Method and apparatus for multi-layer resource management in wireless communications systems

In a wireless communication system having a transmitter and at least one receiver coupled via a communication channel and operable to provide a communications path for at least one user application, an apparatus for allocating system resources among system transmitters comprising:

• a memory established to store a first and a second set of performance characteristic curves, said curves being determined as a function of channel condition information in respect to said communications channel, wherein said first set of performance characteristic curves represents parameter values for an application layer of a layered protocol model for said communications channel and said second set of performance characteristic curves represents parameter values for a physical layer of said layered protocol model;
• means to determine a Quality of Service (QOS) requirement for said user application;
• means to determine a set of data pairs on said first set of performance characteristic curves that correspond to said QOS requirement;
• mapping means for mapping said determined set of data pairs on said first set of performance characteristic curves to a corresponding set of data pairs on said second set of performance characteristic curves, wherein each said mapped data pair on said second set of performance characteristic curves is functionally related to a transmission power level in said communications channel;
• selection means operative to identify and select a one of said mapped data pairs on said second set of performance characteristic curves corresponding to a lower transmission power level in said communications channel.