Synchronization of transmit power level settings for soft handoff in wireless systems by the use of power level constraints

Base station in a soft handoff is programmed to have a threshold power level to control the power transmitted by the base station on the forward link. When the threshold power level is a minimum-threshold power level, each base station maintains its transmit power level at or above the minimum-threshold power level. When the threshold power level is a maximum-threshold power level, each base station maintains its transmit power level at or below the maximum-threshold power level. Preferably, all power levels are expressed in decibels (dB) relative to the pilot's power level. The threshold power level can be adjustable or fixed. In the case where the threshold power level is fixed, each base station is programmed with the fixed threshold power level, and each base station decides how to adjust its transmit power level locally based on the fixed threshold power level without input from other base stations. In the case where the threshold power level is adjustable, the threshold power level is adjusted by a threshold step size responsive to the transmit power level being substantially equal to the threshold power level for at least a predetermined percentage of a time period. There are two alternatives on how each base station decides how to adjust its transmit power level. In one alternative, each base station participating in a soft handoff sends its power control information to a processor which adjusts the threshold power level and notifies each base station of the new adjusted threshold power level. In the meantime, each base station uses its current threshold power level to locally adjust its transmit power level. In the other alternative, each base station adjusts the threshold power level locally without input from other base stations, and uses the threshold power level to adjust its transmit power level.