Method and apparatus for transmission power control

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for power control in a cellular communication system. The power control may be operated (201) in a first mode of operation wherein power control data are determined in response to a quality parameter, such as a desired signal to noise ratio. The method further comprises entering (205) a reduced power mode of operation by communicating power down power control data between a base station and a communication unit. The base station and/or communication unit then proceeds to operate (207) in the reduced power mode by communicating power control data corresponding to a reduced transmit power level. The reduced transmit power level may specifically be zero. After a given duration, the base station and/or communication unit proceeds to exit (211) the reduced power mode by communicating power up power control data between the base station and the communication unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.