Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating selection of power levels at which to communicate data in a radio communication system

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for effectuating power control in a radio communication system, such as an IS-95/IS-2000 system which deploys 1×EV-DO technology. At a mobile station, a channel indicia measurer measures channel conditions upon a radio link. Responsive thereto, a data rate selector selects a data rate at which subsequent data is to be communicated to the mobile station. The selection is returned to the network part of the communication system. A selector selects the power level at which to communicate the subsequent data to the mobile station responsive to the requested data rate. The requested data rate is used as a metric by which to select the power level at which to communicate the subsequent data to the mobile station.

1. Apparatus for a two-way radio communication system in which at least a first selected forward-link data is communicated by a network station upon a forward link channel to at least a first selected mobile station, said apparatus for the first selected mobile station for facilitating selection of a power level at which the first selected forward-link data is communicated, said apparatus comprising:
 a first channel condition indicia measurer positioned at the first selected mobile station, said first channel condition indicia measurer for measuring an indicia of communication quality levels upon the forward link channel and for forming a first channel-condition indicia value responsive thereto; 
 a first data rate selector coupled to said first channel condition indicia measurer to receive the first channel-condition indicia value, said first data rate selector for selecting a first data rate at which to communicate subsequent first selected forward-link data upon the forward link and for forming a first data rate selection value responsive to selection made thereat, an indication of the first data rate selection value, when returned to the network station, used to select the power level at which to communicate the subsequent first selected forward-link data to the first selected mobile station; 
 wherein the radio communication system defines a MAC (Medium Access Control) channel and wherein the indication of the data rate selection value, when returned to the network station, is used to select the vower power level at which to communicate subsequent first selected MAC-channel data to the first selected mobile station; 
 wherein the radio communication system comprises a 1×EV-DO packet radio communication system, wherein the MAC channel comprises a TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) channel upon which the first selected MAC-channel data is communicated, and wherein said channel condition indicia measurer measures the indicia of the communication condition levels at least within the TDM channel of which the MAC channel is comprised; 
 wherein the at least the first selected mobile station comprises the first selected mobile station and at least a second selected mobile station, wherein second selected MAC-channel data is also communicated upon the MAC channel by the network station to the second mobile station; 
 at least a second channel condition indicia measurer positioned at the at least the second selected mobile station, said second channel condition indicia measurer for measuring an indicia of communication condition levels upon the MAC channel and for forming a second channel condition indicia value responsive thereto; and 
 at least a second data rate selector coupled to said second channel condition indicia measurer to receive the second channel-condition indicia value, said second data rate selector for selecting a second data rate at which to communicate subsequent second selected MAC-channel data upon the MAC channel and for forming a second data rate selection value responsive to selection made thereat, an indication of the second data rate selection value, when returned to the network station, used to select the power level at which to communicate the subsequent second selected MAC-channel data to the second selected mobile station. 
 
     
     
