Abstract:
A base station receives loading information indicative of the loading of other base stations and determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of the received loading factor information. The base station may decrease/increase a current power budget dedicated to downlink traffic channel segments in response to detecting an increase/decrease in loading at an adjacent base station. Thus, base stations operate in a cooperative manner reducing power output, in at least some cases, where loading at a neighboring base station increases thereby reducing the interference to the base station with the increased load. A base station can consider possible alternative transmission power levels, estimated levels of interference, and/or possible alternative data rates in making trade-off decisions regarding downlink power budget.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/251,069 filed Oct. 14, 2005, a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/302,729 filed Dec. 14, 2005, a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/486,714 filed Jul. 14, 2006 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/487,017 filed Jul. 14, 2006 each of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention related to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to power control in wireless communication systems.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     In a wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations with at least some of the base stations using the same air resources, e.g., frequency spectrum, downlink transmission from one base station can interference with downlink transmissions of other, e.g., adjacent base stations using the same frequency spectrum. Downlink traffic channel loading conditions at a particular base station attachment point typically vary over time as a function of a number of factors including: number of users, types of users, types of applications in use, amounts of data to be communicated, error tolerance levels, latency requirements, channel conditions, error rates, an wireless terminals&#39; locations. Varying the transmission power level of a traffic channel segment can influence achievable information data rates to a particular wireless terminal, but also changes the level of interference from the perspective of other wireless terminals attached to a different base station attachment point of another, e.g., adjacent, base station using tie sane frequency spectrum.  
         [0004]     By using a fixed downlink transmission power budget for each base station attachment point overall downlink interference in the system can be controlled. The power associated with different sub-channels within the downlink traffic channel can be varied with the overall downlink power budget being maintained to a fixed level. This approach tends to limit overall interference in the system, but fails to take advantage of different system loading conditions to optimize throughput.  
         [0005]     It would be advantageous if a base station were not restrained to a single downlink power budget but could vary its downlink transmission power budget in response to changing loading conditions at its own or adjacent base stations. It would be beneficial if adjacent base stations exchanged loading information thus allowing a base station to make timely decisions regarding downlink transmission power levels. In addition, it would be beneficial if the power budget determinations for a particular base station were performed at the base station, since the base station has readily available pertinent information such as current loading conditions, current channel conditions, user profiles, detected changes, applications in progress, thus facilitating a rapid informed response to changing conditions.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     Various embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus for communicating, collecting, measuring, reporting and/or using information which can be used for interference control purposes, load management and/or dynamic variation of base station downlink power budget.  
         [0007]     In accordance with various embodiments, a base station receives loading information indicative of the loading of other, e.g., adjacent base stations, and the base station determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of the received loading factor information. For example, a base station may decrease a current power budget dedicated to downlink traffic channel segments in response to detecting an increase in loading at an adjacent base station. The base station may increase a current power budget dedicated to downlink traffic channel segments in response to detecting a decrease in loading at an adjacent base station. Thus, base stations operate in a cooperative manner reducing power output, in at least some cases, where loading at a neighboring base station increases thereby reducing the interference to the base station with the increased load. This is in sharp contrast to systems which might try to increase power output in response to increasing load at a neighboring base station to overcome the increased interference generated by the neighboring base station with the increased communications load. The described methods and apparatus are particularly well suited for use in a communication system including multiple base stations which may interfere with one another. This is because in a wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, the downlink transmissions from one base station generate interference with respect to other base stations, e.g., adjacent base stations using the same frequency spectrum. A base station can consider possible alternative transmission power levels, estimated levels of interference, and/or possible alternative data rates in making trade-off decisions regarding downlink power budget, e.g., for downlink traffic channels.  
         [0008]     An exemplary method of operating a first base station in accordance with various embodiments includes: receiving second base station loading factor information indicative of loading of a second base station attachment point corresponding to a second base station; and determining a downlink transmission power budget as a function of said received second base station loading factor information. An exemplary base station in accordance with various embodiments comprises: an interface for receiving signals communicating base station loading factor information indicative of loading of at least one base station attachment point corresponding to at least one other base station; a loading factor information recovery module for recovering loading factor information corresponding to at least one other base station from said received signals; and a downlink transmission power budget determination module, wherein said downlink transmission power budget determination module determines a downlink transmission power budget for an attachment point of the base station as a function of said recovered loading factor information corresponding to at least one other base station.  
         [0009]     While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, it should be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include the same features and some of the features described above are not necessary but can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features, embodiments and benefits of the present invention are discussed in the detailed description which follows.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system implemented in accordance with various embodiments.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of an exemplary base station in accordance with various embodiments.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless terminal in accordance with various embodiments.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first base station, in a multiple access wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, in accordance with various embodiments.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first base station, in a multiple access wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, in accordance with various embodiments.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a drawing of a flowchart  600  of an exemplary method of operating a first base station, in a multiple access wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, in accordance with various embodiments.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a drawing used to illustrate features of various embodiments in which a base station in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations receives loading factor information corresponding to another base station and determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of said received base station loading factor information.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a drawing used to illustrate features of various embodiments in which a base station in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations receives loading factor information corresponding to another base station and determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of said received base station loading factor information.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a drawing used to illustrate features of various embodiments in which a base station in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations receives loading factor information corresponding to another base station and determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of base station loading factor information.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  comprising the combination of  FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 10B  is a drawing of a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a base station in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system  100 , e.g., a multiple access OFDM wireless communications system, in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary wireless communications system  100  includes a plurality of base stations (base station  1   102 , . . . , base station M  104 ) and network node  110 . Each base station ( 102 , . . . ,  104 ) includes at least one base station attachment point. Base stations ( 102 , . . . ,  104 ) may include one or more sectors and use one or more carriers. For example, a base station attachment point, in some embodiments for some base stations, corresponds to a combination of cell and carrier. In some embodiments, a base station attachment point for some base stations corresponds to a combination of cell, sector and carrier. Network node  110  is coupled to (base station  1   102 , base station M  104 ) via networks links ( 120 ,  122 ), respectively. Network node  110  is also coupled to other network nodes and/or the Internet via network link  124 . Network links  120 ,  122 ,  124  are, e.g., fiber optic links, wire links, and/or wireless links. Each base station (base station  1   102 , base station M  104 ) has a corresponding wireless coverage area (cell  1   106 , cell M  108 ), respectively.  
         [0021]     Communications system  100  also includes a plurality of wireless terminals, e.g., mobile nodes, which may move throughout the system and attach to a base station in whose coverage area is the wireless terminal is currently situated. Wireless terminals (WT  1   112 , . . . , WT N  114 ), currently situated in cell  1   106  are coupled to base station  1   102  via wireless links ( 126 , . . . ,  128 ), respectively. Wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  116 , . . . , WT N′  118 ′), currently situated in cell M  108  are coupled to base station M  104  via wireless links ( 130 , . . . ,  132 ), respectively.  
         [0022]     At least some of the base stations in system  100  consider loading information from other, e.g., adjacent base stations, in addition to their own loading, and adjust, e.g., dynamically, their downlink transmission power budget as a function of loading of other, e.g., adjacent base stations. In some embodiments, a base station makes its own independent determination of its downlink power budget corresponding to one of its base station attachment points, yet utilizes received loading information of other, e.g., adjacent base stations, in the local vicinity in making that determination.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a drawing of an exemplary base station  200  implemented in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary base station  200  may be any of the base stations of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 5  or  FIG. 6 . Exemplary base station  200  includes a receiver module  202 , a transmitter module  204 , a processor  206 , an I/O interface  208 , and a memory  210  coupled together via a bus  212  over which the various elements may interchange data and information.  
         [0024]     Receiver module  202 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  216  via which the base station  200  receives uplink signals from wireless terminals. In some embodiments, the uplink signals include base station load factor information corresponding to other base stations in the communications system, e.g., with a wireless terminal which is connected to base station  200  and another base station, e.g., an adjacent base station, acting as a relay.  
         [0025]     Transmitter module  204 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  218  via which the base station  200  transmits downlink signals to wireless terminals. The downlink signals include traffic channel signals and pilot channel signals, with the power budget of the traffic channel signals being controlled as a function of load factor information corresponding to other, e.g., adjacent, base stations and load factor information corresponding to base station  200 .  
         [0026]     I/O interface  208  couples the base station  200  to the Internet and/or other network nodes, e.g., adjacent base stations. Load factor information is exchanged between base station  200  and other, e.g., adjacent base stations via I/O interface  208 . Thus, I/O interface  208  receives signals communicating base station loading factor information indicative of loading of at least one base station attachment point corresponding to at least one other base station, e.g., an adjacent base station.  
         [0027]     Memory  210  includes routines  220  and data/information  222 . The processor  206 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  220  and uses the data/information  222  in memory  210  to control the operation of the base station  200  and implement methods.  
         [0028]     Routines  220  include a communications routine  224  and base station control routines  226 . The communications routine  224  implements various communications protocols used by base station  200 . Base station control routines  226  includes a scheduler  228 , a pilot channel signaling module  230 , a traffic channel signaling module  232 , a loading factor information recovery module  234 , a downlink transmission power budget determination module  236 , a loading factor determination module  238 , a loading factor comparison module  240 , and a loading factor tracking module  242 . In some embodiments, at least one of loading factor comparison module  240  and loading factor tracking module  242  are included as part of downlink transmission power budget determination module  236 .  
         [0029]     Scheduler  228  schedules wireless terminals to downlink and uplink traffic channel segments. Pilot channel signaling module  230  control the generation and transmission of pilot channel signals, e.g., known modulation symbols at predetermined power levels at predetermined positions in a recurring timing and frequency structure. In this exemplary embodiments, the pilot channel signals corresponding to a base station attachment point at transmitted at the same per tone transmission power level irrespective of downlink loading conditions at base station  200  or at adjacent base stations. Traffic channel signaling module  232  controls the generation and transmission of traffic channel segment signals, e.g., downlink traffic channel segment signals. The overall power budget associated with a base station  200  attachment point for the downlink traffic channels is dynamically adjusted in response to determinations by the downlink transmission power budget determination module  236 . Individual sub-channels within the downlink traffic channel, may be and sometimes are transmitted at different power levels.  
         [0030]     Loading factor information recovery module  234  recovers loading factor information corresponding to base station attachment points of other, e.g., adjacent base stations from received signals. For example, loading factor information recovery module  234  obtains (recovered BS  2  LF (t 1 )  248 , recovered BS  2  LF (tn)  250 , recovered BS N LF (t 1 )  256 , recovered BS N LF (tn)  258 ) from received signals (received BS  2  signal ( 1 )  244 , received BS  2  signal (n)  246 , received BS N signal ( 1 )  252 , received BS N signal (n)  254 ), respectively. The loading factor information in various embodiments pertains to downlink transmission loading of base station attachment points, e.g., downlink traffic channel loading at a base station attachment point.  
         [0031]     Downlink transmission power budget determination module  236  determines a downlink transmission power budget for one or more attachment points of the base station  200  as a function of recovered loading factor information corresponding to at least one other base station, e.g., one other adjacent base station. In various embodiments, the determined power budget is a power budget for a set of downlink communications channels including at least a pilot channel and a data traffic channel. In some such embodiments, a portion of the determined power budget for the pilot channel is independent of loading factor information and a portion of the power budget corresponding to the data traffic channel depends on the base station loading factor information of an other, e.g., adjacent, base station and the loading factor information of base station  200 . For example, pilot channel signals may be transmitted at a per tone power level which does not vary as a function of loading, while traffic channel signal transmission power levels may be varied as a function of a determined load factor for a base station  200  attachment point and a received load factor corresponding to an attachment point of an adjacent base station. Results of loading factor comparison module  240  are used as input by determination module  236  Determined transmission power budget (time T 1 )  264  and determined transmission power budget (time Tn)  270  are outputs from determination module  236 .  
         [0032]     Loading factor determination module  238  determines, for each attachment point of base station  200 , a loading factor corresponding to the attachment point of base station  200 . Determined base station loading factor (time t 1 )  260  and determined base station loading factor (time tn)  262  represent outputs of determination module  236  corresponding to same base station  200  attachment point at different times.  
         [0033]     Loading factor comparison module  240  compares a determined loading factor corresponding to an attachment point of base station  200  to a recovered loading factor corresponding to an attachment point of another, e.g., adjacent, base station.  
         [0034]     In some embodiments, the downlink transmission power budget determination module  236  determines the power budget to correspond to a first value indicative of said budget when the loading factor comparison module  240  determines the loading of the attachment point of the other, e.g., adjacent, base station involved in the comparison to be greater than the loading of the attachment point of base station  200 ; and, the downlink transmission power budget determination module  236  determines the power budget to correspond to a second value indicative of a power budget greater than the power budget indicated by the first value when said loading factor comparison module  240  determines the loading of the attachment point of the other, e.g., adjacent, base station involved in the comparison to be less than the loading of the attachment point of base station  200 .  
         [0035]     In some embodiments, a heavily loaded base station sends its loading factor to an adjacent base station, in the expectation, that the base station receiving the Loading factor will have lower loading and will reduce its transmission power budget. This in turn will reduce interference being experienced by the heavily loaded base station and allow throughput at the heavily loaded base station to be increased.  
         [0036]     Loading factor tracking module  242  tracks changes in loading factors at base station attachment points, e.g., attachment points corresponding to both base station  200  and attachment points corresponding to other, e.g., adjacent, base stations. Detected changes identified by loading factor tracking module  242  are used by downlink transmission power budget determination module  236  in determining a power budget for a base station attachment point of base station  200 . In some embodiments, the downlink transmission power determination module  236  decreases a current power budget of an attachment point of base station  200  in response to a detected increase in loading at an other, e.g., adjacent, base stations, and the downlink transmission power determination module  236  increases the current power budget in response to a detected decrease in loading at an other, e.g., adjacent, base station. In some embodiments, the downlink transmission power determination module  236  increases a current power budget of an attachment point of base station  200  in response to a detected increase in loading at the attachment point of base station  200 , and the downlink transmission power determination module  236  decreases the current power budget in response to a detected decrease in loading at the attachment point of base station  200 .  
         [0037]     Data/information  222  includes received signals conveying loading factor information corresponding to a plurality of base stations over time (received base station  2  signal ( 1 )  244 , . . . , received base station  2  signal (n)  246 )), . . . , (received base station N signal ( 1 )  252 , . . . , received base station N signal (a)  254 ). The received signals conveying load factor information, in some embodiments, have been conveyed via the backhaul network through I/O interface  208 . In some embodiments, the received signals have been received via receiver  202 , e.g., with a wireless terminal coupled to two base stations relaying the information. Data/information  210  also includes recovered base station  2  loading factor information representing the base station  2  loading at different times (recovered BS  2  loading factor (t 1 )  248 , . . . , recovered BS  2  loading factor (tn)  250 ), recovered base station N loading factor information representing the base station N loading at different times (recovered BS N loading factor (t 1 )  256 , . . . , recovered BS N loading factor (tn)  258 ), and determined BS  200  loading factor information representing the base station  200  loading at different times (determined BS loading factor (t 1 )  260 , . . . determined BS loading factor (tn)  262 ).  
         [0038]     Data/information  222  also includes determined downlink power budget information over time for BS  200  (determined downlink transmission power budget (T 1 )  264 , . . . , determined downlink transmission power budget (Tn)  270 . Determined downlink transmission power budget information  264  includes pilot channel budget information  266  and determined downlink traffic channel budget information (T 1 )  268 , while determined downlink transmission power budget (Tn)  270  includes pilot channel power budget information  266  and determined downlink traffic channel power budget (Tn)  272 . In this exemplary embodiment, the pilot channel signal transmission power level does not channel as a function of loading conditions; however, the downlink traffic channel power budget can, and sometimes does, change as a function of loading conditions and/or loading condition changes, e.g., at an adjacent base station and/or at base station  200 .  
         [0039]     Data/information  222  also includes comparison criteria for altering power budget  274 , number of current users  276 , amount of backlog downlink traffic information  278 , and downlink channel condition information. Comparison criteria for altering power budget  274  includes predetermined threshold limits used loading factor comparison module  1340 , loading factor tracking module  242 , and/or downlink transmission power budget determination module  236 . Number of current users  276  includes, e.g., information corresponding to the number of currently registered users, the number of active users, and/or the number of ON state users at a base station  200  attachment point. Amount of backlog downlink traffic channel information  278  includes, e.g., information identifying the number of MAC frames of downlink traffic awaiting to be transmitted corresponding to each of the current users of base station  200  and information identifying the number of MAC frames of downlink traffic awaiting to be transmitted corresponding to the composite of registered users. Downlink channel conditions information  280  includes, e.g., channel condition measurement information corresponding to current users of base station  200 , e.g., signal-to-noise measurement information and/or signal-to-interference measurement information. At least some of the number of current users information  276 , amount of backlog downlink traffic channel information  278  and downlink channel condition information  280  is used by the loading factor determination module  238  in determining a loading factor corresponding to a base station  200  attachment point.  
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of an exemplary wireless terminal  300 , e.g., mobile node, in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary wireless terminal  300  may be any of the exemplary wireless terminals of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 5  or  FIG. 6 . Exemplary wireless terminal  300  includes a 1 st  receiver module  302 , a 1 st  transmitter module  304 , a processor  306 , I/O devices  308 , and a memory  310  coupled together via a bus  312  over which the various elements may interchange data information. In sonic embodiments wireless terminal  300  also includes a 2 nd  receiver module  318  and a 2 nd  transmitter module  320  also coupled to bus  312 .  
         [0041]     1 st  receiver module  302 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  314  via which the wireless terminal  300  receives downlink signals from base stations. The downlink signals include assignment signals, e.g., downlink traffic channel segment assignment signals, downlink traffic channel segment signals, requests for the wireless terminal to relay base station loading information, commands for the wireless terminal to relay base station loading information, and/or base station attachment point loading information.  
         [0042]     1 st  transmitter module  304 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled to transmit antenna  316  via which the wireless terminal  300  transmits uplink signals to base stations. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for receiver module  302  and transmitter module  304 , e.g., in conjunction with a duplex module. The uplink signals include dedicated control channel reports, e.g., SNR reports, uplink traffic channel segment signals, access signals, power control signals, timing control signals, and handoff signals. The uplink signals also include messages conveying loading factor information corresponding to a base station attachment point, e.g., with the wireless terminal acting as relay between two adjacent base stations.  
         [0043]     2 nd  receiver module  318 , e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled to receive antenna  322  via which the wireless terminal  300  receives downlink signals from base stations. The downlink signals include assignment signals, e.g., downlink traffic channel segment assignment signals, downlink traffic channel segment signals, requests for the wireless terminal to relay base station loading information, commands for the wireless terminal to relay base station loading information, and/or base station attachment point loading information.  
         [0044]     2 nd  transmitter module  320 , e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupled transmit antenna  324  via which the wireless terminal  300  transmits uplink signals to base stations. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for receiver module  318  and transmitter module  324 , e.g., in conjunction with a duplex module. The uplink signals include dedicated control channel reports, e.g., SNR reports, uplink traffic channel segment signals, access signals, power control signals, timing control signals, and handoff signals. The uplink signals also include messages conveying loading information, e.g., a downlink loading factor, corresponding to a base station attachment point, e.g., with the wireless terminal acting as relay between two base stations.  
         [0045]     I/O devices  308 , e.g., keypad, keyboard, microphone, switches, display, speaker, etc., allows a user of WT  300  to input data/information, access output data/information. Input devices  308  also allow a user to control at least some functions of the wireless terminal, e.g., initiate a communications session with a peer node.  
         [0046]     Memory  310  includes routines  326  and data/information  328 . The processor  306 , e.g., a CPU, executes the routines  326  and uses the data/information  328  in memory  310  to control the operation of the wireless terminal  300  and implement steps of methods. Routines  326  include a communications routine  330  and base station control routines  332 . The communications routine  330  implements various communications protocols used by the wireless terminal  300 . The base station control routines  332  include a loading factor relay request/command monitoring module  334 , a loading factor recovery module  336 , and a loading factor relay module  338 .  
         [0047]     The loading factor request/command monitoring module  334  monitors received downlink signaling for a request and/or command directed to wireless terminal  300  instructing the wireless terminal  300  to receive base station loading factor information, e.g., downlink traffic channel base station loading information, corresponding to one or more attachment points from a first base station and to relay the loading factor information to a second base station. In some embodiments, the loading factor relay request/command monitoring module  334  is used when the wireless terminal  300  is in a mode of wireless terminal operation, wherein the wireless terminal is simultaneously supporting two communication links to two different base station attachment points. For example WT  300  may be in a multi-connection mode of operation, currently coupled to a first base station via receiver/transmitter module pair ( 302 / 304 ) and concurrently coupled to a second base station via receiver/transmitter module pair ( 318 / 320 ), and monitoring module  334  detects a signal requesting or commanding the wireless terminal  300  to transfer downlink loading information about a first base station attachment point to the second base station. In some embodiments, if a wireless terminal receives a request to transfer loading factor information, and the wireless terminal is not in multi-connection mode, the wireless terminal may transition into multi-connection mode in response to the received request/command to transfer loading factor information.  
         [0048]     The loading factor recovery module  336 , which is responsive to a request or command detected by module  334 , recovers loading information, e.g., downlink base station attachment point loading information from received downlink signals. The loading factor relay module  336 , which is responsive to loading factor recovery module  336 , generates messages conveying recovered loading factor information which is to be communicated, via uplink signaling to another, e.g., adjacent, base station. Loading factor relay module  336  also controls the transmission of such generated relay messages.  
         [0049]     Data/information  328  includes received request/command to relay loading factor information  340 , received base station loading factor information  342 , generated base station loading factor message information  344 , system base station information  346  and wireless terminal mode of operation information  348 . Received request/command to relay base station loading factor information  340  includes received requests and/or commands for wireless terminal  300  to serve as a relay and transfer loading factor information between base stations. In some embodiments, the request identifies the destination base station. In some embodiments, the wireless terminal, uses stored system base station information  346  to determine relevant destination base stations, e.g., adjacent base stations which may be affected, e.g., interfered with, by downlink signaling from the source base station attachment point. Received base station loading factor information  342 , e.g., a base station attachment point loading factor corresponding to downlink traffic channel loading, is an output of recovery module  336  and an input to loading factor relay module  338 . Generated base station loading factor relay message is an output of loading factor relay module  338  and used as input a wireless transmitter module, e.g., module  304  or module  320 . System base station information  346  includes information corresponding to a plurality of base stations in the wireless communications system (base station  1  informatiotn  350 , . . . , base station n information  352 ). Base station  1  information  350  includes information corresponding to each of the attachment point of base station  1 , e.g., downlink carrier information, downlink tone block information, uplink carrier information, uplink carrier information, channel structure information, tone hopping information, power level information, message structure information, recurring timing structure information, etc. WT mode of operation information  348  includes information identifying whether the wireless terminal  300  is in a single connection mode of operation or a multi-connection mode of operation.  
         [0050]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of a flowchart  400  of an exemplary method of operating a first base station, in a multiple access wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, in accordance with various embodiments. Each base station in the exemplary communications system includes at least one base station attachment point via which wireless terminals, e.g., mobile nodes, in the vicinity of the base station may attach to the network. A base station may include one or more sectors. A base station attachment point corresponds, in this exemplary embodiment, to a base station sector, uplink carrier, uplink OFDM tone block, downlink carrier, and downlink OFDM tone block.  
         [0051]     Operation starts in step  402 , where the first base station is powered on and initialized, and proceeds to step  404 . In step  404 , the first base station receives second base station loading factor information indicative of loading of a second base station attachment point corresponding to a second base station. The second base station may be and sometimes is adjacent to the first base station. Exemplary loading information of a base station includes the number of active terminals connected, the quality of service (QoS) profile of those terminals (e.g., the number of high QoS value terminals versus the number of low QoS value terminals), the QoS profile of the traffic associated with those terminals (e.g., the amount of voice or video traffic versus the amount of best-effort data traffic), and the air link resource (e.g., power and bandwidth) required to support the traffic desired by the connected active terminals. For example, the loading may increase when the base station serves increased voice traffic. Moreover, even if the base station serves the same amount of traffic in terms of bits per second, the loading may be different if most of the connected terminals are far way from the base station versus if most of them are close by. The reason is that the air link resource, in particular, the power, required to support the traffic is different. Operation proceeds from step  404  to step  406 .  
         [0052]     In step  406 , the first base station determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of additional loading factor information corresponding to another base station attachment point, said another base station attachment point being an attachment point of the first base station. For example, the another attachment point of the first be station and the second attachment point of the second base station may correspond to adjacent sectors using the same downlink carrier frequencies and same downlink tone blocks, and the determined downlink transmission power budget may correspond to the another base station attachment point of the first base station. In some embodiments, the determined downlink transmission power budget is for a set of downlink communications channels including at least a pilot channel and a data traffic channel. In some such embodiments, a first portion of the determined power budget, the first portion being allocated for the pilot channel, is independent of the first and second loading factor information, and a second portion of the determined power budget, the second portion being allocated to correspond to data traffic channels depends on the second base station loading factor information and additional loading factor information. For example, pilot channel signals corresponding to the additional attachment point of the first base station are broadcast at a first predetermined transmission power level irrespective of loading conditions of second and additional loading factor information; however, traffic channel signals corresponding to the additional attachment point of the first base station are transmitted at power levels which are a function of second and additional loading factor information. Step  406  includes sub-steps  408 ,  410 ,  412 ,  414 ,  416  and  418 .  
         [0053]     In sub-step  408 , the first base station compares the additional loading factor information of the first base station to said second base station loading factor information. The loading factor information being compared may refer to the downlink, e.g., to downlink loading of downlink traffic channel air link resources. Operation proceeds from sub-step  408  to sub-step  410 . In sub-step  410 , the first base station determines if the comparison of sub-step  408  indicates that the second base station loading is greater than the first base, station loading. If the check of step  410  indicates that the second base station loading is greater than the first base station loading, then operation proceeds to step  412 , where the base station determines the power budget to correspond to a first value indicative of said budget; otherwise operation proceeds from sub-step  410  to sub-step  414 .  
         [0054]     In sub-step  414 , the first base station determines if the comparison of sub-step  408  indicates that the second base station loading is less than the first base station loading. If the check of step  414  indicates that the second base station loading is less than the first base station loading, then operation proceeds to sub-step  416 , where the base station determines the power budget to correspond to a second value indicative of said budget greater than die power budget indicated by the first value; otherwise operation proceeds from sub-step  414  to sub-step  418 . In sub-step  418 , the first base station determines said power budget to correspond to a third value indicative of said budget. For example, the third value may indicate a power budget between the power budget indicated by the first value and the power budget indicated by the second value.  
         [0055]     In some embodiments, the values of the base station loading which are to be compared in steps  410  and  420  are quantized representations of actual loading determinations and proceeding to step  418  may indicate that the first and second base station loading quantized level values are the same, indicating that the first and second base station actual loading determinations are roughly the same.  
