Power Control in CDMA 2000 –1X

By Mario Vela
RF Engineer

Power Control in CDMA 2000 –1X ................................................................................... 1

1. Introduction................................................................................................................. 1
2. Controlling the Power ................................................................................................. 1
2.1 Estimated Open Loop Output Power .................................................................. 1
2.1.1 Transmitting on the Access Channel .......................................................... 2
2.1.2 Transmitting on the Enhanced Access Channel.......................................... 3
2.1.3 Transmitting on the Reverse Common Control Channel............................ 3
2.1.4 Transmitting on the Reverse Traffic Channel (RC= 1 or 2) ....................... 4
2.1.5 Transmitting on Reverse Traffic Channel (RC =3, 4, 5, or 6) .................... 5
2.2 Closed Loop Power Control................................................................................ 5
2.3 Code Channel Output Power (for other than the Reverse Pilot Channel) .......... 6
2.3.1 Code Channel Output Power for the Enhanced Access Channel Header,
Enhanced Access Channel Data, and Reverse Common Control Channel Data........ 6
2.3.2 Code Channel Output Power for Reverse Traffic Channel (RC 3, 4, 5, or
6) 7
3 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 7

1. Introduction
Power control in CDMA 2000 is more complex than IS-95. Several new parameters have
been added to the equations to support better performance of the algorithms. This
document describes Power Control equations used in CDMA2000 – 1X (Spreading rate
1) standard and emphasizes Performance issues related with these equations.

2. Controlling the Power

CDMA 2000 standard defines three methods for controlling the power of the Mobile
Stations: an open loop estimation performed by the mobile station, a closed loop
correction involving both the mobile station and the base station, and, for Radio
Configurations 3 and 6, a code channel attribute adjustment performed by the mobile
station and the base station.

2.1 Estimated Open Loop Output Power

The following table shows the value of the Offset Parameter for PCS and Cellular Bands
for Spreading Rate 1 (1X)
 Band Type of Channel Offset Value
Access Channel
Reverse Traffic Channel -73
(RC=1 or 2)
Enhanced access Channel
Cellular
Reverse Common Control
Channel -81.5
Reverse Traffic Channel
(RC= 3 or 4)
Access Channel
Reverse Traffic Channel -76
(RC=1 or 2)
Enhanced access Channel
PCS
Reverse Common Control
Channel -84.5
Reverse Traffic Channel
(RC= 3 or 4)

Table 1. - Offset Values

2.1.1 Transmitting on the Access Channel

The following equation defines the mean output power for each Access Probe:

Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + NP + INIT_PWR+ STP

Where:
Rx = Rx Level measured by the MS across all the band (1.23 MHz)
OffPwr = -73dBm (cellular) or –76dBm (PCS)
IC = Interference Correction Factor, this values is calculated as:
min(max(-7-Ec/Io, 0), 7), and Ec/Io is measured from the strongest active
set pilot.
NP = NOM_PWR – 16xNOM_PWR_EXT, this term ranges from –24 to +7
dB, but if the system is working on the Cellular band NOM_PWR_EXT is
zero, reducing the range from –8 to +7 dB.
INIT_PWR = Initial Power ranges from –16 to 15 dB with a Nominal value of 0dB
SP = PWR_LVL x PWR_STEP, the range of PWR_STEP is 0 to 7 dB, and
PWR_LVL is an integer.

The total range of corrections allowed is:

±32dB Cellular
±40dB PCS
2.1.2 Transmitting on the Enhanced Access Channel
The following equation defines the mean output power for the enhanced Access
preamble:

Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + EACH_NOM_PWR + EACH_INIT_PWR + 6 + STP

Where:
Rx = Rx Level measured by the MS across all the band (1.23 MHz)
OffPwr = -73dBm (cellular) or –76dBm (PCS)
IC = Interference Correction Factor, this values is calculated as:
min(max(IC_THRESH-Ec/Io, 0), IC_MAX), and Ec/Io is measured from
the strongest active set pilot.
EACH_NOM_PWR = Nominal Power ranges from –16 to +15 dB.
EACH_INIT_PWR = Initial Power ranges from –16 to 15 dB with a Nominal value of
0dB
SP = PWR_LVL x PWR_STEP_EACH, the range of PWR_STEP_EACH is
0 to 7 dB, and PWR_LVL is an integer.

