Method of selectively adjusting the configuration of an access point antenna to enhance mobile station coverage

• US 20050254513A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roy, Vincent, Cave, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,826,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless communication system includes a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) and an access point (AP). The AP communicates with the WTRUs via an antenna. In one embodiment, the AP configures the antenna to a wide beam configuration that covers a desired service area and transmits a Request-To-Send (RTS) control message. When the AP receives a Clear-To-Send (CTS) control message from one of the WTRUs, the AP determines optimal antenna settings for communication with the one WTRU. The AP configures the antenna to a narrow beam configuration and transmits at least one data packet to the one WTRU. When the AP receives an acknowledgement message indicating that the data packet was successfully received by the WTRU, the AP configures the antenna to the wide beam configuration. In another embodiment, the AP is configured to transmit and receive data packet fragments from the WTRUs and configure the antenna accordingly.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) and an access point (AP), the AP being configured to transmit at least one data packet to one or more of the WTRUs via at least one antenna, a method comprising:

(a) the AP configuring the antenna to a wide beam configuration that covers a desired service area;

(b) the AP transmitting a Request-To-Send (RTS) control message to at least one of the WTRUs via the wide beam antenna configuration;

(c) the AP waiting to receive a Clear-To-Send (CTS) control message from the at least one WTRU via the wide beam antenna configuration;

(d) the AP configuring the antenna to a narrow beam configuration;

(e) the AP transmitting the at least one data packet to the at least one WTRU via the narrow beam antenna configuration;

(f) the AP waiting to receive an acknowledgement message indicating that the data packet was successfully received by the at least one WTRU; and

(g) the AP configuring the antenna to the wide beam configuration in response to receiving the acknowledgement message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the system is a wireless local area network (WLAN) system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the system provides services using carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the system executes a transmission failure procedure if the AP does not receive the CTS control message.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(h) the AP performing a media access control (MAC) layer protocol for obtaining channel access prior to transmitting the RTS control message.

6. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) and an access point (AP), the AP being configured to transmit data packet fragments to one or more of the WTRUs via at least one antenna, a method comprising:

(a) the AP configuring the antenna to a wide beam configuration that covers a desired service area;

(b) the AP transmitting a Request-To-Send (RTS) control message to at least one of the WTRUs via the wide beam antenna configuration;

(c) the AP waiting to receive a Clear-To-Send (CTS) control message from the at least one WTRU via the wide beam antenna configuration;

(d) the AP transmitting a first portion of a data packet fragment to the at least one WTRU via the wide beam antenna configuration;

(e) the AP configuring the antenna to a narrow beam configuration; and

(f) the AP transmitting a second portion of the data packet fragment via the narrow band antenna configuration.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the system is a wireless local area network (WLAN) system.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the system provides services using carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA).

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the system executes a transmission failure procedure if the AP does not receive the CTS control message.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

(g) the AP performing a media access control (MAC) layer protocol for obtaining channel access prior to transmitting the RTS control message.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

(g) the AP configuring the antenna to a wide beam configuration after the AP transmits the second portion of the data packet fragment;

(h) the AP waiting to receive an acknowledgement message indicating receipt of the data packet fragment by the at least one WTRU; and

(i) repeating steps (d)-(h) if the AP receives the acknowledgement message and there are more data packet fragments available to be processed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the system implements a transmission failure procedure if the AP does not receive the acknowledgement message.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the first portion of the data packet fragment includes a preamble, a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header and a media access control (MAC) header.

14. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) and an access point (AP), the AP being configured to receive data packet fragments from one or more of the WTRUs via at least one antenna, a method comprising:

(a) the AP receiving a Request-To-Send (RTS) control message sent from at least one of the WTRUs;

(b) the AP configuring the antenna to a wide beam configuration;

(c) the AP transmitting a Clear-To-Send (CTS) control message to the at least one WTRU via the wide beam antenna configuration;

(d) the AP configuring the antenna to a narrow beam configuration;

(e) the AP waiting to receive a data packet fragment via the narrow beam antenna configuration;

(f) the AP configuring the antenna to a wide beam configuration if the data packet fragment is successfully received; and

(g) the AP sending an acknowledgement message to the at least one WTRU indicating that the data packet fragment was successfully received.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the system is a wireless local area network (WLAN) system.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the system provides services using carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA).

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

(h) the AP configuring the antenna to a wide beam configuration if the data packet fragment is not successfully received; and

(i) the system executing a reception failure procedure.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

(h) repeating steps (d)-(g) if there are more data packet fragments available to be processed.