Access point multi-level transmission power control based on the exchange of characteristics

1. A method for use in an access point that wirelessly couples a first client device and a second client device to a backbone network, the method comprising:

receiving a first plurality of characteristics from the first client device relating to transmissions received by the first client device from both the access point and the second client device;

receiving a second plurality of characteristics from the second client device relating to transmissions received by the second client device from both the access point and the first client device; and

assessing both the first plurality of characteristics and the second plurality of characteristics and, based on the assessment, selecting a first of a plurality of customized power levels for transmissions by the access point to the first client device and a second of a plurality of customized power levels for transmissions by the access point to the second client device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmissions evaluated by the first client device comprise at least a portion of an ongoing data exchange.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmissions evaluated by the first client device comprise at least one test signal exchange.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include mobility characteristics.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include utilization characteristics.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include status characteristics.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of assessing both the first plurality of characteristics and the second plurality of characteristics further includes selecting a first protocol parameter for transmissions by the access point transceiver circuitry to the first client device.

8. A method for use in a first client device that, along with at least a second client device, wirelessly communicates with a backbone network via an access point, the method comprising:

receiving transmissions from both the access point and the second client device;

generating a first plurality of characteristics that are based on the transmissions received from both the access point and the second client device;

transmitting the first plurality of characteristics to the access point;

receiving a transmission from the access point that contains a selected power level for transmissions by the first client device, wherein the selected power level is generated based on an assessment by the access point of the first plurality of characteristics and a second plurality of characteristics received from the second client device relating to transmissions received by the second client device from both the access point and the first client device; and

transmitting at the selected power level.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmissions evaluated by the first client device comprise at least a portion of an ongoing data exchange.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmissions evaluated by the first client device comprise at least one test signal exchange.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include mobility characteristics.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include utilization characteristics.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include status characteristics.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of receiving a transmission from the access point further includes receiving a first protocol parameter for transmissions received from the access point transceiver circuitry.

15. A method for use in an access point that wirelessly couples a first client device and a second client device to a backbone network, the method comprising:

receiving a first plurality of characteristics from the first client device relating to transmissions received by the first client device from the access point, wherein the transmissions evaluated by the first client device comprise at least a portion of an ongoing data exchange between the access point and the first client device;

receiving a second plurality of characteristics from the second client device relating to transmissions received by the second client device from the access point, wherein the transmissions evaluated by the second client device comprise at least a portion of an ongoing data exchange between the access point and the second client device; and

assessing both the first plurality of characteristics and the second plurality of characteristics and, based on the assessment, and, based on the assessing:

selecting a first of a plurality of customized power levels for transmissions by the access point to the first client device and a second of a plurality of customized power levels for transmissions by the access point to the second client device;

selecting a first protocol parameter for transmissions by the access point transceiver circuitry to the first client device; and

selecting a second protocol parameter for transmissions by the access point transceiver circuitry to the second client device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include mobility characteristics.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include utilization characteristics.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of characteristics include status characteristics.