Exhibit 2

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 1 of 26 PageID #: 1659
I 1111111111111111 11111 11111111111 11111 11111 1111111111111111 IIII IIIIII 

c12) United States Patent 

Jose et al. 

(54) SIGNAL COMMUNICATION 

COORDINATION 

(75) Inventors: Bobby Jose, Verndale, WA (US); 

Eduardo Casas, Vancouver (CA); 

James Brennan, Sammamish, WA (US); 

Praveen Mehrotra, Spokane, WA (US) 

(73) Assignee: XR Communications LLC, New York, 

NY(US) 

( *) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis 

patent is extended or adjusted under 35 

U.S.C. 154(b) by 2252 days. 

(21) Appl. No.: 10/700,342 

(22) Filed: 

(65) 

Nov. 3, 2003 

Prior Publication Data 

US 2004/0223476 Al Nov.11,2004 

Related U.S. Application Data 

(60) Provisional application No. 60/423,702, filed on Nov. 

4, 2002, provisional application No. 60/423,696, filed 

on Nov. 4, 2002. 

(51) Int. Cl. 

H04Q 7124 (2006.01) 

(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................ 370/338; 370/345 

(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 370/338, 

(56) 

370/349, 395.5, 332,345; 455/522, 69, 127.1 

See application file for complete search history. 

References Cited 

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 

5,559,795 A * 

5,771,017 A 

5,809,141 A 

5,987,037 A 

6,091,788 A 

9/1996 Ahl ............................... 370/342 

6/ 1998 Dean et al. 

9/ 1998 Dent et al. 

1111999 Gans 

7 /2000 Keskitalo et al. 

US008289939B2 

(IO) Patent No.: US 8,289,939 B2 

(45) Date of Patent: Oct. 16, 2012 

WO 

6,108,323 A 

6,169,910 Bl 

6,252,544 Bl 

6,311,075 Bl 

6,429,812 Bl 

6,438,376 Bl 

6,470,195 Bl 

6,611,695 Bl 

6,628,235 B2 

6,807,146 Bl* 

6,983,167 B2 * 

6,990,082 Bl * 

7,177,294 B2 * 

7,233,602 B2 * 

7,239,615 B2 * 

8/2000 Gray 

1/2001 Tamil et al. 

6/2001 Hoflberg 

10/2001 Bevan et al. 

8/2002 Hoflberg 

8/2002 Elliott et al. 

10/2002 Meyer 

8/2003 Periyalwar 

9/2003 Wight 

10/2004 McFarland .................... 370/208 

1/2006 Adachi et al .................. 455/522 

1/2006 Zehavi et al. ................. 370/280 

2/2007 Chen et al. .................... 370/338 

6/2007 Chen et al. .................... 370/445 

7/2007 Nevo et al. .................... 370/278 

(Continued) 

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 

WO 99/21391 4/1999 

Primary Examiner - Chuong T Ho 

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, 

Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. 

(57) ABSTRACT 

An exemplary access station for wireless communications 

includes: a wireless input/output unit that is configured to 

establish multiple access points; and signal transmission/reception coordination logic that is capable of ascertaining that 

an access point of the multiple access points is receiving a 

signal and that is adapted to restrain at least one other access 

point of the multiple access points from transmitting another 

signal responsive to the ascertaining that the access point is 

receiving the signal. An exemplary method includes: monitoring multiple respective indicators acquired from multiple 

respective baseband units; detecting whether at least one 

respective indicator of the multiple respective indicators is 

affirmatively indicating that a signal is being received; and if 

so, providing at least one instruction to at least two medium 

access controllers of multiple respective medium access controllers, the at least one instruction restraining the at least two 

medium access controllers from causing a transmission. 

35 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets 

)iv 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

1Qilll 

ACCESS 

STATION ~2) 

• •• 

~ 106(N_) ___ _.__ 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104(N) 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104(2) 

• •• 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 2 of 26 PageID #: 1660
US 8,289,939 B2 

Page 2 

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2003/0064752 Al* 4/2003 Adachi et al .................. 455/560 

7,779,071 B2 * 

2001/0033600 Al 

2002/0031104 Al * 

2002/0136183 Al* 

8/2010 Lor et al. ...................... 709/203 

10/2001 Yangetal. 

3/2002 Griffith et al. ................ 370/329 

9/2002 Chen et al. .................... 370/338 

2003/0214961 Al* 11/2003 Nevo et al. .................... 370/401 

2004/0063468 Al 4/2004 Frank 

* cited by examiner 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 3 of 26 PageID #: 1661
U.S. Patent 

100\ 

ACCESS 

STATION 

Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 1 of 12 

_ ~0~2) 

• •• 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104(1) 

US 8,289,939 B2 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104(2) 

~106(N_) ___ ..i..._ • •• 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104(N) 

71tJ. I 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 4 of 26 PageID #: 1662
U.S. Patent 

ETHERNET 

BACKBONE 

Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 2 of 12 

WIRELESS 

INPUT/ 

OUTPUT ANTENNA 

UNIT ARRAY 

208 

206 

ACCESS STATION 

102 

ANTENNA ARRAY 

208 

• • • 

US 8,289,939 B2 

• • • 

·•··········::::::~~:: ····~:~;:;···-••• j 

.................. ---·· 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 5 of 26 PageID #: 1663
U.S. Patent Oct. 16, 2012 

0--( 

SIGNAL 

TRANSMISSION/ 

RECEPTION 

COORDINATION 

LOGIC 

0--( 

0--( 

WIRELESS 

INPUT/OUTPUT 

UNIT 

206 

ACCESS STATION 

102 

" 

I, 

" 

" 

-

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Sheet 3 of 12 US 8,289,939 B2 

------------ -- ACCESS POINT 402(1) 

--------------- -

--------- --- ACCESS POINT 402(2) 

------------------- • • • ----------------

ACCESS POINT 402(N) 

.__ _____________ ___ 

-

-

-

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-

'- ' ' / .,,, 

'- ' ' / .,,, 

'- ' ' / .,,, 

'J'ltJ, 4 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 6 of 26 PageID #: 1664
U.S. Patent 

500\ 

Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 4 of 12 

, r 

MONITOR 

MULTIPLE 

ACCESS POINTS 

, ' 

ASCERTAIN 

THAT AN ACCESS POINT 

IS RECEIVING A 

SIGNAL 

, r 

RESTRAIN 

OTHER ACCESS POINTS 

FROM TRANSMITTING A 

SIGNAL 

1 , 

US 8,289,939 B2 

~502 

~504 

~506 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 7 of 26 PageID #: 1665
U.S. Patent Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 5 of 12 US 8,289,939 B2 

;-102 

~ 

' ...----, r ' ,, ,.------.. ,.------.. 

