Method and apparatus for directional clear channel assessment in a wireless communications system
First Claim
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1. A method of wireless communication comprising:
- determining, by a first device, a set of discrete antenna directions for communication with a plurality of devices, the set of discrete antenna directions including a first optimal antenna direction for transmitting signals to a second device, and a second optimal antenna direction different from the first optimal antenna direction, the second optimal antenna direction for receiving signals from the second device;
determining, by the first device, whether a communication channel is clear for transmission to the second device, the determining being performed with respect to only the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction, and comprising;
performing a multi-cycle sweep of the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction; and
determining that the communication channel is clear based on an absence of a portion of a detectable packet in the communication channel and a determination that an energy level of one or more interference signals in the communication channel is below a defined threshold; and
transmitting, by the first device, a signal to the second device based on the determining that the communication channel is clear.
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Abstract
A method of communication is provided. The method includes detecting at least a portion of a preamble of a packet transmitted by a first device by sweeping over a plurality of receive directions; receiving and decoding a header of the packet based on a first receive direction to identify that the first device had transmitted the packet; and completing reception of the packet based on a second receive direction. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
41 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of wireless communication comprising:
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determining, by a first device, a set of discrete antenna directions for communication with a plurality of devices, the set of discrete antenna directions including a first optimal antenna direction for transmitting signals to a second device, and a second optimal antenna direction different from the first optimal antenna direction, the second optimal antenna direction for receiving signals from the second device; determining, by the first device, whether a communication channel is clear for transmission to the second device, the determining being performed with respect to only the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction, and comprising; performing a multi-cycle sweep of the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction; and determining that the communication channel is clear based on an absence of a portion of a detectable packet in the communication channel and a determination that an energy level of one or more interference signals in the communication channel is below a defined threshold; and transmitting, by the first device, a signal to the second device based on the determining that the communication channel is clear. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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2. An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:
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means for determining a set of discrete antenna directions for communication with a plurality of devices, the set of discrete antenna directions including a first optimal antenna direction for transmitting signals to a target device, and a second optimal antenna direction different from the first optimal antenna direction, the second optimal antenna direction for receiving signals from the target device; means for determining, by the first device, whether a communication channel is clear for transmission to the target device, the determining to be performed with respect to only the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction, and comprising; means for performing a multi-cycle sweep of the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna; and means for determining that the communication channel is clear based on an absence of a portion of a detectable packet in the communication channel and a determination that an energy level of one or more interference signals in the communication channel is below a defined threshold; and means for transmitting a signal to the target device based on the determining that the communication channel is clear. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 16)
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3. A computer-program product for wireless communications comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable storage device encoded with instructions executable to; determine a set of discrete antenna directions for communication with a plurality of devices, the set of discrete antenna directions including a first optimal antenna direction for transmitting signals to a target device, and a second optimal antenna direction different from the first optimal antenna direction, the second optimal antenna direction for receiving signals from the target device; determine whether a communication channel is clear for transmission to the target device, the determining to be performed with respect to only the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction, and comprising; performing a multi-cycle sweep of the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction; and determining that the communication channel is clear based on an absence of a portion of a detectable packet in the communication channel and a determination that an energy level of one or more interference signals in the communication channel is below a defined threshold; and transmit a signal to the target device based on the determining that the communication channel is clear.
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4. An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:
a processing system configured to; determine a set of discrete antenna directions for communication with a plurality of devices, the set of discrete antenna directions including a first optimal antenna direction for transmitting signals a target device, and a second optimal antenna direction different from the first optimal antenna direction, the second optimal antenna direction for receiving signals from the target device; determine whether a communication channel is clear for transmission to the target device, the determining to be performed with respect to only the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction, and comprising; performing a multi-cycle sweep of the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction; and determining that the communication channel is clear based on an absence of a portion of a detectable packet in the communication channel and a determination that an energy level of one or more interference signals in the communication channel is below a defined threshold; and transmit a signal to the target device based on the determining that the communication channel is clear. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 17)
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5. A wireless node comprising:
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an antenna; and a processing system configured to; determine a set of discrete antenna directions for communication with a plurality of devices, the set of discrete antenna directions including a first optimal antenna direction for transmitting signals to a target device, and a second optimal antenna direction different from the first optimal antenna direction, the second optimal antenna direction for receiving signals from the target device; determine whether a communication channel is clear for transmission to the target device, the determining to be performed with respect to only the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction, and comprising; performing a multi-cycle sweep of the first optimal antenna direction and the second optimal antenna direction; and determining that the communication channel is clear based on an absence of a portion of a detectable packet in the communication channel and a determination that an energy level of one or more interference signals in the communication channel is below a defined threshold; and transmit a signal to the target device, via the antenna, based on the determining that the communication channel is clear.
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Specification