Patent attributes
A communication device receives a signal during a backoff period of a backoff procedure, wherein the communication device is part of a first communication network. In response to determining that i) the signal is valid, ii) the signal is from another communication network, and iii) the power level of the signal does not meet a threshold that is higher than a default threshold, the communication device continues a count of a backoff timer during reception of the signal. In connection with comparing the power level of the signal to the threshold higher than the default threshold, the communication device sets a transmit power level to a reduced power level that is lower than a default power level. The communication device transmits at a transmit power level that is less than or equal to the reduced transmit power level in response to the backoff timer expiring.