Method and system for determining uplink/downlink path-loss difference

An apparatus for determining a path-loss difference between uplink and downlink communications within a first node communicating with a second node in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• logic that determines a quantity of access request preambles transmitted by the first node to the second node before an acknowledgment from the second node of successful receipt of a preamble is received at the first node, the preambles being transmitted at incrementally increasing power levels;
• logic that estimates a difference between an uplink path-loss attributed to communications from the first node to the second node and a downlink path-loss attributed to communications to the first node from the second node based on the transmitted preamble quantity determination.

A computer-readable medium containing a computer program for estimating a path-loss difference between uplink and downlink communications at a first node communicating with a second node in a communication system, wherein the computer program performs the steps of:

• determining, at the first node, a quantity of access request preambles transmitted by the first node to the second node before an acknowledgement from the second node of successful receipt of a preamble is received at the first node, the preambles being transmitted at incrementally increasing power levels;
• estimating, at the first node, a difference between an uplink path-loss attributed to communications from the first node to the second node and a downlink path-loss attributed to communications to the first node from the second node based on the transmitted preamble quantity determination.