AU2008200783A1

AU2008200783A1 - Wireless communication method and apparatus for controlling the transmission power of downlink and uplink coded composite transport channels based on discontinuous transmission state values

Info

Publication number: AU2008200783A1
Application number: AU2008200783A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Marinier
Original assignee: InterDigital Technology Corp
Current assignee: InterDigital Technology Corp
Priority date: 2003-11-21
Filing date: 2008-02-19
Publication date: 2008-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2024-11-16
Also published as: AU2008200783B2

Description

P001 Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Wireless communication method and apparatus for controlling the transmission power of downlink and uplink coded composite transport channels based on discontinuous transmission state values The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P111AHAU/1107 00 [0001] WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION POWER OF DOWNLINK AND UPLINK CODED COMPOSITE TRANSPORT CHANNELS BASED ON DISCONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION STATE VALUES 00 [0002] FIELD OF INVENTION (00031 The present invention relates to a wireless communication system 00 including at least one base station and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) that communicate with each other via uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) coded composite transport channels (CCTrCHs). More particularly, the present invention relates to updating the transmission power of the DL and UL CCTrCHs differently based on whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) is employed on the feedback link from which the transmit power control (TPC) commands are received.

[0004]

BACKGROUND

[0005] Closed-loop power control is a technique widely used in wireless communication systems such as universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) frequency division duplex (FDD), UTRA time division duplex (TDD) 3.84/1.28 Mcps, code division multiple access (CDMA) one, or the like. The transmission power of a WTRU or base station is adjusted periodically according to feedback information sent in the opposite link by a receiver in the base station or WTRU.

[0006] For example, consider closed-loop power control in a DL which controls the power transmitted by a base station for a specific WTRU. The WTRU receives the signal from the base station during a certain period of time, a time slot or a frame), and determines whether or not the transmission power of the base station needs to be adjusted up or down using a particular quality criterion, such as the signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio. At the time of the next transmission from the WTRU to the base station the WTRU sends, along with other UL data, a TPC command containing the relevant 00

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Sinformation for the base station to adjust its transmission power at the subsequent DL transmission.

[0007] In many systems, the TPC command contains only one information Cc bit indicating whether the power should be increased or decreased by a pre- 00 determined amount, or step size. The accuracy of the power adjustment may be improved by using more than one information bit per TPC command, (allowing 00 multiple step sizes), or by increasing the frequency of the TPC commands. The disadvantage of doing this is that the amount of transmitted UL data needs to be c reduced to create room for this additional TPC information. Thus, there is a trade-offbetween power control accuracy in one direction and the data rate in the opposite direction.

[0008] In UTRA TDD, (3.84 Mcps and 1.28 Mcps), DL power control for dedicated physical channels (DPCHs) and physical DL shared channels (PDSCHs) is closed-loop and works in the manner described in the above paragraphs. In addition, in UTRA TDD, (1.28 Mcps option only), UL power control is also closed-loop for DPCHs and physical uplink shared channels (PUSCHs).

[0009] The following standard parameters apply to UTRA TDD with respect to closed-loop power control. Each TPC command (up or down) consists of one information bit. The TPC step size (up or down) can be 1 dB, 2 dB or 3 dB and is determined at radio link setup. For DL power control, a DL channel is associated to at least one UL channel that provides one or more TPC commands.

This DL channel may be a multiplexed channel of several transport channels (TrCHs), where each TrCH can carry a different communication service. This multiplexed channel is referred to as a CCTrCH.

[0010] Typically, there is a single UL CCTrCH mapped to each DL CCTrCH, and there is one TPC command every frame of 10 ms (for 3.84 Mcps option) or sub-frame of 5 ms (for 1.28 Mcps option). Conversely, for UL power control, (for the 1.28 Mcps option only), a UL CCTrCH is associated to a DL CCTrCH that provides the TPC commands. Typically, there is one TPC command every sub-frame of 5 ms. There may be more than one TPC command 00

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[4 if the UL CCTrCH occupies more than one time slot (one TPC command per time slot every sub-frame).

[0011] A CCTrCH subject to power control, (a DL CCTrCH for DL power ccontrol, a UL CCTrCH for UL power control), is referred to as the power- 00 controlled CCTrCH. A feedback CCTrCH is the CCTrCH to which the power- Scontrolled CCTrCH is associated, and which provides it with the TPC commands, 00 (a UL CCTrCH for DL power control, a DL CCTrCH for UL power control). The base station or WTRU transmitting the power-controlled CCTrCH also receives the feedback CCTrCH, while the base station or WTRU receiving the powercontrolled CCTrCH also transmits the feedback CCTrCH.

