Apparatus and method for controlling transmission power in a cellular communications system

The apparatus recited in claim I wherein the gain unit comprises:

• a second adder for adding a transmit power ability factor, P.sub.TX, ANALOG, indicating the maximum transmit power capability of said base station and the transmit power tracking gain, y' to obtain a corrected transmit power tracking gain;
• a third adder for adding said corrected transmit power gain and a breathing attenuation value, A.sub.TX, BREATHING, to obtain a breathing corrected transmit power gain;
• a variable gain block having a gain responsive to said breathing corrected transmit power gain for receiving said radio frequency transmit signal, w, and providing an amplitude controlled signal;
• and
• a high power amplifier for amplifying said amplitude controlled signal and producing said final output signal, w.sub.o.

A method for controlling a power of a final output signal, w.sub.o, of a base station in a cellular communication system, said base station providing communication on a plurality of channels, said base station having a transmit power tracking gain, y', said method comprising the steps of:

• calculating a plurality of expected powers, each of said plurality of expected powers corresponding to one of said plurality of channels;
• summing said plurality of expected powers to generate a desired output power, y.sub.d, of said base station;
• measuring said power of said final output signal, w.sub.o, to obtain a measured transmit power;
• comparing said desired output power, y.sub.d, and said measured transmit power to obtain a control input, u;
• filtering said control input, u, to obtain said transmit power tracking gain, y';
• and
• adjusting the power of said final output signal, w.sub.o, according to said transmit power tracking gain, y'.