Determining a phase adjustment in accordance with power trends

1. A method for calculating a phase adjustment, comprising:

establishing a current phase adjustment for a signal transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device;

receiving a control signal comprising a plurality of windows, a window communicating one or more power indicators, a power indicator reflecting the power of the signal as received by the feedback communication device, the plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating one or more previous power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to a previous phase adjustment; and

a current window communicating one or more current power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to the current phase adjustment;

estimating a previous power trend from the one or more previous power indicators;

estimating a current power trend from the one or more current power indicators;

determining a power trend change from the previous power trend and the current power trend, the power trend change representing a change between the previous power trend and the current power trend;

determining a phase increment in accordance with the power trend change; and

calculating a next phase adjustment from the current phase adjustment and the phase increment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the current window comprises a plurality of participating slots; and

estimating the current power trend from the one or more current power indicators further comprises:

establishing an initial slot power value from an initial power indicator of an initial participating slot;

establishing a final slot power value from a final power indicator of a final participating slot; and

determining a difference between the initial slot power value and the final slot power value to estimate the current power trend.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change further comprises:

establishing if the power trend change is greater than a power trend change threshold;

determining the phase increment using a power change if the power trend change is less than the power trend change threshold, the power change representing the difference between a current window power value of the current window and a previous window power value of the previous window; and

determining the phase increment independent of the power change if the power trend change is greater than the power trend change threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change further comprises:

establishing that the power trend change is greater than a power trend change threshold; and

determining the phase increment from the power trend change.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change further comprises:

establishing that the power trend change is less than a power trend change threshold;

calculating a power change, the power change representing the difference between a current window power value of the current window and a previous window power value of the previous window; and

determining the phase increment in accordance with the power change.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the phase increment in accordance with the power change further comprises:

establishing whether the power change is greater than a power change threshold;

calculating the phase increment according to a larger step parameter if the power change is greater than the power change threshold, a step parameter used to control a magnitude of a phase adjustment; and

calculating the phase increment using a smaller step parameter if the power change is less than the power change threshold, the smaller step parameter less than the larger step parameter.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change further comprises:

encountering a zero phase change situation; and applying a zero phase increment technique to the zero phase change situation.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change further comprises:

determining the phase increment using one of the power trend change and the power change.

9. A system for calculating a phase adjustment, comprising:

an interface operable to receive and send a plurality of signals, the plurality of signals to be transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device; and

control logic circuitry coupled to the interface and operable to:

establish a current phase adjustment for a signal transmitted from the modifying communication device to the feedback communication device;

receive a control signal comprising a plurality of windows, a window communicating one or more power indicators, a power indicator reflecting the power of the signal as received by the feedback communication device, the plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating one or more previous power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to a previous phase adjustment; and

a current window communicating one or more current power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to the current phase adjustment;

estimate a previous power trend from the one or more previous power indicators;

estimate a current power trend from the one or more current power indicators;

determine a power trend change from the previous power trend and the current power trend, the power trend change representing a change between the previous power trend and the current power trend;

determine a phase increment in accordance with the power trend change; and

calculate a next phase adjustment from the current phase adjustment and the phase increment.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the current window comprises a plurality of participating slots; and

the control logic is further operable to estimate the current power trend from the one or more current power indicators by:

establishing an initial slot power value from an initial power indicator of an initial participating slot;

establishing a final slot power value from a final power indicator of a final participating slot; and

determining a difference between the initial slot power value and the final slot power value to estimate the current power trend.

11. The system of claim 9 , the control logic further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

establishing if the power trend change is greater than a power trend change threshold;

determining the phase increment using a power change if the power trend change is less than the power trend change threshold, the power change representing the difference between a current window power value of the current window and a previous window power value of the previous window; and

determining the phase increment independent of the power change if the power trend change is greater than the power trend change threshold.

12. The system of claim 9 , the control logic further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

establishing that the power trend change is greater than a power trend change threshold; and

determining the phase increment from the power trend change.

13. The system of claim 9 , the control logic further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

establishing that the power trend change is less than a power trend change threshold;

calculating a power change, the power change representing the difference between a current window power value of the current window and a previous window power value of the previous window; and

determining the phase increment in accordance with the power change.

14. The system of claim 13 , the control logic further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power change by:

establishing whether the power change is greater than a power change threshold;

calculating the phase increment according to a larger step parameter if the power change is greater than the power change threshold, a step parameter used to control a magnitude of a phase adjustment; and

calculating the phase increment using a smaller step parameter if the power change is less than the power change threshold, the smaller step parameter less than the larger step parameter.

15. The system of claim 9 , the control logic further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

encountering a zero phase change situation; and applying a zero phase increment technique to the zero phase change situation.

16. The system of claim 9 , the control logic further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

determining the phase increment using one of the power trend change and the power change.

17. A computer-readable medium embodying logic circuitry for calculating a phase adjustment, the logic operable to:

establish a current phase adjustment for a signal transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device;

receive a control signal comprising a plurality of windows, a window communicating one or more power indicators, a power indicator reflecting the power of the signal as received by the feedback communication device, the plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating one or more previous power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to a previous phase adjustment; and

a current window communicating one or more current power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to the current phase adjustment;

estimate a previous power trend from the one or more previous power indicators;

estimate a current power trend from the one or more current power indicators;

determine a power trend change from the previous power trend and the current power trend, the power trend change representing a change between the previous power trend and the current power trend;

determine a phase increment in accordance with the power trend change; and

calculate a next phase adjustment from the current phase adjustment and the phase increment.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:

the current window comprises a plurality of participating slots; and

the logic is further operable to estimate the current power trend from the one or more current power indicators by:

establishing an initial slot power value from an initial power indicator of an initial participating slot;

establishing a final slot power value from a final power indicator of a final participating slot; and

determining a difference between the initial slot power value and the final slot power value to estimate the current power trend.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said logic is further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

establishing if the power trend change is greater than a power trend change threshold;

determining the phase increment using a power change if the power trend change is less than the power trend change threshold, the power change representing the difference between a current window power value of the current window and a previous window power value of the previous window; and

determining the phase increment independent of the power change if the power trend change is greater than the power trend change threshold.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said logic is further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

establishing that the power trend change is greater than a power trend change threshold; and

determining the phase increment from the power trend change.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said logic is further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

establishing that the power trend change is less than a power trend change threshold;

calculating a power change, the power change representing the difference between a current window power value of the current window and a previous window power value of the previous window; and

determining the phase increment in accordance with the power change.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein said logic is further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power change by:

establishing whether the power change is greater than a power change threshold;

calculating the phase increment according to a larger step parameter if the power change is greater than the power change threshold, a step parameter used to control a magnitude of a phase adjustment; and

calculating the phase increment using a smaller step parameter if the power change is less than the power change threshold, the smaller step parameter less than the larger step parameter.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said logic is further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

encountering a zero phase change situation; and

applying a zero phase increment technique to the zero phase change situation.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said logic is further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

determining the phase increment using one of the power trend change and the power change.

25. A system for calculating a phase adjustment, comprising:

means for establishing a current phase adjustment for a signal transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device;

means for receiving a control signal comprising a plurality of windows, a window communicating one or more power indicators, a power indicator reflecting the power of the signal as received by the feedback communication device, the plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating one or more previous power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to a previous phase adjustment; and

a current window communicating one or more current power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to the current phase adjustment;

means for estimating a previous power trend from the one or more previous power indicators;

means for estimating a current power trend from the one or more current power indicators;

means for determining a power trend change from the previous power trend and the current power trend, the power trend change representing a change between the previous power trend and the current power trend;

means for determining a phase increment in accordance with the power trend change; and

means for calculating a next phase adjustment from the current phase adjustment and the phase increment.

