Power Control in WCDMA

Why Power Control?

Its objective is to maximize capacity by minimizing power
and interference.

To avoid the interference between the users because each
one use same frequency and bandwidth at same time

Minimise Uplink Interference- To adjust the transmit
power of the UE so that the signals received at the Radio
Base Station (RBS) from all UEs have equal Signal to-
Interference Ratio (SIR) at the same bit rate (the near-far
problem). Because the UE at the cell edge will suffer from
a higher Path Loss than another UE that is close to BS.

Cont
Minimise Downlink transmit Power- Downlink
Power Control is used to minimize the transmitted
power of the RBS. Because there is a shared
resource in WCDMA.

Type of Power Control
Open Loop Power Control

Inner Loop Control

Outer Loop Power Control

WCDMA Power Control loops







Open Loop Power Control

Used for initial power setting of the UE at the beginning of the
connection.

This open loop power control function ensures that the random
access does not cause too much interference.

1. UE measures the received power of the CPICH.

2. UE reads the power control information from Broadcast channel in which
it reads BS transmit power of the CPICH.


Cont
3. From these values UE estimates the minimum
transmit power necessary to access the cell.

4. Attempt to access the cell at estimated value.

5. If this attempt is fail then there is no response
from BS, then it will attempt with a increase
power in steps and re-try.

Cont

Response from BS

Attempt to access cell


Inner Loop Power Control
It takes place over a dedicated channel once it is setup

1. This is required to avoid UE transmitting too high a power level as they move towards
the BS and vice versa.

2. The system must ensure that the UE transmits only sufficient power level s to be
received and avoid unnecessary interference to other users.

3. Once a dedicated channel is established , the UE (Uplink) power can be controlled be
the BS by sending power control messages (TPC bits, are used for downlink power
control as well) as UE moves far or near from the BS.

4. Power can be adjusted in steps of less than 1dB at a rate of 1500times per second.

5. Conclusively, overall idea here is that every UE in the cell shoulfd requires same
Signal to Interference (SIR) ratio at base station.

Cont

Moving far



Coming towards
Outer Loop Power Control
It is used to keep the quality of communication at
the required level by setting SIR target.
The Outer Loop aims at providing the required
quality , no worse, no better.
- If the received quality in UL is better than the required
then SIR target is decreased.

- If not then SIR target is increased.


Cont
Cont
The Serving Radio Network Controller (SRNC) will constantly
monitor the CRCs of the uplink Transport Blocks (TB) and estimate
the Block Error Rate (BLER).
If it discovers that this BLER is either higher or lower than what is
required for the RAB, it will change the SIR target for Inner Loop
Power Control.
In doing so the uplink BLER for the service is maintained, regardless
of UE environment and mobility.

The UE must perform the same function on the downlink TBs and
change the target for the Downlink Inner Loop Power Control. This
will maintain the downlink BLER for the service regardless of the UE
environment and mobility.


Thanks