CDMA wireless transmitter-receiver system and transmission power control method of a CDMA wireless transmission apparatus

The present invention relates to a CDMA wireless transmission apparatus and transmission power control method of the CDMA wireless transmission apparatus, more specifically to a CDMA wireless transmission apparatus which is possible to determine a maximum value of transmission power of a mobile station and/or a base station according to propagation loss between the base station and the mobile station and transmission power control method of the CDMA wireless transmission apparatus.

Fig. 1 shows an example of construction of a mobile communication machine used in the conventional mobile communication system.

In the mobile communication system, a circular small wireless zone (cell) is formed for each base station, the mobile station communicates with the base station in the cell where the mobile station itself is present. A transmitter-receiver of a mobile station 113 is inputted with a radio-frequency signal from a reception antenna 101, which is inputted to a reception wireless section 108. The reception wireless section 108 comprises a reception amplifier 109 and a mixer 110, in which the radio-frequency signal is amplified by the reception amplifier 109 in the reception wireless section 108, and converted to a baseband signal in the mixer 110. The baseband signal is inputted to a reception baseband section 111 and converted into a reception data.

The reception data is inputted in a terminal interface section 107, where it is converted to a user data which can be interpreted by an external terminal such as telephone or video-phone, and then outputted to the external terminal. In a TPC bit analyzer 112, TPC bit inserted in the user data is analyzed. The TPC bit is a transmission power control data instructing the mobile station a transmission power to the communicating station, and the mobile station controls the transmission power according to the instruction. When the TPC bit is "00", the transmission amplifier 103 is controlled to increase the transmission power by +1dB, or when the TPC bit is "11", the transmission amplifier 103 is controlled to decrease the transmission power by -1dB.

On the other hand, when a wave is transmitted from the mobile station, the user data inputted from the external terminal is converted into a transmission data by the terminal interface 107, and the transmission data is inputted from the terminal interface 107 to a transmission baseband section 106. In the transmission baseband section 106, the transmission data is converted into a baseband signal and inputted to a transmission wireless section 103. The transmission wireless section 103 is provided with an amplifier 104 and a mixer 105, whereby the baseband signal is converted into a radio-frequency signal by the mixer 105, and, in the amplifier 104, the radio-frequency signal is amplified according to an instruction value from a TPC bit analyzer 112. Then, the radio-frequency signal is inputted from the transmission wireless section 103 to the transmission antenna 102, and a radiowave is transmitted from the transmission antenna 102.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of construction of a base station used in the conventional mobile communication system.

The signal transmitted from the antenna 102 of the mobile station 113 is inputted to the reception antenna 401 of a base station 413, and then to a reception wireless section 408. In the reception wireless section 408, the received radio-frequency signal is amplified by an amplifier 409, and converted into a baseband signal by a mixer 410. The baseband signal is inputted to a reception baseband section 411, converted into a reception data, and the converted reception data is outputted to a network through an interface 407. In a reception quality measurement section 416, reception quality is measured on the basis of information from the reception baseband section 411, and the reception quality is inputted to a TPC bit inserter 412.

When the user data is inputted from the network, it is converted into a transmission data in the interface 407, and inputted to the TPC bit inserter 412. In the TPC bit inserter 412, when the reception quality is higher than a reference, TPC bit "11" is added, and when the quality is lower than the reference, "00" is added to the user data. The TPC bit insertion is performed at every 0.667ms. The user data inserted with the TPC bit is inputted to the transmission baseband section 406 to be converted into a baseband signal. The baseband signal is inputted to the transmission wireless section 403. In the transmission wireless section 403, the baseband signal is converted into a radio-frequency signal by the mixer 405, and the radio-frequency signal is amplified by the amplifier 404. The radio-frequency signal is inputted from the transmission wireless section 403 to the transmission antenna 402, and a wave is transmitted from the transmission antenna 402.

In the case of communication by such CDMA wireless access system, all the mobile transmission channels present in the same area use the same frequency to make communication. Therefore, when the transmission power of the transmitter is assumed as a constant value, the reception quality differs due to differences of wave propagation environment.

For example, a case is supposed in which a first mobile station and a second mobile station make communication simultaneously with the same base station. Then, wave propagation loss between the first mobile station and the base station is assumed as 60 [dB], and wave propagation loss between the second mobile station and the base station as 90 [dB]. Transmission power of the two mobile stations is +30 [dBm], reception power at the base station is - 30 [dBm] for the first mobile station, and -60 [dBm] for the second mobile station. Compared to the reception power from the second mobile station, reception power from the first mobile station is higher by +30 [dB]. Therefore, since the signal from the first mobile station becomes an interference, signal from the second mobile station cannot be received.

Then, in order to avoid signal reception difficulty due to signal interference and maintain the same reception quality of all users, in the CDMA system, a technique has been known from the past to perform a closed loop high-speed transmission power control. In the high-speed transmission power control, at the base station, reception signal power to interference power ratio of reception signal is measured and compared with a reference value, and according to the comparison result, a TPC bit pattern for controlling the transmission power at the mobile station is determined.

In the high-speed transmission power control, according to communication rate, transmission power control width, and its maximum value and minimum value are determined at fixed values for all wireless channels.

However, adoption of the method in which the maximum value and minimum value of transmission power are fixed values in the conventional high-speed transmission power control has the following problems. That is, when an error occurs in signal reception for some reason, when operation of the transmitter-receiver itself becomes unstable, or when the user capacity that can be contained in the base station reaches a limit, there is the possibility that the mobile station transmits the maximum transmission power regardless of the extent of downward propagation loss. As a result thereof, there is a problem in that a deterioration occurs in the number of users that can be contained by the base station, that is, the user capacity.

EP=A-0 863 619 discloses a wireless terminal which receives a supervisory signal transmitter by a base station and reads a desired signal strength value transmitted in the signal. The signal outage, that is, the portion of the time for which a received signal does not meet a desired quality of service, is determined by dividing the desired signal strength value by the detected power of the supervisory signal received by the wireless terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a CDMA wireless transmission apparatus and transmission power control method of the CDMA wireless transmission apparatus which are possible to control for changing maximum transmission power of a transmitter according to a propagation loss, suppress deterioration of user capacity to a minimum when signal reception becomes unstable at the receiver or when a transmitter-receiver performs an abnormal operation or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a CDMA wireless transmission apparatus and transmission power control method of the CDMA wireless transmission apparatus capable of increasing the capacity on the verge of a limit of a user capacity.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a CDMA wireless transmission apparatus for performing power control of transmission signal including an analyzer means for analyzing transmission power control data in a reception signal, the transmission power control data instructing said apparatus transmission power to a communicating station, and a transmission amplifier means for controlling the transmission power according to the instruction from the analyzer means, the apparatus being characterised by comprising: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>a propagation loss estimation means for estimating a propagation loss of a transmission signal by calculating propagation loss of a reception signal; and</li><li>an adjusting means for adjusting the maximum transmission power of said transmission signal amplified according to the instruction on the basis of the propagation loss estimated by said propagation loss estimation means.</li></ul>

Therefore, in CDMA wireless transmission, since a maximum value of transmission power can be changed according to wave propagation loss between the transmitter and receiver, even when signal reception is unstable, or the transmitter-receiver makes an abnormal operation, the transmitter is prevented from transmitting at the maximum transmission power, and the deterioration of the user capacity can be suppressed to a minimum.

Further, even in the case of immediately before the limit of user capacity, since the transmitter is prevented from transmitting at the maximum transmission power, the capacity can be increased.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission power control, method of a CDMA wireless transmission apparatus for performing power controls of a transmission signal including an analyzing step for analyzing transmission power control data in a reception signal the transmission power control data instructing said apparatus of a transmission power to a communicating station, and an amplifying step for amplifying the transmission power According to the instruction analyzed, the method being characterized by comprising: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a propagation loss estimation step for estimating a propagation loss of transmission signal by calculating propagation loss of a reception signal, and an adjusting step for adjusting a maximum transmission power of the transmission signal amplified according to the instruction on the basis of propagation loss estimated in said propagation loss estimation step.</li></ul>

With the above, construction, the respective transmitters can set required sufficient maximum transmission powers. Further, the respective transmitters can set required sufficient maximum transmission powers.

Still further, deterioration of user capacity can be reduced to a minimum, and the transmission power of transmitter can be decreased:

The above and other objects, effects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of construction of a mobile communication machine used in a conventional mobile communication system;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of construction of a base station used in a conventional mobile communication system;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of a mobile station of CDMA system according to an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of correspondence of wave propagation loss and maximum transmission power;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing procedure of transmission power control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the construction of a mobile station of CDMA system according to a comparative example;</li><li>Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing procedure of transmission power control method according to a comparative example.</li></ul>

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of construction of a mobile station as a wireless transmission apparatus adopting a direct spreading CDMA system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A radio-frequency signal inputted from a reception antenna 202 of a mobile station 216, that is, a reception signal, is inputted to a reception wireless section 210. In the reception wireless section 210, the reception signal is amplified in a reception amplifier 211, and converted to a baseband signal by a mixer 212. An amplification factor in the reception amplifier 211 is inputted to a wave propagation loss measurement section 209. The baseband signal is inputted to a reception baseband section 213, and converted into a user data. The user data is outputted to an external terminal through a terminal interface 207.

Further, in the reception baseband section 213, amplitude of the reception baseband signal is calculated, and amplitude information is inputted to the wave propagation loss measurement section 209. In the wave propagation loss measurement section 209, a calculation is made on the basis of the amplification factor of the reception amplifier 211, amplitude information of reception baseband signal and base station transmission power information to calculate a wave propagation loss of reception signal, thereby estimating the propagation loss of transmission signal. Here, base station transmission power information means an information about a transmission power of control signal transmitted from the base station to the mobile station. Since the control signal is transmitted at a fixed power, by including the base station transmission information in the control signal, the mobile station can receive the control signal to determine a wave propagation loss. When amplification factor of the reception amplifier 211 is À_Rx [dB], a value, of amplitude converted to power value in the reception baseband signal is R_BB [dBm] and base station transmission power of the control signal is T_BTS [dBm], wave propagation loss L_Prop [dB] can be represented as <maths id="math0001" num="(1)"><math display="block"><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">L</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">Prop</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">T</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">BTS</mi></mrow></msub><mo>−</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">R</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">BB</mi></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">A</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">R</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi></mrow></msub><mo>.</mo></mrow></math><img file="EP1187362B1_D0001.tif" /></maths>

Since transmission power information of the control signal transmitted from the base station side is inserted in the control signal, the mobile station can calculate L_Prop at any time as necessary.

The wave propagation loss information is inputted in a maximum amplification amount designation circuit 208, and the maximum transmission power is decided. The maximum amplification amount designation circuit 208, by designating the maximum amplification amount to the transmission amplifier 204, adjusts the maximum transmission power of the transmission signal. The maximum transmission power T_Max designated to the transmission amplifier 204, the wave propagation loss L_Prop, and a maximum amplification factor A_Tx-Max are interrelated by the following equations. <maths id="math0002" num="(2)"><math display="block"><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">A</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">T</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi><mo>−</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">Max</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">T</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">Max</mi></mrow></msub><mo>−</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">T</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">BB</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></math><img file="EP1187362B1_D0002.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0003" num="(3)"><math display="block"><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">T</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">Max</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">R</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">BTS</mi><mo>−</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">Req</mi></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">L</mi><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">Prop</mi></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">α</mi></mrow></math><img file="EP1187362B1_D0003.tif" /></maths>

Here, T_BB [dBm] shows an amplitude of the transmission baseband output in the mobile station converted to power, R_BTS-Req [dBm] a reception signal power required for the base station to correctly demodulate the reception signal, and α a correction amount for following a momentary change of wave.

Since R_BTS-Req [dBm] is inserted in the control signal, the mobile station can calculate T_Max and A_Tx-Max at any time as necessary in the maximum amplification amount designation circuit 208.

An appropriate value of maximum transmission power of a mobile station may vary according to the distance from the base station or a change of circumferential environment. However, since a change of propagation loss associated with a change of distance or environment takes a relatively long time, it is effective for the mobile station to update A_Tx-Max periodically.

In this formula, amplification factor of the transmission amplifier in the mobile station can be continuously changed. Further, as shown in the example in Fig. 4, correspondence of the wave propagation loss with the maximum transmission power can be previously stored in the mobile station to change the amplification factor in stages according to the correspondence.

When user data is inputted from an external terminal, it is converted to a transmission data by the terminal interface 207 and inputted to the transmission baseband section 206 to be converted to a baseband signal. The transmission baseband signal is inputted to a transmission wireless section 203. In the transmission wireless section 203, the baseband signal is converted to a radio-frequency signal by the mixer 205 and inputted to the transmission amplifier 204. In the transmission amplifier 204, an amplification is performed to a value less than the maximum amplification factor. The radio-frequency signal is emitted as a radiowave from the transmission antenna 201.

In another embodiment, a configuration may be used in which a wave propagation measurement section is provided at the mobile station side, a circuit for deciding the maximum transmissionpower at the base station side propagation loss of transmission signal be estimated by calculating the propagation loss of reception signal in the mobile station and reporting the result to the base station side.

Next, a transmission power control method performed using the mobile station constructed as above will be described with reference to the flow chart of Fig. 5.

In the propagation loss measurement section 209 of a mobile station 216, a propagation loss of transmission signal is estimated (step S501). The estimates propagation loss information is transmitted to the base station and a base station control equipment (step S502).

On the base station side which includes the base station control equipment, on the basis of the propagation loss information received from the mobile station 216, decides a maximum transmission power of transmission signal transmitted from the mobile station 216 (step S503). The decided maximum transmission power information is transmitter to the mobile station 216 (step S504).

The maximum amplification amount designation circuit 208 of the mobile station 216, on the basis of the maximum transmission power information transmitted from the base station, designates a maximum amplification amount to the transmission amplifier 204 four amplifying the transmission signal (steep S505).

By this operation, in the CDMA system mobile station, since the maximum transmission power can be appropriately changed according to the amount of wave propagation loss, deterioration of user capacity can be reduced to a minimum.

In a comparative example, a distance between the base station and the mobile station is calculated in the mobile station on the basis of position information, and the maximum transmission power is adjusted. The position information means information showing latitude and longitude of the mobile station or the base station.

Fig. 6 shows an example of construction of the mobile station as a wireless transmission apparatus of CDMA system according to a comparative example.

In the example, the receiver is provided with a position measurement section 313 , which, by using the position information of the mobile station and the base station, estimates a distance between the base station and the mobile station. When the earth is assumed as a sphere, a distance D [m] from the base station to the mobile station can be represented as <maths id="math0004" num="(4)"><math display="block"><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">D</mi><mo>=</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">R</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">δ</mi></mrow></math><img file="EP1187362B1_D0004.tif" /></maths> cos δ = sin θ _BTSsin θ _MS + cos θ _BTScosθ_MScos ΔΦ.

Here, θ_BTS and θ_MS denote latitude of the base station and the mobile station, respectively, ΔΦ a difference in latitude of the base station and the mobile station, respectively, δ [rad] an angle of base station and mobile station as viewed from the center of the earth, and R a radius of the earth when the earth is assumed as a sphere.

Position information of the mobile station can be calculated by using GPS (Global Positioning System) information. In this case, position information is calculated using a time difference in reaching time of GPS information transmitted from a plurality of satellites. Further, using the same technique, position information can also be calculated from a time difference in reaching time of signals transmitted from a plurality of base stations. Still further, a constriction may be used in which position information of mobile station calculated at the base station side is reported to the mobile station. In this case, the base station calculates position information of the mobile station from a time difference in reaching time of signal transmitted from the mobile station to a plurality of base stations. On the other hand, position information of the base station is provided to the mobile station by including the position information of base station in the downward control signal transmitted from the base station side. The mobile station estimates the distance between the base station and the mobile station by the position measurement section 313 on the basis of acquired position information of the mobile station and the base station.