26. A method for calculating a phase adjustment, comprising:

establishing a current phase adjustment for a signal transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device;

receiving a control signal comprising a plurality of windows, a window communicating one or more power indicators, a power indicator reflecting the power of the signal as received by the feedback communication device, the plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating one or more previous power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to a previous phase adjustment; and

a current window communicating one or more current power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to the current phase adjustment;

estimating a previous power trend from the one or more previous power indicators;

estimating a current power trend from the one or more current power indicators, the current window comprising a plurality of participating slots, the current power trend estimated by:

establishing an initial slot power value from an initial power indicator of an initial participating slot;

establishing a final slot power value from a final power indicator of a final participating slot; and

determining a difference between the initial slot power value and the final slot power value to estimate the current power trend;

determining a power trend change from the previous power trend and the current power trend, the power trend change representing a change between the previous power trend and the current power trend;

determining a phase increment in accordance with the power trend change by:

establishing if the power trend change is greater than a power trend change threshold;

determining the phase increment using a power change if the power trend change is less than the power trend change threshold, the power change representing the difference between a current window power value of the current window and a previous window power value of the previous window, the phase increment determined using the power change by:

calculating the power change; and

determining the phase increment in accordance with the power change by:

establishing whether the power change is greater than a power change threshold;

calculating the phase increment according to a larger step parameter if the power change is greater than the power change threshold, a step parameter used to control a magnitude of a phase adjustment; and

calculating the phase increment using a smaller step parameter if the power change is less than the power change threshold, the smaller step parameter less than the larger step parameter; and

determining the phase increment from the power trend change and independent of the power change if the power trend change is greater than the power trend change threshold;

encountering a zero phase change situation; applying a zero phase increment technique to the zero phase change situation;

determining the phase increment using one of the power trend change and the power change; and

calculating a next phase adjustment from the current phase adjustment and the phase increment.

27. A method for calculating a phase adjustment, comprising:

establishing a current phase adjustment for a signal transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device;

receiving a plurality of power indicators, a power indicator reflecting the power of the signal as received by the feedback communication device, the plurality of power indicators comprising:

one or more previous power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to a previous phase adjustment; and

one or more current power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to the current phase adjustment; estimating a previous power descriptor value from the one or more previous power indicators;

estimating a current power descriptor value from the one or more current power indicators;

determining a phase increment in accordance with the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value; and

calculating a next phase adjustment from the current phase adjustment and the phase increment.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein receiving the plurality of power indicators further comprises:

receiving a control signal comprising a plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating the one or more previous power indicators; and

a current window communicating the one or more current power indicators.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein:

The previous power descriptor value comprises a previous power trend value; and

the current power descriptor value comprises a current power trend value.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein:

the previous power descriptor value comprises a previous power value; and

the current power descriptor value comprises a current power value.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein estimating the current power descriptor value from the one or more current power indicators further comprises:

receiving a late power indicator;

weighting the late power indicator to yield a weighted late power indicator; and

estimating the current power descriptor value using the one or more current power indicators and the weighted power indicator.

32. The method of claim 27 , wherein determining the phase increment in accordance with the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value further comprises:

accessing a lookup table comprising a plurality of entries, an entry associating a possible previous power descriptor value and a possible current power descriptor value with a modification;

identifying an entry corresponding to the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value; and

determining the phase increment in accordance with the modification of the identified entry.

33. A system for calculating a phase adjustment, comprising:

an interface operable to receive and send a plurality of signals, the plurality of signals to be transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device; and

control logic circuitry coupled to the interface and operable to:

establish a current phase adjustment for a signal transmitted from the modifying communication device to the feedback communication device;

receive a plurality of power indicators, a power indicator reflecting the power of the signal as received by the feedback communication device, the plurality of power indicators comprising:

one or more previous power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to a previous phase adjustment; and

one or more current power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to the current phase adjustment;

estimate a previous power descriptor value from the one or more previous power indicators;

estimate a current power descriptor value from the one or more current power indicators;

determine a phase increment in accordance with the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value; and

calculate a next phase adjustment from the current phase adjustment and the phase increment.

34. The system of claim 33 , the control logic further operable to receive the plurality of power indicators by:

receiving a control signal comprising a plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating the one or more previous power indicators; and

a current window communicating the one or more current power indicators.

35. The system of claim 33 , wherein:

the previous power descriptor value comprises a previous power trend value; and

the current power descriptor value comprises a current power trend value.

36. The system of claim 33 , wherein:

the previous power descriptor value comprises a previous power value; and

the current power descriptor value comprises a current power value.

37. The system of claim 33 , the control logic further operable to estimate the current power descriptor value from the one or more current power indicators by:

receiving a late power indicator;

weighting the late power indicator to yield a weighted late power indicator; and

estimating the current power descriptor value using the one or more current power indicators and the weighted power indicator.

38. The system of claim 33 , the control logic further operable to determine the phase increment in accordance with the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value by:

accessing a lookup table comprising a plurality of entries, an entry associating a possible previous power descriptor value and a possible current power descriptor value with a modification;

identifying an entry corresponding to the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value; and

determining the phase increment in accordance with the modification of the identified entry.

39. The system of claim 33 , wherein:

the previous power descriptor value comprises a previous power trend value;

the current power descriptor value comprises a current power trend value;

the previous power descriptor value comprises a previous power value;

the current power descriptor value comprises a current power value; and

the control logic is further operable to:

receive the plurality of power indicators by:

receiving a control signal comprising a plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating the one or more previous power indicators; and

a current window communicating the one or more current power indicators;

estimate the current power descriptor value from the one or more current power indicators by:

receiving a late power indicator;

weighting the late power indicator to yield a weighted late power indicator; and

estimating the current power descriptor value using the one or more current power indicators and the weighted power indicator; and

determine the phase increment in accordance with the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value by:

accessing a lookup table comprising a plurality of entries, an entry associating a possible previous power descriptor value and a possible current power descriptor value with a modification;

identifying an entry corresponding to the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value; and

determining the phase increment in accordance with the modification of the identified entry.

40. A computer-readable medium embodying logic circuitry for calculating a phase adjustment, the logic operable to:

establish a current phase adjustment for a signal transmitted from a modifying communication device to a feedback communication device;

receive a plurality of power indicators, a power indicator reflecting the power of the signal as received by the feedback communication device, the plurality of power indicators comprising:

one or more previous power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to a previous phase adjustment; and

one or more current power indicators reflecting the power of the signal adjusted according to the current phase adjustment;

estimate a previous power descriptor value from the one or more previous power indicators;

estimate a current power descriptor value from the one or more current power indicators;

determine a phase increment in accordance with the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value; and

calculate a next phase adjustment from the current phase adjustment and the phase increment.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein said logic is further operable to receive the plurality of power indicators by:

receiving a control signal comprising a plurality of windows comprising:

one or more previous windows, a previous window communicating the one or more previous power indicators; and

a current window communicating the one or more current power indicators.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein:

the previous power descriptor value comprises a previous power trend value; and

the current power descriptor value comprises a current power trend value.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein:

the previous power descriptor value comprises a previous power value; and

the current power descriptor value comprises a current power value.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein said logic is further operable to estimate the current power descriptor value from the one or more current power indicators by:

receiving a late power indicator; weighting the late power indicator to yield a weighted late power indicator; and

estimating the current power descriptor value using the one or more current power indicators and the weighted power indicator.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein determining the phase increment in accordance with the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value further comprises:

accessing a lookup table comprising a plurality of entries, an entry associating a possible previous power descriptor value and a possible current power descriptor value with a modification;

identifying an entry corresponding to the previous power descriptor value and the current power descriptor value; and

determining the phase increment in accordance with the modification of the identified entry.