US 9706500

US Patent 9706500 Summary

Title: Power control in a wireless network
Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC. [cite: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html Reel 049514/0071]
Inventors: Nicholas W. Anderson.
Filing Date: August 5, 2016 (Application number US15/229,906).
Issue Date: July 11, 2017.

Abstract:
A network device (such as a base station) is configured to select a value for a multi-level transmit power control (TPC) command. This set of values allows for more granular adjustments (at least two "up" amounts or at least two "down" amounts) than a simple binary (up/down) command. The network device transmits this multi-level TPC command along with an allocation of an uplink resource (e.g., specific time slots or codes for a mobile device to use for transmission) on a single physical channel. The network device then receives an uplink signal from user equipment (UE) on the allocated uplink resource, where the UE's transmission power is based on the transmitted allocation and the multi-level TPC command.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Network Device): This claim describes a network device (like a base station or Node-B) equipped with a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The processor is configured to choose a specific value for a "multi-level transmit power control (TPC) command." Unlike simpler systems that only command a fixed small increase or decrease, this multi-level command allows for various "up" or "down" power adjustments. The network device then sends this chosen TPC command and information about how a user equipment (UE) can use an uplink resource (e.g., a specific frequency or time slot for transmission) over a single radio channel. Finally, the network device's receiver is set up to get an uplink signal from the UE, with the UE's transmission power having been adjusted based on the received allocation and the multi-level TPC command.
• Claim 6 (Network Method): This claim outlines a method carried out by a network device. It involves the network device selecting a value for a multi-level TPC command, which provides several options for adjusting transmit power (at least two steps up or two steps down). The network device then transmits this selected multi-level TPC command, along with an allocation of an uplink resource for a UE, on a single physical channel. The method concludes with the network device receiving an uplink signal from the UE on the allocated resource, where the UE's transmission power has been set in response to the transmitted allocation and the multi-level TPC command.
• Claim 11 (User Equipment): This claim describes a user equipment (UE), which includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The UE's processor and receiver are configured to receive both an allocation of an uplink resource and a multi-level TPC command on a single physical channel. The processor then determines the UE's transmission power level based on the specific value of the received multi-level TPC command. This command is capable of indicating various potential power adjustments (at least two "up" or two "down" values). Finally, the UE's transmitter sends an uplink signal on the allocated resource at the determined power level.
• Claim 17 (UE Method): This claim details a method performed by a user equipment (UE). The method begins with the UE receiving an allocation of an uplink resource and a multi-level TPC command on a single physical channel. The UE then proceeds to determine its transmit power level by interpreting the value of the multi-level TPC command (which can specify several different power increase or decrease amounts). The method concludes with the UE transmitting an uplink signal on the allocated uplink resource using this newly determined transmission power level.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Docket Search for US9706500:

A search of the USPTO databases and CAFC dockets for 2026 for patent number US9706500 as of May 29, 2026, reveals no new or ongoing cases directly before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for this specific patent within 2026. Any potential appeal to the CAFC concerning IPR2025-00219, for which a Final Written Decision is anticipated in May/June 2026, would typically be filed after the FWD is issued and a notice of appeal is filed, making it too early for such a case to appear on the CAFC 2026 docket as of today's date. The PTAB proceeding IPR2025-00219 against this patent is, however, active and instituted.