Coverage Enhancement Using Dynamic Antennas and Virtual Access Points

• US 20100008343A1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kish, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,344,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Mechanisms for wireless local area network coverage enhancement using dynamic antennas are provided. The dynamic antennas may be used, for example, in an antenna apparatus of an access point. The access point maps a plurality of virtual access points (VAPs), each VAP corresponding to at least one of a plurality of directional antenna patterns of the antenna apparatus. The processor transmits broadcast communication on each of the VAPs a further distance from the access point as compared to transmitting on an omnidirectional antenna pattern of the antenna apparatus.

Claims

1. An access point for enhanced coverage of a wireless local area network, the access point comprising:

an antenna apparatus configured to provide a plurality of directional antenna patterns for communication over the wireless local area network; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the software;

maps a plurality of virtual access points, each virtual access point corresponding to at least one of the plurality of directional antenna patterns, and

effectuates transmission of a broadcast communication on each of the virtual access points.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to further execute instructions stored in memory to effectuate the transmission of the broadcast communication on a first of the plurality of virtual access points at a first interval phased relative to a second periodic interval for a second of the plurality of virtual access points.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna apparatus is further configured to transmit the broadcast communication a further distance from the access point on each of the plurality of virtual access points as compared to transmitting the broadcast communication from the access point on an omnidirectional antenna pattern of the antenna apparatus.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to further execute instructions stored in memory to periodically effectuate transmission of the broadcast communication on each of the plurality of virtual access points to synchronize communication with a station operating in a power saving mode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to further execute instructions stored in memory to periodically effectuate transmission of the broadcast communication on each of the plurality of virtual access points to enable association of a roaming station with one of the plurality of virtual access points.

6. A method for enhanced coverage of a wireless local area network at an access point, the method comprising:

executing instructions stored in memory to map a plurality of virtual access points that each correspond to a least one of a plurality of directional antenna patterns; and

executing instructions stored in memory to effectuate transmission of a broadcast communication on one or more of the virtual access points.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein effectuating the transmission of the broadcast communication includes effectuating transmission of the broadcast communication periodically on the one or more of the virtual access points at an interval of about 100 milliseconds.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmission is in accordance with an 802.11 implementation.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein effectuating the transmission of the broadcast communication includes effectuating transmission of the broadcast communication at a first periodic interval phased relative to a second periodic interval of the one or more virtual access points.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmission is at a distance further from the access point relative a distance achievable by a transmission of a broadcast communication on an omnidirectional antenna pattern.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein effectuating the transmission of the broadcast communication includes periodically effectuating transmission of the broadcast communication on the one or more of the virtual access points to prevent a station from disassociating with the one or more of the virtual access points.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein effectuating the transmission of the broadcast communication includes periodically effectuating transmission of the broadcast communication on the one or more of the virtual access points to synchronize communication with a station operating in a power saving mode.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein effectuating the transmission of the broadcast communication includes periodically effectuating transmission of the broadcast communication on the one or more of the virtual access points to enable association of a roaming station with the one or more of the virtual access points.