Patent ID: 7162250
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for relieving the traffic load on one or more wireless access points (APs) in a wireless cellular network, the method comprising the steps of: detecting one of: a traffic overload or underload condition at one or more APs; an AP querying one or more neighboring APs to ascertain if power level should be changed at said neighboring APs; modifying a transmission power level associated with said one or more neighboring APs according to a detected condition, thereby modifying the size of the associated coverage area of each AP; and, initiating switching of one or more of the current wireless devices from their current attachment to a first of said one or more APs to an alternative neighboring AP, thereby modifying the traffic load at said first and alternative APs, wherein each AP operates autonomously to perform AP power control in a distributed fashion without relying on any actual measurement of transmission characteristics of individual devices or APs.