         [0056]     In some embodiments, step  410  checks whether the second base station loading is greater than the second base station loading by a predetermined first amount, and step  410  checks whether the second base station loading is greater than the first base station loading by a predetermined second amount. Thus, if operation proceeds to step  418 , that indicates that the first and second base station loadings are roughly the same.  
         [0057]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of a flowchart  500  of an exemplary method of operating a first base station, in a multiple access wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, in accordance with various embodiments. Each base station in the exemplary communications system includes at least one base station attachment point via which wireless terminals, e.g., mobile nodes, in the vicinity of the base station may attach to the network. A base station may include one or more sectors. A base station attachment point corresponds, in this exemplary embodiment, to a base station sector, uplink carrier, uplink OFDM tone block, downlink carrier, and downlink OFDM tone block,  
         [0058]     Operation starts in step  502 , where the first base station is powered on and initialized, and proceeds to step  504 . In step  504 , the first base station receives second base station loading factor information indicative of loading of a second base station attachment point corresponding to a second base station. The second base station may be and sometimes is adjacent to the first base station. Operation proceeds from step  504  to step  506 .  
         [0059]     In step  506 , the first base station determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of additional loading factor information corresponding to another base station attachment point, said another base station attachment point being an attachment point of the first base station. For example, the another attachment point of the first base station and the second attachment point of the second base stations may correspond to adjacent sectors using the same downlink carrier frequencies and same downlink tone blocks, and the determined downlink transmission power budget may correspond to the another base station attachment point of the first base station. In some embodiments, the determined downlink transmission power budget is for a set of downlink communications channels including at least a pilot channel and a data traffic channel. In some such embodiments, a first portion of the determined power budget, the first portion being allocated for the pilot channel, is independent of the first and second loading factor information, and a second portion of the determined power budget, the second portion being allocated to correspond to data traffic channels depends on the second base station loading factor information and additional loading factor information. For example, pilot channel signals corresponding to the additional attachment point of the first base station are broadcast at a first predetermined transmission power level irrespective of loading conditions of second and additional loading factor information; however, traffic channel signals corresponding to the additional attachment point of the first base station are transmitted at power levels which are a function of second and additional loading factor information. Step  506  includes sub-steps  508 ,  510 ,  512 ,  514  and  516 .  
         [0060]     In sub-step  508 , the first base station compares the current second base station loading factor information to previously stored second base station loading factor information. The loading factor information being compared may refer to the downlink, e.g., to downlink loading of downlink traffic channel air link resources. Operation proceeds from sub-step  508  to sub-step  510 . In sub-step  510 , the first base station determines if the comparison of sub-step  508  indicates an increase, decrease, or no change in loading at said second base station. If the determination of step  510  is that loading of the second attachment point at the second base station has increased, operation proceeds to step  512 , where the first base station decreases the downlink transmission power budget. If the determination of step  510  is that the loading at the second base station has not changed, then operation proceeds from step  510  to step  516 , were the first base station does not change the downlink transmission power budget. If the determination of step  510  is that loading of the second at the second base station has decreased, operation proceeds to step  514 , where the first base station increases the downlink transmission power budget.  
         [0061]      FIG. 6  is a drawing of a flowchart  600  of an exemplary method of operating a first base station, in a multiple access wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, in accordance with various embodiments. Each base station in the exemplary communications system includes at least one base station attachment point via which wireless terminals, e.g., mobile nodes, in the vicinity of the base station may attach to the network. A base station may include one or more sectors. A base station attachment point corresponds, in this exemplary embodiment, to a base station sector, uplink carrier, uplink OFDM tone block, downlink carrier, and downlink OFDM tone block.  
         [0062]     Operation starts in step  602 , where the first base station is powered on and initialized, and proceeds to step  604 . In step  604 , the first base station receives second base station loading factor information indicative of loading of a second base station attachment point corresponding to a second base station. The second base station may be, and sometimes is, adjacent to the first base station. Operation proceeds from step  604  to step  606 .  
         [0063]     In step  606 , the first base station determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of additional loading factor information corresponding to another base station attachment point, said another base station attachment point being an attachment point of the first base station. For example, the another attachment point of the first base station and the second attachment point of the second base station may correspond to adjacent sectors using the same downlink carrier frequencies and same downlink tone blocks, and the determined downlink transmission power budget may correspond to the another base station attachment point of the first base station. In some embodiments, the determined downlink transmission power budget is for a set of downlink communications channels including at least a pilot channel and a data traffic channel. In some such embodiments, a first portion of the determined power budget, the first portion being allocated for the pilot channel, is independent of the first and second loading factor information, and a second portion of the determined power budget, the second portion being allocated to correspond to data traffic channels depends on the second base station loading factor information and additional loading factor information. For example, pilot channel signals corresponding to the additional attachment point of the first base station are broadcast at a first predetermined transmission power level irrespective of loading conditions of second and additional loading factor information; however, traffic channel signals corresponding to the additional attachment point of the first base station are transmitted at power levels which are a function of second and additional loading factor information. Step  606  includes sub-steps  608 ,  610 ,  612 ,  614  and  616 .  
         [0064]     In sub-step  608 , the first base station compares the current first base station loading factor information to previously stored first base station loading factor information. The loading factor information being compared may refer to the downlink, e.g., to downlink loading of downlink traffic channel air link resources. Operation proceeds from sub-step  608  to sub-step  610 . In sub-step  610 , the first base station determines if the comparison of sub-step  608  indicates an increase, decrease, or no change in loading at said first base station. If the determination of step  610  is that loading of the additional attachment point at the first base station has increased, operation proceeds to step  612 , where the first base station increases the downlink transmission power budget. If the determination of step  610  is that the loading at the first base station has not changed, then operation proceeds from step  610  to step  616 , where the first base station does not change the downlink transmission power budget. If the determination of step  610  is that loading at the first base station has decreased, operation proceeds to step  614 , where the first base station decreases the downlink transmission power budget.  
         [0065]      FIG. 7  is a drawing  1000  used to illustrate features of various embodiments in which a base station in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations receives loading factor information corresponding to another base station and determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of said received base station loading factor information. Drawing  1000  includes exemplary drawing  1002  which includes base station  1   1050  and base station  2   1052  coupled together via network link  1068 . Base station  1   1050  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (Wt  1   1054 , WT  2   1056 , WT  3   1058 , WT  4   1060 ) via wireless links. Base station  2   1052  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  1062 , WT  4 ′  1064 ) via wireless links. BS  1   1050  has calculated a loading factor  1071  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2   1052  has calculated a loading factor  1072  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2  sends message  1074  via backhaul network link  1068  conveying its loading factor  1072 . BS  1   1052  receives the loading factor message  1074  recovers the loading factor corresponding to BS  2   1072  and compares loading factor  1072  to its own loading factor  1070 . BS  1  determines that the loading factor for BS  2   1072  is less than its own loading factor  1070  and therefore sets its downlink transmission power budget at a first level. Drawing  1006  of drawing  1000  illustrates the downlink power budget for BS  1  corresponding to the drawing  1002  example. In drawing  1006 , the height of arrow  1010  indicates the BS  1  downlink power budget for the determined condition that the loading factor of base station  2  is less than the loading factor of base station  1 . Downlink power budget  1010  can be partitioned into a 1 st  portion  1012  associated with the downlink pilot channel, a second portion associated with downlink traffic channels  1016 , and a third portion associated with other downlink channels  1014 .  
