Patent ID: 7328037

Claim:
In a wireless local area network, a method of controlling a power level value and data transmission rate of data transmission over an air link, the method comprising: receiving a beacon including a first data transmission rate value and a received signal strength value; selecting from two or more pre-stored receiver sensitivity values, a receiver sensitivity value associated with the first data transmission rate value; calculating a Link Margin value based on a difference between the received signal strength value and the receiver sensitivity value; selecting from a group of two or more Link Margin ranges a Link Margin range that includes the Link Margin value, wherein the group includes at least a low Link Margin range and a high Link Margin range; when the selected Link Margin range is below the high Link Margin range, setting a second data transmission rate value based on the selected Link Margin range; and when the selected Link Margin range is the high Link Margin range and the second data transmission rate value is equal to a maximal value of the data transmission rate, adjusting the power level value to be lower or equal to a predefined power level.