       2. In a two-way radio communication system in which at least a first selected forward-link data is communicated by a network station upon a forward link channel to at least a first selected mobile station, an improvement of apparatus for the first selected mobile station for facilitating selection of a power level at which the first selected forward-link data is communicated, said apparatus comprising:
 a first channel condition indicia measurer positioned at the first selected mobile station, said first channel condition indicia measurer for measuring an indicia of communication quality levels upon the forward link channel and for forming a first channel-condition indicia value responsive thereto; 
 a first data rate selector coupled to said first channel condition indicia measurer to receive the first channel-condition indicia value, said first data rate selector for selecting a first data rate at which to communicate subsequent first selected forward-link data upon the forward link and for forming a first data rate selection value responsive to selection made thereat, an indication of the first data rate selection value, when returned to the network station, used to select the power level at which to communicate the subsequent first selected forward-link data to the first selected mobile station; 
 a data rate selection value detector coupled to receive an indication of the first data rate selection value formed by said first data rate selector once returned to the network station, said data rate selection value detector for detecting the first data rate selection value; 
 a power level selector coupled to said data rate selection value detector, said power level selector for selecting the power level at which to communicate the first selected forward-link data to the first selected mobile station responsive to the first data rate selection value detected by said data rate selection value detector; 
 wherein the radio communication system comprises a 1×EV-DO packet radio communication system which defines a MAC (Medium Access Control) channel, wherein the first selected forward-link data comprises first selected MAC channel data, and wherein the indication of the data rate selection value to which said data rate selection value selector is coupled to receive is representative of the first data rate selected by said first data rate selector at which to communicate subsequent first selected MAC channel data to the first mobile station; 
 wherein the 1×EV-DO packet radio communication system forms a multi-user system, wherein the at least the first selected mobile communication station comprises the first selected mobile station and at least a second selected mobile station, wherein second selected MAC-channel data is also communicated upon the MAC channel by the network station to the second mobile station; 
 at least a second channel condition indicia measurer positioned at the at least the second selected mobile station, said second channel condition indicia measurer for measuring an indicia of communication condition levels upon the MAC channel and for forming a second channel condition indicia value responsive thereto; and 
 at least a second data rate selector coupled to said second channel condition indicia measurer to receive the second channel-condition indicia value, said second data rate selector for selecting a second data rate at which to communicate subsequent second selected MAC-channel data upon the MAC channel and for forming a second data rate selection value responsive to selection made thereat, an indication of the second data rate selection value, when returned to the network station, used to select the power level at which to communicate the subsequent second selected MAC-channel data to the second selected mobile station. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said data rate selection value detector is further coupled to receive an indication of the second data rate selection value formed by said second data rate selector, said data rate selection value detector further for detecting the second data rate selection value. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said power level selector further selects the power level at which to communicate second selected MAC-channel data to the second selected mobile station. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said power level selector selects the power levels at which subsequently to communicate the first selected MAC-channel data and the second selected MAC-channel data, respectively, upon the MAC-channel, the power levels, when summed together, are within an allowable maximum power level. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first and at least second data rate selection values, formed by said first data rate selector and said second data rate selector, respectively, are selected from a set of allowable data rate selection values. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the power levels selected by said power level selector are selected responsive at least to the maximum allowable power level, and to the first and at least the second data rate selection values. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the 1×EV-DO packet radio communication system defines a current-usage set of mobile stations, the current-usage set of mobile stations including the first and at least second mobile stations, wherein each mobile station of the current-usage set is allocated a unique communication code and wherein the power levels selected by said power level selector are selected further responsive to a number of mobile stations contained in the current-usage set. 
     
     
       9. In a method for communicating in a two-way radio communication system in which at least first selected forward-link data is communicated by a network station upon a forward link channel to at least a first selected mobile station, an improvement of a method for facilitating selection of a power level at which the first-selected forward link data is communicated, said method comprising:
 measuring, at the first selected mobile station, an indicia of communication condition levels upon the forward link channel; 
 forming a first channel-condition indicia value responsive to measurements made during said operation of measuring; 
 selecting a first data rate at which to communicate subsequent first-selected forward-link data upon the forward link; 
 forming a first data rate selection value responsive to selection made during said operation of selecting, an indication of the first data rate selection value, when returned to the network station, used to select the power level at which to communicate the subsequent first-selected forward link data; 
 sending the first data rate selection value formed during said operation of forming the first data rate selection value to the network station; 
 detecting the first data rate selection value once received at the network station; 
 selecting the power level at which to communicate the first-selected forward-link data to the first selected mobile station responsive to the first data rate selection value detected during said operation of detecting; 
 wherein the radio communication system comprises a multi-user communication system, wherein the at least the first selected mobile station comprises the first selected mobile station and at least a second selected mobile station; 
 measuring, at the second selected mobile station, an indicia of communication condition levels upon the forward link channel; 
 forming a second channel-quality indicia value responsive to measurements made during said operation of measuring at the second selected mobile station; 
 selecting a second data rate at which to communicate subsequent second-selected forward-link data upon the forward link; 
 forming a second data rate selection value responsive to selection made during said operation of selecting the second data rate; and 
 sending the second data rate selection value to the network station. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein said operation of selecting the power level comprises both selecting the power level at which to communicate the first-selected forward-link data and also the power level at which to communicate the second-selected forward-link data. 
     