         [0066]     Drawing  1000  also includes exemplary drawing  1004  which includes base station  1   1050  and base station  2   1052  coupled together via network link  1068 . Base station  1   1050  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1   1054 , WT  2   1056 , WT  3   1058 , WT  4   1060 ) via wireless links. Base station  2   1052 , at this time, is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  1062 , WT  4 ′  1064 , WT  5 ′  1076 , WT  2 ′  1078 , WT  6 ′  1080 , WT  3 ′  1082 , WT  7 ′  1084 ) via wireless links. BS  1   1050  has calculated a loading factor  1086  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2   1052  has calculated a loading factor  1088  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2  sends message  1090  via backhaul network link  1068  conveying its loading factor  1088 . BS  1   1052  receives the loading factor message  1090  recovers the loading factor corresponding to BS  2   1088  and compares loading factor  1088  to its own loading factor  1086 . BS  1  determines that the loading factor for BS  2   1088  is greater than its own loading factor  1086  and therefore sets its downlink transmission power budget at a second level  1018 , the second level being less than the first level  1010 . Drawing  1008  of drawing  1000  illustrates the downlink power budget for BS  1  corresponding to the drawing  1004  example. In drawing  1008 , the height of arrow  1018  indicates the BS  1  downlink power budget for the determined condition that the loading factor of base station  2  is greater than the loading factor of base station  1 . Downlink power budget  1018  can be partitioned into a 1 st  portion  1020  associated with the downlink pilot channel, a second portion associated with downlink traffic channels  1026 , and a third portion associated with other downlink channels  1024 . In this example, it should be observed that the power level associated with the pilot channel  1012 ,  1020  is the same irrespective of the loading factor comparison determination; however, the downlink traffic channel power budget ( 1016 ,  1026 ) changes in response to different results from the loading factor comparison.  
         [0067]      FIG. 8  is a drawing  1100  used to illustrate features of various embodiments in which a base station in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations receives loading factor information corresponding to another base station and determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of said received base station loading factor information. Drawing  1000  includes exemplary drawing  1102  which includes base station  1   1150  and base station  2   1152  coupled together via network link  1170 . Base station  1   1150  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1   1154 , WT  2   1156 , WT  3   1158 , T  4   1160 ) via wireless links. Base station  2   1152  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  1162 , WT  2 ′  1164 , WT  3 ′  1166 , WT  4 ′  1168 ) via wireless links. BS  1   1150  has calculated a loading factor  1172  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2   1152  has calculated a loading factor  1174  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2  sends message  1176  via backhaul network link  1170  conveying its loading factor (LF BS2  (t 1 ))  1174 . BS  1   1150  receives the loading factor message  1176  recovers the loading factor corresponding to BS  2   1174  and compares loading factor  1174  to its own loading factor  1172 . In this example, BS  1  determines that the loading factor for BS  2   1174  is the same as its own loading factor  1172 , and for purposes of illustration we will assume that both base station have been stable at these levels, and therefore base station  1  does not readjust its power budget which is set at level  1114 . Drawing  1108  of drawing  1100  illustrates the downlink power budget for BS  1  corresponding to the drawing  1102  example. In drawing  1108 , the height of arrow  1114  indicates the BS  1  downlink power budget. Downlink power budget  1114  can be partitioned into a 1 st  portion  1116  associated with the downlink plot channel, a second portion associated with downlink traffic channels  1120 , and a third portion associated with other downlink channels  1118 .  
         [0068]     Drawing  1100  also includes exemplary drawing  1104  which includes base station  1   1150  and base station  2   1152  coupled together via network link  1170 . Base station  1   1150  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1   1154 , WT  2   1156 , WT  3   1158 , WT  4   1160 ) via wireless links. Base station  2   1152 , at this tine is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  1162 , WT  2 ′  1164 , WT  3 ′  1166 , WT  4 ′  1168 , WT  5 ′  1178 , WT  6 ′  1180 , WT  7 ′  1182 ) via wireless links. BS  1   1150  has calculated a loading factor  1172  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2   1152  has calculated a loading factor (LF BS2  (t 2 ))  1184  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2  sends message  1186  via backhaul network link  1170  conveying its loading factor  1184 . BS  1   1150  receives the loading factor message  1186 , recovers the loading factor corresponding to BS  2   1184  and compares loading factor  1184  to a previously stored loading factor corresponding to BS  2  (LF BS 2  (t 1 ))  1174 . BS  1  determines that the current loading factor for BS  2   1184  is greater than the previous loading factor for BS  2   1174  and therefore reduces its downlink transmission power budget to level  1122 . Drawing  1110  of drawing  1100  illustrates the downlink power budget for BS  1  corresponding to the drawing  1104  example. In drawing  1110 , the height of arrow  1122  indicates the BS  1  adjusted downlink power budget for the determined condition that the currents loading factor of base station  2  is greater than the previous loading factor of base station  2 . Downlink power budget  1122  can be partitioned into a 1 st  portion  1124  associated with the down link pilot channel, a second portion associated with downlink traffic channels  1128 , and a third portion associated with other downlink channels  1126 . In this example, it should be observed that the power level associated with the pilot channel  1116 ,  1124  is the same irrespective of the loading factor comparison determination; however, the downlink traffic channel power budget ( 1120 ,  1128 ) changes in response to different results from the loading factor comparison tracking.  
         [0069]     Drawing  1100  also includes exemplary drawing  1106  which includes base station  1   1150  and base station  2   1152  coupled together via network link  1170 . Base station  1   1150  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1   1154 , WT  2   1156 , WT  3   1158 , WT  4   1160 ) via wireless links. Base station  2   1152 , at this time, is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  1162 , WT  4 ′  1168 ) via wireless links. BS  1   1150  has calculated a loading factor  1172  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2   1152  has calculated a loading factor (LF BS2  (t 3 ))  1188  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2  sends message  1190  via backhaul network link  1170  conveying its loading factor  1188 . BS  1   1150  receives the loading factor message  1190  recovers the loading factor corresponding to BS  2   1188  and compares loading factor  1188  to a previously stored loading factor corresponding to BS  2  (L BS 2  (t 2 ))  1184 . BS  1  determines that the current loading factor for BS  2   1188  is less than the previous loading factor for BS  2   1184  and therefore increases its downlink transmission power budget to level  1130 . Drawing  1112  of drawing  1100  illustrates the downlink power budget for BS  1  corresponding to the drawing  1106  example. In drawing  1112 , the height of arrow  1130  indicates the BS  1  adjusted downlink power budget for the determined condition that the current loading factor of base station  2  is less than the previous loading factor of base station  2 . Downlink power budget  1130  can be partitioned into a 1 st  portion  1132  associated with the downlink pilot channel, a second portion associated with downlink traffic channels  1136 , and a third portion associated with other downlink channels  1134 . In this example, it should be observed that the power level associated with the pilot channel  1124 ,  1132  is the same irrespective of the loading factor comparison determination; however, the downlink traffic channel power budget ( 1128 ,  1136 ) changes in response to different results from the loading factor comparison tracking.  
