitter responsive to said power adjustment signal, having a first input coupled to said a variable rate data source output and having a second input coupled to said control processor output for transmitting each of said frames of data at a corresponding predetermined power level.

Claim 34

In a variable rate communication system wherein a first communication device for the transmission of a data packet of variable rate data in a data frame of a predetermined data capacity to a second communication device wherein when said data packet is less than said data capacity generating repeated versions of bits in said data packet and providing a first version of said data packet bits and said repeated versions of said data packet bits in said data frame and wherein in a transmission power for transmitting said data frame is scaled in accordance with said data rate, a system for adjusting said transmission power of said first communication device comprising: a variable rate data source for generating frames of data at a variable data rate wherein said frames of data are generated in accordance with a set of allowed transition rates and having an output; a receiver having an input for receiving a power control signal and having an output; a control processor for determining a power adjustment signal in response to said power control signal and having an input for receiving said power control signal and having an output; and a transmitter responsive to said power adjustment signal, having a first input coupled to said a variable rate data source output and having a second input coupled to said control processor output for transmitting each of said frames of data at a corresponding predetermined power level.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said control processor is responsive to said set of allowed rate transitions.