Method for steering a smart antenna for a WLAN using a self-monitored re-scan
First Claim
1. A method for operating a client station in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system comprising an access point, the client station comprising an antenna steering algorithm and a smart antenna responsive to the antenna steering algorithm for selecting one of a plurality of antenna beams, the method comprising:
- selecting a preferred antenna beam and an alternate antenna beam;
exchanging data with the access point using the preferred antenna beam during a sustained use period during which a re-scan of the other antenna beams is not performed;
periodically calculating during the sustained use period a quality metric of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam, the calculating comprisingdetermining at least one link quality metric (LQM) of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam,determining a signal quality metric (SQM) of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam, andcombining the at least one LQM and the SQM for calculating the quality metric;
comparing the quality metric for the preferred antenna beam to a swap threshold range; and
swapping the preferred antenna beam with the alternate antenna beam if the quality metric is within the swap threshold range to continue exchanging data with the access point within the sustained use period.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A smart antenna steering algorithm performs a self-monitored re-scan during a sustained use period after having selected a preferred antenna beam. During a sustained use period, a re-scan of the other antenna beams is not performed. The steering algorithm periodically monitors a quality metric of the ongoing radio link provided by the preferred antenna beam. The quality metric is based upon a signal quality metric and a link quality metric. If the quality metric drops below certain thresholds during the sustained use period, the steering algorithm either swaps the preferred antenna beam with an alternate antenna beam or initiates a re-scan of the available antenna beams for selecting a new preferred antenna beam.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for operating a client station in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system comprising an access point, the client station comprising an antenna steering algorithm and a smart antenna responsive to the antenna steering algorithm for selecting one of a plurality of antenna beams, the method comprising:
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selecting a preferred antenna beam and an alternate antenna beam; exchanging data with the access point using the preferred antenna beam during a sustained use period during which a re-scan of the other antenna beams is not performed; periodically calculating during the sustained use period a quality metric of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam, the calculating comprising determining at least one link quality metric (LQM) of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam, determining a signal quality metric (SQM) of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam, and combining the at least one LQM and the SQM for calculating the quality metric; comparing the quality metric for the preferred antenna beam to a swap threshold range; and swapping the preferred antenna beam with the alternate antenna beam if the quality metric is within the swap threshold range to continue exchanging data with the access point within the sustained use period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A client station for operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system comprising an access point, the client station comprising:
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a switched beam antenna for generating a plurality of antenna beams; a beam switching unit coupled to said switched beam antenna for selecting a preferred antenna beam and an alternate antenna beam; a transceiver coupled to said beam switching unit for exchanging data with the access point via a preferred antenna beam during a sustained use period during which a re-scan of the other antenna beams is not performed; an antenna steering algorithm module for running an antenna steering algorithm for periodically calculating during the sustained use period a quality metric of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam, the calculating comprising determining at least one link quality metric (LQM) of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam, determining a signal quality metric (SQM) of the exchanged data for the preferred antenna beam, and combining the at least one LQM and the SQM for calculating the quality metric; and said antenna steering algorithm module comparing the quality metric for the preferred antenna beam to a swap threshold range, and swapping the preferred antenna beam with the alternate antenna beam if the quality metric is within the swap threshold range to continue exchanging data with the access point within the sustained use period. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification