Wireless communications network with radio access points with dynamically adaptable transmission power level

• US 20050083895A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Pinault, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A management device (D) for radio access points (AP), of a wireless communications network (WLAN), comprises processing means (PM) responsible for dynamically determining the transmission power level of each access point (AP) that it manages depending on the presence and/or respective locations of communication terminals (UEj) in relation to the said access points and to at least one criterion selected, so that said access points establish said levels.

Claims

1. A management device (D) for radio access points (APi) of a wireless communications network (WLAN), wherein it comprises specific processing means (PM) to dynamically determine the transmission power level of each access point (APi) depending on the presence and/or the respective locations of communication terminals (UEj) in relation to said access points (APi) and with at least one criterion selected, so that said access points establish said levels.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processing means (PM) are designed to compare the number of communication terminals (UEj) connected to each access point on the network (APi) with a first threshold selected (S1), then to determine the transmission power level of each access point (APi) depending on the respective locations of said communication terminals (UEj) in relation to said access points (APi) and at least the result of the comparison carried out for the corresponding access point, said comparison with the first threshold (S1) defining a selected criterion.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said processing means (PM) are designed to determine the transmission power level of each access point (APi) depending on the respective locations of said communication terminals (UEj) in relation to said access points (APi), the comparisons carried out for each access point and the representative information from said network (WLAN) topology.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processing means (PM) are designed to compare current traffic at the level of each access point on the network (APi) with a second threshold (S2), then to determine the transmission power level of each access point (APi) depending on the respective locations of said communication terminals (UEj) in relation to said access points (APi) and at least the result of the comparison carried out for the corresponding access point, said comparison with a second threshold (S2) defining a selected criterion.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said processing means (PM) are designed to determine the transmission power level of each access point (APi) depending on the respective locations of said communication terminals (UEj) in relation to said access points (APi), the comparisons carried out for each access point and the representative information data of a model of traffic of said network (WLAN).

6. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein it comprises specific memory means (DB) to store said information data.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein it is designed to generate alarms to a network administration module in the event of traffic saturation.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein it is designed, in the event of detecting traffic saturation and an incapacity to regulate said traffic, to order the restriction of the network access, via an access point, to certain priority equipment selected in a list of priority equipment.

9. Management equipment (MS) for radio access points (APi) of a wireless communications network (WLAN), wherein it comprises a management device (D) for radio access points (APi) of a wireless communications network (WLAN) comprising specific processing means (PM) to dynamically determine the transmission power level of each access point (APi) depending on the presence and/or respective locations of communication terminals (UEj) in relation to said access points (APi), and at least one criterion selected, so that said access points establish said levels.

10. A radio access point (APi) for a wireless communications network (WLAN), wherein it comprises transmission means (ORM) and control means (CM) designed to adapt the level of power of said transmission means (ORM) depending on instructions received from the management equipment (MS) for radio access points (APi) of a wireless communications network (WLAN), a management device (D) for radio access points (APi) of a wireless communications network (WLAN) comprising specific processing means (PM) to dynamically determine the transmission power level of each access point (APi) depending on the presence and/or respective locations of communication terminals (UEj) in relation to said access points (APi) and at least one criterion selected, so that said access points establish said levels.