# US 9,883,465 B2 · Determining transmit power based on categorization of access terminals

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- Number: US 9,883,465 B2
- Document ID: US9883465B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/196,037
- Filed: 2014-03-04
- Published: 2015-03-05
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-04
- Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Inventors: Cong Shen; Christophe Chevallier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883465B2

## CPC

- H04W 52/265: {taking into account the quality of service QoS}
- H04W 52/244: {Interferences in heterogeneous networks, e.g. among macro and femto or pico cells or other sector / system interference [OSI]}
- H04W 52/40: during macro-diversity or soft handoff
- H04W 52/143: {Downlink power control}
- H04W 52/242: {taking into account path loss}
- H04W 52/283: {Power depending on the position of the mobile}
- H04W 52/367: {Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range}
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Transmit power management for small cells in a wireless communication environment may be achieved by receiving information generated by a plurality of access terminals associated with an access point, categorizing the access terminals based on the received information, and determining transmit power for the access point based on the categorization of the access terminals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for communication, comprising:
a communication device configured to receive information generated by a plurality of access terminals in communication with an access point; and
a processing system configured to:
categorize the access terminals based on the received information, the received information including measurement report messages sent by the access terminals, and
determine transmit power for the access point based on the categorization of the access terminals,
wherein the processing system is configured to categorize the access terminals based at least in part on how many measurement report messages are sent by each access terminal in an active call with the access point.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to categorize the access terminals based further on which of the access terminals are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to categorize the access terminals based further on which of the access terminals sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to categorize the access terminals by identifying a first category of the access terminals and a second category of the access terminals, wherein:
the first category is based on a quantity of the measurement report messages sent to the access point or on a path loss to the access point derived from the measurement report messages; and
the second category is based on a quantity of cell update messages sent to the access point.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cell update messages are associated with radio link failure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing system is further configured to categorize the access terminals by identifying a third category of the access terminals that comprises access terminals that are not in the first category or the second category.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to categorize the access terminals by identifying:
a first subset of the access terminals that most frequently obtain service from the access point; and
a second subset of the access terminals that obtain service from at least one neighbor access point of the access point.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to categorize the access terminals by identifying:
a first subset of the access terminals to be provided a target level of service by the access point; and
a second subset of the access terminals to be protected from interference from the access point.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information further comprises at least one of:
cell update messages sent by the access terminals; or
registration messages sent by the access terminals.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information further comprises at least one of:
path loss information;
cell update count information; or
registration count information.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to determine the transmit power based on a quantity of cell updates sent from at least one of the access terminals to the access point.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cell updates are associated with radio link failure.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to determine the transmit power based on:
a first type of the information associated with a first category of the access terminals; and
a second type of the information associated with a second category of the access terminals.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:
the first type of the information comprises path loss information; and
the second type of the information comprises cell update count information.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:
the first category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point or access terminals that are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point; and
the second category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to determine the transmit power by:
determining a nominal transmit power that provides a target signal quality for a target coverage range, wherein the determination of the nominal transmit power is based on a first subset of the information associated with a first category of the access terminals; and
adjusting the nominal transmit power based on a second subset of the information associated with a second category of the access terminals.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:
the first subset of the information comprises path loss information;
the second subset of the information comprises cell update count information;
the first category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point or access terminals that are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point; and
the second category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to determine the transmit power by:
determining a nominal transmit power that provides a target signal quality for a target coverage range, wherein the determination of the nominal transmit power is based on path loss information associated with a first category of the access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point; and
adjusting the nominal transmit power based on registration information associated with a third category of the access terminals that is mutually exclusive of the first category of access terminals and mutually exclusive of a second category of the access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 19

A method of determining transmit power, comprising:
receiving information generated by a plurality of access terminals in communication with an access point;
categorizing the access terminals based on the received information, the received information including measurement report messages sent by the access terminals; and
determining transmit power for the access point based on the categorization of the access terminals,
wherein the categorizing the access terminals comprises categorizing the access terminals based at least in part on how many measurement report messages are sent by each access terminal in an active call with the access point.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the categorizing the access terminals comprises categorizing based further on which of the access terminals are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the categorizing the access terminals comprises categorizing based further on which of the access terminals sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the categorizing the access terminals comprises identifying a first category of the access terminals and a second category of the access terminals, wherein:
the first category is based on a quantity of the measurement report messages sent to the access point or on a path loss to the access point derived from the measurement report messages; and
the second category is based on a quantity of cell update messages sent to the access point.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the cell update messages are associated with radio link failure.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the categorizing the access terminals further comprises identifying a third category of the access terminals that comprises access terminals that are not in the first category or the second category.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the categorizing the access terminals comprises identifying:
a first subset of the access terminals that most frequently obtain service from the access point; and
a second subset of the access terminals that obtain service from at least one neighbor access point of the access point.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the categorizing the access terminals comprises identifying:
a first subset of the access terminals to be provided a target level of service by the access point; and
a second subset of the access terminals to be protected from interference from the access point.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the information further comprises at least one of:
cell update messages sent by the access terminals; or
registration messages sent by the access terminals.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the information further comprises at least one of:
path loss information;
cell update count information; or
registration count information.

### Claim 29 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining the transmit power comprises determining based on a quantity of cell updates sent from at least one of the access terminals to the access point.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the cell updates are associated with radio link failure.

### Claim 31 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining the transmit power comprises determining based on:
a first type of the information associated with a first category of the access terminals; and
a second type of the information associated with a second category of the access terminals.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein:
the first type of the information comprises path loss information; and
the second type of the information comprises cell update count information.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein:
the first category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point or access terminals that are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point; and
the second category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 34 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining the transmit power comprises:
determining a nominal transmit power that provides a target signal quality for a target coverage range, wherein the determination of the nominal transmit power is based on a first subset of the information associated with a first category of the access terminals; and
adjusting the nominal transmit power based on a second subset of the information associated with a second category of the access terminals.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein:
the first subset of the information comprises path loss information;
the second subset of the information comprises cell update count information;
the first category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point or access terminals that are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point; and
the second category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 36 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the determining the transmit power comprises:
determining a nominal transmit power that provides a target signal quality for a target coverage range, wherein the determination of the nominal transmit power is based on path loss information associated with a first category of the access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point; and
adjusting the nominal transmit power based on registration information associated with a third category of the access terminals that is mutually exclusive of the first category of access terminals and mutually exclusive of a second category of the access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 37

An apparatus for communication, comprising:
means for receiving information generated by a plurality of access terminals in communication with an access point;
means for categorizing the access terminals based on the received information, the received information including measurement report messages sent by the access terminals; and
means for determining transmit power for the access point based on the categorization of the access terminals,
wherein the means for categorizing the access terminals categorizes the access terminals based at least in part on how many measurement report messages are sent by each access terminal in an active call with the access point.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for categorizing the access terminals categorizes based further on which of the access terminals are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for categorizing the access terminals categorizes based further on which of the access terminals sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 40 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for categorizing the access terminals comprises means for identifying a first category of the access terminals and a second category of the access terminals, wherein:
the first category is based on a quantity of the measurement report messages sent to the access point or on a path loss to the access point derived from the measurement report messages; and
the second category is based on a quantity of cell update messages sent to the access point.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the cell update messages are associated with radio link failure.

### Claim 42 (depends on 40)

The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the means for categorizing the access terminals further comprises means for identifying a third category of the access terminals that comprises access terminals that are not in the first category or the second category.

### Claim 43 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for categorizing the access terminals comprises means for identifying:
a first subset of the access terminals that most frequently obtain service from the access point; and
a second subset of the access terminals that obtain service from at least one neighbor access point of the access point.

### Claim 44 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for categorizing the access terminals comprises means for identifying:
a first subset of the access terminals to be provided a target level of service by the access point; and
a second subset of the access terminals to be protected from interference from the access point.

### Claim 45 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the information further comprises at least one of:
cell update messages sent by the access terminals; or
registration messages sent by the access terminals.

### Claim 46 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the information further comprises at least one of:
path loss information;
cell update count information; or
registration count information.

### Claim 47 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for determining the transmit power determines based on a quantity of cell updates sent from at least one of the access terminals to the access point.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the cell updates are associated with radio link failure.

### Claim 49 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for determining the transmit power determines based on:
a first type of the information associated with a first category of the access terminals; and
a second type of the information associated with a second category of the access terminals.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The apparatus of claim 49, wherein:
the first type of the information comprises path loss information; and
the second type of the information comprises cell update count information.

### Claim 51 (depends on 49)

The apparatus of claim 49, wherein:
the first category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point or access terminals that are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point; and
the second category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 52 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for determining the transmit power comprises:
means for determining a nominal transmit power that provides a target signal quality for a target coverage range, wherein the determination of the nominal transmit power is based on a first subset of the information associated with a first category of the access terminals; and
means for adjusting the nominal transmit power based on a second subset of the information associated with a second category of the access terminals.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The apparatus of claim 52, wherein:
the first subset of the information comprises path loss information;
the second subset of the information comprises cell update count information;
the first category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point or access terminals that are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point; and
the second category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 54 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for determining the transmit power comprises:
means for determining a nominal transmit power that provides a target signal quality for a target coverage range, wherein the determination of the nominal transmit power is based on path loss information associated with a first category of the access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point; and
means for adjusting the nominal transmit power based on registration information associated with a third category of the access terminals that is mutually exclusive of the first category of access terminals and mutually exclusive of a second category of the access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 55

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to:
receive information generated by a plurality of access terminals in communication with an access point;
categorize the access terminals based on the received information, the received information including measurement report messages sent by the access terminals; and
determine transmit power for the access point based on the categorization of the access terminals,
wherein the code to categorize the access terminals causes the computer to categorize the access terminals based at least in part on how many measurement report messages are sent by each access terminal in an active call with the access point.

### Claim 56 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to categorize the access terminals causes the computer to categorize based further on which of the access terminals are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point.

### Claim 57 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to categorize the access terminals causes the computer to categorize based further on which of the access terminals sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 58 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to categorize the access terminals comprises code to cause the computer to identify a first category of the access terminals and a second category of the access terminals, wherein:
the first category is based on a quantity of the measurement report messages sent to the access point or on a path loss to the access point derived from the measurement report messages; and
the second category is based on a quantity of cell update messages sent to the access point.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the cell update messages are associated with radio link failure.

### Claim 60 (depends on 58)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the code to categorize the access terminals further comprises code to cause the computer to identify a third category of the access terminals that comprises access terminals that are not in the first category or the second category.

### Claim 61 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to categorize the access terminals comprises code to cause the computer to identify:
a first subset of the access terminals that most frequently obtain service from the access point; and
a second subset of the access terminals that obtain service from at least one neighbor access point of the access point.

### Claim 62 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to categorize the access terminals comprises code to cause the computer to identify:
a first subset of the access terminals to be provided a target level of service by the access point; and
a second subset of the access terminals to be protected from interference from the access point.

### Claim 63 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the information further comprises at least one of:
cell update messages sent by the access terminals; or
registration messages sent by the access terminals.

### Claim 64 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the information further comprises at least one of:
path loss information;
cell update count information; or
registration count information.

### Claim 65 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to determine the transmit power causes the computer to determine based on a quantity of cell updates sent from at least one of the access terminals to the access point.

### Claim 66 (depends on 65)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 65, wherein the cell updates are associated with radio link failure.

### Claim 67 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to determine the transmit power causes the computer to determine based on:
a first type of the information associated with a first category of the access terminals; and
a second type of the information associated with a second category of the access terminals.

### Claim 68 (depends on 67)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein:
the first type of the information comprises path loss information; and
the second type of the information comprises cell update count information.

### Claim 69 (depends on 67)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein:
the first category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point or access terminals that are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point; and
the second category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 70 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to determine the transmit power comprises code to cause the computer to:
determine a nominal transmit power that provides a target signal quality for a target coverage range, wherein the determination of the nominal transmit power is based on a first subset of the information associated with a first category of the access terminals; and
adjust the nominal transmit power based on a second subset of the information associated with a second category of the access terminals.

### Claim 71 (depends on 70)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 70, wherein:
the first subset of the information comprises path loss information;
the second subset of the information comprises cell update count information;
the first category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point or access terminals that are associated with a smaller path loss to the access point; and
the second category of the access terminals comprises access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.

### Claim 72 (depends on 55)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the code to determine the transmit power comprises code to cause the computer to:
determine a nominal transmit power that provides a target signal quality for a target coverage range, wherein the determination of the nominal transmit power is based on path loss information associated with a first category of the access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of the measurement report messages to the access point; and
adjust the nominal transmit power based on registration information associated with a third category of the access terminals that is mutually exclusive of the first category of access terminals and mutually exclusive of a second category of the access terminals that sent a threshold quantity of cell update messages associated with radio link failure to the access point.