         [0070]      FIG. 9  is a drawing  1200  used to illustrate features of various embodiments in which a base station in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations receives loading factor information corresponding to another base station and determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of base station loading factor information. Drawing  1200  includes exemplary drawing  1202  which includes base station  1   1250  and base station  2   1252  coupled together via network link  1270 . Base station  1   1250  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1   1254 , WT  2   1256 , WT  3   1258 , WVT  4   1260 ) via wireless links. Base station  2   1252  is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  1262 , WT  2 ′  1264 , WT  3 ′  1266 , WT  4 ′  1268 ) via wireless links. BS  1   1250  has calculated a loading factor (L BS 1  (t 1 ))  1272  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2   1252  has calculated a loading factor  1274  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2  sends message  1276  via backhaul network link  1270  conveying its loading factor (LF BS2 )  1274 . BS  1   1250  receives the loading factor message  1276  recovers the loading factor corresponding to BS  2   1274  and compares loading factor  1274  to its own loading factor  1272 . In this example, BS  1  determines that the loading factor for BS  2   1274  is the same as its own loading factor  1272 , and for purposes of illustration we will assume that both base station have been stable at these levels, and therefore base station  1  does not readjust its power budget which is set at level  1214 . Drawing  1208  of drawing  1200  illustrates the downlink power budget for BS  1  corresponding to the drawing  1202  example. In drawing  1208 , the height of arrow  1214  indicates the BS  1  downlink power budget. Downlink power budget  1214  can be partitioned into a 1 st  portion  1216  associated with the downlink pilot channel, a second portion associated with downlink traffic channels  1220 , and a third portion associated with other downlink channels  1218 .  
         [0071]     Drawing  1200  also includes exemplary drawing  1204  which includes base station  1   1250  and base station  2   1252  coupled together via network link  1270 . Base station  1   1250  is, at this time, coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1   1254 , WT  2   1256 , WT  3   1258 , WT  4   1260 , WT  5   1278 , WT  6   1280 , WT  7   1282 ) via wireless links. Base station  2   1252 , at this time, is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  1262 , WT  2 ′  1264 , WT  3 ′  1266 , WT  4 ′  1268 ) via wireless links. BS  1   1250  has calculated a loading factor (L BS 1 (t 2 ))  1272  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2   1252  has calculated a loading factor (LF BS2 )  1274  corresponding to its current down link traffic channel loading. BS  2  sends message  1276  via backhaul network link  1270  conveying its loading factor  1274 . BS  1   1250  receives the loading factor message  1276  recovers the loading factor corresponding to BS  2   1274  and recognizes the loading factor corresponding to BS  2  has remained unchanged. BS  1   1250  compares its current loading factor  1284  to a previously stored loading factor corresponding to BS  1  (LF BS 1 (t 1 ))  1272 . BS  1  determines that the current loading factor for BS  1   1284  is greater than the previous loading factor for BS  1   1272  and therefore increases its downlink transmission power budget to level  1222 . Drawing  1210  of drawing  1200  illustrates the downlink power budget for BS  1  corresponding to the drawing  1204  example. In drawing  1210 , the height of arrow  1222  indicates the BS  1  adjusted downlink power budget for the determined condition that the current loading factor of base station  1  is greater than the previous loading factor of base station  1 . Downlink power budget  1222  can be partitioned into a 1 st  portion  1224  associated with the downlink pilot channel  1224 , a second portion associated with downlink traffic channels  1228 , and a third portion associated with other downlink channels  1226 . In this example, it should be observed that the power level associated with the pilot channel  1216 ,  1224  is the same irrespective of the loading factor comparison determination; however, the downlink traffic channel power budget ( 1220 ,  1228 ) changes in response to different results from the loading factor comparison.  
         [0072]     Drawing  1200  also includes exemplary drawing  1206  which includes base station  1   1250  and base station  2   1252  coupled together via network link  1270 . Base station  1   1250 , at this time, is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  3   1258 , WT  4   1260 ) via wireless links. Base station  2   1252 , at this time, is coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals (WT  1 ′  1262 , WT  2 ′  1264 , WT  3 ′  1266 , WT  4 ′  1268 ) via wireless lurks. BS  1   1250  has calculated a loading factor (LF BS 1  (t 3 )  1286  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2   1252  has calculated a loading factor (LF BS2 )  1274  corresponding to its current downlink traffic channel loading. BS  2  sends message  1276  via backhaul network link  1270  conveying its loading factor  1274 . BS  1   1250  receives the loading factor message  1276  recovers the loading factor corresponding to BS  2   1274  and recognizes the loading factor corresponding to BS  2  has remained unchanged. BS  1  compares its current loading factor  1286  to a previously stored loading factor corresponding to BS  1  (LF BS 1  (t 2 ))  1284 . BS  1  determines that the current loading factor for BS  1   1286  is less than the previous loading factor for BS  1   1284  and therefore decreases its downlink transmission power budget to level  1230 . Drawing  1212  of drawing  1200  illustrates the downlink power budget for BS  1  corresponding to the drawing  1206  example. In drawing  1212 , the height of arrow  1230  indicates the BS  1  adjusted downlink power budget for the determined condition that the current loading factor of base station  1  is less than the previous loading factor of base station  1 . Downlink power budget  1230  can be partitioned into a 1 st  portion  1232  associated with the downlink pilot channel, a second portion associated with downlink traffic channels  1236 , and a third portion associated with other downlink channels  1234 . In this example, it should be observed that the power level associated with the pilot channel  1224 ,  1232  is the same irrespective of the loading factor comparison determination; however, the downlink traffic channel power budget ( 1228 ,  1236 ) changes in response to different results from the loading factor comparison.  
         [0073]      FIG. 10  comprising the combination of  FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 10B  is a drawing of a flowchart  2000  of an exemplary method of operating a base station in accordance with various embodiments. The exemplary base station, e.g., base station  200  of  FIG. 2 , may be a base station in a multiple access wireless communications system including a plurality of base stations, each base station including at least one base station attachment point. Operation starts in step  2002  where the base station is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from start step  2002  to step  2004 , step  2010 , step  2020 , and step  2034  via connecting node A  2032 .  
