Patent ID: 6188678
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for controlling power in a satellite communications system having a first station, a second station, and a satellite link coupling signals between the first station and the second station, each station having means for transmitting a signal and means for receiving a signal, the method comprising the steps of:receiving, at the second station, a first signal transmitted from the first station;receiving, at the first station, a second signal transmitted from the second station;measuring, at the first station, a power level of said received second signal;generating, at the first station, a power control command based on said measured power level of said received second signal;transmitting said power control command from the first station to the second station;applying, at the second station, a loop gain to said power control command;adjusting, at the second station, a transmit power level of said second signal transmitted from the second station based on said power control command;monitoring, at the second station, a power level of said received first signal;determining a propagation state of said received first signal based on said power level of said received first signal; andadjusting said loop gain factor as a function of said propagation state of said first signal, wherein said loop gain factor is either a power-up factor to increase the gain by a first fixed amount or a power-down factor to decrease the gain by a second fixed amount, where the first fixed amount is less than the second fixed amount.