초록 ▼

According to one aspect, a spread spectrum communications system is capable of automatically adjusting transmission power level so as to optimize one or more aspects of the spread spectrum communication system performance. The spread spectrum communications system is comprised of a first spread spec

According to one aspect, a spread spectrum communications system is capable of automatically adjusting transmission power level so as to optimize one or more aspects of the spread spectrum communication system performance. The spread spectrum communications system is comprised of a first spread spectrum transmitter, an associated first spread spectrum receiver, and a feedback communication system. The first spread spectrum transmitter is adapted to transmit a spread spectrum type signal. The first spread spectrum receiver is adapted to receive the spread spectrum type signal sent by the first spread spectrum transmitter and to subsequently generate transmission power level control information, which is conveyed to the first spread spectrum transmitter via a feedback communication system. The first spread spectrum transmitter is further adapted to receive and process transmission power level control information that is provided by the feedback communication system, and subsequently adjust transmission power in accordance with the received transmission power level control information.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A spread spectrum communication system for automatically adjusting transmission power level to optimize one or more aspects of the spread spectrum communication system performance, the communication system comprising:(a) a first spread spectrum transceiver adapted to transmit a spread spectrum si

1. A spread spectrum communication system for automatically adjusting transmission power level to optimize one or more aspects of the spread spectrum communication system performance, the communication system comprising:(a) a first spread spectrum transceiver adapted to transmit a spread spectrum signal, to receive and process transmission power level control information, and to adjust transmission power in accordance with the received transmission power level control information; and (b) a second spread spectrum transceiver adapted to receive the spread spectrum signal sent by the first spread spectrum transceiver and to subsequently generate the transmission power level control information, wherein the transmission power level control information includes a first component indicative of a ratio of a minimum acceptable received power level of the spread spectrum signal for a predetermined noise power level to a received power level of the spread spectrum signal, wherein the ratio is indicative of a minimum acceptable instantaneous received signal power of the Spread spectrum signal to an instantaneous received signal power of the spread spectrum signal. 2. A spread spectrum communication system for automatically adjusting transmission power level to optimize one or more aspects of the spread spectrum communication system performance, the communication system comprising:(a) a first spread spectrum transceiver adapted to transmit a spread spectrum signal, to receive and process transmission power level control information, and to adjust transmission power in accordance with the received transmission power level control information; and (b) a second spread spectrum transceiver adapted to receive the spread spectrum signal sent by the first spread spectrum transceiver and to subsequently generate the transmission power level control information, wherein the transmission power level control information includes a first component indicative of a ratio of a minimum acceptable received power level of the spread spectrum signal for a predetermined noise power level to a received power level of the spread spectrum signal, wherein the transmission power level control information includes a second component having a code for instructing the first spread spectrum transceiver as to how to utilize the first component in adjusting the transmission power. 3. The spread spectrum communication system of claim 2 wherein the code includes a first value for instructing the first spread spectrum transceiver to increase the transmission power independently of the first component when a received power level of the spread spectrum signal increases due to noise.4. The spread spectrum communication system of claim 3 wherein the code includes a second value for instructing the first spread spectrum transceiver to adjust the transmission power based on the first component when the received power level is decreasing due to the end of a normal transmission of the spread spectrum signal.5. The spread spectrum communication system of claim 4 wherein the code includes a third value for instructing the first spread spectrum transceiver to stop increasing the transmission power when the received power level exceeds a minimum threshold.6. The spread spectrum communication system of claim 5 wherein the code includes a fourth value for preventing the first spread spectrum transceiver from adjusting the transmission power when noise power level of the received spread spectrum signal is reduced.7. The spread spectrum communication system of claim 1 wherein the first and second spread spectrum transceivers employ a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) modulation scheme.8. The spread spectrum communication system of claim 1 wherein the first and second spread spectrum transceivers employ a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) modulation scheme.9. The spread spectrum communication system of claim 1 wherein the transmission power level control information is in the form of a digital signal.10. A spread spectrum communication system for automatically adjusting transmission power level to optimize one or more aspects of the spread spectrum communication system performance, the communication system comprising:(a) a first spread spectrum transceiver adapted to transmit a spread spectrum signal, to receive and process transmission power level control information, and to adjust transmission power in accordance with the received transmission power level control information; and (b) a second spread spectrum transceiver adapted to receive the spread spectrum signal sent by the first spread spectrum transceiver and to subsequently generate the transmission power level control information, wherein the transmission power level control information includes a first component indicative of a ratio of a minimum acceptable received power level of the spread spectrum signal for a predetermined noise power level to a received power level of the spread spectrum signal, wherein the transmission power level control information is in the form of an analog signal. 11. The spread spectrum communication system of claim 1 wherein the first spread spectrum transceiver includes a spread spectrum transmitter for transmitting the spread spectrum signal and a feedback receiver for receiving the transmission power level control information and wherein the second spread spectrum transceiver includes a spread spectrum receiver for receiving the spread spectrum signal and a feedback transmitter for transmitting the transmission power level control information.12. A spread spectrum communication system for automatically adjusting transmission power level to optimize one or more aspects of the spread spectrum communication system performance, the communication system comprising:(a) a first spread spectrum transceiver adapted to transmit a spread spectrum signal, to receive and process transmission power level control information, and to adjust transmission power in accordance with the received transmission power level control information; and (b) a second spread spectrum transceiver adapted to receive the spread spectrum signal sent by the first spread spectrum transceiver and to subsequently generate the transmission power level control information, wherein the transmission power level control information includes a first component indicative of a ratio of a minimum acceptable received power level of the spread spectrum signal for a predetermined noise power level to a received power level of the spread spectrum signal, wherein the second spread spectrum transceiver includes a narrow-band transmitter and wherein the first spread spectrum transceiver includes a narrow-band receive. 13. A method for providing automatic control of the transmitted power of a spread spectrum signal in a spread spectrum communication system, the method comprising:(a) at a first spread spectrum transmitter, transmitting a spread spectrum signal; (b) at a first spread spectrum receiver; (i) receiving the spread spectrum signal (ii) determining a ratio of a minimum acceptable received power level of the spread spectrum signal to a received power level of the spread spectrum signal; (iii) formulating a transmission power level control signal having a first component indicative of the ratio; and (iv) providing the transmission power level control signal to a second transmitter; (c) at the second transmitter, transmitting the transmission power level control signal; (d) at a second receiver, receiving the transmission power level control signal and providing transmission power level control signal information to the first spread spectrum transmitter; and (e) at the first spread spectrum transmitter, using the transmission power level control signal information to adjust transmission power level, wherein the transmission power level control signal includes a second component having a code for instructing the first spread spectrum transmitter as to how to utilize the first component in adjusting the transmission power level. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the code includes a first value for instructing the first spread spectrum transmitter to increase the transmission power level independently of the first component when a received power level of the spread spectrum signal increases due to noise.15. The method of claim 14 wherein the code includes a second value for instructing the first spread spectrum transmitter to adjust the transmission power level based on the first component when the received power level is decreasing due to the end of a normal transmission of the spread spectrum signal.16. The method of claim 15 wherein the code includes a third value for instructing the first spread spectrum transmitter to stop increasing the transmission power level when the received power level exceeds a minimum threshold.17. The method of claim 16 wherein the code includes a fourth value for preventing the first spread spectrum transmitter from adjusting the transmission power level when noise power level of the received spread spectrum signal is reduced.18. A spread spectrum receiver comprising:(a) means for receiving a spread spectrum signal originating from a spread spectrum transmitter; (b) means for demodulating the spread spectrum signal; (c) a received signal power level measurement module operatively associated with the means for receiving for producing a first output signal indicative of a received power level of the spread spectrum signal; (d) a received signal phase fluctuation measurement module operatively associated with the means for demodulating for producing a second output signal indicative of a ratio of the noise power density of the spread spectrum signal to an information power density of the spread spectrum signal; and (e) a received minimum necessary power level calculation circuit operatively associated with the received signal power level measurement circuit and the received signal phase fluctuation measurement module for producing, based on the first and second output signals, a third output signal having a first component indicative of a ratio of the minimum acceptable received instantaneous spread spectrum signal power to the instantaneous received power of the spread spectrum signal at the spread spectrum receiver, wherein the third output signal includes a second component having a code for instructing the spread spectrum transmitter as to whether to ignore the first component of the third output signal when adjusting transmitted power of the spread spectrum signal. 19. The spread spectrum receiver of claim 18 wherein the code includes a first value for instructing the spread spectrum transmitter to increase the transmitted power independently of the first component of the third signal when the received power level of the spread spectrum signal increases due to noise.20. The spread spectrum receiver of claim 19 wherein the code includes a second value for instructing the spread spectrum transmitter to adjust the transmitted power of the spread spectrum signal based on the first component of the third signal when the received power level is decreasing due to the end of a normal transmission of the spread spectrum signal.21. The spread spectrum receiver of claim 20 wherein the code includes a third value when the received power level of the spread spectrum signal exceeds a minimum threshold.22. The spread spectrum signal receiver of claim 21 wherein the code includes a fourth value for preventing the spread spectrum transmitter from reducing the transmitted power of the spread spectrum signal, irregardless of the first component of the third output signal, when noise power level of the received spread spectrum signal is reduced.23. A spread spectrum communication system for automatically adjusting transmission power level to optimize one or more aspects of the spread spectrum communication system performance, the communication system comprising:(a) a first spread spectrum transceiver adapted to transmit a spread spectrum signal, to receive and process transmission power level control information, and to adjust transmission power in accordance with the received transmission power level control information; and (b) a second spread spectrum transceiver adapted to receive the spread spectrum signal sent by the first spread spectrum transceiver and to subsequently generate the transmission power level control information, wherein the transmission power level control information includes a first component indicative of a ratio of a minimum acceptable received power level of the spread spectrum signal for a predetermined noise power level to a received power level of the spread spectrum signal, wherein the ratio is calculated using the expression sin2θ divided by sin2θmax, where θ is the instantaneous phase variation of the spread spectrum signal and θmax is the maximum instantaneous phase variation of the spread spectrum signal. 24. A method for providing automatic control of the transmitted power of a spread spectrum signal in a spread spectrum communication system, the method comprising:(a) at a first spread spectrum transmitter, transmitting a spread spectrum signal; (b) at a first spread spectrum receiver; (i) receiving the spread spectrum signal; (ii) determining a ratio of a minimum acceptable received power level of the spread spectrum signal to a received power level of the spread spectrum signal; iii) formulating a transmission power level control signal having a first component indicative of the ratio; and (iv) providing the transmission power level control signal to a second transmitter; (c) at the second transmitter, transmitting the transmission power level control signal; (d) at a second receiver, receiving the transmission power level control signal and providing transmission power level control signal information to the first spread spectrum transmitter; and (e) at the first spread spectrum transmitter, using the transmission power level control signal information to adjust transmission power level, wherein the ratio is indicative of a minimum acceptable instantaneous received signal power of the spread spectrum signal to an instantaneous received signal power of the spread spectrum signal. 25. A method for providing automatic control of the transmitted power of a spread spectrum signal in a spread spectrum communication system, the method comprising:(a) at a first spread spectrum transmitter, transmitting a spread spectrum signal; (b) at a first spread spectrum receiver; (i) receiving the spread spectrum signal; (ii) determining a ratio of a minimum acceptable received power level of the spread spectrum signal to a received power level of the spread spectrum signal; (iii) formulating a transmission power level control signal having a first component indicative of the ratio; and (iv) providing the transmission power level control signal to a second transmitter; (c) at the second transmitter, transmitting the transmission power level control signal; (d) at a second receiver, receiving the transmission power level control signal and providing transmission power level control signal information to the first spread spectrum transmitter; and (e) at the first spread spectrum transmitter, using the transmission power level control signal information to adjust transmission power level, wherein the ratio is calculated by the expression sin2θ divided by sin2θmax, where θ is the instantaneous phase variation of the spread spectrum signal and θmax is the maximum instantaneous phase variation of the spread spectrum signal. 26. A spread spectrum receiver comprising:(a) means for receiving a spread spectrum signal originating from a spread spectrum transmitter; (b) means for demodulating the spread spectrum signal; (c) a received signal power level measurement module operatively associated with the means for receiving for producing a first output signal indicative of a received power level of the spread spectrum signal; (d) a received signal phase fluctuation measurement module operatively associated with the means for demodulating for producing a second output signal indicative of a ratio of the noise power density of the spread spectrum signal to an information power density of the spread spectrum signal; and (e) a received minimum necessary power level calculation circuit operatively associated with the received signal power level measurement circuit and the received signal phase fluctuation measurement module for producing, based on the first and second output signals, a third output signal having a first component indicative of a ratio of the minimum acceptable received instantaneous spread spectrum signal power to the instantaneous received power of the spread spectrum signal at the spread spectrum receiver, wherein the ratio is calculated by the expression sin2θ divided by sin2θmax, where θ is the instantaneous phase variation of the spread spectrum signal and θmax is the maximum instantaneous phase variation of the spread spectrum signal.