Method and apparatus for controlling a transmit power level of a device in a wireless communications network
First Claim
1. A wireless communication system comprising:
- a first wireless access point; and
a first set of first stations in wireless communication with the first wireless access point;
wherein the first set of first stations is divided into groups, each group including at least one of the first stations;
wherein each group of first stations is assigned to a respective one of a plurality of power levels;
wherein the first wireless access point controls power for communications with at least one of the groups of first stations by announcing a power level on a channel;
wherein a station in the at least one of the groups of first stations accesses the channel when the announced power level is a respective one of the plurality of power levels to which the at least one group of first stations is assigned; and
wherein the first wireless access point implicitly assigns first stations within the first set of at least one first station to respective ones of the plurality of power levels by announcing the plurality of power levels, allowing a respective one of the first stations to select a respective one of the plurality of power levels according to power needs of the respective one of the first stations.
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Abstract
A wireless communication system includes a first wireless access point, and a first set of at least one first station in wireless communication with the first wireless access point. The first wireless access point controls power for communications with a first station in the set of at least one first station. The first wireless access point may control power in a time-domain, announcing a power level for use during a time window. The first wireless access point may control power levels in a frequency-domain, announcing different power levels for different frequency subchannels within a frequency channel. The wireless communication system may further include an additional wireless access point, and an additional set of at least one additional station in wireless communication with the additional wireless access point. The first and additional wireless access points control power to avoid interference between the first and additional wireless access points.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A wireless communication system comprising:
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a first wireless access point; and a first set of first stations in wireless communication with the first wireless access point; wherein the first set of first stations is divided into groups, each group including at least one of the first stations; wherein each group of first stations is assigned to a respective one of a plurality of power levels; wherein the first wireless access point controls power for communications with at least one of the groups of first stations by announcing a power level on a channel; wherein a station in the at least one of the groups of first stations accesses the channel when the announced power level is a respective one of the plurality of power levels to which the at least one group of first stations is assigned; and wherein the first wireless access point implicitly assigns first stations within the first set of at least one first station to respective ones of the plurality of power levels by announcing the plurality of power levels, allowing a respective one of the first stations to select a respective one of the plurality of power levels according to power needs of the respective one of the first stations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a wireless communication system having a first wireless access point, and a first set of first stations in wireless communication with the first wireless access point, wherein the first set of first stations is divided into groups, each group including at least one of the first stations, the method comprising:
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assigning each group of first stations to a respective one of a plurality of power levels; and controlling power at the first wireless access point for communications with at least one of the groups of first stations by announcing a power level on a channel; wherein a station in the at least one of the groups of first stations accesses the channel when the announced power level is a respective one of the plurality of power levels to which the at least one group of first stations is assigned; and wherein the assigning comprises implicitly assigning, by the first wireless access point, of first stations within the first set of at least one first station to respective ones of the plurality of power levels by announcing the plurality of power levels, allowing a respective one of the first stations to select a respective one of the plurality of power levels according to power needs of the respective one of the first stations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification