PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8942750-B2
Application Number: US-201113182369-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Power control in a mobile device

Abstract:
A method and apparatus for controlling transmit power in a mobile wireless device connected simultaneously to two or more cells in a wireless network are described. The mobile wireless device is connected simultaneously to a first cell in the wireless network through a high speed data connection and to a second cell in the wireless network through a low speed voice connection. The mobile wireless device executes received transmit power up and transmit power down control commands received from the first cell. The mobile wireless device executes transmit power up control commands and ignores transmit power down control commands received from the second cell.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 at a mobile wireless device,
 when the mobile wireless device is connected simultaneously to a first cell in a wireless network through a high speed data connection and to a second cell in the wireless network through a low speed connection:
 executing transmit power up and transmit power down control commands received from the first cell; and 
 executing transmit power up control commands received from the second cell while ignoring transmit power down control commands received from the second cell. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the high speed data connection is an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) high speed data connection. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the low speed connection uses a Release 99 (R99) radio access bearer. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second cell does not support an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) high speed data connection. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless device supports simultaneous voice and data connections to the wireless network and the low speed connection to the second cell is a voice connection. 
     
     
       6. A wireless mobile device, comprising:
 a transceiver simultaneously connecting the mobile wireless device to a first cell in a wireless network through a high speed data connection and to a second cell in the wireless network through a low speed connection; and 
 a processor executing:
 transmit power up and transmit power down control commands received from the first cell; and 
 transmit power up control commands received from the second cell while ignoring transmit power down control commands received from the second cell. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The wireless mobile device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the high speed data connection is an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) high speed data connection. 
     
     
       8. The wireless mobile device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the low speed connection uses a Release 99 (R99) radio access bearer. 
     
     
       9. The wireless mobile device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the second cell does not support an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) high speed data connection. 
     
     
       10. The wireless mobile device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the mobile wireless device supports simultaneous voice and data connections to the wireless network and the low speed connection to the second cell is a voice connection. 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer program product encoded in a non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling transmit power in a mobile wireless device connected to a wireless network, non-transitory computer program product configured to:
 simultaneously connect the mobile wireless device to a first cell in a wireless network through a high speed data connection and to a second cell in the wireless network through a low speed connection; 
 execute transmit power up and transmit power down control commands received from the first cell; and 
 execute transmit power up control commands received from the second cell while ignoring transmit power down control commands received from the second cell. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer program product as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the high speed data connection is an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) high speed data connection. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer program product as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the low speed connection uses a Release 99 (R99) radio access bearer. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer program product as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the second cell does not support an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) high speed data connection. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer program product as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the mobile wireless device supports simultaneous voice and data connections to the wireless network and the low speed connection to the second cell is a voice connection.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/430,910, filed Jan. 7, 2011, entitled POWER CONTROL IN A MOBILE DEVICE, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to wireless mobile communications. More particularly, a method is described for controlling transmit power levels used for communication between a mobile wireless communication device and a wireless communication network. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mobile wireless communication devices, such as a cellular telephone or a wireless personal digital assistant, can provide a wide variety of communication services including, for example, voice communication, text messaging, internet browsing, and electronic mail. Mobile wireless communication devices can operate in a wireless communication network of overlapping “cell areas”, each cell area providing a geographic area of wireless signal coverage that extends from a radio frequency access network system located in (or at the edge of) the cell area. The radio frequency access network system can include a base transceiver station (BTS) in a Global System for Communications (GSM) network or a Node B in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network. The radio frequency access network system can also include a radio access network (RAN) in a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) network. The term “cell area” can be referred to as a “cell” for a UMTS network and as a “sector” for a GSM network or a CDMA2000 network. To simplify terminology and maintain consistency herein, we describe a mobile wireless communication device as connected to a “cell” when the mobile wireless communication device is connected to at least part of a radio frequency access network system that covers a geographic area. Signals for multiple cells can overlap at a given geographic location, and a mobile wireless communication device can connect to one or more cells in a wireless communication network. 
     The mobile wireless communication device can receive signals transmitted from one or more cells in the wireless communication network. The radio frequency access network systems in each of the cell areas can be located at different distances from the mobile wireless communication device, and therefore signals received at the mobile wireless communication device in a downlink direction can vary in signal strength and/or signal quality. Similarly signals from the mobile wireless communication device received by the radio network access systems in an uplink direction can vary in signal strength and/or signal quality. The mobile wireless communication device and the radio network access systems can measure and monitor their respectively received signals to determine to which cells a connection can be achieved and maintained. Together with one or more radio network access systems in the wireless communication network, the mobile wireless communication device can select to which cells to connect and disconnect and what transmit power level to use as the mobile wireless communication device moves throughout the wireless network. 
     The wireless network can provide several different services based on different generations of communication protocols at the same time to ensure backward compatibility between newer and older devices. Different cells within a wireless network can also be upgraded selectively as the wireless network evolves, and therefore not all cells can offer the same capability to the mobile wireless communication device. Advanced mobile wireless communication devices can support multiple service connections simultaneously to different cells, and one service connection can use a different generation communication protocol than another service connection to a separate cell operating at the same time. When connected to multiple cells, the mobile wireless communication device can receive transmit power control commands from one or more of the multiple cells to which it is connected. The transmit power control commands can regulate the mobile wireless communication device&#39;s transmit power levels. Some services, such as high speed data services, can require higher transmit power levels than lower speed voice or data services. The transmit power level for the mobile wireless communication device, however, can be set to a lower transmit power level by a radio network subsystem in a cell to which the mobile wireless communication device can be connected for lower speed voice or data service. The lower transmit power level can be adequate for the lower speed voice or data service; however, the lower transmit power level can interfere with the capability of the mobile wireless communication device to transmit to a different cell for a simultaneous high speed data connection. 
     Thus there exists a need to controlling transmit power levels used for communication between a mobile wireless communication device and multiple cells in a wireless communication network more effectively. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS 
     The described embodiments relate generally to wireless mobile communications. More particularly, a method and apparatus is described for managing transmit power control between a mobile wireless device and a wireless communication network. 
     In an embodiment, a method to manage transmit power control is performed at a mobile wireless device when the mobile wireless device is connected to a first cell and to a second cell in a wireless network. The mobile wireless device connects to the first cell through a high speed data connection and to the second cell through a low speed connection. The method includes at least the following steps. The mobile wireless device executes transmit power up and transmit power down control commands received from the first cell with the high speed data connection. The mobile wireless device executes transmit power up control commands received from the second cell with the low speed connection. The mobile wireless device ignores transmit power down control commands received from the second cell. In one embodiment the high speed data connection is an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) high speed data connection, and the low speed connection uses a Release 99 (R99) radio access bearer. 
     In another embodiment, a method to manage transmit power control is performed at a mobile wireless device that maintains an active set of cells in a wireless network. When the active set contains only one cell, the mobile wireless device executes all transmit power control commands received from the sole cell in the active set. When no cell in the active set maintains a high speed uplink connection with the mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device executes all transmit power control commands received from any cell in the active set. The mobile wireless device also executes all transmit power control commands received from a cell in the active set to which the mobile wireless device maintains a high speed uplink connection. When the active set includes at least a high speed uplink cell with which the mobile wireless device maintains an active connection and also a low speed uplink cell, the mobile device performs the following three additional steps. The mobile wireless device executes transmit power up control commands received from the low speed uplink cell, when the low speed uplink cell maintains an active connection with the mobile wireless device. The mobile wireless device ignores transmit power up control commands received from the low speed uplink well, when the low speed uplink cell does not nit maintain an active connection with the mobile wireless device. The mobile wireless device ignores all transmit power down control commands received from the low speed uplink cell. 
     In another embodiment, a mobile wireless device includes a wireless transceiver to transmit and receive signals from a cell in a wireless network and an application processor coupled to the wireless transceiver. The application processor is arranged to execute the following instructions. The application processor receives transmit power control commands from a first cell and from a second cell in a wireless network. The application processor ignores transmit power down control commands received from the second cell when the mobile wireless device is connected to the second cell by a voice connection and to the first cell by a high speed data connection. The application processor sends transmit power settings to the wireless transceiver based on the transmit power control commands received from the wireless network. The wireless transceiver is arranged to receive transmit power settings from the application processor. The wireless transceiver is also arranged to configure a transmit power amplifier based on the transmit power settings received from the application processor. 
     In a further embodiment, a non-transitory computer program product encoded in a non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling transmit power in a mobile wireless device connected to a wireless network is described. The following non-transitory computer program code is used in the mobile wireless device when an active set in the mobile wireless device includes at least two cells, a first cell with an active high speed connection to the mobile wireless device and a second cell configured to support a low speed connection. Non-transitory computer program code is arranged to execute transmit power up control commands and transmit power down control commands received from the first cell with the active high speed connection to the mobile wireless device. Additional non-transitory computer program code is arranged to ignore transmit power up control commands and transmit power down control commands receive from the second cell, when no active connection exists the second cell. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention and the advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a mobile wireless communication device located within a wireless cellular communication network. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a hierarchical architecture for a wireless communication network. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a communication protocol stack for a mobile wireless communication device used in the wireless communication network of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates elements in a mobile wireless communication device. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates transmit power control measurements and communication for the mobile wireless communication device in the wireless communication network. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates received signal and interference power levels at a cell connected to a Node B in the wireless communication network. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates transmit power level variation in the mobile wireless communication device. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates received signal and interference power levels at a cell connected to a Node B in the wireless communication network for a high speed data connection. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates received power level changes at two different cells based on transmit power control from one of the cells in the wireless communication network. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates additional transmit power level variation in the mobile wireless communication device. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a representative sequence of events for a high speed data connection radio bearer setup failure. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates uplink load imbalance in a wireless communication network. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a representative method for transmit power control in a mobile wireless communication device. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates another representative method for transmit power control in a mobile wireless communication device. 
         FIG. 15  summarizes a relationship between active set cell types and the execution of transmit power control commands. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the concepts underlying the described embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the underlying concepts. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a wireless communication network  100  of overlapping wireless communication cell areas in which a mobile wireless communication device  106  can connect. Each wireless communication cell area can cover a geographic area extending from a centralized radio frequency access network system. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can connect to a cell, which can be a collection of radio frequency transmitting and receiving equipment that is part of the radio frequency access network system.  FIG. 1A  shows cell areas surrounding each radio frequency access network system, such as can occur with an omni-directional antenna based cell area. As an alternative network architecture,  FIG. 1B  illustrates a wireless communication network  120  having cell areas that can be more focused in one particular direction. In  FIG. 1B , multiple cell areas can radiate from a radio frequency access network system placed at corners of hexagonal areas. Each cell area can radiate from radio frequency equipment that is part of a radio frequency access network system. 
     In  FIG. 1A , when the mobile wireless communication device  106  is connected to radio frequency equipment that supports a cell area, we can refer to the mobile wireless communication device  106  as connected to a cell. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can receive communication signals from a number of different cells in the wireless communication network  100 , and each cell can be located at a different distance from the mobile wireless communication device. In a second generation (2G) wireless communication network, e.g. a network following a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocol, the mobile wireless communication device  106  can connect to each cell in the wireless communication network  100  using one radio link at a time serially. For example, the mobile wireless communication device  106  can be connected initially to a radio frequency access network system  104  in a serving cell area  102 . The mobile wireless communication device  106  can monitor signals from other radio frequency access network systems located in neighbor cell areas. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can transfer its connection from the radio frequency access network system  104  in the serving cell area  102  to a radio frequency access network system  108  in a neighbor cell area  110  as the mobile wireless communication device moves within the wireless communication network  100 . 
     Using simpler terminology, we can state that the mobile wireless communication device  106  transfers connection from one cell to another cell. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can monitor signals from nearby cells and can keep track of signal quality received at the mobile wireless communication device  106  from each of the cells. Information about received signal quality can be communicated by the mobile wireless communication device to the wireless communication network  100  using measurement messages (or more generally management messages or control messages). The wireless communication network  100  can use the information provided in the measurement messages to determine if and when to change the cell to which the mobile wireless communication device  106  can be connected. 
     In a third generation (3G) wireless communication network, such as a network based on a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) protocol, the mobile wireless communication device  106  can be connected to one or more radio frequency access network systems simultaneously through multiple radio access bearers. Each of the radio access bearers can transport a different communication service independently, such as a voice service on a first radio access bearer and a data service on a second radio access bearer. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can also be connected by multiple radio access bearers simultaneously to the radio frequency access network system  104  in the serving cell area  102  (if the radio frequency access network system  104  supports a simultaneous multiple radio link connection). The mobile wireless communication device can also be connected by a first radio access bearer to the radio frequency access network system  104  in the serving cell area  102  and to a second radio frequency access network system  108  in the neighbor cell  110  area simultaneously. Advanced mobile wireless communication devices, sometimes referred to as “smart” phones, can provide a diverse array of services to the user using a connection with multiple radio access bearers. For example, one cell can provide a data connection, while a second cell can provide a voice connection. Alternatively, one cell can provide a high speed data connection that uses one version of a standardized communication protocol, and a second cell can provide a lower speed data connection, voice connection or signaling connection that uses a different version of the standardized communication protocol. Capabilities of network equipment in different cells of a wireless network can change at different times, and thus not all cells in a wireless network can necessarily support the same services. 
     In a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, the mobile wireless communication device  106  can also be connected through multiple radio links to the wireless communication network  100 , particularly during a procedure known as soft handoff (or soft handover). Continuous access to communication services while the mobile wireless communication device  106  traverses the wireless communication network can require a seamless handoff between different radio frequency access network systems located in different cells. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can transmit management messages to the wireless communication network  100  that can contain measures of signal quality received by the mobile wireless communication device  106  from the one or more different radio frequency access network systems. Representative measures of signal quality can include received signal code power (RSCP) and an energy per chip to total noise/interference ratio (E c I o ). While the mobile wireless communication device  106  is connected to a base transceiver station in a first cell by a first radio frequency connection, the wireless communication network  100  can add a second radio frequency connection between the mobile wireless communication device  106  and a base transceiver station in a second cell to provide a “soft handoff” before terminating the first radio frequency connection. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can thus be connected to the first base transceiver station in the first cell, then to two base transceiver stations located in two different cells simultaneously, and then to the second base transceiver station in the second cell. A successful soft handoff can maintain a communication link between the mobile wireless communication device  106  and the wireless communication network  100  when the first radio frequency connection deteriorates in signal quality while the second radio frequency connection improves in signal quality. 
     The mobile wireless communication device  106  can be located at different distances from a cell  102 / 110  in the wireless communication network  100  at different times. As the radio frequency access network system  104 / 108  in the cell can receive signals simultaneously from multiple mobile wireless communication devices  106 , the radio frequency access network system  104 / 108  can control the transmit power of the mobile wireless communication device  106 . Ideally, the received signal power for each mobile wireless communication device  106  can be within a preferred range for receivers in the radio frequency access network system  104 / 108 . A mobile wireless communication device  106  located at a greater distance from the radio frequency access network system  104 / 108  can transmit at higher power levels than a mobile wireless communication device  106  located closer to the same radio frequency access network system  104 / 108 . Due to the different distances for transmission from the different mobile wireless devices  106  to the same radio frequency access network system  104 / 108 , signals received at the radio frequency access network system  104 / 108  can have received signal powers within a similar range. When connected simultaneously to two different radio frequency access network systems  104 / 108  located in different cells at different distances, the mobile wireless communication device  106  can be set to a compromise transmit signal level that balances different requirements from the different cells; however, the transmit signal level can be sufficient for some services while insufficient for others. 
     In networks that use CDMA or wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) technology, mobile wireless communication devices  106  can transmit using the same frequency spectrum in a technique known as spread spectrum. Therefore, transmissions from different mobile wireless communication devices  106  can overlap. The radio frequency access network system  104 / 108  in the wireless communication network  100  can extract each of the mobile wireless communication device&#39;s  106  transmissions from the common frequency spectrum using a unique pseudo-random code sequence for each mobile wireless communication device, hence the name code division multiple access (CDMA). Transmission by one mobile wireless communication device  106  can be considered interference (or noise) to the reception of signals from another mobile wireless communication device  106 . A number of mobile wireless communication devices  106  connected simultaneously to a radio frequency access network system  104 / 108  can set a received interference level. The wireless communication network  100  can set the transmit power levels of mobile wireless communication devices  106  to account for received interference levels as well as received signal levels. Transmit power control must thus balance the needs of multiple wireless communication devices  106  to communicate effectively with different radio frequency access network systems  104 / 108  within the wireless communication network  100 . 
     The foregoing description for  FIG. 1A , in which the mobile device  106  connects to radio frequency access network systems  104 / 108  in the wireless network  100 , can apply equally to connections of the mobile device  106  to radio frequency access network systems in the wireless network  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1B . The mobile wireless communication device  106  can receive signals from multiple radio frequency access network subsystems. As shown in  FIG. 1B , a single radio frequency access network subsystem can transmit and receive radio frequency signals in several different cell areas  122 . Each cell area  122  can be generated by radio frequency equipment at the radio frequency access network systems  124 / 128 . When the mobile wireless communication device  106  is connected to the radio frequency access network system  124  covering a serving cell area  126 , we can state the mobile wireless communication device  106  is connected to a cell generated by the radio frequency access network system  124 . Similarly the mobile wireless communication device can connect to a cell generated by the radio frequency access network system  128  covering a neighbor cell area  130 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a 3G UMTS wireless communication network  200  including UMTS access network elements. The mobile wireless communication device  106  operating in the UMTS wireless communication network  200  can be referred to as user equipment (UE)  202 . (Wireless mobile communication devices  106  can include the capability of connecting to different wireless communication networks that use different wireless radio access network technologies, such as to a GSM network and to a UMTS network; thus the description that follows can also apply to such “multi-network” devices as well.) In a UMTS wireless network, the UE  202  can connect to one or more cells  244  that can be generated by one or more radio network subsystems (RNS)  204 / 214  through one or more radio links  220 . Each RNS can include a radio network controller (RNC) and one or more radio frequency access network subsystems known as “Node B”  206 / 210 / 216 . Together the RNS  204  and the RNS  214  can form a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN)  242 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first RNS  204  can include multiple Node Bs  206 / 210 . Each “Node B”  206 / 210  can transmit and receive radio frequency signals to generate multiple cells  244  to which the UE  202  can connect. The RNC  212  in the RNS  204  can manage communication between the multiple Node Bs  206 / 210  and a core network  236 . Similarly the second RNS  214  can include Node B  216  and RNC  208  that can also connect to the core network  236 . Unlike a mobile wireless communication device  106  in a 2G GSM network, the UE  202  in the UMTS network can connect to more than one RNS simultaneously. Each RNS can provide a separate connection for a different service to the UE  202 , such as for a voice connection through a circuit switched voice network and for a data connection through a packet switched data network. Each radio link  220  can also include one or more radio access bearers that transport signals between the UE  202  and the respective RNS  204 / 214 . Multiple radio access bearers can be used for separate services on separate connections or for supplementing a service with additional radio resources for a given connection. 
       FIG. 2  also illustrates that a UE  202  can connect to the radio frequency access network through one or more radio links  220  associated with cells  244  generated by one or more Node Bs  206 / 210 / 216 . A UE  202  can connect to a single cell  244  to Node B  206 . A UE  202  can also connect to two cells  244 , and the two cells can be generated by two different Node Bs in the same RNS (such as Node B  206 / 210  in RNS  204  as shown) or by the same Node B (such as Node B  210  in RNS  204  as also shown). In addition the UE  202  can connect to multiple cells  244  generated by different Node Bs located in different RNS (such as Node B  210  in RNS  204  and Node B  216  in RNS  214 ). Typically a single service, such as a voice or data service connection for a UE  202 , can be handled by a single RNC in a single RNS. The single RNC can ensure that signals can be transmitted to the UE  202  through one or more cells generated by one or more Node Bs connected to the RNC. Multiple services, such as a voice service connection and a separate data service connection, can also be handled by multiple cells that are generated by the same or different Node Bs. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the UE  202  can be connected to a cell  244  connected to Node B  210  connected to RNC  212  for one service and also can be connected simultaneously to a cell  244  connected to Node B  216  connected to RNC  208  for a second service. 
     The core network  236  can include both a circuit switched domain  238  that can carry voice traffic to and from an external public switched telephone network (PSTN)  232  and a packet switched domain  240  that can carry data traffic to and from an external public data network (PDN)  234 . Voice and data traffic can be routed and transported independently by each domain. Each RNS  204 / 214  can combine and deliver both voice and data traffic to multiple UEs  202 . The circuit switched domain  238  can include multiple mobile switching centers (MSC)  228  that connect a mobile subscriber to other mobile subscribers or to subscribers on other networks through gateway MSCs (GMSC)  230 . The packet switched domain  240  can include multiple support nodes, referred to as serving GPRS support nodes (SGSN)  224 , that route data traffic among mobile subscribers and to other data sources and sinks in the PDN  234  through one or more gateway GPRS support nodes (GGSN)  226 . The circuit switched domain  238  and the packet switched domain  240  of the core network  236  can each operate in parallel, and both domains can connect to different radio access networks simultaneously. 
     The UMTS wireless communication network  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2  can support several different configurations in which the UE  202  connects through multiple radio access bearers to the wireless communication network. In a first configuration, a “soft” handoff of the UE  202  can occur between the first RNS  204  and the second RNS  214  as the UE  202  changes location within the UMTS wireless communication network  200 . A first radio access bearer through the first RNS  204  can be supplemented by a second radio access bearer through the second RNS  214  before deactivating the first radio access bearer. In this case, multiple radio access bearers can be used for enhancing a connection&#39;s reliability, and the UE  202  can typically be using one service through the multiple radio access bearers. In a second configuration, the UE  202  can connect through the first RNS  204  to the packet switched domain  240  to support a packet data connection and simultaneously connect through the second RNS  214  to the circuit switched domain  238  to support a voice connection. In this case, the UE  202  can maintain a different radio access bearer for each service. In a third configuration, a single RNS can support multiple radio access bearers to the same UE  202 , each radio access bearer supporting a different service. For the second and third configurations, it can be preferred that the establishment and release of each radio access bearer be independent as they can be associated with different services simultaneously. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a layered protocol stack  300  with which a UE  202  can establish and release connections with the UMTS wireless communication network  200  through an exchange of messages. Higher layers  310  in the layered protocol stack  300 , such as a session management layer, can request a connection of the UE  202  to the wireless communication network  200 . The connection request from the session management layer can result in a series of discrete packetized messages known as radio resource control (RRC) service data units (SDU) passed from an RRC processing block  308  in layer 3 of the protocol stack  300  to a radio link control (RLC) processing block  306  in layer 2 of the protocol stack  300 . A layer 3 SDU can represent a basic unit of communication between layer 3 peers at each end of the communication link. Each layer 3 RRC SDU can be segmented by the RLC processing block  306  into a numbered sequence of layer 2 RLC protocol data units (PDU) for transmission over a communication link. A layer 2 RLC PDU can represent a basic unit of data transfer between layer 2 peers at each end of the communication link. Layer 2 RLC PDUs can be transmitted through additional lower layers in the layer protocol stack  300 , namely a media access control (MAC) layer  304  that maps logical channels  314  into transport channels  312  and a physical layer  302  that provides a radio link “air” interface. At the receiving end of the communication link (not shown), the layer 2 RLC PDUs can be reassembled by another RLC processing block to form a complete layer 3 SDU to deliver to a complementary RRC processing block in a remote device (or other termination). A segmentation and reassembly function with error checking in the RLC layer 2 processing block  306  can ensure that layer 3 RRC SDUs are transmitted and received completely and correctly. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates processing elements  400  of a mobile wireless communication device  106  including an application processor (AP)  402  and a transceiver (XCVR)  404 . The AP  402  can perform higher layer functions, such as requesting connections, monitoring the performance of radio frequency links, exchanging control messages with the wireless communication network  100 , interpreting received power control commands and configuring settings of the transceiver  404 . The AP  402  can form messages that contain measurement information gathered from signals received by the mobile wireless communication device  106  through the XCVR  704 . The transceiver  404  can transmit and receive radio frequency signals with one or more radio network subsystems  104 / 108  in the wireless communication network  100  (or equivalently the cells generated by RNS  204 / 214  in the hierarchical wireless communication network  200 ). The transceiver  404  can also configure its transmitter (and receiver) based on commands received from the application processor  402 . The commands can be formed by the application processor  402  based on control commands received from the radio frequency access network systems  104 / 108  in the wireless communication network  100 . The processing elements  400  shown in  FIG. 4  equally apply to a UE  202  operating in the wireless communication network  200 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates signal communication  500  between the UE  202  connected to a Node B  502 , which in turn connects to a radio network controller (RNC)  518 . The UE  202  can measure signals received from the Node B  502  in the downlink (DL) direction and report the downlink measurements  508  to the Node B  502 . The Node B  502  can measure signals received from the UE  202  in the uplink (UL) direction. The Node B  502  can also measure signals received from other UE  504 . The signals received from other UE  504  can combine to form an interference/noise level with respect to the UL signal received from the UE  202 . Both UL and DL measurements  512  can be reported to the RNC  518 . The UL and DL measurements reported  512  can include one or more signal strength and/or signal quality metrics including a received signal code power (RSCP), a received signal strength (RSS), a signal code power to interference/noise ratio (Ec/Io), a carrier to interference/noise ratio (C/I), a signal to interference ratio (SIR) or other appropriate metrics. The RNC  518  can determine target SIR values  514  for the Node B  502  and communicate them back to the Node B  502 . Based on the received target SIR values  514 , the Node B  502  send one or more power control commands to the UE  202  to adjust the UE transmit power  516 . Together the Node B  502  and the RNC  518  can adjust the UE transmit power  516  to set a received signal power level from the UE  202  at the Node B  502  that can meet a desired SIR value in the presence of interference signals from the other UE  504 . Besides the interference from the other UE  504 , additional sources of noise and interference can exist that can contribute to a received interference/noise level at the Node B  502 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates representative power spectral densities  600  of signal levels for the UE  202  connected to the Node B  502 . The vertical axis can represent received signal power values measured at the Node B  502 , while the horizontal axis can represent radio frequency values. The received UE signal  602  from the UE  202  measured at the Node B  502  can span a frequency range that is narrower than the received interference signal  604  received from the other UE  504 . The signal to interference ratio (SIR)  606  can be measured vertically as shown. A target value for the SIR  606  can ensure sufficient signal strength compared against the interference to maintain a stable connection and to decode received signals from the UE  202  in the UL direction at or below a desired decoding error level. Higher SIR  606  values can support higher transmission rates, while lower SIR  606  values can only support lower transmission rates. Certain services, such as a high speed data service can require higher SIR  606  values than other services, such as a voice service or a lower speed data service. Excess transmit power levels from the UE  202  can be avoided to lower interference levels into other UE  504  that can be connected to the same Node B  502 . Different transmit power levels can also affect the power consumption at the Node B  202 , and portable mobile wireless communication devices  106  that depend on battery power can be configured to minimize power consumption (and therefore regulate transmit power levels) when possible. 
     An active set of cells (which can be represented as a set of pilot signals, each with a unique pseudo-random sequence number) can include cells to which an active connection exists between the UE  202  and the wireless communication network  100 . Cells from which the UE  202  can receive stronger signals can be added to the active set, e.g. to supplement connections between the UE  202  and the wireless network with radio links to support voice, data or signaling connections. The number of cells in the active set can be limited, and weaker cells can be removed when stronger cells are added. Not all cells in the active set can necessarily support the same services. Some cells in the active set can offer high speed data connections, while other cells in the active set can not offer high speed data connections. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a UE  202  transmit power level  700  changing levels based on a sequence of transmit power control commands received from the Node B  502 . The Node B  502  can increase and decrease the UE  202  transmit power level  700  using an up transmit power control command (U) and a down transmit power control command (D) respectively. The Node B  502  can have a preferred UE transmit power level  702 , which the UE transmit power level can approach and maintain a level near in response to sequence of received transmit power control commands. The Node B  502  repeatedly measure signal levels received from the UE  202  and compare the measured signal levels (and interference levels) against the target SIR  606 , which can set indirectly the preferred Node B UE transmit power level  702 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates received power levels  800  at the Node B  502  for two different services that can require two different power levels. A service that can use one type of radio access bearer to connect the Node B  502  to the UE  202  can require a first receive power level  802 , while a second service that can use a different type of radio access bearer to connect the Node B  502  to the UE  202  can require a second power level  804 . The second power level  804  can be higher than the first power level  802 . In one embodiment, the “higher power” service can use an enhanced dedicated channel (EDCH) radio access bearer, while the “lower power” service can use a non-EDCH radio access bearer. The additional received signal power  806  required to support a higher data rate connection, such as used over an EDCH radio access bearer, can be on top of the UE signal power  602  required for a “basic” lower data rate connection, a voice connection or a signaling connection. The target SIR  606  specified by the Node B  502  can be less than the actual SIR required for a higher data rate EDCH connection. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates transmit power control changes  900  for the UE  202  connected to two different Node B  902 / 904  (that can be each be part of different radio access network systems connected to different radio network controllers in the same wireless network). The UE  202  can be simultaneously connected by a high speed data E-DCH connection  908  to a “cell B” generated by Node B  904  and by a lower speed data, voice and/or signaling non E-DCH connection  906  to a “cell A” generated by Node B  902 . The transmit power level of the UE  202  can be initially at a level that supports both the E-DCH connection  908  to the Node B  904  and the non E-DCH connection  906  to the Node B  902 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the received signal power from the UE  202  measured at the Node B  904  can result in an actual SIR  918  that exceeds a target SIR  920  set by the Node B  904 . An additional E-DCH power  922  can be required for the E-DCH connection to support a high speed data service connection. As shown, the received transmit power level can be sufficient to support a required SIR for E-DCH. 
