Enhancing wireless lan capacity using transmission power control

Apparatus for mobile communication, comprising a plurality of access points arranged in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and configured to communicate on a common frequency channel with mobile stations, including at least first and second mobile stations, the access points comprising at least first and second access points,

• wherein in response to receiving a first uplink signal from the first mobile station at the first access point with a first uplink power level, the first access point transmits a first downlink signal on the common frequency channel to the first mobile station at a first downlink power level, which is adjusted responsively to the first uplink power level to be less than a maximum downlink power level, and
• wherein the second access point is adapted to make a determination that while the first access point is transmitting the first downlink signal at the first downlink power level, the first downlink signal received at the second access point is below a predetermined interference threshold, and
• wherein in response to receiving a second uplink signal from the second mobile station at the second access point, and responsive to the determination, the second access point transmits a second downlink signal on the common frequency channel to the second mobile station simultaneously with transmission of the first downlink signal from the first access point to the first mobile station.