Patent ID: 8149763

Claim:
A method for controlling a power level of signals transmitted from a first transceiver to a second transceiver in a wireless communications system, wherein said signals are transmitted under use of one of at least a first and a second scrambling code, the method comprising in an inner power control loop: estimating repetitively a quality measure for signals received in the second transceiver; generating a power control command in dependence on said quality measure and a quality measure reference value; transmitting the power control command to the first transceiver; and adjusting in the first transceiver said power level in dependence on the power control command; and in an outer power control loop: calculating a performance level for signals received in the second transceiver during a time interval; and adjusting said quality measure reference value in dependence on said performance level, wherein the method further comprises: adjusting in said outer loop selectively first and second quality measure reference values, wherein said first quality measure reference value is adjusted in dependence on a performance level calculated for time intervals in which all signals are transmitted under use of said first scrambling code, and said second quality measure reference value is adjusted in dependence on a performance level calculated for time intervals in which at least some signals are transmitted under use of said second scrambling code; and using, as the quality measure reference value in said step of generating a power control command, said first quality measure reference value during time intervals in which all signals are transmitted under use of said first scrambling code, and said second quality measure reference value during at least a part of time intervals in which at least some signals are transmitted under use of said second scrambling code.