# US 10,375,652 B2 · Transmission power control for wireless communication devices

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- Number: US 10,375,652 B2
- Document ID: US10375652B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/846,384
- Filed: 2017-12-19
- Published: 2019-06-20
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-19
- Assignees: Itron Global SARL
- Applicants: Itron Global SARL
- Inventors: Nikesh Man Shakya; Mehdi Mani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375652B2

## CPC

- H04W 52/245: {taking into account received signal strength}
- H04W 52/143: {Downlink power control}
- H04W 52/241: {taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR or Eb/lo}
- H04W 52/242: {taking into account path loss}
- H04W 52/247: {where the output power of a terminal is based on a path parameter sent by another terminal}
- H04W 52/367: {Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range}
- H04W 52/0206: {in access points, e.g. base stations}
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A device and method for controlling transmission power in a network device is disclosed. The method comprises transmitting, at an initial transmission power, an initial data transmission intended for at least one receiving device on a network, receiving an initial response from the at least one receiving device, the initial response including an initial received signal strength indication (RSSI), determining a power loss based on the value of the initial transmission power and the received RSSI, determining a new transmission power based on the determined power loss, and transmitting, at the new transmission power, one or more additional data transmissions intended for the at least one receiving device. The method further comprises determining whether link quality is deteriorating, and applying additional measures for optimizing transmission power based on the link quality and other factors. A solution for mitigating a loop condition is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device configured for communications in a radio frequency, RF, network, the device comprising:
a transmission power controller;
a transceiver communicably coupled with the transmission power controller, the transceiver configured to communicate with other devices over the network; and
a memory communicably coupled with the transmission power controller, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the transmission power controller, direct the transmission power controller to:
via the transceiver, transmit, at an initial transmission power, an initial data transmission intended for at least one receiving device on the network;
via the transceiver, receive an initial response from the at least one receiving device, the initial response including an initial received signal strength indication, RSSI;
determine a power loss based on the value of the initial transmission power and the received RSSI;
determine a new transmission power based on the determined power loss;
via the transceiver, transmit, at the new transmission power, one or more additional data transmissions intended for the at least one receiving device;
determine an expected transmission count, ETX, for one or more additional data transmissions;
determine an average ETX based on the determined ETXs; and
monitor the average ETX to determine whether link quality is deteriorating.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the initial transmission power is a predetermined maximum transmission power.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the new transmission power is further based on at least one of a power sensitivity factor or a predetermined margin.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the determining of the average ETX includes determining the average ETX using an exponential weighted mean average.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further direct the transmission power controller to:
determine whether the link quality has deteriorated by expiration of a transmission window, wherein the transmission window is a predetermined number of transmissions; and
upon determining that the link quality has not deteriorated by expiration of the transmission window, decrease the new transmission power by a predetermined decrease amount for upcoming transmissions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions further direct the transmission power controller to:
via the transceiver, receive, respectively for the one or more additional data transmissions, a response including a received signal strength indication, RSSI;
for each transmission power level used for the one or more additional data transmissions, determine a power loss average based on the respective level of transmission power and the obtained RSSIs at that transmission power;
when a transmission power level is increased, determine an average RSSI at a most recent unstable transmission power level; and
when it is determined that the link quality has not deteriorated by the expiration of the transmission window, and prior to decreasing the new transmission power to a next new transmission power, check whether a decrease in the new transmission power will compromise communications by:
estimating a next receive power based on the next new transmission power and the determined power loss average at the next new transmission power;
determining whether the next receive power estimation is greater than a receiver sensitivity value and also greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level;
when the next receive power estimation is greater than the receiver sensitivity value and also greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level, decreasing the new transmission power to the next new transmission power; and
when the next receive power estimation is not greater than the receiver sensitivity value or is not greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level, refraining from decreasing the new transmission power to the next new transmission power.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein when no response is received in response to a data transmission after expiration of a predetermined number of transmission windows, the device is declared out of coverage for the decreased new transmission power, and the instructions further direct the transmission power controller to:
refrain from decreasing the new transmission power until a predetermined maximum number of transmission windows has been reached.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further direct the transmission power controller to:
when it is determined that the link quality is deteriorating, increase the new transmission power by a predetermined increase amount for upcoming transmissions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further direct the transmission power controller to:
when it is determined that the link quality has not deteriorated by expiration of a transmission window, wherein the transmission window is a predetermined number of transmissions, decrease the transmission power by a predetermined decrease amount for upcoming transmissions;
when it is determined that the link quality is deteriorating, increase the new transmission power by a predetermined increase amount for upcoming transmissions;
determine whether a loop condition exists, wherein the loop condition is determined to exist when the transmission power oscillates between a first transmission power and a second transmission power; and
upon determining that the loop condition exists, increase a size of the transmission window for upcoming transmissions.

### Claim 10

A method of controlling transmission power by a transmission power controller of a network device, the method comprising:
transmitting, via a transceiver, at an initial transmission power, an initial data transmission intended for at least one receiving device on a network;
receiving, via the transceiver, an initial response from the at least one receiving device, the initial response including an initial received signal strength indication, RSSI;
determining a power loss based on the value of the initial transmission power and the received RSSI;
determining a new transmission power based on the determined power loss;
transmitting, at the new transmission power, one or more additional data transmissions intended for the at least one receiving device;
determining an expected transmission count, ETX, for one or more additional data transmissions;
determining an average ETX based on the determined ETXs; and
monitoring the average ETX to determine whether link quality is deteriorating.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
determining whether the link quality has deteriorated by expiration of a predetermined transmission window, wherein the transmission window is a predetermined number of transmissions; and
upon determining that the link quality has not deteriorated by expiration of the transmission window, decreasing the new transmission power by a predetermined decrease amount for upcoming transmissions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
receiving, via the transceiver, for the one or more additional data transmissions, a response including a received signal strength indication, RSSI;
for each transmission power level used for the one or more additional data transmissions, determining a power loss average based on the respective level of transmission power and the obtained RSSIs at that transmission power;
when a transmission power level is increased, determining an average RSSI at a most recent unstable transmission power level; and
when it is determined that the link quality has not deteriorated by the expiration of the transmission window, and prior to decreasing the new transmission power to a next new transmission power, checking whether a decrease in the new transmission power will compromise communications by:
estimating a next receive power based on the next new transmission power and the determined power loss average at the next new transmission power;
determining whether the next receive power estimation is greater than a receiver sensitivity value and also greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level;
when the next receive power estimation is greater than the receiver sensitivity value and also greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level, decreasing the new transmission power to the next new transmission power; and
when the next receive power estimation is not greater than the receiver sensitivity value or is not greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level, refraining from decreasing the new transmission power to the next new transmission power.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
when no response is received in response to a data transmission after expiration of a predetermined number of transmission windows, refraining from decreasing the new transmission power until a predetermined maximum number of transmission windows has been reached.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
when it is determined that the link quality has not deteriorated by expiration of a predetermined transmission window, wherein the transmission window is a predetermined number of transmissions, decreasing the new transmission power by a predetermined decrease amount for upcoming transmissions;
when it is determined that the link quality is deteriorating, increasing the new transmission power by a predetermined increase amount for upcoming transmissions;
determining whether a loop condition exists, wherein the loop condition is determined to exist when the transmission power oscillates between a first transmission power and a second transmission power; and
upon determining that the loop condition exists, increasing a size of the transmission window for upcoming transmissions.

### Claim 15

At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer program logic stored thereon, the computer program logic including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
transmit, via a transceiver communicably coupled with the processor, and at an initial transmission power, an initial data transmission intended for at least one receiving device on a network;
receive, via the transceiver, an initial response from the at least one receiving device, the initial response including an initial received signal strength indication, RSSI;
determine a power loss based on the value of the initial transmission power and the received RSSI;
determine a new transmission power based on the determined power loss;
transmit, at the new transmission power, one or more additional data transmissions intended for the at least one receiving device;
determine an expected transmission count, ETX, for one or more additional data transmissions;
determine an average ETX based on the determined ETXs; and
monitor the average ETX to determine whether link quality is deteriorating.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:
determine whether the link quality has deteriorated by expiration of a predetermined transmission window, wherein the transmission window is a predetermined number of transmissions; and
upon determining that the link quality has not deteriorated by expiration of the transmission window, decrease the new transmission power by a predetermined decrease amount for upcoming transmissions.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:
receive, via the transceiver, and for the one or more additional data transmissions, a response including a received signal strength indication, RSSI;
for each transmission power level used for the one or more additional data transmissions, determine a power loss average based on the respective level of transmission power and the obtained RSSIs at that transmission power;
when a transmission power level is increased, determine an average RSSI at a most recent unstable transmission power level; and
when it is determined that the link quality has not deteriorated by the expiration of the transmission window, and prior to decreasing the new transmission power to a next new transmission power, check whether a decrease in the new transmission power will compromise communications by:
estimating a next receive power based on the next new transmission power and the determined power loss average at the next new transmission power;
determining whether the next receive power estimation is greater than a receiver sensitivity value and also greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level;
when the next receive power estimation is greater than the receiver sensitivity value and also greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level, decreasing the new transmission power to the next new transmission power; and
when the next receive power estimation is not greater than the receiver sensitivity value or is not greater than the determined average RSSI at the most recent unstable transmission power level, refraining from decreasing the new transmission power to the next new transmission power.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:
when no response is received in response to a data transmission after expiration of a predetermined number of transmission windows, refrain from decreasing the new transmission power until a predetermined maximum number of transmission windows has been reached.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:
when it is determined that the link quality has not deteriorated by expiration of a transmission window, wherein the transmission window is a predetermined number of transmissions, decrease the new transmission power by a predetermined decrease amount for upcoming transmissions;
when it is determined that the link quality is deteriorating, increase the new transmission power by a predetermined increase amount for upcoming transmissions;
determine whether a loop condition exists, wherein the loop condition is determined to exist when the transmission power oscillates between a first transmission power and a second transmission power; and
upon determining that the loop condition exists, increase a size of the transmission window for upcoming transmissions.