Coverage enhancement using dynamic antennas

• US 20070026807A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kish, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/63.400
• 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 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Mechanisms for wireless local area network coverage enhancement using dynamic antennas are provided. The dynamic antennas may be used, for example, in an antenna apparatus of an access point. The access point maps a plurality of virtual access points (VAPs), each VAP corresponding to at least one of a plurality of directional antenna patterns of the antenna apparatus. The processor transmits broadcast communication on each of the VAPs a further distance from the access point as compared to transmitting on an omnidirectional antenna pattern of the antenna apparatus.

Claims

1. An access point for enhanced coverage of a wireless local area network, the access point comprising:

an antenna apparatus configured to provide a plurality of directional antenna patterns for communication over the wireless local area network; and

a processor configured to determine a first of the plurality of directional antenna patterns, transmit a first broadcast communication over the wireless local area network on the first of the plurality of directional antenna patterns, determine a second of the plurality of directional antenna patterns, and transmit a second broadcast communication over the wireless local area network on the second of the plurality of directional antenna patterns.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the first broadcast communication or the second broadcast communication periodically at an interval of about 100 milliseconds according to an 802.11 implementation.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the second broadcast communication phased relative to transmission of the first broadcast communication.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to determine the second of the plurality of directional antenna patterns by selecting a directional antenna pattern positioned substantially adjacent to the first of the plurality of directional antenna patterns.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna apparatus is further configured to transmit the first broadcast communication or the second broadcast communication a further distance from the access point as compared to transmitting the first broadcast communication or the second broadcast communication from the access point on an omnidirectional antenna pattern of the antenna apparatus.

6. A method for enhanced coverage of a wireless local area network, the method comprising:

determining a first of a plurality of directional antenna patterns;

transmitting a first broadcast communication over the wireless local area network on the first of the plurality of directional antenna patterns;

determining a second of the plurality of directional antenna patterns; and

transmitting a second broadcast communication over the wireless local area network on the second of the plurality of directional antenna patterns.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein transmitting the first broadcast communication or transmitting the second broadcast communication comprises transmitting an 802.11 beacon.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein transmitting the second broadcast communication comprises transmitting the second broadcast communication phased relative to transmission of the first broadcast communication.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein determining a second of the plurality of directional antenna patterns comprises selecting a directional antenna pattern positioned substantially adjacent to the first of the plurality of directional antenna patterns.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein transmitting the first broadcast communication or transmitting the second broadcast communication comprises transmitting periodically to synchronize communication with a station operating in a power saving mode.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein transmitting the first broadcast communication or transmitting the second broadcast communication comprises transmitting periodically to enable association of a roaming station.

12. An access point for enhanced coverage of a wireless local area network, the access point comprising:

an antenna apparatus configured to provide a plurality of directional antenna patterns for communication over the wireless local area network; and

a processor configured to map a plurality of virtual access points, each virtual access point corresponding to at least one of the plurality of directional antenna patterns, and transmit a broadcast communication on each of the virtual access points.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the broadcast communication on a first of the plurality of virtual access points at a first interval phased relative to a second periodic interval for a second of the plurality of virtual access points.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the antenna apparatus is further configured to transmit the broadcast communication a further distance from the access point on each of the plurality of virtual access points as compared to transmitting the broadcast communication from the access point on an omnidirectional antenna pattern of the antenna apparatus.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the broadcast communication periodically on each of the plurality of virtual access points to synchronize communication with a station operating in a power saving mode.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the broadcast communication periodically on each of the plurality of virtual access points to enable association of a roaming station with one of the plurality of virtual access points.

17. A method for enhanced coverage of a wireless local area network, the method comprising:

mapping in an access point a plurality of virtual access points, each virtual access point corresponding to at least one of a plurality of directional antenna patterns for communication over the wireless local area network; and

transmitting a broadcast communication on one or more of the virtual access points.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting the broadcast communication comprises transmitting the broadcast communication periodically on the one or more of the virtual access points at an interval of about 100 milliseconds according to an 802.11 implementation.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting the broadcast communication comprises transmitting the broadcast communication at a first periodic interval phased relative to a second periodic interval of the one or more virtual access points.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting the broadcast communication comprises transmitting the broadcast communication on the one or more of the virtual access points a further distance from the access point as compared to transmitting the broadcast communication from the access point on an omnidirectional antenna pattern of the antenna apparatus.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting the broadcast communication comprises transmitting the broadcast communication periodically on the one or more of the virtual access points to prevent a station from disassociating with the one or more of the virtual access points.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting the broadcast communication comprises transmitting the broadcast communication periodically on the one or more of the virtual access points to synchronize communication with a station operating in a power saving mode.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting the broadcast communication comprises transmitting the broadcast communication periodically on the one or more of the virtual access points to enable association of a roaming station with the one or more of the virtual access points.