Patent ID: 6711415
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for maintaining optimal transmitter power levels within a cellular communications network, wherein said cellular communications network includes a plurality of cellular base stations and a plurality of cellular telephones, said method comprising the steps of:periodically performing a carrier-to-interference ratio measurement between a first cellular base station and a cellular telephone; in response to a determination that said measured carrier-to-interference ratio is higher than a carrier-to-interference ratio upper bound, reducing an optimal transmitter power at said cellular base station by one step; in response to a determination that said measured carrier-to-interference ratio is lower than said first carrier-to-interference ratio upper bound, determining whether or not said measured carrier-to-interference ratio is lower than a carrier-to-interference ratio lower bound; maintaining said optimal transmitter power at said first cellular base station if said measured carrier-to-interference ratio is between said carrier-to-interference ratio lower bound and said carrier-to-interference ratio upper bound; and handing off said cellular telephone to a different channel within a same cell when said measured carrier-to-interference ratio is lower than said carrier-to-interference ratio lower bound.