Access point multi-level transmission power control based on the exchange of characteristics
A wireless access point and multiple wireless terminals exchange utilization, status, mobility and reception characteristics. Each wireless terminal generates reception characteristics based on transmissions received from the wireless access point and from other devices in the network. In one operating mode, the characteristics gathered by the wireless devices are forwarded to the wireless access point, and, based on all received characteristics, the wireless access point selects its own transmission power for different types of the transmission. In another mode, all characteristics are exchanged between every wireless terminal and the access point so that each can independently or cooperatively make transmission power control decisions. In a further mode, the wireless access point adjusts protocol parameters based on an assessment of the characteristics received from the client devices. The utilization, status, mobility, and reception characteristics include received signal strength, error rates, estimated battery life, availability of unlimited power, active versus sleep mode ratios, anticipated bandwidth utilization, coding schemes available, deterministic/non-deterministic requirements, encryption and security requirements, quality of service requirements, position, velocity, stationary status, etc. Gathering of such characteristics involves both retrieval of preset parameters from memory and generating parameters based on received transmissions (including test packets).
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 relating to an evaluation by the first client device of transmissions received by the first client device from both the access point and the second client device;
receiving a second plurality of characteristics relating to an evaluation by the second client device of 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 least one of a plurality of customized power levels for transmissions by the access point to the first client device and 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 transceiver.
8. A method for use in a first client device that, along with at least a second client device, wirelessly communicates with and a backbone network via an access point, the method comprising:
evaluating transmissions received from both the access point and the second client device and transmitting to the access point a first plurality of characteristics relating to the evaluation by the first client device;
receiving a transmission from the access point that contains a selected power level for transmissions by 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 wireless communication protocol used by an access point to deliver first data packets to a first wireless device and second data packets to a second wireless device, the wireless communication protocol comprising:
first wireless transmissions by the access point device at a first power level selected to support both delivery of the first data packets to the first wireless device and detection of the second wireless transmissions by the second wireless device; and
second wireless transmissions of at least the second data packets by the access point device at a second power level selected to support receipt of the second data packets by the second wireless device.
16. The wireless communication protocol of claim 15 , wherein the first wireless transmissions are in accordance with a first protocol parameter, the second wireless transmissions are in accordance with a second protocol parameter, and the second protocol parameter is different from the first protocol parameter.