Method, system and components for facilitating wireless communication in a sectored service area
First Claim
1. A method for an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to provide communication services in a geographic area of service to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), the method comprising:
- selectively generating directional beams for providing communication service in sectors of the geographic service area such that each beam provides service to a predefined sector whereby collectively the directional beams provide service to the entire geographic service area;
controlling the generation of the directional beams to switch from beam to beam such that service is provided only during selected service periods (SPs) in each sector during a predefined beacon period (BP) and such that a beacon service period (SPbeacon) is provided consecutively for every sector in which a beacon signal is transmitted at the beginning of each BP, thereby defining a post beacon service period (SPpostbeacon) for the time remaining in the BP after the SPbeacons for that BP are completed;
selecting a sector to be serviced at the start of the SPpostbeacon for a BP; and
transmitting a signal to activate WTRU transmission capabilities in the selected sector'"'"'s SPbeacon for that BP and a signal to de-activate WTRU transmission capabilities in each SPbeacon of the other sectors for that BP.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Network Allocation Vector (NAV) and “beam access control” (BAC) techniques are provided to address data collision problems in WLANs wherein APs provide wireless network access in a service area defined by multiple sectors via use of a switchable antenna system or the like. Preferably, every time the AP visits a sector and before the AP moves on to the next sector, the AP can set the NAV equal to the time it will take until its next visit. Alternatively, or in addition, a BAC bit is transmitted by an AP to control access to the AP by WTRUs disposed in a service sector in which the BAC is transmitted.
76 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to provide communication services in a geographic area of service to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), the method comprising:
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selectively generating directional beams for providing communication service in sectors of the geographic service area such that each beam provides service to a predefined sector whereby collectively the directional beams provide service to the entire geographic service area; controlling the generation of the directional beams to switch from beam to beam such that service is provided only during selected service periods (SPs) in each sector during a predefined beacon period (BP) and such that a beacon service period (SPbeacon) is provided consecutively for every sector in which a beacon signal is transmitted at the beginning of each BP, thereby defining a post beacon service period (SPpostbeacon) for the time remaining in the BP after the SPbeacons for that BP are completed; selecting a sector to be serviced at the start of the SPpostbeacon for a BP; and transmitting a signal to activate WTRU transmission capabilities in the selected sector'"'"'s SPbeacon for that BP and a signal to de-activate WTRU transmission capabilities in each SPbeacon of the other sectors for that BP. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 26)
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12. A method for an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to provide communication services in a geographic area of service to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), the method comprising:
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selectively generating directional beams for providing communication service in sectors of the geographic area of service such that each beam provides service to a predefined sector whereby collectively the directional beams provide service to the entire geographic service area; and controlling the generation of the directional beams to switch from beam to beam such that service is provided only during selected service periods (SPs) in each sector during a predefined beacon period (BP) and such that a beacon service period (SPbeacon) is provided consecutively for every sector in which to transmit a beacon signal at the beginning of each BP, thereby defining a post beacon service period (SPpostbeacon) for the time remaining in the BP after the SPbeacons for that BP are completed; selecting a sector to be serviced at the start of the SPpostbeacon for a BP; and transmitting within each SPbeacon a beam access control (BAC) signal to activate WTRU transmission capabilities in the selected sector'"'"'s SPbeacon for that BP and a BAG signal to de-activate WTRU transmission capabilities in each SPbeacon of the other sectors for that BP. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) configured to provide communication services in a geographic area of service to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), the AP comprising:
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a transceiver configured to selectively generate directional beams for providing communication services in sectors of the geographic area of service such that each beam provides service to a predefined sector whereby collectively the directional beams provide service to the entire geographic service area; and a control unit operatively associated with the transceiver and configured to control the generation of the directional beams by the transceiver to switch from beam to beam such that service is provided only during selected periods (SPs) in each sector during a predefined beacon period (BP) and such that a beacon service period (SPbeacon) is provided consecutively for every sector in which a beacon signal is transmitted at the beginning of each BP, thereby defining a post beacon service period (SPpostbeacon) for the time remaining in the BP after the SPbeacons for that BP are completed; and signals are transmitted to activate WTRU transmission capabilities in the selected sector'"'"'s SPbeacon for that BP and a signal to de-activate WTRU transmission capabilities in each SPbeacon of the other sectors for that BP. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 27)
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20. An access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) configured to provide communication services in a geographic area of service to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), the AP comprising:
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a transceiver configured to selectively generate directional beams for providing communication service in sectors of the geographic area of service such that each beam provides service to a predefined sector whereby collectively the directional beams provide service to the entire geographic service area; and a control unit operatively associated with the transceiver and configured to control the generation of the directional beams by the transceiver to switch from beam to beam such that service is provided only during selected service periods (SPs) in each sector during a predefined beacon period (BP); a beacon service period (SPbeacon) is provided consecutively for every sector in which to transmit a beacon signal at the beginning of each BP, thereby defining a post beacon service period (SPpostbeacon) for the time remaining in the BP after the SPbeacons for that BP are completed; a sector to be serviced at the start of the SPpostbeacon for a BP is selected; and a beam access control (BAC) signal is transmitted within each SPbeacon to control transmissions by WTRUs receiving the BAC signal during the BP. - View Dependent Claims (21, 28)
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22. A wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising:
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an access point (AP) configured to provide communication services in a geographic area of service to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) including; a transceiver configured to selectively generate directional beams for providing communication service in sectors of the geographic area of service such that each beam provides service to a predefined sector whereby collectively the directional beams provide service to the entire geographic service area; and a control unit operatively associated with the transceiver and configured to control the generation of the directional beams by the transceiver to switch from beam to beam such that service is provided only during selected periods (SPs) in each sector during a predefined beacon period (BP) and such that a beacon service period (SPbeacon) is provided consecutively for every sector in which a beacon signal is transmitted at the beginning of each BP, thereby defining a post beacon service period (SPpostbeacon) for the time remaining in the BP after the SPbeacons for that BP are completed; and signals are transmitted to activate WTRU transmission capabilities in the selected sector'"'"'s SPbeacon for that BP and a signal to de-activate WTRU transmission capabilities in each SPbeacon of the other sectors for that BP at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) having a transceiver configured to receive signals transmitted by an AP providing service in a sector in which the WTRU is then located to suspend WTRU transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 29)
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Specification