Method and apparatus for combining power control commands received in a wireless communication system

In a wireless communication system, a method for deriving power control decisions, comprising:

• processing a received signal to derive soft-decision symbols for power control commands transmitted from a plurality of transmission sources;
• combining the soft-decision symbols for each power control period based on a particular combination scheme to provide a metric for the power control period;
• comparing each metric against a particular threshold, wherein the threshold is a function of a particular number of transmission sources for which the loft-decision symbols are combined for the power control period;
• and
• deriving a power control decision from each metric, wherein the power control decision is derived based on a result of the comparing.

In a wireless communication system, a method for deriving power control decisions, comprising:

• processing a received signal to derive soft-decision symbols for power control commands transmitted from a plurality of transmission sources;
• scaling each soft-decision symbol for each transmission source based on a scaling factor associated with the transmission source;
• deriving a log domain representation for each scaled soft-decision symbol,
• combining the log domain representations for each power control period to derive a metric for the power control;
• and
• deriving a power control decision from each metric.

In a CDMA communication system, a method for deriving power control decisions for a reverse link transmission, comprising:

• processing a received signal to derive soft-decision symbols for power control commands transmitted from a plurality of base stations;
• scaling each soft-decision symbol for each base station based on a scaling factor associated with the base station;
• combining the scaled soft-decision symbols for each power control period to provide a metric for the power control period;
• comparing each metric against a particular threshold;
• and
• deriving a power control decision for each metric based on a result of the comparing, wherein the soft-decision symbols for each power control period are combined in a manner to approximate an a posteriori probability that the plurality of base stations transmitted UP commands given the soft-decision symbols derived for the power control period.

In a CDMA communication system, a method for deriving power control decisions for a reverse link transmission, comprising:

• processing a received signal to derive soft-decision symbols for power control commands transmitted from a plurality of base stations;
• scaling each soft-decision symbol for each base station based on a scaling factor associated with the base station;
• deriving a log domain representation for each scaled soft-decision symbol;
• combining the log domain representations for each power control period are combined to derive a metric for the power control period;
• comparing each metric against a particular threshold;
• deriving a power control decision for each metric based on a result of the comparing.

A power control unit for use in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• a receiver unit configured to process a received signal to provide samples;
• a demodulator coupled to the receiver unit and configured to process the samples to provide soft-decision symbols for power control commands transmitted from a plurality of transmission sources;
• and
• a power control processor coupled to the demodulator and configured to combine soft-decision symbols for each power control period in a manner to approximate an a posteriori probability that the plurality of transmission sources transmitted UP commands given the soft-decision symbols derived for the power control period and based on a particular combination scheme to provide a metric for the power control period and to derive a power control decision from each metric.

A terminal in a wireless communication system, comprising:

• a receiver unit configured to process a received signal to provide samples;
• a demodulator coupled to the receiver unit and configured to process the samples to provide soft-decision symbols for power control commands transmitted from a plurality of base stations;
• a power control processor coupled to the demodulator and configured to combine soft-decision symbols for each power control period in a manner to approximate an a posteriori probability that the plurality of transmission sources transmitted UP commands given the soft-decision symbols derived for the power control period and based on a particular combination scheme to provide a metric for the power control period and to derive a power control decision from each metric;
• and
• a transmitter unit configured to receive power control decisions from the power control processor and to adjust transmit power for a data transmission to the plurality of base stations based on the power control decisions.