[0012] DTX is employed in UTRA TDD systems, (1.28 Mcps and 3.84 Mcps), on a CCTrCH basis when there is no data to transmit for this CCTrCH. A CCTrCH supports part or all of the transmissions of a user. A user may use one or several CCTrCH's within a given timeslot. When DTX is activated for a CCTrCH, there will be no transmission on any physical channel supporting this CCTrCH, except for the first physical channel and only every special burst generation period (SBGP) frames (for uplink) or every special burst scheduling parameter (SBSP) frames (for DL), where SBGP or SBSP is configured at radio link setup. The use of DTX results in significant system and user performance benefits as less interference is generated in the system, and handset battery life may be conserved in the UL.

[0013] A problem occurs in. UTRA TDD (3.84 Mcps and 1.28 Mcps) when DTX is used on a UL CCTrCH. This UL CCTrCH is the feedback, the CCTrCH providing the TPC command), for a DL power-controlled CCTrCH.

When this UL CCTrCH is in DTX, the TPC command is only transmitted when the special burst is transmitted, at every SBGP frame. As a result, the frequency transmission power updates are reduced dramatically and the result can be poor performance for the power-controlled CCTrCH. The same problem would occur in UTRA TDD (1.28 Mcps option only) when DTX is used on a DL CCTrCH and when this DL CCTrCH is the feedback CCTrCH for a UL CCTrCH.

In this case, the UL performance would suffer. However, this performance 00

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deterioration could be mitigated if the TPC size were increased while the feedback (UL) CCTrCH is in DTX.

[00141 In a conventional wireless communication system, a single TPC step C size is used regardless of the frequency at which the TPC commands arrive on 00 the feedback CCTrCH. In case of DTX on the feedback CCTrCH, the TPC Scommands may arrive from 2 to 256 times less frequently than in a normal OO transmission (depending on the value of the SBGP or SBSP). Thus, the system Sdesigner or operator has three different options with respect to the configuration

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of a radio link when DTX can occur in the feedback CCTrCH.

[0015] A first option is to use a TPC step size optimized for normal transmission on the feedback CCTrCH, and experience poor performance in the power-controlled CCTrCH during the DTX transmission on the feedback CCTrCH. This is not acceptable if DTX happens often in the feedback CCTrCH.

[0016] A second option is to use a TPC step size optimized for DTX transmission on the feedback CCTrCH, and experience sub-optimal performance in the power-controlled CCTrCH during normal transmission on the feedback CCTrCH. Sub-optimal performance would result from using a larger-thannecessary TPC step size during normal transmission on the feedback CCTrCH, when TPC commands arrive frequently.

[00171 A third option is to reduce the special burst periodicity (SBGP or SBSP) to the minimum possible value so as to reduce as much as possible the impact on the performance of the power-controlled CCTrCH. This would result in wiping out any capacity or battery consumption benefit from the use of DTX in the feedback CCTrCH.

[0018] A fourth option is to use more than one information bit in the TPC command, enabling the node transmitting the feedback CCTrCH to signal a larger step size when it is using DTX. However, this has the disadvantage of reducing the capacity of the feedback CCTrCH as explained earlier.

[0019] None of these options is satisfactory, and would result in a loss of system performance. What is needed is enhanced performance in both normal and DTX cases for the feedback CCTrCH.

00 O SUMMARY C1 The present invention is related to a wireless communication method and 0 apparatus for controlling the power of signals transmitted by DL and/or UL CCTrCHs. The apparatus may be a wireless communication system, a base station, a WTRU or an integrated circuit (IC).

A base station transmits signals to a WTRU via at least one DL CCTrCH, oo and/or the WTRU transmits signals to the base station via at least one UL t"- 0CCTrCH. The base station determines whether or not DTX of a UL CCTrCH that 0 N controls the power of a DL CCTrCH is employed, and/or the WTRU determines oO 0 10 whether or not DTX of a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH is c employed. The power of the CCTrCHs is incremented or decremented by a first step size when DTX is employed. The power of the CCTrCHs is incremented or decremented by a second step size when DTX is not employed.

In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling the power of signals transmitted via a downlink (DL) channel, the method including: receiving at least one transmit power control (TPC) step size value notification signal including TPC step size value information; determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of an uplink (UL) channel is employed; receiving a DL TPC command subsequent to said determining; if said determining indicates that DTX of the UL channel is employed, transmitting signals via a DL channel, wherein the power of the signals is adjusted in response to the DL TPC command by incrementing or decrementing the power by a first step size value indicated by the TPC step size value information; and if said determining indicates that DTX of the UL channel is not employed, transmitting signals via a DL channel, wherein the power of the signals is adjusted in response to the DL TPC command by incrementing or decrementing the power by a second step size value indicated by the TPC step size value information.

00 O In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention provides a c1 method of controlling the power of signals transmitted via an uplink (UL) channel, C the method including: receiving at least one transmit power control (TPC) step size value notification signal including TPC step size value information; determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of a 00 downlink (DL) channel is employed; r'- Sreceiving a UL TPC command subsequent to said determining; c if said determining indicates that DTX of the DL channel is employed oo O 10 transmitting signals via a UL channel, wherein the power of the signals is c adjusted in response to the UL TPC command by incrementing or decrementing the power by a first step size value indicated by the TPC step size value information; and if said determining indicates that DTX of the DL channel is not employed, transmitting signals via a UL channel, wherein the power of the signals is adjusted in response to the UL TPC command by incrementing or decrementing the power by a second step size value indicated by the TPC step size value information when said determining indicates that DTX of the DL channel is not employed.

A wireless communication system used to implement the present invention includes a radio network controller (RNC), at least one base station and at least one WTRU. The RNC may transmit a DL TPC step size notification signal to the base station for controlling the power of signals transmitted via the DL CCTrCH, and/or the RNC may transmit a UL TPC step size notification signal to the WTRU, (via the base station), for controlling the power of signals transmitted via the UL CCTrCH.

The base station of the system may include means for determining whether or not DTX of a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH is employed, means for receiving a UL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the DL CCTrCH, and means for updating the power of the DL CCTrCH, based on the TPC command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value 00 0 indicated by the DL TPC step size notification signal. The step size value is Cl dependent on whether or not the determining means determines that DTX is 0 employed.

A UL CCTrCH may be received by the base station during each of a plurality of predetermined time frames. The base station may determine that DTX is employed for a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH if 00 00

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00

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J the UL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time frame. The base station may determine that DTX is not employed for a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of the DL CCTrCH, if the UL CCTrCH is received in two consecutive 00 predetermined time frames, and DTX was employed for the UL CCTrCH. The

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-length of the given predetermined time frame may be ten (10) milliseconds. The Swireless communication system may be a UTRA TDD system.

00 [0026] The DL TPC step size notification signal may be embedded as an Sinformation element within a radio link setup request message, a radio link addition request message, or a radio link reconfiguration prepare message.

[0027] A UL CCTrCH may also be received during each of a plurality of predetermined time sub-frames. The base station may determine that DTX is employed for a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH if the UL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time sub-frame. The length of the given predetermined time sub-frame may be five milliseconds.

[0028] The WTRU of the system may include means for determining whether or not DTX of a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH is employed, means for receiving a DL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the UL CCTrCH, and means for updating the power of the UL CCTrCH, based on the TPC command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value indicated by the UL TPC step size notification signal. The step size value is dependent whether or not the determining means determines that DTX is employed.

[0029] A DL CCTrCH may be received during each of a plurality of predetermined time frames. The WTRU may determine that DTX is employed for a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH if the DL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time frame. The WTRU may determine that DTX is not employed for a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH, if the DL CCTrCH is received in two consecutive predetermined time frames, and DTX was employed for the DL CCTrCH.

[0030] A DL CCTrCH may also be received during each of a plurality of predetermined time sub-frames. The WTRU may determine that DTX is 00 employed for a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UJL CCTrCH if the DL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time sub-frame. The length of the given predetermined time sub-frame may be 5 milliseconds.

[00311 The UL TPC step size notification signal may be embedded as an 00 information element within a group of UL dedicated physical channel (DPCH) power control information signals.

00 100321 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) [0033] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication configured in accordance with the present invention; [0034] Figures 2a, 2b and 2c illustrate various radio link messages having a DL TPC normal step size notification signal embedded therein when the DTX state has a normal value in accordance with the present invention; (0035] Figures 3 a, 3b and 3c illustrate various radio link messages having a DL TPO DTX step size notification signal embedded therein when the DTX state has a discontinuous value in accordance with the present invention; [0036] Figure 4 illustrates a group of uplink DPCH power control information signals having a UJL TPC D'IX step size notification signal embedded therein when the DTX state has a discontinuous value in accordance with the present invention; [0037] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a process including method steps for controlling the power of signals transmitted via a DL CCTrCH in accordance with the present invention; and 10038] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a process including method steps for controlling the power of signals transmitted via a UFL CCTrCH in accordance with the present invention.

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) [0040] Hereafter, the terminology "WTRU" includes but is not limited to a user equipment mobile station, fixed or mobile subscriber unit, pager, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

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S[0041] When referred to hereafter, the terminology "base station" includes but is not limited to a Node-B, a site controller, an access point or any other type of interfacing device in a wireless environment.

c [0042] The present invention may be further applicable to TDD, FDD, and 00 t time division synchronous CDVIA (TD-SCDMA), as applied to a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), CDMA 2000 and CDMA in general, but is 00 envisaged to be applicable to other wireless systems as well.

[0043] The features of the present invention may be incorporated into an c IC or be configured in a circuit comprising a multitude of interconnecting components.

[0044] Figure 1 shows a wireless communication system 100 including an RNC 105, a base station 110 and a WTRU 115. The base station 110 transmits signals to the WTRU 115 via at least one DL CCTrCH 112 and the WTRU 115 transmits signals to the base station 110 via at least one UL CCTrCH 114. The RNC 105 transmits a DL TPC step size notification signal 120 to the base station 110, and/or a UL TPC step size notification signal 130 to the WTRU 115 via the base station 110 using, for example, radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0045] Both UL and DL power control can be enhanced by the present invention. Although explained in the context of UTRA TDD, the present invention is applicable to any communication system that employs DTX in the direction of the power control command transmission. With respect to DL power control, in the context of UTRA TDD (3.84 Mcps and 1.28 Mcps), the notification of the TPC step size to use in case of DTX in the UL canbe implemented through the modification of the messages from the RNC 105 to the base station 110 that contain radio link configuration information.

[0046] As shown in Figures 2a, 2b and 2c, a DL TPC normal step size notification signal 120a can be embedded as an information element within one of several messages that contain configuration information for radio links. These messages are radio link setup request message 210, radio link addition request message 220 or a radio link reconfiguration prepare message 230.

00 [00471 Alternatively, as shown in Figures 3a, 3b and 3c, if the feedback _CCTrCH can be in DTX, a DL TPC DTX step size notification signal 120b is sent, as an information element in radio link setup request message 310, radio link addition request message 320 or radio link reconfiguration prepare message 330.

This alternative is kept optional in case it is known in advance that DTX will not be used in the UL, or in case it is desired to use the same DL TPC step size for 00 both DTX and normal (non-DTX) UL transmission. By convention, the base 00 station 110 would then use the same DL TPC step size for both DTX and normal CUL transmission if it were not provided the DL TPC DTX step size notification signal 120b by the RNC 105.

[0048] During transmission, every 10 ms frame (for 3.84 Mcps option) or ms sub-frame (for 1.28 Mcps option), the base station 110 needs to determine the updated transmission power for every DL CCTrCH of the radio link. For each DL CCTrCH, a DTX state is defined for the corresponding feedback (UL) CCTrCH. At a given moment, this DTX state can take the value "discontinuous" if feedback CCTrCH is in DTX, or "normal" if feedback (UL) CCTrCH is in not in DTX. The initial value of the DTX state is "normal". If the DTX state is "normal" and the feedback CCTrCH is not received for a given frame, the DTX state is switched to "discontinuous". If the DTX state is "discontinuous" and the feedback CCTrCH is received in two consecutive frames, the DTX state is switched to "normal".

[0049] Given the DTX state, the transmission power of the powercontrolled CCTrCH is updated as follows. If a TPC command was received for the power-controlled CCTrCH since the last transmission of this CCTrCH (in a previous frame), and the DTX state is "normal", the transmission power is updated by +(DL TPC normal step size signal 120a) dB if the TPC command was up, or by -(DL TPC normal step size signal 120a) dB if the TPC command was down. If a TPC command was received for the power-controlled CCTrCH since the last transmission of this CCTrCH (in a previous frame), and the DTX state is "discontinuous", the transmission power is updated by +(DL TPC DTX step size signal 120b) 'dB if the TPC command was up, or by -(DL TPC DTX step size 00

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J signal 120b) dB if the TPC command was down. If no TPC command was received for the power-controlled CCTrCH since the last frame transmission of this CCTrCH, the transmission of this CCTrCH remains unchanged.

