Patent ID: 9497709
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: H04W

Claim Text:
1. A method of independently controlling the transmit power of Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmissions by a wireless device operating in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, said method implemented at a base station in the LTE network and comprising: allocating a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) to the wireless device that is distinct from any other RNTI allocated to the wireless device for Transmit Power Control (TPC) purposes, said first RNTI referred to as a TPC-SRS-RNTI; generating SRS TPC commands for controlling the transmit power of the SRS transmissions by the wireless device; and sending the SRS TPC commands to the wireless device in modified format 3/3A Downlink Control Information (DCI) messages, wherein the modified DCI format 3/3A messages have the same size as standardized for format 3/3A DCI messages used for TPC of Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) and Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmissions by the wireless device, but wherein the modified DCI format 3/3A messages are masked by the TPC-SRS-RNTI; and using a shorter closed-loop TPC time offset for adjusting the SRS transmission power of the wireless device, as compared to that used for adjusting the PUSCH transmission power of the wireless device.