MAC C-Rcv. Rev. BB RF 

- J 

~ ~ UNIT - PART - 604(1) INDI- INDI- 608(1) 610(1) GATOR '- .. GATOR 

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~ r 

ETHERNET MAC 

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602 606 612 

ANTENNA 

ARRAY 

208 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 8 of 26 PageID #: 1666
U.S. Patent 

702 

706 

Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 6 of 12 

MONITOR 

INDICATORS 

ACQUIRED FROM 

MULTIPLE BB UNITS 

AFFIRMATIVE 

SIGNAL RECEPTION 

INDICATOR 

y 

PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS 

TO MULTIPLE MACS 

THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE 

MULTIPLE BB UNITS 

TO RESTRAIN SIGNAL 

TRANSMISSION THEREFROM 

71tJ. 7 

US 8,289,939 B2 

r-700 

N 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 9 of 26 PageID #: 1667
U.S. Patent Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 7 of 12 US 8,289,939 B2 

'102A 

RECEIVE INDICATORS (1, 2 ... 13) 

••• r 

BB ' BB ' BB ' , , , , , , UNIT UNIT ••• UNIT 

' 608(1} 608(2} 608(13} ' ... ... / ' ' RECEIVE ' ' ' -.. 

INDICATORS 

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810 r ~ ~ ' ' MAC MAC ••• MAC 

604(1} 604(2} ... 604(13} 

MAC ' ' ' . j • 

COORDINATOR 

LOGIC ••• 

606 

CONSTRUCTIVE RECEIVE INDICATORS (1, 2 ... 13) 

◄------------------------------· WATCHDOG ~ 

INTERRUPT ~ 

- ' ENABLE INFO. MASKING 

REGISTER 806 

'. 814 ♦---· ' 

RECEIVE INDICATOR WATCHDOG 

CHANNEL ENABLE INFO. TIMER 

ASSIGNMENT 

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' .. INFO. ... 

' 802 .. I'- TIMER LOGIC 

~ SCANNING 816 

_,/ LOGIC ' 

812 ___ .... _J 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 10 of 26 PageID #:

1668
U.S. Patent Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 8 of 12 US 8,289,939 B2 

900\ + 

ACCEPT 

MULTIPLE RESPECTIVE RECEIVE INDICATORS 

reo2 

FROM RESPECTIVE MULTIPLE BB UNITS 

,, 

MASK 

NON-ENABLED RECEIVE INDICATORS OF THE 

r904 

MULTIPLE RESPECTIVE RECEIVE INDICATORS 

,. 

MAP 

ENABLED RECEIVE INDICATORS 

r906 

INTO CHANNEL-BASED GROUPS 

---- ----

,. ,, ••• , 

COMBINE RECEIVE INDICATORS 

PER- OF A CHANNEL-BASED GROUP INTO A 

r90B 

CHANNEL-BASED RECEIVE INDICATOR 

CHANNEL ,. ,, ••• ,, 

PRODUCE MULTIPLE 

BASIS RESPECTIVE CONSTRUCTIVE RECEIVE INDICATORS v-910 

USING THE CHANNEL-BASED RECEIVE INDICATOR 

AND A RESPECTIVE RECEIVE INDICATOR 

,, ,, ••• ,r 

---- ----

,. 

PROVIDE THE MULTIPLE 

RESPECTIVE CONSTRUCTIVE RECEIVE INDICATORS 

V--912 

TO MULTIPLE RESPECTIVE MACS 

t 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 11 of 26 PageID #:

1669
U.S. Patent Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 9 of 12 US 8,289,939 B2 

/ 

' 

r 

' 

--------------------------- RECEIVE INFORMATION (1, 2 ... N) 

-------------------

-----------

1 If ' If , " 

RECEIVE 

INFORMATION 

COMBINER 

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f 

RECEIVE 

INFORMATION 

SELECTOR 

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SIGNAL 

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: SELECTIVITY 

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Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 12 of 26 PageID #:

1670
U.S. Patent Oct. 16, 2012 

1100\ 

ACCESS 

STATION 

102a 

Sheet 10 of 12 

_ ~0~(2) 

• •• 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104a(1) 

US 8,289,939 B2 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104a(2} 

1102a 

LINK ~106a--(N_) __ __._ __ • •• 

SIGNAL 

TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION 

COORDINATION 

LOGIC 

1102b 

LINK 

ACCESS 

STATION 

102b 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104a(N) 

-=zi0~(2) 

• •• 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104b(1) 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

104b(2) 

~106b-(N_) __ ___._ ___ 

REMOTE 

CLIENT 

• •• 

104b(N) 

71/J. II 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 13 of 26 PageID #:

1671
U.S. Patent 

' 

1100 \ 

,, 

MAC -

' 604(1) 

MAC -

'- 604(2) 

• • • 

MAC -

'- 604(K} 

ET HERNET 

SWITC H/ROUTER 

602 

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.I 

" 

.I 

'I 

, 

Oct. 16, 2012 Sheet 11 of 12 

Rev. BB - UNIT - INDI- 608(1) CATOR' 

Rev. BB 

- UNIT C-Rcv. .... 

- INDI- ~ 608(2) CATOR '- INDICATOR 

C-Rcv. ,---1202 - LINK - INDICATOR 

• • • 

C-Rcv. Rev. BB - - UNIT - - INDI- INDI- 608(N} CATOR GATOR '-

,;- 'I 

MAC 

COORDINATOR LOGIC 

606 

'J'ltJ. 12 

US 8,289,939 B2 

'I " ,.-, 

RF 

- PART 

.I 610(1) ... 

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EMANATION 

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,, EMANATION 

APPARATUS 

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• • • 

-.., 'I ,........._ 

RF 

- PART 

610(N} ... 

/ 

EMANATION 

APPARATUS 

' 1204(N} ... 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 14 of 26 PageID #:

1672
U.S. Patent 

1100 \ 

,........., r 

- MAC 

604(1) 

/ 

MAC -

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• • • 

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ET HERNET 

SWIT CH/ROUTER 

602 

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... 

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... 

Oct. 16, 2012 

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,--. 

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Rev. RF 

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404 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 15 of 26 PageID #:

1673
US 8,289,939 B2 

1 

SIGNAL COMMUNICATION 

COORDINATION 

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 

2 

packet collisions is unbounded. Furthermore, inefficiencies 

may multiply unchecked if two or more centralized points of 

emanation happen to be positioned so as to have overlapping 

coverage areas or are otherwise sufficiently proximate to one 

5 another. 

This U.S. Non-provisional Application for Letters Patent 

claims the benefit of priority from (i) co-pending U.S. Provisional Application for Letters Patent Ser. No. 60/423,702 

(filed Nov. 4, 2002) and (ii) co-pending U.S. Provisional 

Application for Letters Patent Ser. No. 60/ 423,696 ( filed Nov. 1 o 

4, 2002). 

Specifically, this U.S. Non-provisional Application for 

Letters Patent claims the benefit of priority from, and hereby 

incorporates by reference herein the entire disclosure of, copending U.S. Provisional Application for Letters Patent Ser. 15 

No. 60/423,702, filed Nov. 4, 2002, and entitled "Synchronizing Media Access Control (MAC) Controllers". 

Specifically, this U.S. Non-provisional Application for 

Letters Patent also claims the benefit of priority from, and 

hereby incorporates by reference herein the entire disclosure 20 

of, co-pending U.S. Provisional Application for Letters 

Patent Ser. No. 60/423,696, filed Nov. 4, 2002, and entitled 

"Multi-Mac Control Techniques". 

Accordingly, there is a need for schemes and/or techniques 

for at least partially ameliorating one or more of the above 

mentioned drawbacks and/or inefficiencies. 

SUMMARY 

In an exemplary access station implementation, an access 

station for wireless communications includes: a wireless 

input/output (I/0) unit that is configured to establish multiple 

access points; and signal transmission/reception coordination 

logic that is capable of ascertaining that an access point of the 

multiple access points is receiving a signal and that is adapted 

to restrain at least one other access point of the multiple 

access points from transmitting another signal responsive to 

the ascertaining that the access point is receiving the signal. 

In an exemplary system implementation, a system for wireless communications includes: medium access controller 

coordination logic capable of accepting multiple respective 

TECHNICAL FIELD 

This disclosure relates in general to the coordination of 

signals being communicated across one or more media and in 

particular, by way of example but not limitation, to preventing 

the thrashing of signals (e.g., packets) by coordinating the 

release of downlink packets with the reception of uplink 

packets using a media access control (MAC)-type mechamsm. 

25 receive indicators from multiple respective baseband units; 

the medium access controller coordination logic adapted to 

combine the multiple respective receive indicators to produce 

multiple constructive receive indicators, each constructive 

receive indicator of the multiple constructive receive indica30 tors indicating that one or more respective baseband units of 

the multiple respective baseband units is receiving a signal; 

the medium access controller coordination logic further 

adapted to provide the multiple constructive receive indicaBACKGROUND 35 

tors to multiple medium access controllers. 

In an exemplary method implementation, a method 

includes: monitoring multiple respective indicators acquired 

from multiple respective baseband units; detecting whether at 

least one respective indicator of the multiple respective indicators is affirmatively indicating that a signal is being 

So-called local area networks (LANs) have been proliferating to facilitate communication since the 1970s. Certain 

LAN s (e.g., those operating in accordance with IEEE 802 .3) 

have provided enhanced electronic communication through 

wired media for decades. Since the late 1990s, LANs have 

expanded into wireless media so that networks may be established without necessitating wire connections between or 

among various network elements. Such LAN s may operate in 

accordance with IEEE 802.11 (e.g., 802.ll(a), (b), (e), (g), 45 

(k), (n), etc.) or other wireless network standards. 

40 received; and if so, providing at least one instruction to at least 

two medium access controllers of multiple respective 

medium access controllers, the at least one instruction 

restraining the at least two medium access controllers from 

Although standard LAN protocols, such as Ethernet, may 

operate at fairly high speeds with inexpensive connection 

hardware and may bring digital networking to almost any 

computer, wireless LANs can often achieve the same results 50 

more easily and/or at a lower cost. Furthermore, wireless 

LAN s provide increased mobility, flexibility, and spontaneity 

when setting up a network for two or more devices. 

In wireless communication generally, signals are sent from 

a transmitter to a receiver using electromagnetic waves that 55 

emanate from an antenna. With a standard wireless LAN, for 

example, these electromagnetic waves are sent equally in all 

directions from a central point of emanation. Receiving 

devices positioned at any angle with respect to the emanating 

point that are sufficiently close thereto may participate in the 60 

wireless LAN. As a result, both infrastructure and ad-hoc 

wireless networks may be established. 

However, there are drawbacks to such standard onmi-directional wireless LANs or omni-directional wireless wide 

area networks (WANs). For example, transmission range is 65 

limited, electromagnetic interference is unmanaged, network 

congestion may grow ungoverned, and the likelihood of 

causing a transmission. 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 

The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to 

reference like and/or corresponding aspects, features, and 

components. 

FIG. 1 is an exemplary general wireless communications 

environment. 

FIG. 2 is an exemplary wireless LAN/WAN communications environment that includes an access station, a wireless 

input/output (I/0) unit, an antenna array, and multiple communication beams. 

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary set of communication 

beams that emanate from an antenna array as shown in FIG. 2. 

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary access station that establishes multiple access points and includes signal transmission/reception coordination logic. 

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary 

method for using an access station having signal transmission/reception coordination logic for multiple access points. 

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary access station that includes 

multiple components such as medium access controllers 

(MACs ), baseband (BB) units, and MAC coordinator logic. 

Case 2:23-cv-00202-JRG-RSP Document 81-3 Filed 07/15/24 Page 16 of 26 PageID #:

1674
US 8,289,939 B2 

3 

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary 

method for using MAC coordinator logic with multiple 

MACs and associated multiple BB units. 

FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary access station that 

includes multiple components such as MACs, BB units, and 5 

MAC coordinator logic. 

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram that illustrates another exemplary 

method for using MAC coordinator logic with multiple 

MACs and associated multiple BB units. 

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary implementation of and 10 

environment for signal transmission/reception coordination 

logic. 

FIG. 11 illustrates a first exemplary multiple access station 

environment that includes signal transmission/reception 15 

coordination logic. 

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary multiple access station 

environment that includes MAC coordinator logic. 

FIG. 13 illustrates a second exemplary multiple access 

station environment that includes signal transmission/recep- 20 

tion coordination logic. 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 

4 

accordance with any standardized and/or specialized technology that is compatible with the operation of access station 

102. 

FIG. 2 is an exemplary wireless LAN/WAN communications environment 200 that includes an access station 102, a 

wireless input/output (I/O) unit 206, an antenna array 208, 

and multiple communication beams 202. Wireless LAN/ 

WAN communications environment 200 may operate in 

accordance with, for example, a Wi-Fi-compatible or similar 

standard. Thus, in such an implementation, exemplary access 

station 102 may operate in accordance with a Wi-F i-compatible or similar standard. Access station 102 is coupled to an 

Ethernet backbone 204. Access station 102, especially 

because it is illustrated as being directly coupled to Ethernet 

backbone 204 without an intervening external Ethernet router 

or switch, may itself be considered a Wi-Fi switch. 

Access station 102 includes wireless I/O unit 206. Wireless 

I/O unit 206 includes an antenna array 208 that is implemented as two or more antennas, and optionally as a phased 

array of antennas. Wireless I/O unit 206 is capable of transmitting and/or receiving (i.e., transceiving) signals (e.g., 

wireless communication(s) 106 ( ofFIG.1)) via antenna array 

208. These wireless communication(s) 106 are transmitted to 

and received from (i.e., transceived with respect to) a remote 

25 client 104 (also of FIG. 1). These signals may be transceived 

directionally with respect to one or more particular communication beams 202. 

FIG. 1 is an exemplary general wireless communications 

environment 100. Wireless communications environment 

100 is representative generally of many different types of 

wireless communications environments, including but not 

limited to those pertaining to wireless personal area networks 

(PANs) (e.g., Wi-Media, IEEE 802.15, etc.) or wireless local 30 

area networks (LANs) (e.g., Wifi) or wide area networks 

(WANs) (e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMax, etc.) technology, cellular technology, trunking technology, and so forth. 

In wireless communications environment 100, an access 

station 102 is in wireless communication with remote clients 35 

104(1), 104(2) ... 104(N) via wireless communications or 

communication links 106(1 ), 106(2) ... 106(N), respectively. 

Although not required, access station 102 is typically fixed, 

and remote clients 104 are typically mobile. Also, although 40 

only three remote clients 104 are shown, access station 102 

may be in wireless communication with many such remote 

clients 104 via uplink wireless communications 106 transmitted from remote clients 104 to access station 102 and via 

downlink wireless communications 106 transmitted from 45 

access station 102 to remote clients 104. 

In wireless communication, signals may be sent from a 

transmitter to a receiver using electromagnetic waves that 

emanate from one or more antennas as focused in one or more 

desired directions, which contrasts with omni-directional 

transmission. When the electromagnetic waves are focused in 

a desired direction, the pattern formed by the electromagnetic 

wave is termed a "beam" or "beam pattern." The production 

and/or application of such electromagnetic beams is typically 

referred to as "beamforming." 

Beamforming may provide a number of benefits such as 

greater range and/or coverage per unit of transmitted power, 

improved resistance to interference, increased immunity to 

the deleterious effects of multipath transmission signals, and 

so forth. Beamforming can be achieved using any of a number 

of active and passive beamformers. Exemplary beamformers 

are described further below with reference to FIG. 6. 

By using such a beamformer along with antenna array 208, 

multiple communication beams 202(1), 202(2) ... 202(N) 

may be produced by wireless I/O unit 206. Although three 

beams 202(1, 2, N) are illustrated with three antennas of 

antenna array 208, it should be understood that the multiple 

antennas of antenna array 208 work in conjunction with each 

50 other to produce the multiple beams 202(1, 2 ... N). An 

exemplary set of communication beam patterns is described 

further below with reference to FIG. 3. 

With respect to a so-called Wi-Fi wireless communications 

system, for example, access station 102 and/or remote clients 

104 may operate in accordance with any IEEE 802.11 or 

similar standard. With respect to a cellular system, for 

example, access station 102 and/or remote clients 104 may 

operate in accordance with any analog or digital standard, 

including but not limited to those using time division/ demand 

multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access 

(CDMA), spread spectrum, some combination thereof, or any 55 

other such technology. 

Access station 102 may be, for example, a nexus point, a 

trunking radio, a base station, a Wi-Fi switch, an access point, 

some combination and/or derivative thereof, and so forth. 

Remote clients 104 may be, for example, a hand-held device, 60 

a desktop or laptop computer, an expansion card or similar 

that is coupled to a desktop or laptop computer, a personal 

digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a vehicle having a 

wireless communication device, a tablet or hand/palm-sized 

computer, a portable inventory-related scanning device, any 65 

device capable of processing generally, some combination 

thereof, and so forth. Remote clients 104 may operate in 

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary set of communication 

beams 202 that emanate from an antenna array 208 as shown 

in FIG. 2. In a described implementation, antenna array 208 

includes sixteen antennas 208(0, 1 ... 14, and 15) (not 

explicitly shown in FIG. 2). From the sixteen antennas 208 

(0 ... 15), sixteen different communication beams 202(0), 

202(1) ... 202(14), and 202(15) are formed as the wireless 

signals emanating from antennas 208 add and subtract from 

each other during electromagnetic propagation. It should be 

noted that the exemplary set of communication beams 202 are 

a pictorial representation and that the illustrated shapes do not 

necessarily bear any relationship to the actual shape(s) of 

beam(s) which may include a main beam and several side 

lobes ( e.g., with fixed beam forming) or an arbitrary shape of 

coverage (e.g., with adaptive beam forming). 

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When an access point 402(w) is ascertained to be receiving a 

signal, signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 

is capable of restraining ( e.g., limiting, preventing, delaying, 

etc.) the transmission of signals on the other access points 

Communication beams 202(1) ... 202(15) spread out 

symmetrically from the central communication beam 202(0). 

The narrowest beam is the central beam 202(0), and the 

beams become wider as they spread outward from the center. 

For example, beam 202(15) is slightly wider than beam 202 

(0), and beam 202(5) is wider than beam 202(15). Also, beam 

202(10) is wider still than beam 202(5). It should be understood that the set of communication beam patterns illustrated 

in FIG. 3 are exemplary only and that other communication 

beam pattern sets may differ in width, shape, number, angular 

coverage, and so forth. By way of example only, an access 

station may alternatively utilize six beams (that are emanating 

from an antenna array having eight elements), three beams, 

and so forth. 

5 402(1 ... w-1, w+ 1 ... N). It should be noted that "w" can be 

equal to 1 or N and that the other access points 402 reduce to 

access points 402(2 ... N) and 402(1 ... N-1), respectively. 

Exemplary techniques for ascertaining whether a signal is 

being received and for restraining the transmission of signals 

10 are described further below. The monitoring, ascertaining, 

and restraining of signals can be based on and/or responsive 

to a myriad of factors. For example, the signals can be coordinated ( e.g., analyzed and controlled) based on a per-channel 

Due to real-world effects of the interactions between and 15 

basis. Such exemplary factors are also described further 

below. 

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 500 that illustrates an exemplary 

method for using an access station having signal transmission/reception coordination logic for multiple access points. 

Flow diagram 500 includes three (3) blocks 502-506. The 

among the wireless signals as they emanate from antenna 

array 208 ( e.g., assuming a linear antenna array in a described 

implementation), communication beam 202(8) is degenerate 

such that its beam pattern is formed on both sides of antenna 

array 208. These real-world effects also account for the 

increasing widths of the other beams 202(1 ... 7) and 202 

(15 ... 9) as they spread outward from central beam 202(0). 

