Antenna steering for an access point based upon spatial diversity
First Claim
1. A method for operating an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the access point comprising a directional antenna for communicating with at least one remote station based upon an exchange of packet data comprising a preamble and a data frame, the method comprising:
- communicating with the at least one remote station using a current angle of the directional antenna;
scanning during a preamble a plurality of alternate angles of the directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station;
measuring during the same preamble respective signals received via the current angle and each alternate angle from the at least one remote station;
selecting during the same preamble the current angle or one of the alternate angles as a preferred angle based upon the measured signals for continuing communications with the at least one remote station, with the communications being continued during the data frame using the selected preferred angle without repeating the steps for selecting a new preferred angle; and
storing the selected preferred angle of the at least one remote station, and during a next preamble, the stored preferred angle becomes a new current angle and the steps are repeated for selecting the new current angle or the alternate angle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for operating an access point in a wireless local area network is provided, wherein the access point includes a directional antenna for communicating with at least one remote station. The method includes communicating with a selected remote station using a current angle of the directional antenna, and scanning an alternate angle from a plurality of alternate angles of the directional antenna for communicating with the selected remote station. Respective signals received via the current angle and the alternate angle from the selected remote station are measured. The current angle or the alternate angle is selected as a preferred angle based upon the measured signals for continuing communications with the selected remote station.
57 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for operating an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the access point comprising a directional antenna for communicating with at least one remote station based upon an exchange of packet data comprising a preamble and a data frame, the method comprising:
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communicating with the at least one remote station using a current angle of the directional antenna; scanning during a preamble a plurality of alternate angles of the directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station; measuring during the same preamble respective signals received via the current angle and each alternate angle from the at least one remote station; selecting during the same preamble the current angle or one of the alternate angles as a preferred angle based upon the measured signals for continuing communications with the at least one remote station, with the communications being continued during the data frame using the selected preferred angle without repeating the steps for selecting a new preferred angle; and storing the selected preferred angle of the at least one remote station, and during a next preamble, the stored preferred angle becomes a new current angle and the steps are repeated for selecting the new current angle or the alternate angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An access point for a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising:
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a directional antenna for communicating with at least one remote station based upon an exchange of packet data comprising a preamble and a data frame; and a controller connected to said directional antenna for control thereof, said controller selecting during a preamble a current angle of the directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station, scanning during the same preamble an alternate angle from a plurality of alternate angles of said directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station, measuring during the same preamble respective signals received via the current angle and the alternate angle from the at least one remote station, and selecting during the same preamble the current angle or the alternate angle as a preferred angle for continuing communications with the at least one remote station based upon the measured signals, with the communications being continued during the data frame using the selected preferred angle without repeating the steps for selecting a new preferred angle; said controller comprising a memory for storing the selected preferred angle of the at least one remote station, and during a next preamble, the stored preferred angle becomes a new current angle and the steps are repeated by said controller for selecting the new current angle or the alternate angle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN) , the access point comprising a directional antenna for communicating with at least one remote station based upon an exchange of packet data comprising a preamble and a data frame, the method comprising:
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communicating with the at least one remote station using a current angle of the directional antenna; scanning during a preamble a plurality of alternate angles of the directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station; measuring during the same preamble respective signals received via the current angle and each alternate angle from the at least one remote station; selecting during the same preamble the current angle or one of the alternate angles as a preferred angle based upon the measured signals for continuing communications with the at least one remote station, with the communications being continued during the data frame using the selected preferred angle without repeating the steps for selecting a new preferred angle; and storing the selected preferred angle of the at least one remote station, and if after a predetermined amount of time no new packet data is received by the access point, then the stored preferred angle becomes a new current angle and the steps are repeated for selecting the new current angle or the alternate angle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An access point for a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising:
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a directional antenna for communicating with at least one remote station based upon an exchange of packet data comprising a preamble and a data frame; and a controller connected to said directional antenna for control thereof, said controller selecting during a preamble a current angle of the directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station, scanning during the same preamble an alternate angle from a plurality of alternate angles of said directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station, measuring during the same preamble respective signals received via the current angle and the alternate angle from the at least one remote station, and selecting during the same preamble the current angle or the alternate angle as a preferred angle for continuing communications with the at least one remote station based upon the measured signals, with the communications being continued during the data frame using the selected preferred angle during the data frame without repeating the steps for selecting a new preferred angle; said controller comprising a memory for storing the selected preferred angle of the at least one remote station, and if after a predetermined amount of time no new packet data is received by said controller, then the stored preferred angle becomes a new current angle and the steps are repeated by said controller for selecting the new current angle or the alternate angle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification