2002-023 Reducing Power Control Errors in Wireless Communications System
Summary
Researchers at UCLA have developed a power control technique that extends battery life in mobile handsets, reduces inter-user interference, and increases the overall capacity of wireless systems through systematically reducing the power control error present in current techniques.
Background
As the demand for cellular wireless systems increases, there is a growing need for power control techniques that minimize inter-user interference and extend the battery life of mobile handsets. Without power control, the signal received by the base station from a nearby mobile handset will dominate the signal from a far-away handset, resulting in severe signal interference and power drainage. Conventionally, the transmission power of each mobile handset varies based on its distance to the base station: the closer to the base station, the less the transmission power.
Innovation
Researchers at UCLA have developed a method that improves the performance of current power control techniques. By deriving an accurate expression of the error that is present, this leads to a better understanding of the limitations and suggests methods for efficiently reducing the power control error. Their algorithm has demonstrated improved performance over conventional schemes, further reducing the power consumption in mobile handsets and increasing the overall capacity of wireless systems.
Applications
Power control in wireless communication systems
Advantages