         [0074]     In step  2004 , which is performed on a recurring basis, the base station determines downlink loading for each base station attachment point. Outputs of step  2004  are base station  1  downlink loading factor  2006 , . . . base station  1  attachment point n downlink loading factor  2008 . Information ( 2006 , . . . ,  2008 ) is an input to step  2020  and step  2034 .  
         [0075]     In step  2010  the base station receives downlink loading factor information corresponding to attachment points of other, e.g., adjacent, base station. The reception may be via an interface to the backhaul network and/or via a wireless receiver, e.g., with a wireless terminal concurrently connected to the base station and to another base station acting as a relay. The reception may be performed on a recurring basis, in response to a request, and/or or in response to a decision by another base station to communicate its downlink loading information. Information corresponding to various attachment points of one of more base stations is an output of step  2010  (base station  2  attachment point  1  downlink loading factor  2012 , . . . , base station  2  attachment point m downlink loading factor  2014 , . . . , base station N attachment point  1  downlink loading factor  2016 , . . . , base station N attachment point p downlink loading factor  2018 ). Information ( 2012 ,  2014 ,  2016 ,  2018 ) are inputs to step  2020 .  
         [0076]     Step  2020  is performed, on an ongoing basis, for each attachment point of the base station. In step  2020 , the base station determines a downlink transmission power budget as a function of loading factor information corresponding to other, e.g., adjacent, base station or stations. In some embodiments, a determined downlink transmission power budget is a power budget for a set of downlink communications channels including at least a pilot channel and a data channel, and the pilot channel transmission power level e.g., pilot channel per tone power, is independent of loading information while the portion of the determined downlink power budget corresponding to the traffic channel is dependent upon loading information of the base station attachment point to which the budget corresponds and loading of an adjacent point or points of adjacent base station or stations. Step  2020  includes sub-steps  2022 ,  2024 ,  2026 , and  2028 . In sub-step  2022 , the base station compares current loading at the base station attachment point wider consideration to loading of an attachment point or points of adjacent base station or stations which can interfere with the attachment point wider consideration. In sub-step  2024 , the base station compares current loading at the base station attachment point under consideration to previous loading at the base station attachment point under consideration. In sub-step  2026 , the base station compares current loading at potentially interfering adjacent base station attachment point to previous loading at the same potentially interfering adjacent base station attachment point. Sub-step  2026  may be performed for a plurality of different potentially interfering adjacent base station attachment points.  
         [0077]     Operation proceeds from sub-steps  2022 ,  2024 , and  2026  to sub-step  2028 . In sub-step  2028 , the base station adjusts base station attachment point downlink transmission power budget as a function of changes in base station attachments point loading over time, changes in adjacent base station attachment point loading over time, the result of comparison of loading at the base station attachment point under consideration to loading at attachment point or points of adjacent base stations, current downlink transmission power budget, previous downlink transmission power budget, and alternative possible downlink transmission power budgets. Sub-step  2028  includes sub-step  2030 . In sub-step  2030 , the base station adjusts the base station attachment point downlink traffic channel power budget.  
         [0078]     In some embodiments, determining a power budget for a base station attachment point includes determining the power budget to correspond to a first value indicative of said budget when a comparison indicates that loading of an attachment point of an other, e.g., adjacent, base station is greater than loading of the base station attachment point to which the budget applies; and determining the power budget to correspond to a second value indicative of a power budget greater than the power budget indicated by the first value when the comparison indicates that the loading of an attachment point of an other, e.g., adjacent, base station is less than the loading of the base station attachment point to which the budget applies.  
         [0079]     In various embodiments, determining a power budget for a base station attachment point includes decreasing a current power budget in response to detecting an increase in loading at an attachment point of other, e.g., adjacent, base station. In some embodiments, determining a power budget for a base station attachment point includes increasing a current power budget in response to detecting a decrease in loading at an attachment point of an other, e.g., adjacent, base station.  
         [0080]     In various embodiments, determining a power budget for a base station attachment point includes increasing a current power budget in response to detecting an increase in loading at the attachment point. In some embodiments, determining a power budget for a base station attachment point includes decreasing a current power budget in response to detecting a decrease in loading at the attachment point.  
         [0081]     In some embodiments, the base station supports, for an attachment point, a plurality, e.g., two, three, or more than three, of predetermined downlink transmission power budget alternative levels and the base station selects to use one of the possible alternative levels for a given time for the attachment point. Thus a base station may dynamically vary its power budget between the possible alternatives in response to loading changes including loading changes at adjacent base stations. In some embodiments, base stations may communicate information to other base stations, e.g., adjacent base stations, identifying their selected downlink transmission power budget level.  
         [0082]     In step  2034 , the base station generates a message conveying base station attachment point downlink loading information. Base station attachment point loading information (BS  1  attachment point  1  downlink loading factor  2006 , . . . , base station  1  attachment point n downlink loading factor  2008 ) are inputs to step  2034 . Operation proceeds from step  2034  to step  2036 . In step  2036 , the base station transmits the generated message of step  2034  including determined base station attachment point loading factor information directed to other e.g., adjacent, base station or stations. The transmission directed to the adjacent base station may be via an interface to a backhaul network and/or via a wireless terminal coupled to both the base station and the adjacent base stations. The operations of steps  2034  and  2036  are performed on an ongoing basis, e.g., as part of recurring timing structure, in response to a request from an adjacent base station and/or based on a decision by the base station to communicates its loading information to one or more adjacent base stations. In some embodiments, the downlink loading factor of one of the base stations attachment points is communicated to one or more selected adjacent base stations in response to the base station determining that its loading has reached a high level and/or in response to a detected in change in loading, e.g., of a predetermined amount.  
         [0083]     While described in the context of an OFDM system, the methods and apparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a wide range of communications systems including many non-OFDM and/or non-cellular systems.  
         [0084]     In various embodiments nodes described herein are implemented using one or more modules to perform the steps corresponding to one or more methods, for example, signal processing, beacon generation, beacon detection, beacon measuring, connection comparisons, connection implementations. In some embodiments various features are implemented using modules. Such modules may be implemented using software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Many of the above described methods or method steps can be implemented using machine executable instructions, such as software, included in a machine readable medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to control a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or without additional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above described methods, e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to a machine-readable medium including machine executable instructions for causing a machine, e.g., processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of the steps of the above-described method(s).  
         [0085]     Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above descriptions. Such variations are to be considered within scope. The methods and apparatus of various embodiments may be, and in various embodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and/or various other types of communications techniques which may be used to provide wireless communications links between access nodes and mobile nodes. In some embodiments the access nodes are implemented as base stations which establish communications links with mobile nodes using OFDM and/or CDMA. In various embodiments the mobile nodes are implemented as notebook computers, personal data assistants (PDAs), or other portable devices including receiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/or routines, for implementing the methods of various embodiments.