Dualband power amplifier control using a single power amplifier controller

A method for controlling the power of a signal transmitted from a dualband telephone to a base station, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the quality and strength of signals received at the dualband telephone from the base station and at the base station from the dualband telephone;
• determining which frequency band of the dualband telephone will provide the optimal balance between signal quality and signal strength while transmitting the signal to the base station based upon the quality and strength of the signals received by at least one of the dualband phone and the base station;
• switching the connection of a power amplifier controller to one of a first power amplifier amplifying the power of signal transmitted at a first frequency band and a second power amplifier amplifying the power of a signal transmitted a second frequency band, wherein the connection is switched depending upon which frequency band will provide the optimal balance between signal quality and signal strength;
• controlling the amount of amplification performed by the connected one of said first power amplifier and said second power amplifier based upon a desired signal strength.

A system for controlling the power of a signal transmitted from a multiband transmitter, comprising:

• a plurality of power amplifiers for amplifying the power of a signal transmitted at a plurality of frequency bands;
• wherein each of said plurality of power amplifiers amplifies the power of a signal transmitted at a different frequency band;
• a power amplifier controller for controlling the amount of amplification performed by one of said plurality of power amplifiers;
• a single switch connected to said power amplifier controller for switching the connection of said power amplifier controller between said plurality of power amplifiers;
• and
• a processing means for monitoring the quality and strength of a received signal from a base station and instructing said single switch to switch its connection between said plurality of power amplifiers based upon a determination of which of said plurality of frequency bands provides an optimal balance between signal quality and signal strength.