Patent ID: 7272118

Claim:
A method of managing communications in a wireless network, the method comprising: measuring an aggregate energy-to-interference of an air interface, the aggregate energy-to-interference being between a base station and a plurality of mobile stations; (i) based on the aggregate energy-to-interference of the air interface being greater than an aggregate set point: selecting a first data rate for signals transmitted from the base station to the plurality of mobile stations; and causing the signals from the base station to the plurality of the mobile stations to be transmitted at the first data rate; (ii) based on the aggregate energy-to-interference of the air interface being less than the aggregate set point: measuring an energy-to-interference of the air interface, the energy-to-interference being between the base station and one of the plurality of mobile stations; (a) based on the energy-to-interference of the air interface being less than an individualized set-point: selecting a transmit power for the signals transmitted from the base station to the one of the plurality of mobile stations; and causing communications from the base station to the one of the plurality of mobile stations to be at the transmit power; and (b) based on the energy-to-interference of the air interface being greater than the individualized set-point: selecting a second data rate for signals transmitted from the base station to the one of the plurality of mobile stations; and causing the signals from the base station to the one of the plurality of mobile stations to be transmitted at the second data rate.