     
       11. A system, comprising:
 a first measurer positioned at a first mobile station, the first measurer configured to measure a communication quality condition of a forward link channel over which forward-link data is communicated by a network station, the first measurer further configured to form a first channel-condition signal based on the measured communication condition;   a first data rate selector coupled to the first measurer and configured to receive the first channel-condition signal, the first data rate selector for selecting a first data rate at which to communicate subsequent forward-link data and for determining an indication of the selected first data rate, said selecting at least partially based on the first channel-condition signal;   a second measurer positioned at a second mobile station, the second measurer configured to measure a communication condition of the forward link channel and to form a second channel-condition signal based on the measured communication condition of the forward link channel;   a second data rate selector coupled to the second measurer and configured to receive the second channel-condition signal, the second data rate selector further configured to select a second data rate at which to communicate subsequent MAC-channel data at least partially based on the second channel-condition signal, and for determining an indication of the selected second data rate;   a receiver positioned at the network station and configured to receive the indications of the first and second data rates; and   a selector coupled to the receiver and configured to select, based on the received indication of the first data rate, a first power level at which to send first MAC (Medium Access Control) data to the first mobile station, and further configured to select, based on the received indication of the second data rate, a second power level at which to send second MAC data to the second mobile station.   
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first data rate selector is further configured to form an indication of the first data rate, wherein the second data rate selector is further configured to form an indication of the second data rate and wherein the apparatus further includes:
 a first transmitter positioned at the first mobile station and configured to transmit the indication of the first data rate to the network station; and   a second transmitter positioned at the second mobile station and configured to transmit the indication of the second data rate to the network station.   
     
     
       13. The system of claim 11, wherein the system provides for a 1×EV-DO packet radio communication system. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 11, further including a transmitter coupled to the selector, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit on a MAC channel the first MAC data at the first power level and the second MAC data at the second power level, wherein the MAC channel is formed of a time slot defined in a TDM (time division multiplex) access method, and wherein the first and second mobile stations are each allocated a separate Walsh function on the MAC channel. 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 monitoring, at an apparatus, a first communication condition of a first radio channel having data transmitted at a first power level;   determining a first data rate based on the first communication condition, the determined first data rate identifying a rate of data transmission;   transmitting an indication of the determined first data rate as first data over a second radio channel;   determining a second power level based on the indication of the determined first data rate, wherein the second power level identifies a power level at which subsequent data is transmitted; and   transmitting second data over a third radio channel at the second power level.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, further including:
 monitoring a second communication condition of the first radio channel;   determining a second data rate based on the second communication condition;   wirelessly transmitting third data, wherein the third data indicates the determined second data rate;   determining a third power level based on the third data; and   transmitting fourth data over the third radio channel at the second power level.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, further including:
 encoding the second data using a first encoding function; and   encoding the fourth data using a different second encoding function.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the third power level includes determining the third power level based on the second power level. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the third power level includes determining the third power level such that a total amount of power transmitted over the third radio channel is within a predetermined maximum power level. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 15, wherein the third radio channel corresponds to a single time slot in a TDMA (time-division, multiple-access) channel. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, further including:
 encoding the second data by a first Walsh function; and   encoding the fourth data by a different second Walsh function.   
     
     
       22. A system, comprising:
 first circuitry positioned at a first mobile station and configured to monitor a first communication condition of a first radio channel having data transmitted at a first power level, the first circuitry further configured to determine a first data rate based on the first communication condition, the determined first data rate identifying a rate of data transmission;   a first transmitter coupled to the first circuitry and configured to transmit an indication of the determined first data rate as first data over a second radio channel;   a receiver positioned at a network station and configured to receive the indication of the determined first data rate over the second radio channel;   a selector coupled to the receiver and configured to determine a second power level based on the indication of the determined first data rate, wherein the second power level identifies a power level at which subsequent data is transmitted; and   a second transmitter coupled to the selector and configured to transmit second data over a third radio channel at the second power level.   
     
