Patent ID: 7945281

Claim:
In a radio access network (RAN) of the type including an antenna system that radiates to define a plurality of wireless coverage areas, wherein, in each wireless coverage area, the RAN transmits a respective pilot signal, a method comprising: determining that a given wireless coverage area is transmitting data and that no other wireless coverage area in a cluster of wireless coverage areas associated with the given wireless coverage area is also transmitting data; and responsively increasing power of transmission of the pilot signal in the given wireless coverage area; and wherein increasing power of transmission of the pilot signal in the given wireless coverage area comprises increasing power of transmission of the pilot signal in the given wireless coverage area from a normal power of transmission to an increased power of transmission, further comprising: thereafter making a determination that at least the given wireless coverage area is no longer transmitting data or that another wireless coverage area in a cluster of wireless coverage areas associated with the given wireless coverage area is also transmitting data; and responsive to the determination, reducing the power of transmission of the pilot signal in the given wireless coverage area back to the normal power of transmission.