Power control in a multicarrier communications system

A method for improving a multi-carrier system, comprising the steps of:

• (A) transmitting, through a communications channel, a plurality of multi-carrier signals on a plurality of frequencies, with the plurality of multi-carrier signals including a subset of unmodulated carrier signals, respectively;
• (B) receiving the plurality of multi-carrier signals;
• (C) measuring in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers, for each received unmodulated carrier signal of the subset of the unmodulated carrier signals including the step of measuring gain flatness and phase linearity;
• (D) comparing the measured in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of each received unmodulated carrier signal of the subset of unmodulated carrier signals to predetermined criteria;
• (E) generating adjusting data from the compared in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers;
• (F) adjusting, using the adjusting data, the in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers for a next plurality of multi-carrier signals to be transmitted, thereby generating a plurality of adjusted multi-carrier signals;
• and
• (G) transmitting, with the in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers adjusted per the adjusting data, the next plurality of multi-carrier signals through the communications channel.

An improvement to a multi-carrier system, comprising:

• a first unit for transmitting, through a communications channel, a plurality of multi-carrier signals on a plurality of frequencies, with the plurality of multi-carrier signals including a subset of unmodulated signals, respectively, including means for generating pre-distorting data including from any of power level, spectral shape, and phase characteristics;
• a second unit for receiving the plurality of multi-carrier signals, and measuring in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers, for each received unmodulated carrier signal of the subset of unmodulated carrier signals, for comparing the measured in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of the plurality of received unmodulated carrier signals to predetermined criteria, and for generating adjusting data from the compared in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers, and for sending the adjusting data to the first unit;
• and
• the first unit adjusts, using the adjusting data, in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers for a next plurality of the multi-carrier signals to be transmitted, and for transmitting, with the in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers adjusted per the adjusting data, the next plurality of multi-carrier signals through the communications channel.

An improvement to a multi-carrier system, comprising:

• a first unit for transmitting, through a communications channel, a plurality of multi-carrier signals on a plurality of frequencies, with the plurality of multi-carrier signals including a subset of unmodulated signals, respectively;
• a second unit for receiving the plurality of multi-carrier signals, and measuring in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers, for each received unmodulated carrier signal of the subset of unmodulated carrier signals, for comparing the measured in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers of the plurality of received unmodulated carrier signals to predetermined criteria, and for generating adjusting data from the compared in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers, and for sending the adjusting data to the first unit including means for measuring gain flatness and phase linearity;
• and
• the first unit adjusts, using the adjusting data, in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers for a next plurality of the multi-carrier signals to be transmitted, and for transmitting, with the in-phase and quadrature amplitudes or powers adjusted per the adjusting data, the next plurality of multi-carrier signals through the communications channel.