20 actions of flow diagram 500 may be performed, for example, 

by an access station (e.g., an access station 102 of FIG. 4). 

At block 502, multiple access points are monitored. For 

example, access points 402(1 ... N) may be monitored by 

signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 ( e.g., to 

In fact, in a described implementation, communication beams 

202(7) and 202(9) are too wide for efficient and productive 

use. Hence, communication beams 202(7), 202(8), and 202 

(9) are not utilized in a described implementation. Such an 

implementation that utilizes thirteen communication beams 

202 (e.g., beams 202(0 ... 6) and beams 202(10 . .. 15)) is 

described further below with reference to FIG. 8. 

25 detect signal reception). At block 504, it is ascertained that an 

access point of the multiple monitored access points is receiving a signal. For example, it may be ascertained by signal 

transmission/reception coordination logic 404 that an access 

point 402(1) of multiple access points 402(1 ... N) is receivFIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary access station 102 that 

establishes multiple access points 402 and includes signal 

transmission/reception coordination logic 404. As illustrated, 

access station 102 includes a wireless I/O unit 206. Wireless 

30 ing a signal via a wireless I/O unit 206. 

At block 506, the other access points of the multiple monitored access points are restrained from transmitting a signal. 

For example, signal transmission/reception coordination 

I/O unit 206 includes or is associated with signal transmis- logic 404 may restrain access points 402(2 . . . N) from 

sion/reception coordination logic 404. Such logic may be 

implemented as hardware, software, firmware, some combination thereof, and so forth. 

In a described implementation, wireless I/O unit 206 establishes two or more access points 402, such as multiple access 

points 402(1 ), 402(2) ... 402(N). Each access point of the 

multiple access points 402 may correspond to, for example, 

35 transmitting a signal. In a described implementation, signal 

transmission/reception coordination logic 404 may restrain 

access points 402(2 ... N) from transmitting signals until 

access point 402(1) ceases receiving the signal. 

With reference again to FIG. 4, one access point 402 (and/ 

40 or communication beam 202) may operate on a different 

channel from that of another access point 402 (and/or communication beam 202). If the different channels are adjacent 

and/or not sufficiently-well defined, it may be beneficial to 

restrain transmission on a first channel with a first access 

an individual access point in accordance with an IEEE 

802.11-based standard. Additionally, a wireless coverage 

area or region for each respective access point 402 of the 

multiple access points 402 may correspond to, for example, a 45 

respective communication beam 202 of multiple communication beams 202 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). 

Although communication signals directed into ( or 

obtained from) different access points 402 may be targeted at 

particular/specific coverage areas, bleedover between access 50 

points 402 can occur. For example, a downlink signal transmission for access point 402(2) can destroy an uplink signal 

reception for access point 402(1 ). Signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 coordinates uplink and downlink 

signals across (e.g., between and/or among) different access 55 

points 402. 

In operation, access station 102 establishes multiple colocated access points 402 using wireless I/O unit 206. Generally, signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 

coordinates uplink signal receptions and downlink signal 60 

transmissions across different access points 402 so as to avoid 

or at least reduce the frequency at which downlink signals are 

transmitted at a first access point 402(y) while uplink signals 

are being received at a second access point 402(x). 

Specifically, signal transmission/reception coordination 65 

logic 404 is adapted to monitor the multiple access points 

402(1 ... N) to ascertain when a signal is being received. 

point 402 even when receiving a wireless communication on 

a second different channel with a second access point 402. In 

another exemplary implementation for different channel situations, signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 

may restrain transmission on one channel on the basis of 

reception on another channel with an ongoing transmission 

on a third channel to prevent (e.g., inter-modulation) distortion to the signals being communicated in the wireless system. 

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary access station 102 that 

includes multiple components such as medium access controllers (MACs) 604, baseband (BB) units 608, and MAC 

coordinator logic 606. As illustrated, access station 102 also 

includes an Ethernet switch and/or router 602, radio frequency (RF) parts 610, a beamformer 612, and antenna array 

208.A wireless I/O unit 206 ( e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 

4) may correspond to MACs 604, MAC coordinator logic 

606, BB units 608, and RF parts 610. Such a wireless I/O unit 

206 may also optionally include one or more of Ethernet 

switch/router 602, beamformer 612, and antenna array 208. 

In a described implementation, antenna array 208 is 

coupled to beamformer 612. Beamformer 612 is coupled to 

multiple RF parts 610(1), 610(2) ... 610(N). Respective 

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multiple RF parts 610(1), 610(2) ... 610(N) are coupled to 

respective is multiple BB units 608(1 ), 608(2) ... 608(N). On 

the other hand, Ethernet switch/router 602 is coupled to multiple MACs 604(1), 604(2) ... 604(N). Both of the multiple 

BB units 608(1, 2 ... N) and the multiple MACs 604(1, 5 

2 ... N) are coupled to MAC coordinator logic 606. 

In operation generally, each respective MAC 604(1, 2 ... 

N) is associated with a respective BB unit 608(1, 2 ... N). 

Although not specifically shown in FIG. 6, each respective 

MAC 604 may also be in direct communication with each of 10 

the respective associated BB units 608. MAC coordinator 

logic 606 is configured to coordinate the activities of the 

multiple MACs 604 ( e.g., as a multi-MAC controller (MMC)) 

with regard to at least one non-associated respective BB unit 15 

608. For example, MAC coordinator logic 606 may forward 

8 

As described above, each respective RF part 610(1, 2 ... N) 

is coupled to a respective BB unit 608(1, 2 ... N). Also, each 

respective MAC 604(1, 2 ... N) is associated with a respective 

BB unit 608(1, 2 ... N). Although not so illustrated in FIG. 6 

or required, each respective MAC 604 and its associated 

respective BB unit 608 may be located on individual respective electronic cards. The respective RF part 610 to which 

each respective BB unit 608 is coupled may also be located on 

the individual respective electronic cards. In a described 

implementation, each respective MAC 604 and its associated 

respective BB unit 608 may be associated with a different 

respective access point, such as access points 402(1, 2 ... N) 

(of FIG. 4). Each respective RF part 610, along with at least 

part of beamformer 612 and/or antenna array 208, and each 

respective communication beam 202 may also correspond to 

the different respective access points 402. 

MACs 604 are adapted to control access to the media that 

is provided, at least partially, by BB units 608. In this case, the 

media corresponds to the signals transmitted and/or received 

an instruction to MAC 604(1) responsive, at least partly, to an 

indicator provided from BB unit 608(2). MAC coordinator 

logic 606 may be implemented as hardware, software, firmware, some combination thereof, and so forth. 20 via communication beams 202 (of FIGS. 2 and 3). These 

signals may be analog, digital, and so forth. In a described 

implementation, such digital signals comprise one or more 

packets. 