On the basis of the thus estimated distance, the maximum amplification amount designation circuit 308 decides a maximum transmission power, and performs adjustment of transmission power by designating the maximum amplification factor of the transmission amplifier.

Correspondence between the distance from the mobile station to the base station and the maximum amplification factor used by the transmission amplifier 304 may be determined by an experimental measurement, or be calculated same as in the previous example by the propagation loss by a typical wave propagation model. As an approximate model of wave propagation, Okumura model can be applied (Masaharu Hata "Empirical Formula for Propagation Loss in Land Mobile Radio Services" IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY, VOL. VT-29, NO. 3, AUGUST 1980). This model uses a method in which a distance characteristic in an urban area on a gentle ground configuration with rise and fall of ground of about more than 20m is used as a reference for ground configuration and shelter to be factors of locational variation, and corrections from the reference characteristic are used for the other ground configuration and shelter. In this case, wave propagation loss can be represented as <maths id="math0005" num="(5)"><math display="block"><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">L</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>69.55</mn><mo>+</mo><mn>26.16</mn><mi mathvariant="normal">log</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>13.821</mn><mi mathvariant="normal">log</mi><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo>−</mo><mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>+</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mn>44.9</mn><mo>−</mo><mn>6.551</mn><mi mathvariant="normal">log</mi><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">log</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi></mrow></math><img file="EP1187362B1_D0005.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0006" num=""><math display="block"><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>=</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mn>1.11</mn><mi mathvariant="normal">log</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>0.7</mn></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi><mn>2</mn></msub><mo>−</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mrow><mn>1.56</mn><mi mathvariant="normal">log</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi><mo>−</mo><mn>0.8</mn></mrow><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>.</mo></mrow></math><img file="EP1187362B1_D0006.tif" /></maths>

Where f [MHz] is a frequency (150 to 1500 MHz), h₁ [m] a base station antenna height (30 to 200m), h₂ [m] a mobile station antenna height (1 to 10m), and d [km] a propagation distance (1 to 20 km).

In ether comparative examples, a configuration mayalso be used in which distance from the base station to the mobile station measured by a position measurement apparatus of the mobile station is reported to the base station side.

Next, a transmission power control method performed using the mobile station constructed as above will be descried with reference to the flow chart shown in Fig. 7.

In the position measurement section 313 of the mobile station 316, a distance from the mobile station 316 itself to the base station is estimated (step S701). The estimated distance information is transmitted to the base station (step S702).

The base station, on the basis of the distance information received from the mobile station 316 decides a maximum transmission power of transmission signal transmitted from the mobile station 316 (step S703). The decided maximum transmission power information is transmitted to the mobile station 316 (step S704).

The maximum amplification amount designation circuit 308 of the mobile station 316, on the basis of the maximum transmission power information transmitted from the base station, designates a maximum amplification amount to the transmission amplifier 304 for amplifying the transmission signal (step 5705)

Comparative examples and embodiments of the present invention have been described above, however, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited only to these embodiments, but can also be used in various other embodiments. For example, a conjuration may be acad in which a position measurement apparatus is provided at the base station side, distance between the base station and the mobile station is calculated, the information is included in the control signal and reported to the mobile station. Also in this case, the maximum transmission power information of the mobile station adjusted in the base station side can be transmitted.

Yet further, in the above comparative example, the maximum transmission power of the mobile station is limited, however, alternatively, a configuration may also be used in which the same invention is applied to the base station side to limit the maximum transmission power of the base station transmission wave.

The present invention has been described in detail with respect to a preferred embodiment, and it will now be pparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspect, and it is the intention, therefore, in the apparent claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.