     As the transmitter in the UE  202  can use the same transmit power level irrespective of to which Node B  902  the UE  202  can be simultaneously connected, the transmit power level received at the Node B  902  for the non E-DCH connection  906  can be higher than required to support the non E-DCH connection  906 . The actual SIR  912  measured at the receiver of the Node B  902  can be higher than a target SIR  914  preferred for the Node B  902  to support the non E-DCH connection  906  and keep interference from the UE  202  into other UE (not shown) at a minimum. The Node B  902  can recognize the excess power level  916 . The received power level differences measured at the two different Node Bs  902 / 904  can occur when the UE  202  is located at different distances from the Node Bs  902 / 904 . The distance from the UE  202  to the Node B  902  for the non E-DCH connection  906  can be less than the distance from the UE to the Node B  904  for the E-DCH connection  904 . Thus, the cell generated by Node B  902  can be “better” in terms of received signal strength from the UE  202  than the cell generated by Node B  904 . 
     In response to measuring the excess power level  916 , i.e. the actual SIR  912  exceeding the target SIR  914 , the Node B  902  can send one or more power down control commands to the UE  202  to lower its transmit power to a level aligned with the target SIR  914 . As a result of the power down control commands, the UE  202  can lower its transmit power level resulting in a lowered actual SIR  924  received at the Node B  902 . The lowered actual SIR  924  received can be comparable to the target SIR  914  set by an RNC (not shown) connected to the Node B  902 . As a result of lowering the transmit power of the UE  202  in response to power down control commands from the Node B  902 , the received actual SIR  926  at the Node B  904  can be lower than the target SIR  920 . The actual transmit power level from the UE  202  can be insufficient  928  to support the E-DCH connection. Thus, power control commands from a “non-EDCH cell” generated by a Node B can undesirably affect the stability of a high speed data connection to an “EDCH cell” generated by another Node B. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates changes  1000  in the UE transmit power level in response to power control commands received from a Cell B generated by the first Node B  904  and from a Cell A generated by the second Node B  902 . The power level can be initially set by the E-DCH connection between the UE  202  and cell B generated by Node B  904  to support a high speed data service connection. The power level can then be lowered by the Node B  902  for Cell A to which the UE  202  can maintain a concurrent non E-DCH connection. A first transmit power level  906  for the UE  202  preferred by the Node B  904  for Cell B to support a high speed data service connection can be higher than a second transmit power level  908  for the UE  202  preferred by the Node B  902  for cell A. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a scenario  1100  in which a lowered transmit power level can affect the ability of the UE  202  to establish a high speed data service connection, similar to how the lowered transmit power level can affect the ability of the UE  202  to maintain a high speed data service connection as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The UE  202  transmit power level can be represented by the vertical axis, while the horizontal axis can represent time. There can be a required transmit power level  1116  for the UE  202  to maintain a stable and minimum error high speed data service connection using an E-DCH radio access bearer to a cell in the wireless communication network  100 . The UE  202  can be connected initially to a cell  1102  (indicated by the label pilot # 1 ) in an active set of cells. The UE  202  can monitor received signals from other cells in the wireless network, and based on measurements of the received signals, the UE  202  can add or remove cells from the active set. In one embodiment, movement of cells into or out of the active set can require an exchange of messages between the UE  202  and elements of the wireless communication network  100 , e.g. one or more BTS and/or RNC. As indicated in  FIG. 11 , the UE  202  can add a second cell  1104  (indicated by the label add pilot # 2 ) to the active set (AS). The second cell can be added when the received signal strength and/or signal quality measured at the UE  202  of the pilot signal received by the UE  202  from the second cell can exceed a pre-determined threshold for a pre-determined period of time. Similarly the UE  202  can add a third cell  1106  (indicated by the label add pilot # 3 ) to the active set based on received and measured signal strength and/or signal quality from the third cell. 
     After addition of the second and third cells to the active set, the wireless communication network  100  can send one or more transmit power control commands to the UE  202  based on received signal strengths and/or signal quality measured at a Node B for the added second and third cells. When the actual SIR measured at the Node B exceeds a target SIR for the second and/or third cells, the wireless communication network  100  can send one or more transmit power down control commands to the UE  202  (via the Node B), which can result in the transmit power level of the UE  202  dropping (event  1108 ). The wireless communication network  100  can correctly recognize that a lower transmit power level from the UE  202  can connect to the added second and/or third cells with sufficient signal quality; however, the connection to the first cell can be impaired by the change in UE  202  transmit power. The resulting transmit power level from the UE  202  can be below the level required  1116  to establish and maintain a stable high speed data service connection to the first cell, such as through an E-DCH radio access bearer. 
