Patent ID: 8811206

Claim:
An access point controller configured to control a wireless access point, the access point controller comprising: detection logic configured to determine whether a wireless station that is wirelessly communicating with the wireless access point is within a predetermined distance to the wireless access point, wherein the wireless access point is configured to transmit signals at a first transmission rate within a first transmission range, wherein the detection logic is configured to determine a distance from the access point to each of a plurality of wireless stations that include the wireless station communicating with the access point, and wherein the wireless station is a furthest wireless station of the plurality of wireless stations from the access point, wherein the detection logic is configured to poll the plurality of wireless stations to determine transmission rates for each of the plurality of wireless stations; and adjusting logic configured to, in response to the wireless station being within the predetermined distance to the wireless access point, reduce the first transmission range of the wireless access point to a second transmission range by increasing the first transmission rate of the wireless access point to a second transmission rate, wherein the adjusting logic is configured to change a transmission rate of the access point to change an effective transmission range of the access point according to a distance of the furthest wireless station that is communicating with the access point, and wherein the adjusting logic is configured to change the transmission rate includes changing the transmission rate to an optimal transmission rate for communicating with the plurality of wireless stations based, at least in part, on the poll of transmission rates.