Method for operating a smart antenna in a WLAN using medium access control information
First Claim
1. A method for operating a communications device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising a plurality of transmitters, the communications device comprising a switched beam antenna for generating a plurality of antenna beams, the method comprising:
- receiving signals from the plurality of transmitters operating within the WLAN;
identifying the received signals comprising medium access control (MAC) information;
determining a quality metric for each received signal comprising MAC information;
selecting a transmitter based on the quality metrics;
scanning the plurality of antenna beams for receiving from the selected transmitter the signals comprising MAC information, and determining a quality metric associated with each scanned antenna beam; and
selecting one of the scanned antenna beams for communicating with the selected transmitter based on the quality metrics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications device with a switched beam antenna operates in a wireless local area network (WLAN) that includes a plurality of transmitters. The switched beam antenna generates a plurality of antenna beams. A method for operating the communications device includes receiving signals from the plurality of transmitters operating within the WLAN, identifying the received signals comprising medium access control (MAC) information, and determining a quality metric for each received signal comprising MAC information. A transmitter is selected based on the quality metrics. The antenna beams are scanned for receiving from the selected transmitter the signals comprising MAC information. A quality metric associated with each scanned antenna beam is determined. One of the scanned antenna beams is then selected for communicating with the selected transmitter based on the quality metrics.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for operating a communications device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising a plurality of transmitters, the communications device comprising a switched beam antenna for generating a plurality of antenna beams, the method comprising:
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receiving signals from the plurality of transmitters operating within the WLAN; identifying the received signals comprising medium access control (MAC) information; determining a quality metric for each received signal comprising MAC information; selecting a transmitter based on the quality metrics; scanning the plurality of antenna beams for receiving from the selected transmitter the signals comprising MAC information, and determining a quality metric associated with each scanned antenna beam; and selecting one of the scanned antenna beams for communicating with the selected transmitter based on the quality metrics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A communications device for operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising a plurality of transmitters, the communications device comprising:
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a switched beam antenna for generating a plurality of antenna beams; a beam selector connected to said switched beam antenna for selecting one of said plurality of antenna beams; a transceiver connected to said switched beam antenna and to said beam selector for receiving signals from the plurality of transmitters operating within the WLAN, said transceiver comprising a medium access control (MAC) module for identifying the received signals comprising MAC information, and a quality metric module for determining a quality metric for each received signal comprising MAC information; said beam selector for selecting a transmitter based on the quality metrics, and for scanning the plurality of antenna beams for receiving from the selected transmitter the signals comprising MAC information; said quality metric module for determining a quality metric associated with each scanned antenna beam; and said beam selector for selecting one of the scanned antenna beams for communicating with the selected transmitter based on the quality metrics. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification