Patent ID: 8644874

Claim:
A method for controlling transmit power at a mobile terminal in wireless communication system where a transmission bandwidth allocated for transmissions by the mobile terminal is variable per transmission, and where the transmit power applied by the mobile terminal depends on an allocated transmission bandwidth, radio propagation conditions, an accumulated power control value, and a maximum transmit power for the mobile terminal, the method being implemented by the mobile terminal and comprising: receiving a plurality of transmit power control commands, each transmit power control command directing an adjustment in transmit power relative to a prior transmission by the mobile terminal; calculating transmit power settings for each transmission by the mobile terminal as the lesser of the maximum transmit power for the mobile terminal, and a transmitter output power calculated as a function of the bandwidth allocated for the transmission and the accumulated power control value; and when the mobile terminal is in a power-limited state due to either its transmission bandwidth or radio propagation conditions, wherein the power-limited state requires the mobile terminal to transmit at its maximum transmit power: adjusting the accumulated power control value when the transmit power control command directs a negative adjustment in transmit power; and ignoring the transmit power control command when the transmit power control command directs a positive adjustment in transmit power so that the accumulated power control value is not adjusted when the transmit power control command directs a positive adjustment in transmit power; wherein ignoring transmit power control commands that direct a positive adjustment in transmit power reduces the time until the mobile terminal exits the power-limited state when the transmission bandwidth, radio propagation conditions, or both, change, causing the maximum transmit power to no longer be required for transmissions by the mobile terminal.