S[0050] UL power control for UTRA TDD (1.28 Mcps option only) sends a UL 00 Sstep size notification signal 130 to the WTRU 115 via the base station 110 using RRC signaling. This signaling is sent through a dedicated control channel C (DCCH) set up between the RNC 105 and the WTRU 115. Physically, the UL 00 Sstep size information is transmitted to the base station 110, which then Swirelessly forwards the information to the WTRU 115 without decoding the information, the UL step size information is transparent to the base station 110.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4, the notification of the step size to use in case of DTX in the DL can be implemented through the addition of a new information element UL TPC DTX step size signal 130a within a group of "Uplink DPCH power control information" signals. This UL TPC DTX step size signal 130a could be optional, in case it is known in advance that DTX will not be used in the DL, or in case it is desired to use the same UL TPC step size for both DTX and normal (non-DTX) DL transmission. By convention, the WTRU 115 would then use the same UL TPC step size for both DTX and normal DL transmission if it were not provided the UL TPC DTX step size signal 130a by the RNC.

[0052] During transmission, every 5 ms sub-frame (for 1.28 Mcps option) the WTRU 115 needs to determine the updated transmission power for every UL CCTrCH of the radio link. For each UL CCTrCH, a "DTX state" is defined for the corresponding feedback (DL) CCTrCH. At a given moment, this state can take the value "discontinuous" or "normal" according to whether the feedback (DL) CCTrCH is in DTX or not. The initial value of the DTX state is "normal". If the DTX state is "normal" and the feedback CCTrCH is not received for a given frame, the DTX state is switched to "discontinuous". If the DTX state is "discontinuous" and the feedback CCTrCH is received in two consecutive frames, the DTX state is switched to "normal".

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S[0053] Given the DTX state, the transmission power of the powercontrolled CCTrCH is updated as follows. If a TPC command was received for the power-controlled CCTrCH since the last transmission of this CCTrCH (in a C previous frame), and the DTX state is "normal", the transmission power is 00 updated by +(TPC step size 120a) dB if the TPC command was up, or by -(TPC step size 120a) dB if the TPC command was down. If a TPC command was OO received for the power-controlled CCTrCH since the last transmission of this SCCTrCH (in a previous frame), and the DTX state is "discontinuous", the Stransmission power is updated by +(TPC DTX step size 120b) dB if the TPC command was up, or by -(TPC DTX step size 120b) dB if the TPC command was down. If no TPC command was received for the power-controlled CCTrCH since the last frame transmission of this CCTrCH, the transmission of this CCTrCH remains unchanged.

[0054] In an alternative embodiment, a variable TPC step size may be used. This would allow the receiver of the power-controlled CCTrCH, (the WTRU 115 in the case of DL, the base station 110 in the case of UL), to dynamically command a higher step size if the SIR falls too low compared to the target, as often happens when the frequency of transmission power updates is reduced due to DTX in the feedback CCTrCH.

[0055] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a process 500 including method steps for controlling the power of signals transmitted via a DL CCTrCH in accordance with the present invention. In step 505, the RNC 105 transmits a DL TPC step size notification signal 120 to the base station 110. In step 510, the DTX state value is initialized to a "normal" value. In step 515, a determination is made as to whether or not a UL CCTrCH, including a TPC command, is received for the DL CCTrCH in a given time frame.

[0056] If a UL CCTrCH is not received in the given time frame, the DTX state value is changed to a "discontinuous" value (step 520), indicating that DTX is employed for the UL CCTrCH. In step 525, the power of the DL CCTrCH is updated by incrementing or decrementing the power by the TPC DL DTX step size.

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[0057] If a UL CCTrCH is received in the given time frame, a determination is made as to whether or not the UL CCTrCH was received in two consecutive frames (step 530). If the UL CCTrCH was received in two c consecutive frames, as determined in step 530, and the DTX state value is a 00 "discontinuous" value, as determined in step 535, the DTX state value is changed to the "normal" value, indicating that DTX is not employed for the UL CCTrCH 00 (step 540). In step 545, the power of the DL CCTrCH is updated by incrementing Sor decrementing the power by the TPC DL normal step size.

S[0058] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a process 600 including method steps for controlling the power of signals transmitted via a UL CCTrCH in accordance with the present invention. In step 605, the RNC 105 transmits a UL TPC step size notification signal 130 to the WTRU 115. In step 610, the DTX state value is initialized to a "normal" value. In step 615, a determination is made as to whether or not a DL CCTrCH, including a TPC command, is received for the UL CCTrCH in a given time frame.

[0059] If a DL CCTrCH is not received in the given time frame, the DTX state value is changed to a "discontinuous" value (step 620), indicating that DTX is employed for the DL CCTrCH. In step 625, the power of the UL CCTrCH is updated by incrementing or decrementing the power by the TPC UL DTX step size.

[0060] If a DL CCTrCH is received in the given time frame, a determination is made as to whether or not the DL CCTrCH was received in two consecutive frames (step 630). If the DL CCTrCH was received in two consecutive frames, as determined in step 630, and the DTX state value is a "discontinuous" value, as determined in step 635, the value of the DTX state is changed to the "normal" value, indicating that DTX is not employed for the DL CCTrCH (step 640). In step 645, the power of the UL CCTrCH is updated by incrementing or decrementing the power by the TPC UL normal step size.

[0061] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in -12- 00 0 L the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without O departing from the scope of the invention described hereinabove.

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Claims

1. A method of controlling the power of signals transmitted via a downlink (DL) channel, the method including: receiving at least one transmit power control (TPC) step size value notification signal including TPC step size value information; 00 determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of an uplink (UL) channel is employed; c receiving a DL TPC command subsequent to said determining; 00 if said determining indicates that DTX of the UL channel is employed, c 10 transmitting signals via a DL channel, wherein the power of the signals is adjusted in response to the DL TPC command by incrementing or decrementing the power by a first step size value indicated by the TPC step size value information; and if said determining indicates that DTX of the UL channel is not employed, transmitting signals via a DL channel, wherein the power of the signals is adjusted in response to the DL TPC command by incrementing or decrementing the power by a second step size value indicated by the TPC step size value information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the UL channel is a transport channel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the DL channel is a transport channel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the UL channel and the DL channel are coded composite transport channels (CCTrCHs). The method of claim 1 wherein the TPC step size value notification signal is received on a dedicated control channel (DCCH).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein it is determined that DTX of the UL channel is employed if the UL channel is not received for a given predetermined time frame. 00

7. The method of claim 1 wherein it is determined that DTX of the UL channel c is not employed if the UL channel is received in consecutive predetermined time Sframes.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the TPC step size value notification signal is received from a radio network controller (RNC). 00

9. A base station configured to implement the method as in any one of claims S1-8. 00oo A wireless communication apparatus configured to implement the method as in any one of claims 1 8.

11. A method of controlling the power of signals transmitted via an uplink (UL) channel, the method including: receiving at least one transmit power control (TPC) step size value notification signal including TPC step size value information; determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of a downlink (DL) channel is employed; receiving a UL TPC command subsequent to said determining; if said determining indicates that DTX of the DL channel is employed transmitting signals via a UL channel, wherein the power of the signals is adjusted in response to the UL TPC command by incrementing or decrementing the power by a first step size value indicated by the TPC step size value information; and if said determining indicates that DTX of the DL channel is not employed, transmitting signals via a UL channel, wherein the power of the signals is adjusted in response to the UL TPC command by incrementing or decrementing the power by a second step size value indicated by the TPC step size value information when said determining indicates that DTX of the DL channel is not employed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the UL channel is a transport channel. 00

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the DL channel is a transport channel.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the UL channel and the DL channel are coded composite transport channels (CCTrCHs). The method of claim 11 wherein the TPC step size value notification signal 5 is received on a dedicated control channel (DCCH). 00

16. The method of claim 11 wherein it is determined that DTX of the DL (No 0channel is employed if the DL channel is not received for a given predetermined 0 time frame.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein it is determined that DTX of the DL channel is not employed if the DL channel is received in consecutive predetermined time frames.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the TPC step size value notification signal is generated by a radio network controller (RNC).

19. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to implement the method as in any one of claims 11 18. A wireless communication apparatus configured to implement the method as in any one of claims 11-18.

21. A method of controlling the power of signals transmitted via a downlink (DL) channel according to claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

22. A base station according to claim 9, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

23. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 10, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 00 O 24. A method of controlling the power of signals transmitted via an uplink (UL) 1 channel according to claim 11, and substantially as hereinbefore described with a, reference to the drawings. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) according to claim 19, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 00

26. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 20, and Ssubstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 00 00 O C 27. In a wireless communication system including at least one base station and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the base station Stransmitting signals to the WTRU via at least one downlink (DL) coded composite Stransport channel (CCTrCH), and the WTRU transmitting signals to the base station via at least one uplink (UL) CCTrCH, a method of controlling the power of 00 signals transmitted by the base station via the DL CCTrCH, the method 0 comprising: CN the base station receiving a DL transmit power control (TPC) step size 00 0 notification signal; N 10 the base station determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH is employed; the base station receiving from the WTRU a UL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the DL CCTrCH and the base station updating the power of the DL CCTrCH, based on the TPC command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value indicated by theDL TPC step size notification signal, wherein the step size value is dependent on the determination of step

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system is a universal terrestrial radio access(UTRA) time division duplex (TDD) system.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the DL TPC step size notification signal is embedded as an information element within a radio link setup request message. The method of claim 1 wherein the DL TPC step size notification signal is embedded as an information element within a radio link addition request message.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the DL TPC step size notification signal is embedded as an information element within a radio link reconfiguration prepare message. 00 O 32. The method of claim 1 wherein a UL CCTrCH is typically received by the N base station during each of a plurality of predetermined time frames, wherein step a further comprises: (bl) if the UL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time frame, the base station determining that DTX is employed for a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH and 00 (b2) if the UL CCTrCH is received in two consecutive predetermined time O frames, and DTX was employed for a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL 00 CCTrCH, the base station determining that DTX is not employed for the UL 10 CCTrCH.

33. The method of claim 6 wherein the length of the given predetermined time frame is 10 milliseconds.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein a UL CCTrCH is typically received by the base station during each of a plurality of predetermined time sub-frames, wherein step further comprises:(bl) if the UL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time sub- frame, the base station determining that DTX is employed for a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH. The method of claim 8 wherein the length of the given predetermined time sub-frame is 5 milliseconds.

36. In a wireless communication system including at least one base station and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit, the base station transmitting signals to the WTRU via at least one downlink (DL) coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH), and the WTRU transmitting signals to the base station via at least one uplink (UL) CCTrCH, a method of controlling the power of signals transmitted by the WTRU via the UL CCTrCH, the method comprising: the WTRU receiving a UL transmit power control (TPC) step size notification signal; the WTRU determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH is employed; 00 0 the WTRU receiving a DL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the S UL CCTrCH and a the WTRU updating the power of the UL CCTrCH, based on the TPC command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value indicated by the UL TPC step size notification signal, wherein the step size value is dependent on the determination of step 00 r"-

37. The method of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication system is a N universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) time division duplex (TDD) system. O 00 C 38. The method of claim 10 wherein a DL CCTrCH is typically received by the WTRU during each of a plurality of predetermined time frames, wherein step (b) further comprises: (bl) if the DL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time frame, the WTRU determining that DTX is employed for a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH; and (b2) if the DL CCTrCH is received in two consecutive predetermined time frames, and DTX was employed for a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH, the WTRU determining that DTX is not employed for the DL CCTrCH.

39. The method of claim 12 wherein the length of the given predetermined time frame is 10 milliseconds.

40. The method of claim 10 wherein a DL CCTrCH is typically received by the WTRU during each of a plurality of predetermined time sub-frames, wherein step further comprises:(bl) if the DL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time sub- frame, the WTRU determining that DTX is employed for a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH.

41. The method of claim 14 wherein the length of the given predetermined time sub-frame is 5 milliseconds. 00 O 42. The method of claim 10 wherein the UL TPC step size notification signal is N embedded as an information element within a group of UL dedicated physical a) channel (DPCH) power control information signals.

43. A wireless communication system comprising: a radio network controller (RNC); 00 at least one base station; and 0(c) at least one wirelesstransmit/receive unit (WTRU), wherein: 00 N the base station transmits signals to the WTRU via at least one Sdownlink (DL) coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH); c 10 (ii) the WTRU transmits signals to the base station via at least one uplink (UL) CCTrCH; (iii) the RNC transmits a DL transmit power control (TPC) step size notification signal to the base station for controlling the power of signals transmitted via the DL CCTrCH and (iv) the RNC transmits a UL TPC step size notification signal to the WTRU for controlling the power of signals transmitted via the UL CCTrCH.

44. The system of claim 17 further comprising: means for determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH is employed; means for receiving a UL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the DL CCTrCH and means for updating the power of the DL CCTrCH, based on the TPC command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value indicated by the DL TPC step size notification signal, wherein the step size value is dependent on whether or not the determining means determines that DTX is employed. The system of claim 18 wherein a UL CCTrCH is typically received by the base station during each of a plurality of predetermined time frames, the determining means further comprising: 00 (dl) means for determining that DTX is employed for a UL CCTrCH that c controls the power of a DL CCTrCH if the UL CCTrCH is not received for a given a predetermined time frame; and (d2) means for determining that DTX is not employed for a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH, if the UL CCTrCH is received in two consecutive predetermined time frames, and DTX was employed for a UL t'q 00 CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH. c 46. The system of claim 19 wherein the length of the given predetermined time 00 frame is 10 milliseconds.

47. The system of claim 19 wherein the determining means, receiving means, updating means and changing means are located within the base station.