In operation specifically, for a described implementation, 

Ethernet switch/router 602 is coupled to Ethernet backbone 

204 (of FIG. 2). Ethernet switch/router 602 is capable of 

relaying incoming packets from Ethernet backbone 204 to the 

appropriate MAC 604 to which they correspond. Ethernet 25 

switch/router 602 is also capable of relaying outgoing packets 

from the multiple MACs 604 to Ethernet backbone 204. Ethernet switch/router 602 may be implemented using, for 

example, a general purpose central processing unit (CPU) and 

memory. The CPU and memory can handle layer-2 Internet 30 

protocol (IP) responsibilities, flow control, and so forth. 

When receiving packets from Ethernet backbone 204, Ethernet switch/router 602 looks up the destination port for the 

destination MAC 604 address. In this manner, an Ethernet 

switch and/or router 602 may be realized using software ( or 35 

hardware, firmware, some combination thereof, etc.). 

Antenna array 208 may be implemented as a phased array 

of antennas generally. Beamformer 612, in conjunction with 

antenna array 208, forms multiple beams such as communication beams 202 ( ofFIGS. 2 and3). Beamformer 612 may be 40 

implemented as an active or passive beamformer. Examples 

of such active and passive beamformers include a tuned vector modulator (multiplier), a Butler matrix, a Rotman or other 

lens, a canonical beamformer, a lumped-element beamformer 

with static or variable inductors and capacitors, and so forth. 45 

Alternatively, communication beams may be formed using 

full adaptive beamforming. 

Generally, beamformer 612 may include multiple ports for 

connecting to antenna array 208 and multiple ports for connecting to the multiple RF parts 610. One or more active 50 

components ( e.g., a power amplifier (PA), a low-noise amplifier (LNA), etc.) may also be coupled to the multiple ports on 

In a packet-based environment, a packet arriving at access 

station 102 via a particular communication beam 202(w) 

from a particular remote client 104(w) (of FIGS. 1 and 2) is 

received using beamformer 612 and antenna array 208. The 

packet is processed using a particular RF part 610(w) and a 

particular corresponding BB unit 608(w). The packet is then 

forwarded from BB unit 608(w) to a particular associated 

MAC 604(w), which permits the packet to be placed on Ethernet backbone 204 ( ofFIG. 2) by Ethernet switch/router 602. 

Packets arriving at access station 102 via Ethernet switch/ 

router 602 are eventually transmitted to remote client 104(w) 

via communication beam 202(w) in an oppositely traversed 

path. 

The transmission and reception of packets via communication beams 202, as well as the forwarding of packets within 

access station 102, may be controlled at least partially by 

MACs 604. It should be noted that a packet may actually be 

received by more than one communication beam 202 and BB 

unit 608/MAC 604 pair. Based on the destination address, one 

MAC 604 selects the packet and the other MACs 604 discard 

it. 

In a typical MAC-baseband environment, a MAC controls 

its associated baseband circuitry using input solely from its 

associated baseband circuitry. For example, if baseband circuitry indicates to its associated MAC that it is receiving a 

packet, then the associated MAC does not ask the baseband 

circuitry to transmit a packet, which can jeopardize the integrity of the packet being received. 

With (i) co-located access points 402 (e.g., as in FIG. 4) 

and/or (ii) co-located pairs ofMACs 604 and associated BB 

units 608, (i) a given first access point 402(x) and/or (ii) a 

the antenna array side of beamformer 612. Thus, antenna 

array 208 may be directly or indirectly coupled to beamformer 612. 

Specifically, beamformer 612 may include at least "N" 

ports for each of the multiple RF parts 610(1, 2 ... N), but it 

may include more. In a described implementation, each communication beam 202 emanating from antenna array 208 

corresponds to an RF part 610. Each RF part 610 may be 

implemented as, for example, a transmit and/or receive signal 

processor operating at radio frequencies. Each RF part 610 

may operate at one or more frequencies, with each frequency 

corresponding to a different channel. It should be noted that 

channels may be defined alternatively (and/or additionally) 

using a mechanism other than frequency, such as a code, a 

time slot, some combination thereof, and so forth. 

55 given first MAC 604(x)/BB unit 608(x) pair are (possibly) 

unaware of the condition or state (e.g., transmitting, receiving, idle, etc.) of (i) a second access point 402(y) and/or (ii) a 

second MAC 604(y )/BB unit 608(y) pair, and vice versa. As a 

result, absent additional control/logic, a packet being 

60 received by (i) the given first access point 402(x) and/or (ii) 

the given first MAC 604(x)/BB unit 608(x) pair can be 

thrashed ( e.g., altered, destroyed, interfered with, rendered 

unusable for its intended purpose, etc.) by a transmission 

from (i) the second access point 402(y) and/or (ii) the second 

65 MAC 604(y)/BB unit 608(y) pair. 

This thrashing may occur even though the packet reception 

and the packet transmission are effectuated using different 

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communication beams 202(x) and 202(y ), respectively, when 

the reception and transmission occur on the same channel ( or 

adjacent or otherwise sufficiently proximate channels with 

imprecise channel boundaries). In other words, an incoming 

packet reception via a communication beam 202(x) can be 5 

rendered unsuccessful by an outgoing packet transmission 

10 

receive indicator indicates to each MAC of MACs 604(1, 

2 ... N) that a reception is occurring on some communication 

beam 202 (and/or access point 402) of access station 102. As 

a result, the MACs ofMACs 604(1, 2 ... N) that are provided 

such an affirmative constructive receive indicator do not 

cause their respective associated BB units of BB units 608(1, 

2 . . . N) to transmit. The constructive receive indicators 

provided from MAC coordinator logic 606 to MACs 604(1, 

2 ... N) may be comprised of any one or more different 

via a communication beam 202(y) that occurs on the same 

channel ( or adjacent or otherwise sufficiently proximate 

channels with imprecise channel boundaries) and is temporally overlapping. 

As described above, MAC coordinator logic 606 is coupled 

to both of multiple BB units 608(1, 2 ... N) and multiple 

MACs 604(1, 2 ... N). In a described implementation, MAC 

coordinator logic 606 is configured to prevent MACs 604(1, 

10 indications interpretable by MACs 604(1, 2 ... N). For 

example, the constructive receive indicators may comprise an 

indication for one or more predetermined inputs, such as a 

CCA or busy/non-busy input, of MACs 604(1, 2 ... N). 

2 ... N) from causing a transmission if at least one and 15 

optionally if any of BB units 608(1, 2 . .. N) are receiving. For 

example, if BB unit 608(2) indicates that it is receiving a 

packet, MAC coordinator logic 606 instructs MACs 604(1, 

Alternatively, the constructive receive indicators may be 

input to a different type of do-not-transmit input, a speciallydesigned input, a message-capable input, some combination 

thereof, and so forth. Furthermore, a constructive receive 

indicator may comprise an analog or digital indication ( of one 

or more bits), the driving of one or more lines, the presentation of one or more messages, some combination thereof, and 

so forth. 

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram 700 that illustrates an exemplary 

method for using MAC coordinator logic with multiple 

MACs and associated multiple BB units. Flow diagram 700 

2 ... N) so as to restrain them from causing a packet transmission during the packet reception. Factors that can modify, 20 

tune, tweak, extend, etc. this packet transmission restraint are 

provided further below. As an example, the MACs of MACs 

604(1, 3 . . . N) that enable transmissions on a different 

channel or channels from that of BB unit 608(2) may not be 

restrained. 

More specifically, each BB unit of BB units 608(1, 2 ... N) 

forwards a receive indicator ("Rev. Indicator" in FIG. 6) to 

MAC coordinator logic 606. MAC coordinator logic 606 is 

thus able to monitor BB units 608(1, 2 ... N). MAC coordinator logic 606 analyzes the receive indicators to produce a 30 

constructive receive indicator ("C-Rcv. Indicator" in FIG. 6). 

This constructive receive indicator is provided to each MAC 

ofMACs 604(1, 2 ... N). 

25 includes three (3) blocks 702-706. The actions of flow diagram 700 may be performed, for example, by MAC coordination logic of an access station ( e.g., by MAC coordinator 

logic 606 of access station 102 of FIG. 6). 

In a described implementation, each BB unit 608(z) of BB 

units 608(1, 2 ... N) forwards a receive indicator that reflects 35 

whether/when BB unit 608(z) is currently receiving a signal. 

Optionally, not physically forwarding an indicator may constitute a receive indicator that reflects that no signal is being 

received. After processing the different receive indicators, 

MAC coordinator logic 606 forwards the same constructive 40 

receive indicator to each MAC ofMACs 604(1, 2 ... N) based 

on multiple, and possibly all, receive indicators.As alluded to 

above, employing different factors, for example, may result in 

MAC coordinator logic 606 providing different constructive 

receive indicators to at least different subsets of MACs of 45 

MACs 604(1, 2 ... N). 

The receive indicators forwarded to MAC coordinator 

logic 606 from BB units 608(1, 2 ... N) may be comprised of 

any one or more different indications from BB units 608(1, 

2 ... N). For example, the receive indicators may comprise 50 

clear channel assessment (CCA) or busy/non-busy indications. Alternatively, the receive indicators may comprise indications of signal reception based on energy signals, crosscorrelation signals, data signals, other transmit and/or control 

signals, some combination thereof, and so forth. Further- 55 

more, a receive indicator may comprise an analog or digital 

indication ( of one or more bits), the driving of one or more 

lines, the presentation of one or more messages, some combination thereof, and so forth. 

In a described implementation, MAC coordinator logic 60 

606 accepts the receive indicators from BB units 608(1, 

2 ... N) and combines them in some manner to produce the 

constructive receive indicator(s ). For example, MAC coordinator logic 606 may "OR" the receive indicators together to 

produce the constructive receive indicator. Consequently, if 65 

any receive indicator from BB units 608(1, 2 ... N) indicates 

that a BB unit is receiving a signal, then the constructive 

At block 702, indicators acquired from multiple BB units 

are monitored. For example, multiple receive indicators that 

are accepted at MAC coordinator logic 606 from multiple BB 

units 608(1, 2 ... N) are monitored. At block 704, it is 

determined whether an affirmative signal reception indicator 

from a BB unit is detected. For example, of the multiple 

receive indicators accepted at MAC coordinator logic 606, 

MAC coordinator logic 606 determines whether at least one 

receive indicator is detected to indicate that the originating 

BB unit( s) 608 is( are) receiving a signal. As described above, 

if a MAC 604 and associated BB unit 608 transmit a signal on 

the same channel as that of a signal being received ( e.g., by a 

different MAC 604/BB unit 608 pair) during that signal 

reception, the signal being received may be thrashed. 

If no indicator is determined to affirmatively indicate that a 

signal is being received (at block 704), the monitoring (of 

block 702) is continued. For example, as long as MAC coordinator logic 606 fails to detect a signal reception via the 

receive indicators, MAC coordinator logic 606 continues to 

monitor the receive indicators from BB units 608(1, 2 ... N). 

If, on the other hand, an affirmative signal reception indicator 

from a BB unit has been detected ( at block 704), then at block 

706 instruction(s) are provided to multiple MACs that are 

associated with the multiple BB units to restrain signal transmission therefrom. For example, if MAC coordinator logic 

606 detects (e.g., through a logical "OR" operation) that at 

least one receive indicator indicates that a signal reception is 

occurring, then MAC coordinator logic 606 provides a constructive receive indicator to MACs 604(1, 2 N) that affirmatively indicates a signal reception is occurring in order to 

restrain them from initiating or otherwise causing a signal 

transmission. 

FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary access station 102A 

that includes multiple components such as MACs 604, BB 

units 608, and MAC coordinator logic 606. Exemplary access 

station 102A includes thirteen MACs 604(1, 2 ... 13) and 

thirteen BB units 608(1, 2 ... 13) that are associated respectively therewith. Thirteen BB units 608(1, 2 ... 13) and 

thirteen MACs 604(1, 2 ... 13) are utilized in access station 

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102A to comport with the efficiently usable communication 

beams 202(0 ... 6) and 202(10 ... 15) of the exemplary set of 

communication beams of FIG. 3. 

12 

receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) restrain signal transmissions 

from MAC 604/BB unit 608 pairs when a signal reception is 

occurring on the same channel, even if by a different MAC 

However, the elements of FIG. 8 and the description 604/BB unit 608 pair. A downlinked packet that is transmitted 

thereof is applicable to access stations 102 with more than or 

fewer than thirteen MACs 604 and BB units 608. Also, 

although not so illustrated, exemplary access station 102A 

may include other optional aspects of an access station ( e.g., 

those aspects illustrated in FIG. 6 for access station 102). 

5 on one channel while an uplinked packet is being received on 

another channel does not usually cause the uplinked packet to 

be thrashed (as long as the two channels are sufficiently 

well-defined or otherwise separated). On the other hand, a 

downlinked packet that is transmitted on a channel while an 

As illustrated, BB units 608(1, 2 ... 13) are capable of 

communicating with MACs 604(1, 2 ... 13), and vice versa, 

directly or indirectly without using MAC coordinator logic 

606. Specifically, control and/or data may be transferred therebetween. Such control/data information may include, for 

example, data packets for wireless communication on communication beams 202 (of FIGS. 2 and 3), carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) type information, and so forth. 

