Transmit power level adjustment for wireless devices
A transmit power level of a wireless device is adjusted based on an uplink interference to neighboring sectors caused by the transmit power level. The wireless device can estimate the uplink interference using a reference signal transmitted by each neighboring sector. The uplink interference is based on a loss of signal strength of the reference signal as measured at the wireless device, i.e. a path loss. A determination is made to adjust the transmit power level of the wireless device so as to improve a coverage area of the serving sector, without generating excessive interference in neighboring sectors. Consequently, a transmit power level increase is based on a function of the data demand of the wireless device, the interference caused to neighbors, and the load on neighboring sectors.
1. A method for determining a transmit power level for a wireless device, the method comprising:
obtaining a potential interference of a neighboring sector caused by an increased transmit power level of the wireless device, the potential interference being based on a reference signal strength of the neighboring sector measured at the wireless device, wherein obtaining the potential interference is performed upon determining that the neighboring sector is loaded beyond a threshold; and
when the potential interference is within an interference threshold, setting a maximum transmit power level using the increased transmit power level.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the potential interference is based on a path loss of a reference signal transmitted by the neighboring sector.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the path loss is determined by subtracting the reference signal receive power from a reference signal transmit power, the reference signal transmit power being obtained from the neighboring sector.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the potential interference comprises an estimate of a received signal power received at the neighboring sector of a hypothetical signal transmitted by the wireless device using the increased transmit power level.
5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising scaling the potential interference based on a difference between the path loss of the reference signal transmitted by the neighboring sector and a path loss of a serving sector that is currently providing services to the wireless device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein setting the maximum transmit power level is based on the scaled potential interference.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the maximum transmit power level is subject to a maximum potential power level for the wireless device.
8. A method for determining a transmit power level for a wireless device, the method comprising:
determining a desired transmit power level for the wireless device;
determining a path loss of a neighboring sector caused by the desired transmit power level, wherein determining the path loss is performed upon determining that the neighboring sector is loaded beyond a threshold; and
adjusting the desired transmit power level based on the path loss.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the desired transmit power level for the wireless device is based on a data requirement of the wireless device.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining that the neighboring sector is loaded beyond the threshold is based on the wireless device receiving loading information for the neighboring sector.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining an interference level based on the path loss.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the desired transmit power level is based on the interference level remaining within a threshold interference level.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the neighboring sector and the serving sector are both deployed by a single access node.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the neighboring sector and the serving sector are each deployed by separate access nodes.
15. A system for determining a transmit power level, the system comprising:
a processing node; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the processing node, the processor for configuring the processing node to execute operations comprising:
determining a first path loss of a first neighbor sector, wherein determining the first path loss is performed upon determining that the first neighboring sector is loaded beyond a threshold;
based on the first path loss, determining an interference caused to the first neighbor sector by an increased transmit power level of a wireless device; and
based on the interference, adjusting the increased transmit power level of the wireless device.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first path loss is based on a signal strength of a first reference signal transmitted by the first neighbor sector and measured at the wireless device.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a second path loss of a second neighbor sector, wherein the second path loss is based on a signal strength of a second reference signal transmitted by the second neighbor sector and measured at the wireless device.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a total interference caused to the first and second neighbor sectors based on the increased transmit power level.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the increased transmit power level is adjusted such that the total interference remains below a threshold.