48. The system of claim 17 wherein the wireless communication system is a universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) time division duplex (TDD) system.

49. The system of claim 17 wherein theDL TPC step size notification signal is embedded as an information element within a radio link setup request message. The system of claim 17 wherein the DL TPC step size notification signal is embedded as an information element within a radio link addition request message.

51. The system of claim 17 wherein the DL TPC step size notification signal is embedded as an information element within a radio link reconfiguration prepare message.

52. The system of claim 18 wherein a UL CCTrCH is typically received during each of a plurality of predetermined time sub-frames, the determining means (d) further comprising: (dl) means for determining that DTX is employed for a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH if the UL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time sub-frame. 00 0 53. The system of claim 26 wherein the length of the given predetermined time N sub-frame is 5 milliseconds.

54. The system of claim 17 further comprising: means for determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH is employed; Cc 00 means for receiving a DL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the SUL CCTrCH and ci means for updating the power of the UL CCTrCH, based on the TPC 00 0 command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value C 10 indicated by the UL TPC step size notification signal, wherein the step size value is dependent on whether or not the determining means determines that DTX is employed. The system of claim 28 wherein a DL CCTrCH is typically received during each of a plurality of predetermined time frames, the determining means (d) further comprising: (dl) means for determining that DTX for a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH is employed if the DL CCTrCH is not received for a given predetermined time frame; and (d2) means for determining that DTX is not employed for a DL CCTrCH that controls the powerof a UL CCTrCH, if the DL CCTrCH is received in two consecutive predetermined time frames and DTX was employed for a DL CCTrCH that controls the powerof a UL CCTrCH.

56. The system of claim 29 wherein the length of the given predetermined time frame is 10 milliseconds.

57. The system of claim 29 wherein the determining means, receiving means, updating means and changing means are located within the WTRU.

58. The system of claim 28 wherein a DL CCTrCH is typically received during each of a plurality of predetermined time sub-frames, the determining means (d) further comprising: 00 0 (dl) means for determining that DTX is employed for a DL CCTrCH that cI controls the power of the UL CCTrCH if the DL CCTrCH is not received for a a given predetermined time sub-frame.

59. The system of claim 32 wherein the length of the given predetermined time sub-frame is 5 milliseconds. 00 The system of claim 17 wherein the UL TPC step size notification signal is embedded as an information element within a group of UL dedicated physical 0channel(DPCH) power control information signals.

61. A base station comprising: means for transmitting signals via at least one downlink (DL) coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH); means for receiving a DL transmit power control (TPC) step size notification signal for controlling the power of signals transmitted via the DL CCTrCH; means for determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of a UL CCTrCH that controls the powerof a DL CCTrCH is employed; means for receiving a UL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the DL CCTrCH and means for updating the power of the DL CCTrCH, based on the TPC command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value indicated by the DL TPC step size notification signal, wherein the step size value is dependent on whether or not the determining means determines that DTX is employed.

62. An integrated circuit(IC) comprising: means for transmitting signals via at least one downlink (DL) coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH); means for receiving a DL transmit power control (TPC) step size notification signal for controlling the power of signals transmitted via the DL CCTrCH; 00 O means for determining whether or not discontinuous transmission N (DTX) of a UL CCTrCH that controls the power of a DL CCTrCH is employed; a means for receiving a UL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the DL CCTrCH and means for updating the power of the DL CCTrCH, based on the TPC command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value oo indicated by the DL TPC step size notification signal, wherein the step size value l"- O is dependent on whether or not the determining means determines that DTX is c 0 employed. 00 c 10 63. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: means for transmitting signals via at least one uplink (UL) coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH); means for determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX)of a DL CCTrCH that controls the powerof a UL CCTrCH is employed; means for receiving a DL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the UL CCTrCH and means for updating the power of the DL CCTrCH, based on the TPC command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value indicated by a UL TPC step size notification signal, wherein the step size value is dependent on whether or not the determining means determines that DTX is employed.

64. An integrated circuit(IC) comprising: means for transmitting signals via at least one uplink (UL) coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH); means for determining whether or not discontinuous transmission (DTX) of a DL CCTrCH that controls the power of a UL CCTrCH is employed; means for receiving a DL CCTrCH including a TPC command for the UL CCTrCH and 00 O means for updating the power of the DL CCTrCH, based on the TPC C command, by incrementing or decrementing the power by a step size value d indicated by a UL TPC step size notification signal, wherein the step size value is dependent on whether or not the determining means determines that DTX is employed. 00 INTERDIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 00 WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS ON P26751AU01