Enhancing wireless lan capacity using transmission power control
First Claim
1. A method for mobile communication by access points in a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein the access points include at least first and second access points and are configured to communicate on a common frequency channel with mobile stations, including at least first and second mobile stations, the method comprising:
- receiving a first uplink signal from the first mobile station at the first access point with a first uplink power level;
transmitting a first downlink signal on the common frequency channel from the first access point to the first mobile station in response to the first uplink signal, at a first downlink power level, which is adjusted responsively to the first uplink power level to be less than a maximum downlink power level;
making a determination that while the first access point is transmitting the first downlink signal at the first downlink power level, the first downlink signal received at the second access point is below a predetermined interference threshold;
receiving a second uplink signal from the second mobile station at the second access point; and
responsive to the determination, transmitting a second downlink signal on the common frequency channel from the second access point to the second mobile station in response to the second uplink signal, simultaneously with transmission of the first downlink signal from the first access point to the first mobile station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for mobile communication by access points in a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes transmitting a first downlink signal on a common frequency channel from a first access point to a first mobile station, at a first downlink power level, which is adjusted responsively to a first uplink power level transmitted from the first mobile station to the first access point. If the first downlink signal received at a second access point is below a predetermined interference threshold, the second access point may transmit a second downlink signal on the common frequency channel to a second mobile station, simultaneously with transmission of the first downlink signal from the first access point to the first mobile station. The capacity of the WLAN may thus be substantially increased.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for mobile communication by access points in a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein the access points include at least first and second access points and are configured to communicate on a common frequency channel with mobile stations, including at least first and second mobile stations, the method comprising:
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receiving a first uplink signal from the first mobile station at the first access point with a first uplink power level;
transmitting a first downlink signal on the common frequency channel from the first access point to the first mobile station in response to the first uplink signal, at a first downlink power level, which is adjusted responsively to the first uplink power level to be less than a maximum downlink power level;
making a determination that while the first access point is transmitting the first downlink signal at the first downlink power level, the first downlink signal received at the second access point is below a predetermined interference threshold;
receiving a second uplink signal from the second mobile station at the second access point; and
responsive to the determination, transmitting a second downlink signal on the common frequency channel from the second access point to the second mobile station in response to the second uplink signal, simultaneously with transmission of the first downlink signal from the first access point to the first mobile station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for mobile communication, comprising a plurality of access points arranged in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and configured to communicate on a common frequency channel with mobile stations, including at least first and second mobile stations, the access points comprising at least first and second access points,
wherein in response to receiving a first uplink signal from the first mobile station at the first access point with a first uplink power level, the first access point transmits a first downlink signal on the common frequency channel to the first mobile station at a first downlink power level, which is adjusted responsively to the first uplink power level to be less than a maximum downlink power level, and wherein the second access point is adapted to make a determination that while the first access point is transmitting the first downlink signal at the first downlink power level, the first downlink signal received at the second access point is below a predetermined interference threshold, and wherein in response to receiving a second uplink signal from the second mobile station at the second access point, and responsive to the determination, the second access point transmits a second downlink signal on the common frequency channel to the second mobile station simultaneously with transmission of the first downlink signal from the first access point to the first mobile station.
Specification