Method of selectively adjusting the configuration of an access point antenna to enhance mobile station coverage

• US 7,826,431 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roy, Vincent, Cave, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yuen; Kan
• Application Number:
  US10/875,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,323 Days
• Field of Search: 370/349, 370/445, 370/328, 370/335, 370/347, 370/338, 455/446, 455/447, 455/450, 455/562, 455/562.1
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless communication system includes a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) and an access point (AP). The AP communicates with the WTRUs via an antenna. In one embodiment, the AP configures the antenna to a wide beam configuration that covers a desired service area and transmits a Request-To-Send (RTS) control message. When the AP receives a Clear-To-Send (CTS) control message from one of the WTRUs, the AP determines optimal antenna settings for communication with the one WTRU. The AP configures the antenna to a narrow beam configuration and transmits at least one data packet to the one WTRU. When the AP receives an acknowledgement message indicating that the data packet was successfully received by the WTRU, the AP configures the antenna to the wide beam configuration. In another embodiment, the AP is configured to transmit and receive data packet fragments from the WTRUs and configure the antenna accordingly.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method for use by an access point (AP) having an antenna, the method comprising:

configuring the antenna to a wide beam configuration that covers a desired service area;

transmitting a Request-To-Send (RTS) control message via the wide beam antenna configuration;

waiting to receive a Clear-To-Send (CTS) control message via the wide beam antenna configuration;

wherein the RTS or CTS control message only provides first duration information regarding a duration needed to transmit a first portion of a data packet fragment that has first and second portions;

transmitting the first portion of the data packet fragment via the wide beam antenna configuration, wherein the first portion of the data packet fragment includes a preamble, a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header and a medium access control (MAC) header of the data packet fragment, the MAC header including duration information regarding the second portion of the data packet fragment;

configuring the antenna to a narrow beam configuration; and

transmitting the second portion of the data packet fragment via the narrow beam antenna configuration.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing a media access control (MAC) layer protocol for obtaining channel access prior to transmitting the RTS control message.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

configuring the antenna to a wide beam configuration after the second portion of the data packet fragment is transmitted;

waiting to receive an acknowledgement message indicating that the data packet fragment was successfully received; and

processing additional data packet fragments if the acknowledgement message is received and there are additional data packet fragments available to be processed.

4. An AP configured to perform the method of claim 1.

5. An AP configured to perform the method of claim 2.

6. An AP configured to perform the method of claim 3.