Patent ID: 7317931
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A communications network comprising first and second stations, said first station comprising a transmitter and the said station comprising a receiver, the network further comprising: a transition control unit configured, prior to a change in a transmission rate of a preselected signal from said first station to said second station, to cause transitional signals to be transmitted from said first station to said second station over the course of a transitional period expiring before said change is effected, the power levels of said transitional signals being varied over the course of said period in accordance with a transition profile including a plurality of incremental steps that define one of linear and non-linear transition over a transmission power change required by said change in transmission rate of that signal, and a condition measuring unit for measuring one or more predetermined characteristics of the prevailing network conditions, wherein said transition control unit is configured to set the said power levels in dependence upon the said measured characteristics, wherein said power levels of said transitional signals are chosen so as to limit a rate of change of the said power levels to below a preselected maximum value.