Thermal transmission control of wireless data modem
View Patent ↗A method for controlling temperature-related transmissions in radiocommunication systems. A mobile station includes a measuring device for determining operating temperature. When the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, the mobile station can reduce its transmission rate, thereby reducing power dissipation within the device. The mobile station informs the system of the rate reduction, whereby the system can reallocate released resources, e.g., timeslots and/or spreading codes. The mobile station can also inform the user of the change in transmission rates and/or the temperature of the mobile station, whereupon the user can move to a better transmitting location. The mobile station can also take into account the transmit status of the current connection in determining when to reduce the transmission rate.
1. A transceiver in a radio communication system comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting data over an air interface at a transmission data rate;
a temperature measuring device for determining a temperature of said transmitter; and
a processor coupled to said transmitter and said temperature measuring device and configured to, in response to determining that a measured temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, reduce an average power consumption of the transmitter by a controlled amount, by adjusting a transmit power per bit of the transmitter in combination with adjusting the transmission data rate of the transmitter by determining a combination of transmit power per bit and transmission data rate adjustments that adjust the average power consumption of the transmitter to a desired point on a total transmit power curve.
2. The transceiver of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises a mobile station.
3. The transceiver of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to reduce the average power consumption of the transmitter by decreasing the transmit power per bit of the transmitter and, in response to then receiving a transmit power control command ordering the transceiver to increase its transmit power, increasing the transmit power per bit of the transmitter as commanded, in combination with decreasing the transmission data rate of the transmitter.
4. The transceiver of claim 3 , wherein the transceiver is configured to request a decrease in transmission data rate in association with decreasing the transmission data rate of the transmitter.
5. The transceiver of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to reduce the average power consumption of the transmitter by determining a combination of reductions in the transmit power per bit of the transmitter and the transmission data rate of the transmitter.
6. A method of controlling transmit power in a transceiver that includes a transmitter for transmitting data over an air interface at a transmission data rate, the method comprising:
determining that a temperature of the transmitter exceeds a temperature threshold; and
in response to said determining, reducing an average power consumption of the transmitter by a controlled amount, by adjusting a transmit power per bit of the transmitter in combination with adjusting the transmission data rate of the transmitter by determining a combination of transmit power per bit and transmission data rate adjustments that adjust the average power consumption of the transmitter to a desired point on a total transmit power curve.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the transceiver comprises a mobile station.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein reducing the average power consumption of the transmitter comprises decreasing the transmit power per bit of the transmitter and, in response to the transceiver then receiving a transmit power control command ordering the transceiver to increase its transmit power, increasing the transmit power per bit of the transmitter as commanded, in combination with decreasing the transmission data rate of the transmitter.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising requesting a decrease in transmission data rate in association with decreasing the transmission data rate of the transmitter.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein reducing the average power consumption of the transmitter comprises determining a combination of reductions in the transmit power per bit of the transmitter and the transmission data rate of the transmitter.