Forced beam switching in wireless communication systems having smart antennas
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
- selectively allowing a receiving device to operatively associate with a beam downlink transmittable to the receiving device via a phased array antenna of an access point;
receiving an uplink transmission from the receiving device through the phased array antenna;
determining from the uplink transmission if the receiving device should operatively associate with a different beam downlink transmittable via the phased array antenna;
allowing the receiving device to operatively associate with the different beam downlink if determining that the receiving device should operatively associate with the different beam downlink;
actively probing the receiving device by generating a signal to initiate that the phased array antenna transmit at least one downlink transmittable message over the different beam downlink, and gathering signal parameter information from uplink transmittable messages received from the receiving device through the phased array antenna.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are proved which allow a wireless communication system using a smart antenna(s) to selectively cause a receiving device to switch its operative association from one transmitted beam to another available transmitted beam.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
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selectively allowing a receiving device to operatively associate with a beam downlink transmittable to the receiving device via a phased array antenna of an access point; receiving an uplink transmission from the receiving device through the phased array antenna; determining from the uplink transmission if the receiving device should operatively associate with a different beam downlink transmittable via the phased array antenna; allowing the receiving device to operatively associate with the different beam downlink if determining that the receiving device should operatively associate with the different beam downlink; actively probing the receiving device by generating a signal to initiate that the phased array antenna transmit at least one downlink transmittable message over the different beam downlink, and gathering signal parameter information from uplink transmittable messages received from the receiving device through the phased array antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
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selectively allowing a receiving device to operatively associate with a beam downlink transmittable to the receiving device via a phased array antenna of an access point; receiving an uplink transmission from the receiving device through the phased array antenna; determining from the uplink transmission if the receiving device should operatively associate with a different beam downlink transmittable via the phased array antenna; forcing the receiving device to operatively associate with the different beam downlink if determining that the receiving device should be operatively associated with the different beam downlink; transmitting at least one probe message to the receiving device over the different beam downlink; receiving at least one uplink transmitted probe response message from the receiving device through the phased array antenna; and gathering signal parameter information from the uplink transmitted probe response message. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wireless communication system, comprising:
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a phased array antenna configured to transmit beam downlinks; a transceiver operatively coupled to the phased array antenna and configured to send and receive electromagnetic signals via the phased array antenna; and an access point that includes the phased array antenna and the transceiver, the access point configured to; selectively allow a receiving device to operatively associate with a beam downlink transmitted to the receiving device via the phased array antenna; receive an uplink transmission from the receiving device through the phased array antenna; determine from the uplink transmission if the receiving device should operatively associate with a different beam downlink transmission; and at least one of;
allow the receiving device to operatively associate with the different beam downlink if determined that the receiving device should operatively associate with the different beam downlink;
force the receiving device to operatively associate with the different beam downlink if determined that the receiving device should be operatively associated with the different beam downlink;wherein the access point is further configured to actively probe the receiving device by generating a signal to initiate that the phased array antenna transmit at least one downlink transmittable message over the beam downlinks, and gather signal parameter information from uplink transmittable messages received from the receiving device through the phased array antenna. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification