United States Patent 7,609,648
Hoffmann , et al. October 27, 2009
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Antenna steering for an access point based upon control frames
Abstract
A method for operating an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN) is provided. The access point includes a directional antenna for communicating with at least one remote station in a forward link based upon an exchange of packet data comprising a plurality of control frames and a data frame. The directional antenna includes a plurality of antenna patterns. The method includes receiving a first control frame via a first antenna pattern of the directional antenna from the remote station, transmitting a first data frame to the remote station, and receiving a second control frame via a second antenna pattern of the directional antenna from the remote station. A signal quality of the first control frame received via the first antenna pattern and a signal quality of the second control frame received via the second antenna pattern are measured. The respective measured signal qualities associated with the first and second antenna patterns are compared.
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Inventors: Hoffmann; John E. (Indialantic, FL), Johnson; Kevin P. (Palm Bay, FL), Nelson, Jr.; George Rodney (Merritt Island, FL), Regnier; John A. (Palm Bay, FL)
Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc. (Wilmington, DE)
Appl. No.: 10/870,718
Filed: June 17, 2004
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application Number Filing Date Patent Number Issue Date
60479701 Jun., 2003
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Current U.S. Class: 370/252 ; 370/328; 370/335; 370/342; 370/431
Current International Class: H04B 7/216 (20060101)
Field of Search: 370/277,278,310,339,338,334 455/562.1,133-139 342/74,75,77 343/853 375/267,347
