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In a radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system, a radio network controller (261) sets a nominal power level for use by a base station (281-1) in transmitting a common transport channel (used for transporting data) over the air interface (32) in a cell for a connection involving a

In a radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system, a radio network controller (261) sets a nominal power level for use by a base station (281-1) in transmitting a common transport channel (used for transporting data) over the air interface (32) in a cell for a connection involving a user equipment unit (30). The nominal power level is set by the radio network controller independently of whether the base station supports a differentiated power control scheme (i.e., a power control scheme which allows the base station selectively to adjust the nominal power level, e.g., in accordance with information received from the user equipment unit). In the illustrated embodiments, the differentiated power control scheme allows the base station selectively to adjust the nominal power level in accordance with whether the cell served by the base station is a primary cell or a non-primary cell for the connection with the user equipment unit. When the cell is a primary cell, the base station adjusts the nominal power level by subtracting an offset value from the nominal power level to determine the power level used for actual transmission of data for the common transport channel over the air interface. In differing embodiments, the offset value is acquired either from the radio network controller or is configured locally at the base station. In one mode of the invention, the radio network controller sets the nominal power level using a user plane frame protocol between the base station and the radio network controller. In an example implementation, the common transport channel is a DSCH channel in a UTRAN network.

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1. For use in a radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system, the radio access network comprising a radio network controller and a base station, a method comprising:the radio network controller setting a nominal power level for use by the base station in transmitting over the air int

1. For use in a radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system, the radio access network comprising a radio network controller and a base station, a method comprising:the radio network controller setting a nominal power level for use by the base station in transmitting over the air interface a common transport channel which transports data for a connection with a user equipment unit, the nominal power level being set independently of whether the base station supports a differentiated power control scheme;the base station ascertaining from the user equipment unit whether a cell served by the base station is a primary cell or a non-primary cell for the connection, the connection involving plural base stations;wherein the differentiated power control scheme allows the base station selectively to adjust the nominal power level in accordance with whether the cell served by the base station is the primary cell or a non-primary cell for the connection.2. For use in a radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system, the radio access network comprising a radio network controller and a base station, a method comprising the radio network controller setting a nominal power level for use by the base station in transmitting over the air interface a common transport channel which transports data for a connection with a user equipment unit, the nominal power level being set independently of whether the base station supports a differentiated power control scheme, the base station transmitting data over the air interface using the common transport channel for the connection at the nominal power level if the cell served by the base station is not a primary cell for the connection or if the base station does not support the differentiated power control scheme;the base station transmitting data over the air interface using the common transport channel for the connection at a reduced power level which is less than the nominal power level if the base station does support the differentiated power control scheme and if the cell served by the base station is a primary cell for the connection.3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the radio network controller communicating to the base station an offset value to be used in determining the reduced power level.4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the radio network controller communicating the offset value in a user plane to the base station.5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the radio network controller communicating the offset value in a control plane to the base station.6. The method of claim 2, further comprising configuring locally at the base station an offset value to be used in determining the reduced power level.7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the radio network controller setting the nominal power level in a user plane frame protocol between the base station and the radio network controller.8. The method of claim 2, wherein the common transport channel is a Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN).9. For use in a radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system, the radio access network comprising a radio network controller and a base station, a method comprising:the radio network controller setting a power offset value which is selectively used by the base station in determining a power level for transmitting over the air interface a common transport channel which transports data for a connection with a user equipment unit;the base station ascertaining from the user equipment unit whether a cell served by the base station is a primary cell for the connection or a non-primary cell for the connection, the connection involving plural base stations;the base station utilizing the power offset value to determine the power level if the cell served by the base station is the primary cell for the connection; andthe base station not utilizing the power offset value to determine the power level if the cell served by is a non-primary cell for the connection.10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the base station subtracting the power offset value from a nominal power value to determine the power level if the cell is a primary cell for the connection.11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the radio network controller setting and communicating to the base station the nominal power value for use on the common transport channel for the connection.12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the radio network controller setting the nominal power level in a user plane frame protocol between the base station and the radio network controller.13. The method of claim 12, wherein the common transport channel is a Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN).14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the radio network controller communicating the offset value in a user plane to the base station.15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the radio network controller communicating the offset value in a control plane to the base station.16. A radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system comprising:a base station involved in a connection with a user equipment unit and which communicates with the user equipment unit over an air interface, the base station ascertaining from the user equipment unit whether a cell served by the base station is a primary cell or a non-primary cell for the connection, the connection involving plural cells;a radio network controller which sets a nominal vower level to be used by the base station for transmitting data over the air interface to the user equipment unit via a common transport channel utilized by the connection, the nominal power level being set independently of whether the base station supports a differentiated power control scheme, wherein the differentiated power control scheme allows the base station selectively to adjust the nominal power level in accordance with whether a cell served by the base station is a primary cell or a non-primary cell for the connection.17. A radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system comprising:a base station involved in a connection with a user equipment unit and which communicates with the user equipment unit over an air interface;a radio network controller which sets a nominal power level to be used by the base station for transmitting data over the air interface to the user equipment unit via a common transport channel utilized by the connection, the nominal lower level being set independently of whether the base station supports a differentiated power control scheme;wherein the base station transmits over the air interface data carried by the common transport channel for the connection at the nominal power level if a cell served by the base station is not a primary cell for the connection or if the base station does not support the differentiated power control scheme;the base station transmits over the air interface data carried by the common transport channel for the connection at a reduced power level which is less than the nominal power level if the base station does support the differentiated power control scheme and if the cell served by the base station is a primary cell for the connection.18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radio network controller communicates to the base station an offset value to be used in determining the reduced power level.19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the radio network controller communicates the offset value in a user plane to the base station.20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the radio network controller communicates the offset value in a control plane to the base station.21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for configuring locally at the base station an offset value to be used in determining the reduced power level.22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radio network controller sets the nominal power level in a user plane frame protocol between the base station and the radio network controller.23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the common transport channel is a Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN).24. A radio access network of a cellular telecommunications system comprising:a base station involved in a connection with a user equipment unit and which communicates with the user equipment unit over an air interface;a radio network controller which sets a power offset value which is selectively used by the base station in determining a power level for transmitting data over the air interface to the user equipment unit via a common transport channel in a cell used by the connection;the base station utilizing the power offset value to determine the power level if the cell is a primary cell for the connection; and the base station not utilizing the power offset value to determine the power level if the cell is a non-primary cell for the connection;wherein the base station ascertains from the user equipment unit whether the cell is the primary cell for the connection or a non-primary cell for the connection, the connection involving plural base stations.25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the base station subtracts the power offset value from a nominal power value to determine the power level if the cell is a primary cell for the connection.26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the radio network controller sets and communicates to the base station the nominal power value for use on the common transport channel for the connection.27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the radio network controller sets the nominal power level in a user plane frame protocol between the base station and the radio network controller.28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the common transport channel is a Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) in a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN).29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the radio network controller communicates the offset value in a user plane to the base station.30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the radio network controller communicates the offset value in a control plane to the base station.