Patent ID: 8423072

Claim:
A method of operating a communication system, the communication system comprising at least a macrocell base station and a femtocell base station that is within the coverage area of the macrocell base station, the method comprising: providing an indication of the noise rise or interference experienced at the macrocell base station to the femtocell base station; and adjusting, in the femtocell base station, a maximum permitted uplink transmission power for mobile devices transmitting in an uplink to the femtocell base station based on the indication; after a reduction, in the femtocell base station, in the maximum permitted uplink transmission power for mobile devices transmitting to the femtocell base station: determining whether the noise rise or interference at the macrocell base station has improved and in the event that the noise rise or interference at the macrocell base station has not improved, providing a second indication to the femtocell base station; and increasing, in the femtocell base station, the maximum permitted uplink transmission power for mobile devices transmitting in an uplink to the femtocell base station based on the second indication.