METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWER CONTROL IN HIGH SPEED PACKET ACCESS (HSPA) NETWORKS

A wireless communication device includes: an antenna for receiving inbound signals on dual receive channels and transmitting outbound signals on dual transmit channels; a transceiver coupled to the antenna to receive the inbound signals from the antenna and convey the outbound signals; a power controller coupled to the transceiver to control power levels of the outbound signals so a maximum nominal power level of the outbound signals is a first power level; and a processor coupled to the transceiver and the antenna to cause the power controller to control the power levels of the outbound signals so if a power level of a received one of the inbound signals is below a threshold value, then the maximum nominal power level of the outbound signals is a second power level lower than the first power level, wherein the second power level is lower than the first power level.