US 8,818,402 B1 · Adjusting initial wireless coverage area transmit power based on device altitude

Abstract

In order to provide better wireless service to wireless communication devices (WCDs) at different altitudes (e.g., on different levels of a high-rise structure), a radio access network (RAN) may include antennas that are configured to provide coverage at these different altitudes. The RAN may assign an initial transmit power to a particular WCD based on the particular WCD's altitude. For instance, if the particular WCD is above a threshold altitude, the RAN may set the initial transmit power to the WCD to a lower value. However, if the WCD is below the threshold altitude, the RAN may set the initial transmit power to the WCD to a higher value, to overcome low-altitude signal obstructions. As a result, RAN and WCD performance may improve.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

setting a first initial transmit power of a first forward traffic channel of a radio access network (RAN) based on a first altitude of a first wireless communication device (WCD);
setting a second initial transmit power of a second forward traffic channel of the RAN based on a second altitude of a second WCD, wherein the second initial transmit power is different from the first initial transmit power;
the RAN beginning transmissions to the first WCD, wherein the transmissions to the first WCD use the first initial power on the first forward traffic channel;
and
the RAN beginning transmissions to the second WCD, wherein the transmissions to the second WCD use the second initial power on the second forward traffic channel.

2 more elements

A computing device comprising:

a processor;
data storage;
and
program instructions, stored in the data storage that, upon execution by the processor, cause the computing device to (i) set a first initial transmit power of a first forward traffic channel of a radio access network (RAN) based on a first altitude of a first wireless communication device (WCD), (ii) set a second initial transmit power of a second forward traffic channel of the RAN based on a second altitude of a second WCD, wherein the second initial transmit power is different from the first initial transmit power, (iii) instruct the RAN to begin transmissions to the first WCD, wherein the transmissions to the first WCD use the first initial power on the first forward traffic channel, and (iv) instruct the RAN to begin transmissions to the second WCD, wherein the transmissions to the second WCD use the second initial power on the second forward traffic channel.

1 more element

An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

setting a first initial transmit power of a first forward traffic channel of a radio access network (RAN) based on a first altitude of a first wireless communication device (WCD);
setting a second initial transmit power of a second forward traffic channel of the RAN based on a second altitude of a second WCD, wherein the second initial transmit power is different from the first initial transmit power;
instructing the RAN to begin transmissions to the first WCD, wherein the transmissions to the first WCD use the first initial power on the first forward traffic channel;
and
instructing the RAN to begin transmissions to the second WCD, wherein the transmissions to the second WCD use the second initial power on the second forward traffic channel.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adjusting initial wireless coverage area transmit power based on device altitude

Life of this patent

Adjusting initial wireless coverage area transmit power based on device altitude

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19