The total range of corrections allowed is:

±32dB Cellular
±40dB PCS
After transmitting the Enhanced Access Channel Preamble and before receiving the first
valid power control bit, the MS transmit a mean output power defined by:
Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + EACH_NOM_PWR + EACH_INIT_PWR + STP

If closed-loop power control is enabled then corrections will be added to the formula.
Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + EACH_NOM_PWR + EACH_INIT_PWR + STP +
closed-loop corrections

2.1.3 Transmitting on the Reverse Common Control Channel

The following equation defines the mean output power when operating in the Reservation
Access Mode for the Reverse Common channel Preamble:

Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + RCCCH_NOM_PWR + RCCCH_INIT_PWR + 6 +

PREV_CORRECTIONS

Where:
Rx = Rx Level measured by the MS across all the band (1.23 MHz)
OffPwr = -73dBm (cellular) or –76dBm (PCS)
IC = Interference Correction Factor, this values is calculated as:
min(max(IC_THRESH-Ec/Io, 0), IC_MAX), and Ec/Io is measured from
the strongest active set pilot.
RCCCH_NOM_PWR = Nominal Power ranges from –16 to +15 dB.
RCCCH_INIT_PWR = Initial Power ranges from –16 to 15 dB with a Nominal value of
0dB
PREV_CORRECTIONS = conformed by all the previous PWR_LVL x
PWR_STEP_EACH and closed loop corrections if applicable.

The total range of corrections allowed is:

±32dB Cellular
±40dB PCS
After transmitting the Reverse Common Control Channel Preamble and before receiving
the first valid power control bit, the MS transmit a mean output power defined by:
Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + RCCCH_NOM_PWR + RCCCH_INIT_PWR +
PREV_CORRECTIONS

After the first valid power control bit is received then corrections will be added to the
formula.
Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + RCCCH_NOM_PWR + RCCCH_INIT_PWR +
PREV_CORRECTIONS + closed-loop corrections

When operating in the Designated Access Mode the formulas are the same but
PREV_CORRECTIONS is set to DAM_CORRECTION (this parameter ranges from 0 to
+31dB).

2.1.4 Transmitting on the Reverse Traffic Channel (RC= 1 or 2)

The following equation defines the mean output power on the Reverse Fundamental
Channel (RC= 1 or 2):

Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + ACC_CORRECTIONS + RLGAIN_ADJ

Where:
Rx = Rx Level measured by the MS across all the band (1.23 MHz)
OffPwr = -73dBm (cellular) or –76dBm (PCS)
IC = Interference Correction Factor, this values is calculated as:
min(max(-7-Ec/Io, 0), 7), and Ec/Io is measured from the strongest active
set pilot.
ACC_CORRECTIONS = all previous corrections in Access Channel, Enhanced
Access Channel or Reverse Common Control Channel.
RLGAIN_ADJ = Relative Power Control Corrections.

The total range of corrections allowed is:

±32dB Cellular
±40dB PCS

After the first valid power control bit is received then corrections will be added to the
formula.
Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + ACC_CORRECTIONS + RLGAIN_ADJ +
10xlog10(1 + NUM_RSCCH)
Where:
NUM_RSCCH =number of supplemental Code Channels, ranges from 0 to 7

2.1.5 Transmitting on Reverse Traffic Channel (RC =3, 4, 5, or 6)

The following equation defines the mean output power on the Reverse Fundamental
Channel (RC= 1 or 2):

Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + ACC_CORRECTIONS + RLGAIN_ADJ

Where:
Rx = Rx Level measured by the MS across all the band (1.23 MHz)
OffPwr = -73dBm (cellular) or –76dBm (PCS)
IC = Interference Correction Factor, this values is calculated as:
min(max(IC_THRESH-Ec/Io, 0), 7), and Ec/Io is measured from the
strongest active set pilot.
ACC_CORRECTIONS = all previous corrections in Access Channel, Enhanced
Access Channel or Reverse Common Control Channel.
RLGAIN_ADJ = Relative Power Control Corrections.

The total range of corrections allowed is:

±32dB Cellular
±40dB PCS

After the first valid power control bit is received then corrections will be added to the
formula.
Tx = -Rx + OffPwr + IC + ACC_CORRECTIONS + RLGAIN_ADJ + closed
loop corrections

NOTE: The equations for Open Loop Power Control are different than IS-95, and now
depend of more parameters. The most important new factor is the IC (interference
Correction) factor that takes in consideration the interference present in the
environment.

2.2 Closed Loop Power Control

For closed loop correction on the Enhanced Access Channel and the Reverse Common
Control Channel, the mobile adjust its power in response to power control bits received
on the Forward Common Power Control Channel.
For closed loop correction on the Reverse Traffic Channel the mobile adjust its power in
response to power control bits received on the Forward Fundamental Channel or Forward
Dedicated Control Channel.

There are different power Control Step sizes as showed in the following Table

PWR_CNTL_STEP Power control Step Size Tolerance

(db Nominal) (dB)
 0 1 ±0.5
1 0.5 ±0.3
2 0.25 ±0.2
Table 2 .- Power Step Size

The closed Loop adjustment range is ±24 dB arounds its open loop estimate.

NOTE: IS-95 defines only one PWR_CNTL_STEP of 1 dB, now CDMA 2000 defines
three possible values

2.3 Code Channel Output Power (for other than the Reverse
Pilot Channel)
2.3.1 Code Channel Output Power for the Enhanced Access Channel
Header, Enhanced Access Channel Data, and Reverse Common
Control Channel Data.
The output power for these channels is relative to the output power of the reverse Pilot
Channel, and is given by:

Tx = PilotPower + 0.125xNominal_reverse_Common Channel_Attribute_Gain +

0.125xRLGAIN_COMMON_PILOT

The following table depicts the values for

Nominal_Reverse_Common_Channel_Attribute_Gain

Data Rate Frame Length Nominal_Reverse_Common_Channel_Attribute_Gain

(bps) (ms)
9600 5 54
9600 20 30
19200 10 64
19200 20 50
38400 5 88
38400 10 80
38400 20 72

The MS shall maintain the ratio

Mean code channel output power
Mean pilot channel output power
Within ±0.25 dB of the number specified by
0.125xNominal_reverse_Common Channel_Attribute_Gain +
0.125xRLGAIN_COMMON_PILOT
2.3.2 Code Channel Output Power for Reverse Traffic Channel (RC 3,
4, 5, or 6)
The MS shall set the output power of the Reverse Fundamental Channel, the Reverse
Supplemental Channel, and the Reverse Dedicated Control Channel relative to the output
power of the Reverse Pilot Channel and given by the following formula:

Tx=PilotPwr + 0.125x(Nominal_Attribute_Gain + Attribute_Adjustment_Gain +

Reverse_Channel_Adjustment_Gain[channel] –
Multiple_Channel_Adjustment_Gain[channel]–
Variable_Supplemental_Adjustment_Gain [channel]+
RLGAIN_TRAFFIC_PILOT + RLGAIN_SCH_PILOT [channel]) +
IFHHO_SRCH_CORR.

Where “channel” can be the Fundamental Channel, the dedicated control channel or
Supplemental Channel.
All the values in parenthesis are integers, specified in units of 0.125dB
For a complete set of values for Adjustment gains see the CDMA2000 Standard Chapter
2 (2.1.2.3.3.2 Code Channel Output Power for Reverse Traffic Channel with Radio
Configuration 3, 4, 5, or 6)

3 Conclusion
CDMA 2000 defines valuable improvements to the Power Control Algorithms, maybe
the most valuable if the Interference Correction Factor during the Access, and the
multiple Gains that allow the user to adapt the system to different system conditions.