Method and system of transmission power control

A method for use in a transmitter, comprising:

• transmitting a signal to a receiver over a communications link;
• receiving power control commands from a receiver over a feedback link based on a signal quality associated with a communications link, the power control commands instructing the transmitter to modify a power level at which the transmitter transmits over the communications link, where the receiver has a predefined out-of-sync threshold, and where the first communications link to the receiver is out-of-sync if a detected signal quality associated with the communications link is worse than the predefined out-of-sync threshold during a predefined time;
• receiving over the feedback link a first power control command if the communications link is out-of-sync, the first power control command includes a first predefined transmit power control bit pattern that instructs the transmitter to increase the power level that the transmitter transmits over the communications link at a first power increase rate;
• receiving over the feedback link a second power control command if the communications link is not out-of-sync, wherein the second power control command includes a second predefined transmit power control bit pattern that instructs the transmitter to increase the power level that the transmitter transmits over the communications link at a second power increase rate slower than the first power increase rate;
• and
• disregarding the first power control command if the transmitter is involved in a soft handover and at least one soft handover communications link from the transmitter is not out-of-sync.

Receiver apparatus for use in processing a signal transmitted by a transmitter over a communications link to the receiver, comprising:

• a signal quality detector for detecting a signal quality associated with the communications link and for detecting that the communications link is out-of-sync if the detected signal quality associated with the communications link is worse than a predefined out-of-sync threshold during a predefined time;
• transmitting circuitry for sending power control commands to the transmitter over a feedback link based on the detected signal quality, the power control commands instructing the transmitter to modify a power level at which the transmitter transmits over the first communications link;
• logic circuitry arranged to provide power control commands to the transmitting circuitry to generate:
• a first power control command that the communications link is out-of-sync an involved in soft handover before a first power control command is communicated over the feedback link, wherein the first power control command instructs the transmitter to increase the power level that the transmitter transmits over the communications link at a first power increase rate;
• a second power control command if the communications link is out-of-sync and if the transmitter is not involved in a soft handover, wherein the second power control command instructs the transmitter to increase the power level that the transmitter transmits over the communications link at a second power increase rate lower than the first power increase rate;
• and
• a third power control command if the communications link is not out-of-sync, wherein the third power control command instructs the transmitter to increase the power level that the transmitter transmits over the communications link at a third power increase rate lower than the first and the second power increase rates.

Apparatus for use in a transmitter, comprising:

• a transmitter for transmitting a signal to a receiver over a communications link;
• a receiver for receiving power control commands from a receiver over a feedback link based on a signal quality associated with a communications link, the power control commands instructing the transmitter to modify a power level at which the transmitter transmits over the communications link, where the receiver has a predefined out-of-sync threshold, and where the first communications link to the receiver is out-of-sync if a detected signal quality associated with the communications link is worse than the predefined out-of-sync threshold during a predefined time;
• receiving over the feedback link a first power control command if the communications link is out-of-sync, the first power control command includes a first predefined transmit power control bit pattern that instructs the transmitter to increase the power level that the transmitter transmits over the communications link at a first power increase rate;
• receiving over the feedback link a second power control command if the communications link is not out-of-sync, wherein the second power control command includes a second predefined transmit power control bit pattern that instructs the transmitter to increase the power level that the transmitter transmits over the communications link at a second power increase rate slower than the first power increase rate;
• and
• logic circuitry configured to disregard the first power control command if the transmitter is involved in a soft handover and at least one soft handover communications link from the transmitter is not out-of-sync.