     It should be noted that initially the UE  202  can be connected to the first cell but not with a high speed data connection using an E-DCH radio access bearer. The UE  202  can subsequently initiate a high speed data service connection to set up an E-DCH radio access bearer to the first cell. Initiation of the E-DCH radio bearer setup (event  1110 ) can follow soon after the second cell and third cell are added to the active set (events  1104 / 1106 ) Timing of reporting of events to the wireless communication network  100  by the UE  202  can vary such that the UE  202  can attempt to set up the E-DCH radio bearer for a high speed uplink data connection, even though the UE transmit power level can have dropped below that required to set up and maintain the requested E-DCH radio access bearer. In the scenario illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the UE  202  can receive a transmit power down command from the network after adding the second and third cells because the signal strength from these cells at the network can exceed a target SIR. Meanwhile, the UE  202  can have not reported yet that the second and/or third cell is now a “best” cell in the active set to the network. The UE  202  as shown can request a high speed data connection to a “non-best” cell with a newly lower transmit power level that can affect establishment of the high speed data connection. In the representative example shown in  FIG. 11 , the requested E-DCH connection can be unable to be established when a weak signal in the uplink direction from the UE  202  received at the first cell exists alongside one or more stronger signal connections in the uplink direction to second and third cells. The connections between the UE  202  and the stronger second and third cells can carry non-high speed data, voice or signaling connections but can be unable to support high speed data. Thus the UE  202  can request for the high speed data connection through an E-DCH connection to the first cell (which can have weaker signal strength) and not through the second and third cells (which can have stronger signal strength but cannot support the high speed data connection). Transmit power control commands from the stronger second and third cells that can change the UE  202  transmit power level, however, can interfere with the ability of the UE  202  to originate and maintain a high speed data connection to the first cell. As shown in  FIG. 11 , after an E-DCH radio bearer setup complete timeout period  114 , the E-DCH radio bearer setup can fail (event  1112 ) as the required UE transmit power for E-DCH  1116  can exceed the UE transmit power available. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a representative scenario  1200  when an imbalance in uplink loading can also cause a similar effect to the lowered transmit power level described for  FIG. 9 . Transmit power control based on connections to a non-EDCH cell can interfere with a connection (origination or stable maintenance) to an EDCH cell. The UE  202  can be connected simultaneously to a first “cell A” generated by a Node B  1202  through a non E-DCH connection  1206  and to a second “cell B” generated by a Node B  1204  through an E-DCH connection  1208 . The non E-DCH connection  1206  to cell A can be a lower speed data connection, a voice connection, a signaling connection or a combination thereof. Cell A from Node B  1202  can be incapable of (or not configured to) support a high speed E-DCH data service connection to the UE  202 . While connected to Cell A generated by Node B  1202  by a “non high speed” connection, the UE  202  can also be connected by a high speed E-DCH data service connection  1208  to cell B generated by Node B  1204 . 
     The UE  202  can be located at a closer distance to cell B generated by the second Node B  1204  and at a farther distance from cell A generated by the first Node B  1202 . A received downlink signal from cell A generated by Node B  1202  can be weaker (longer distance resulting in greater signal loss) than a received downlink signal received by the UE  202  from cell B generated by Node B  1204  (shorter distance resulting in less signal loss). As a result of measuring a high received signal strength, the UE  202  can consider cell B a “better” cell than cell A. The amount of interference received by each Node B  1202  for cell A and Node B  1204  for cell B, however, can differ. Cell A at Node B  1202  can receive signals from a smaller number of other UE  1210 , while cell B at Node B  1204  can receive signals from a larger number of other UE  1212 . As a result, cell A at Node B  1202  can measure a higher received SIR  1214  due to a lower received interference signal level  1216  than a received SIR  1218  measured at cell B at Node B  1204 , even though cell A at Node B  1202  can be located at a greater distance from the UE  202  than cell B at Node B  1204 . The higher number of other UE  1212  can result in a higher interference signal level  1220  measured at the Node B  1204  for cell B, resulting in a lower measured SIR  1218  value. With a lower actual measured SIR  1218 , the UE  202  can have less available reserve transmit power  1222  to support an E-DCH connection. The uplink load imbalance illustrated in  FIG. 12  can occur when interference differences at the respective cells are greater than attenuation differences due to the different distances in paths from the UE  202  to the cells to which the UE  202  can be connected. 
     The scenarios  1100 / 1200 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12  respectively, show that a difference in signal power or interference measured at two different cells generated by different Node B&#39;s in a wireless network can result in an amount of SIR available at a cell (e.g. cell B) to be below the minimum required to successfully decode packets transported over a high speed E-DCH data connection. One cell (e.g. cell A) with which the UE  202  can be connected in the wireless network can dominate the uplink transmit power control levels, forcing the UE  202  to a lower power level, thereby decreasing reserve power available for signals received at another cell (e.g. cell B). This can impact the ability of the UE  202  to originate and retain connections. 
     To manage transmit power control in a UE  202  more effectively, a change in how the UE  202  can respond to transmit power control commands can be used. When one connection between the UE  202  to a first cell uses a higher speed data service connection (such as through an E-DCH radio access bearer) and a second connection exists to a second cell that does not provide a higher speed data service connection (such as through a non E-DCH radio access bearer for a lower speed data service connection, a voice service connection or a signaling connection), the UE  202  can execute transmit power control commands received from the “E-DCH” cell and ignore some or all of the power control commands received from the “non E-DCH” cell. 
     In one embodiment, the UE  202  can ignore any transmit power down control commands received from a non-EDCH cell in an active set when (1) an EDCH cell exists in the active set, (2) a high speed data connection between the UE  202  and the EDCH cell exists, and (3) a connection between the UE  202  and the non-EDCH cell (such as a voice, low speed data or signaling connection) exists simultaneously. 
     In another embodiment, the UE  202  can ignore any transmit power down control commands and any transmit power up control commands from a non-EDCH cell in an active set when (1) an EDCH cell exists in the active set, (2) a high speed data connection between the UE  202  and the EDCH cell exists, and (3) no connection exists to the non-EDCH cell. Cells can be in an active set even without an active data, voice or signaling connection to the UE  202 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a representative method  1300  to manage transmit power control in the mobile wireless communication device  106 . The mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine, in step  1302 , if a high speed data connection exists to a first cell in a wireless network. If no high speed data connection between the mobile wireless communication device  106  and the first cell in the wireless network exists, then the method can stop. If a high speed data connection between the mobile wireless communication device  106  and the first cell in the wireless network does exists, then in step  1304 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine if a simultaneous low speed voice, data or signaling connection to a second cell in the wireless network exists. If no simultaneous low speed voice, data or signaling connection exists between the mobile wireless communication device  106  and the wireless network, then the method can end. If a simultaneous low speed voice, data or signaling connection exists between the mobile wireless communication device  106  and the wireless network, then in step  1306 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can receive a transmit power control command. 
     After a transmit power control command is received, in step  1308 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine if the received transmit power control command originated from the first cell to which a high speed data connection exists or from the second cell to which a low speed connection exists. If the received transmit power control command originated from the first cell with a high speed data connection, then in step  1312 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can execute the received transmit power control command. The transmit power control command can be a power up command or a power down command. If the received transmit power control command, however, originated from the second cell with a low speed connection (voice, data or signaling), then in step  1310 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine if the received transmit power control command is a power up command. If the received transmit power control command is not a power up command, then the method can end; otherwise, the mobile wireless communication device  106  can execute the received transmit power up command in step  1312 . Effectively, transmit power down commands from a cell having a low speed connection to a mobile wireless communication device can be ignored when a simultaneous high speed data connection to the mobile wireless communication device exists. Transmit power up control commands can be executed when received from either the high speed data connection cell or the low speed connection cell. In one embodiment, the high speed data connection is an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) high speed data connection. In one embodiment the low speed connection can use a Release 99 (R99) radio access bearer. In one embodiment, the second cell can be unable to support an E-DCH high speed data connection. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates another representative method  1400  to manage transmit power control commands in a mobile wireless communication device  106 . In step  1402 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can wait until a transmit power control command is received. The transmit power control command can be a power up command or a power down command. The transmit power control command can be received from a cell in an active set associated with the mobile wireless communication device  106 . In step  1404 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine whether there is one cell only or more than one cell in the active set. When there is only one cell in the active set, then in step  1420  the mobile wireless communication device  106  can execute the received transmit power control command. The transmit power control command executed in step  1420  can be a transmit power up command or a transmit power down command. When the mobile wireless communication device  106  has only one cell in the active set, transmit power control commands from the cell in the active set can always be permitted irrespective of the type of cell. 
     When the active set includes more than one cell, the mobile wireless communication device  106  can selectively execute the received transmit power control command depending on a number of parameters including cell type, command type and connection type. If the active set includes more than one cell as determined in step  1404 , and if none of the cells in the active set have a high speed (HS) uplink connection to the mobile wireless communication device  106  as determined in step  1406 , then the received transmit power control command can be executed in step  1420 . As described above, high speed uplink connections can be vulnerable to changes in transmit power; however, lower speed uplink connections such as used for low speed data, voice or signaling can continue to operate with transmit power control commands. When at least one of the cells in the active set has an uplink high speed connection to the mobile wireless communication device  106  as determined in step  1406 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine the type of transmit power control command received and from which type of cell. In step  1408 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine if the received transmit power control command is a power up command received from a cell with an uplink high speed connection to the mobile wireless communication device  106 . In step  1410 , power up commands from the uplink high speed cell can be executed. Otherwise, the mobile wireless communication device  106  can assess the state of connections to non high speed (i.e. low speed) cells in the active set. 
     In step  1412 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine if there exists a low speed connection (data or voice) or signaling connection to a non high speed cell in the active set. If a connection exists to the non high speed cell as determined in step  1412  and if the received transmit power control command is a power up command from the non high speed cell, as determined in step  1414 , then the power up command can be executed in step  1410 . Otherwise, the received transmit power control command can either be a transmit power down command or a transmit power control command be received from a non high speed cell that has no active connection to the mobile wireless communication device  106 . A transit power control command (power up or power down) from a non high speed cell with no active connection to the mobile wireless communication device  106  can be ignored. 
     In step  1416 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can determine if the received transmit power control command is a transmit power down command from a cell in the active set with a high speed uplink connection, and when affirmatively determined, subsequently in step  1418 , the mobile wireless communication device  106  can execute the transmit power down command. Otherwise the transmit power control command, which can be from a non high speed cell with no active connection or a power down command from a non high speed cell with an active connection, can be ignored by the mobile wireless communication device  106 . 
       FIG. 15  summarizes in table  1500  which transmit power control commands can be executed and those that can be ignored from each cell type in the active set when the active set for the mobile communication device  106  includes more than one cell and at least one of the cells in the active set has a high speed uplink data connection. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can execute transmit power control commands (power up or power down) received from a cell with a high speed uplink connection. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can also execute transmit power up control commands from a non high speed uplink cell with an active connection. An active connection can include a voice connection, a low speed data connection or a signaling radio bearer connection (or a combination thereof to the non high speed uplink cell). Transmit power down control commands from the non high speed uplink cell with an active connection, however, can be ignored. The mobile wireless communication device  106  can also ignore any transmit power control commands (power up or power down) from a cell in the active set that does not have an active connection with the mobile wireless communication device  106 . 
     Various aspects of the described embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The described embodiments can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling manufacturing operations or as computer readable code on a computer readable medium for controlling a manufacturing line used to fabricate thermoplastic molded parts. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. 
     The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110713
Publication Date: 20150127
Grant Date: 20150127
Priority Date: 20110107
Inventors: MARQUEZ ALEJANDRO J.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W52/286", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/146", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/146", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/286", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/22", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/40", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/52", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/146", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W52/286", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46455675