Patent ID: 6411818
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method of assessing path imbalance in a mobile communications network having mobile stations in at least two classes of different maximum signal transmission power level, comprising the steps of:selecting one of said classes as a reference class; setting a reference mobile station power level equal to the maximum signal transmission power level of said reference class; receiving a message from a mobile station indicative of the strength of signals transmitted by a base station and received by the mobile station, and of a power control level currently in use by the mobile station; determining the strength of signals transmitted by the mobile station and received by the base station, and the power control level currently in use by the base station; and determining the path imbalance in accordance with the relationship Imbalance=(MS Rx Level+n*(MS Power Control Levelâ€”Reference MS Power Level))âˆ’(BS Rx Level+n*BS Power Control Level) â€ƒwhere MS Rx Level is the strength of signals transmitted by the mobile station and received by the base station; MS Power Control Level is the power control level currently in use by the mobile station; Reference MS Power Level is said reference mobile station power level; BS Rx Level is the strength of signals transmitted by a base station and received by the mobile station; BS Power Control Level is the power control level currently in use by the base station; and n is a predetermined constant.