     
       23. The system of claim 22, further including:
 second circuitry positioned at a second mobile station and configured to monitor a second communication condition of the first radio channel, the second circuitry further configured to determine a second data rate based on the second communication condition; and   a third transmitter coupled to the second circuitry and configured to wirelessly transmit third data, wherein the third data indicates the determined second data rate,   wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the third data, and   wherein the selector is further configured to determine a third power level based on the third data, and the second transmitter is further configured to transmit fourth data over the third radio channel at the third power level.   
     
     
       24. The system of claim 23, wherein the second data is encoded with a first encoding function and the fourth data is encoded with a different second encoding function. 
     
     
       25. The system of claim 23, wherein the selector is further configured to determine the third power level based on the second power level. 
     
     
       26. The system of claim 23, wherein the selector is further configured to determine the third power level such that a total amount of power transmitted over the third radio channel is within a predetermined maximum power level. 
     
     
       27. The system of claim 22, wherein the third radio channel corresponds to a single time slot in a TDMA (time-division, multiple-access) channel. 
     
     
       28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second data is encoded by a first Walsh function and the fourth data is encoded by a different second Walsh function. 
     
     
       29. An apparatus, comprising:
 first circuitry configured to receive first data from each of a plurality of mobile stations, the first data from each of the mobile stations indicating a data rate of data transmitted at a respective power level, the indicated data rate identifying a rate of data transmission;   second circuitry coupled to the first circuitry and configured to determine a plurality of power levels, wherein
 the plurality of power levels includes, for each mobile station of the plurality of mobile stations, a first data power level based on the indicated data rate of the first data received from the mobile station, and 
 each first data power level identifies a power level at which subsequent data is transmitted; and 
   a transmitter coupled to the second circuitry and configured to, for each mobile station of the plurality of mobile stations, transmit second data at the first data power level of the mobile station.   
     
     
       30. An apparatus, comprising:
 first circuitry configured to receive first data from each of a plurality of mobile stations, the first data from each of the mobile stations indicating a data rate of data transmitted at a respective power level;   second circuitry coupled to the first circuitry and configured to, for each respective one of the mobile stations, determine a power level based on the first data, including the indicated data rate; and   a transmitter coupled to the second circuitry and configured to, for each of the mobile stations, transmit second data at the respective determined power level,   wherein the second circuitry is further configured to maintain all transmitted second data within a maximum power level, the maintaining including calculating a sum of all the determined power levels, wherein the sum is within the maximum power level.   
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the transmitter is configured such that the second data is transmitted to all of the mobile stations on a same shared channel. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the channel corresponds to a single time slot in a TDMA (time-division, multiple-access) channel. 
     
     
       33. The system of claim 32, wherein the second data transmitted to all of the mobile stations is each encoded by a different Walsh function. 
     
     
       34. A method, comprising:
 receiving first data from each of a plurality of mobile stations, the first data from each of the mobile stations indicating a data rate of data transmitted at a respective power level, the indicated data rate identifying a rate of data transmission;   determining determine a plurality of power levels, wherein
 the plurality of power levels includes, for each mobile station of the plurality of mobile stations, a first data power level based on the indicated data rate of the first data received from the mobile station, and 
 each first data power level identifies a power level at which subsequent data is transmitted; and 
   transmitting, for each mobile station of the plurality of mobile stations, second data at the first data power level of the mobile station.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 34, wherein determining includes maintaining all transmitted second data within a maximum power level, the maintaining including calculating a sum of all the determined power levels, wherein the sum is within the maximum power level. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 34, wherein transmitting includes transmitting the second data for all of the mobile stations on a same shared channel. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the channel corresponds to a single time slot in a TDMA (time-division, multiple-access) channel. 
     
     
       38. The system of claim 37, wherein the second data transmitted to all of the mobile stations is each encoded by a different Walsh function.