Wireless communication method and apparatus for balancing the loads of access points by controlling access point transmission power levels
First Claim
1. In a wireless communication system which includes a plurality of access points (APs) experiencing various loads, each AP being associated with at least one respective channel, a method of balancing the loads of the APs, the method comprising:
- (a) estimating and comparing the load of each AP and the channel utilization of other channels not used by the AP to certain thresholds;
(b) increasing a range of a particular AP with a light load if the load on at least one channel used by another AP is heavy; and
(c) decreasing a range of a particular AP with a heavy load if the load on all channels not used by the particular AP is light.
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Abstract
A wireless communication method and apparatus for balancing the loads of access points (APs). A baseline range parameter of a particular one of the APs is obtained. The load of the particular AP and the channel utilization on channels not used by the particular AP are estimated and compared to different thresholds. The range of the coverage area of the particular AP is adjusted depending on the results of the comparisons. The transmission power level of the AP is determined by summing the AP range adjustment with a required received power (RRP) value. The range (i.e., transmission power level) of a particular AP with a light load is increased if the load on at least one channel used by another AP is heavy, and the range of a particular AP with a heavy load is decreased if the load on all channels not used by the particular AP is light.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. In a wireless communication system which includes a plurality of access points (APs) experiencing various loads, each AP being associated with at least one respective channel, a method of balancing the loads of the APs, the method comprising:
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(a) estimating and comparing the load of each AP and the channel utilization of other channels not used by the AP to certain thresholds;
(b) increasing a range of a particular AP with a light load if the load on at least one channel used by another AP is heavy; and
(c) decreasing a range of a particular AP with a heavy load if the load on all channels not used by the particular AP is light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a wireless communication system which includes a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units that communicate with a plurality of access points (APs) experiencing various loads, each AP being associated with at least one channel, a method of balancing the loads of the APs, the method comprising:
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(a) estimating and comparing the load of each AP and the channel utilization of other channels not used by the AP to certain thresholds;
(b) obtaining at least one required received power (RRP) value associated with a minimum power level at which a particular type of packet transmitted by the particular AP is expected to be successfully received by a mobile station associated with the particular AP;
(c) determining an AP range adjustment value used to increase or decrease the range of the particular AP; and
(d) determining a transmission power level of the particular AP by summing the AP range adjustment values and the RRP value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An access point (AP) having a varying load, the AP comprising:
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(a) means for estimating and comparing the load of the AP and the channel utilization of other channels not used by the AP to certain thresholds;
(b) means for increasing a range of the AP if the load of the AP is substantially lighter than the load on at least one channel used by another; and
(c) means for decreasing a range of the AP if the load of the AP is substantially heavier than the load on all channels not used the AP. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An access point (AP) having a varying load, the AP comprising:
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(a) means for estimating and comparing the load of the AP and the channel utilization of other channels not used by the AP to certain thresholds;
(b) means for obtaining at least one required received power (RRP) value associated with a minimum power level at which a particular type of packet transmitted by the particular AP is expected to be successfully received by a mobile station associated with the particular AP;
(c) means for determining an AP range adjustment value used to increase or decrease the range of the particular AP; and
(d) means for determining a transmission power level of the particular AP by summing the AP range adjustment values and the RRP value. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. In a wireless communication system which includes a plurality of access points (APs) experiencing various loads, a wireless transmit/receiving unit (WTRU) comprising:
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(a) means for disassociating from a first one of the APs which decreases its baseline range because it is experiencing a relatively heavy load as compared to other ones of the APs; and
(b) means for associating with a second one of the APs which increases its baseline range because it is experiencing a relatively light load as compared to other ones of the APs. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. In a wireless communication system which includes a plurality of access points (APs) experiencing various loads, an integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
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(a) means for disassociating from a first one of the APs which decreases its baseline range because it is experiencing a relatively heavy load as compared to other ones of the APs; and
(b) means for associating with a second one of the APs which increases its baseline range because it is experiencing a relatively light load as compared to other ones of the APs. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification