Control of a multi-sectored antenna system to improve channel efficiency
First Claim
1. A method for conducting wireless radio frequency (RF) communications with a wireless device using a multi-sector antenna that is coupled to the wireless device and is able to transmit and receive an RF signal in a desired direction, with a relatively high gain, wherein the desired direction is selectable from a plurality of different directions in which the antenna can transmit and receive an RF signal, comprising the steps of:
- (a) associating the wireless device in a communication link with another wireless device;
(b) determining a signal quality for RF communications with the other wireless device using the antenna, for each of at least some of the plurality of different directions; and
(c) based upon signal qualities determined, selecting an initial desired direction for the antenna to be used for communicating with the other wireless device, the initial desired direction being selected by evaluating the signal qualities that were determined to select a direction in which a value of the signal quality was optimum.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless device is coupled to a multi-sector antenna that includes a plurality of different sectors, any of which can be activated to transmit and receive in a desired direction specific to that sector. Optionally, an omnidirectional antenna is included for initially establishing a wireless connection with another wireless device, such as an access point. A parameter indicative of signal quality, such as throughput or received signal strength indication (RSSI) is determined by polling with each antenna sector to establish a prioritized candidate list. If a receive Trigger becomes active in response to a parameter falling below a threshold level, a new candidate sector is selected from the current list based upon a next-best signal quality. The directionality of the multi-sector antenna provides a substantially higher data rate compared to that of the conventional omnidirectional antenna.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for conducting wireless radio frequency (RF) communications with a wireless device using a multi-sector antenna that is coupled to the wireless device and is able to transmit and receive an RF signal in a desired direction, with a relatively high gain, wherein the desired direction is selectable from a plurality of different directions in which the antenna can transmit and receive an RF signal, comprising the steps of:
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(a) associating the wireless device in a communication link with another wireless device; (b) determining a signal quality for RF communications with the other wireless device using the antenna, for each of at least some of the plurality of different directions; and (c) based upon signal qualities determined, selecting an initial desired direction for the antenna to be used for communicating with the other wireless device, the initial desired direction being selected by evaluating the signal qualities that were determined to select a direction in which a value of the signal quality was optimum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless station that is controllable to transmit and receive wireless radio frequency (RF) signals in a selected desired direction at a relatively high data rate compared to a data rate that would be achieved if the RF signals were transmitted and received omnidirectionally, comprising:
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(a) a wireless transceiver; (b) an antenna, comprising a multi-sector antenna, that is coupled to the wireless transceiver and is controllable to transmit and receive RF signals in a desired direction automatically selected from a plurality of different directions in which the antenna can be caused to transmit and receive the RF signals; (c) a processor that is coupled to the antenna to select the desired direction in which it is used for communicating with the RF signals; and (d) a memory coupled to the processor, for storing machine language instructions, the processor executing the machine language instructions, causing the processor to; (i) establish a communication link with another wireless device; (ii) determine a signal quality for RF communications conducted with the other wireless device using the antenna, for each of at least some of the plurality of different directions; and (iii) based upon signal qualities determined, select an initial desired direction for the antenna to be used for communicating with the other wireless device, the initial desired direction being selected by evaluating the signal qualities that were determined, to select a direction as the initial desired direction for which a value of the signal quality was optimum. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling a direction in which radio frequency (RF) signals are transmitted and received by a client device that is communicating with an access point in a wireless network, the method comprising:
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establishing a communication link between the client device and the access point; determining a signal quality associated with communication between the client device and the access point in each of a plurality of different directions with the use of an antenna, comprising a multi-sector antenna, that is steerable to the plurality of different directions when transmitting and receiving the RF signals; evaluating the signal qualities at each of the plurality of different directions and selecting, from the plurality of different directions, an initial direction that provides a best signal quality for the RF signals communicated between the client device and the access point; enabling communication with the access point in the initial direction by controlling the antenna to communicate RF signals in the initial direction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification