Method and arrangement relating communication devices

1. A method for controlling transmit power of a mobile terminal when communicating with a communication node, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from the mobile terminal to set an output power of the mobile terminal to a first Transmission Power Control (TCP) level;

determining that the mobile terminal is in a fixed environmental condition based on an amount of variation in a signal strength of signals associated with the mobile terminal; and

extending an interval between a subsequent signal transmitted by the mobile terminal, where the subsequent signal sets the output power of the mobile terminal to a second, different TCP level based on the mobile terminal being in the fixed environmental condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the mobile terminal is determined to be in the fixed environmental condition based on the amount of variation in the signal strength indicating an absence of fading signal conditions.

3. The method of claim 1 , where determining whether the mobile terminal is in the fixed environmental condition includes:

detecting an amount of movement of the mobile terminal; and

determining that the mobile terminal is in the fixed environmental condition further based on the detected amount of movement.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

further extending the interval based on a correct functioning of the mobile terminal during a time period.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the communication node, whether a signaling pattern associated with the mobile terminal is corrupted or interrupted based on the interval, where, after a certain period of time, the communication node determines that the mobile terminal is not accessible based on determining that the signaling pattern is corrupted or interrupted.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

backtracking a TPC pattern corresponding to TCP levels of the mobile terminal based on a signal-to-interference ratio received from the communications node;

determining, based on backtracking the TPC pattern, whether TCP levels of the mobile device are constant over a particular period of time; and

further extending the interval based on the TPC levels being constant during the particular period of time.

7. The method of claim 1 , where to bring the mobile terminal and the communication node into an active mode, the communication node or the mobile terminal sends a certain pattern added to the subsequent signal.

8. The method of claim 7 , where the certain pattern includes a pre-decided spreading code, and

where the subsequent signal is transmitted with a higher power, which stops an extension of the interval.

9. A mobile terminal for communication with a communication node, the mobile terminal comprising:

a transmitter portion to transmit a signal that sets an output power of the mobile terminal;

at least one arrangement to detect movement of the mobile terminal; and

a controller to:

adjust an interval between transmission of a subsequent signal for setting the output power of the mobile terminal based on an output of the at least one arrangement for detecting movement, and

transmit the subsequent signal at the adjusted interval.

10. The radio transceiver of claim 9 , where the at least one arrangement for detecting movement of the transmitter is a motion sensor.

11. The radio transceiver of claim 9 , where the at least one arrangement for detecting movement of the transceiver is an accelerometer.

12. The radio transceiver of claim 9 , where the at least one arrangement for detecting movement of the transceiver comprises means for detecting TPC changes.

13. The radio transceiver of claim 9 , where the at least one arrangement for detecting movement of said transceiver comprises means for measuring received signal characteristics.

14. A base station for communication with a user equipment (UE) in a communication network, the base station comprising:

a receiver portion to receive a plurality of signals from the UE, each signal, of the plurality of signals, identifying an output power of the mobile terminal; and

a controller to vary a transmission of another signal to the UE, where the transmission of the other signal is varied based on an interval associated with receiving each signal, of the plurality of signals, from the UE.