Abstract: A mobile communications system having a multi-level distributed frame selection and power control architecture includes a plurality of base station transceiver subsystems (BTSs) arranged in cells. Each base station transceiver subsystem (BTS) includes a capability for establishing a radio frequency interface with a subscriber unit in conjunction with a telephone call. A PSEL provides for implementing a power control and frame selection of compressed packet data in conjunction with the telephone call, the PSEL coupled to and being positioned proximate the plurality of base station transceiver subsystems. A router is coupled to the PSEL for routing compressed packet data to and from the PSEL.

Abstract: The optimal power allocation process of the present invention allocates power between two base stations, serving a given mobile radiotelephone, during soft hand-off. A minimum total transmit power is chosen initially. The minimum total transmit power level, the path losses for each base station, the maximum transmit power for each base station, and the minimum allowed received power are all used to generate a range of values for a transmit power level multiplier, .alpha.. The multiplier is used to allocate the total transmit power among the base stations. This process is performed until the probability of bit error is less than a maximum threshold.