10 uplinked packet is being received on the same channel does 

usually cause the uplinked packet to be thrashed, even if the 

transmission and reception occur using different communication beams 202 (of FIGS. 2 and 3). 

Channel assignment information 802 may be implemented 

15 as, for example, a vector that relates each MAC 604 and 

associated BB unit 608 to one of two or more channels. 

In a described implementation, BB units 608(1, 2 ... 13) 

forward receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) to MAC coordinator 20 

logic 606. MAC coordinator logic 606 includes receive indicators combiner 810. Receive indicators combiner 810 may 

be comprised of one or more of program coding, a fieldprogrammable gate array, discrete logic gates, and so forth. In 

other words, receive indicators combiner 810 may be com- 25 

prised of hardware, software, firmware, some combination 

thereof, and so forth. 

Hence, prior to combination using receive indicators combiner 810, each respective receive indicator of receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) can be mapped to a channel segmentation 

or grouping based on a wireless communication channel used 

by a corresponding MAC 604/BB unit 608 pair. 

Receive indicator enable information 804 provides information for receive indicators combiner 810 that stipulates 

which receive indicators ofreceive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) are 

to be used in a combination operation to produce the constructive receive indicators of constructive receive indicators 

(1, 2 ... 13). Thus, certain receive indicators may be excluded 

from the combination operation for one or more reasons. For 

example, a grouping can be arbitrary, can be based on the 

presence of an overlapping subnet, etc.; each group may 

therefore be treated differently by or for a coordination function. Exemplary combination groupings and reasons for 

exclusion are described further below. Using receive indicator enable information 804 reduces the likelihood that exterReceive indicators combiner 810 combines receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) in some manner to produce constructive 

receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13). For example, receive indica- 30 

tors (1, 2 ... 13) may be combined using some coordination 

functionality, such as a logical "OR" functionality. In a 

described implementation, such logical "OR" functionality 

ensures that if any one or more receive indicators of receive 

indicators (1, 2 ... 13) is indicating that a signal is being 

received, then the associated constructive receive indicators 

35 nal channel activity can prevent all transmissions from access 

station 102. 

of constructive receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) also indicate 

that a signal is being received. 

These constructive receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) are 

provided to MACs 604(1, 2 ... 13), respectively, so that 40 

MACs 604(1, 2 ... 13) do not cause BB units 608(1, 2 ... 13) 

to transmit a signal while another signal is being received. As 

described further below, the BB units of BB units 608(1, 

2 ... 13) and the MACs of MACs 604(1, 2 ... 13) may be 

segmented or grouped by a characteristic and/or state, such as 45 

by wireless communications channel. When segmented or 

grouped, a constructive receive indicator of a given segment 

or group indicates to a MAC that a signal is being received and 

that no signal should therefore be transmitted when any 

receive indicator of that given segment or group indicates that 50 

a signal is being received ( or when multiple receive indicators 

of that given segment or group indicate that multiple signals 

are being received). 

As noted above, MAC coordinator logic 606 (and signal 

transmission/reception coordination logic 404 (of FIG. 4)) 55 

may be modified, tweaked, expanded, etc. based on any one 

or more of many factors. FIG. 8 illustrates some of these 

factors. For example, FIG. 8 includes channel assignment 

information 802, receive indicator enable information 804, 

timer logic 816, and scanning logic 812. Channel assignment 60 

information 802, receive indicator enable information 804, 

timer logic 816, and/or scanning logic 812 may be part of 

MAC coordinator logic 606 or another part of access station 

102A. 

Receive indicator enable information 804 may be implemented as, for example, a masking register 814 that comprises a register with exclusionary bits for masking one or 

more receive indicators of receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) from 

a combination operation ofreceive indicators combiner 810. 

In a described implementation, masking register 814 includes 

thirteen bits that correspond to the thirteen receive indicators 

(1, 2 . .. 13), which correspond to the thirteen BB units 608(1, 

2 ... 13). 

Timer logic 816 may be used for one or two (or more) 

factors. Although only shown once, timer logic 816 may 

alternatively be implemented multiple times in exemplary 

access station 102A to account for multiple factors, or one 

implementation may be capable of handling multiple timer 

functions. Timer logic 816 includes watchdog timer 808 and 

optionally watchdog interrupt enable information 806. 

For a first factor, timer logic 816 relates to individual 

receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13). A duration of watchdog timer 

808 is set equal to a maximum packet duration (e.g., a maximum-allowed length of a packet). Watchdog timer 808 is 

started when a particular receive indicator begins indicating 

that a signal is being received and stopped when the particular 

receive indicator ceases indicating that the signal is being 

received. If watchdog timer 808 is not tolled by an indication 

of signal reception cessation prior to its expiration, then the 

signal being received is likely to not be intended for access 

station 102A. In this case, timer logic 816 may indicate that 

the BB unit 608 corresponding to the particular receive indiChannel assignment information 802 enables receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) to be combined by receive indicators 

combiner 810 on a per-channel basis. As a result, constructive 

65 cator is not to be used in a combination operation. 

This combination operation exclusion indication may be 

effectuated using receive indicator enable information 804 

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( e.g., by setting a bit in masking register 814). This exclusion 

may last for a predetermined duration, which may be, for 

example, a system parameter that is individually configured 

for a given deployment. It should be noted that expiration of 

watchdog timer 808 may also occur in other situations. For 5 

example, it may also occur when a packet is involved in a 

collision with one or more temporally overlapping packets, 

when there is a large interferer emanating an appropriate 

signal for a sufficiently long duration, and so forth. 

For a second factor, timer logic 816 relates to constructive 10 

receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) on a per-channel basis. A 

duration of watchdog timer 808 is set with consideration of a 

temporal threshold beyond which a problem or error should 

be contemplated to have occurred and hence investigated. 

Watchdog timer 808 is started when a particular constructive 15 

receive indicator (or indicators) for a given charmel begins 

indicating that a signal is being received on the given channel 

and stopped when the particular constructive receive indicator ceases indicating that the signal is being received on the 

given charmel. If watchdog timer 808 is not tolled by an 20 

indication of signal reception cessation prior to its expiration, 

then there is a likelihood that an error has occurred. 

Watchdog interrupt enable information 806 is used for this 

second factor, and it stipulates which channel(s) (and thus 

which constructive receive indicators) are enabled for inter- 25 

ruption. If watchdog timer 808 expires and the given channel 

is enabled in accordance with watchdog interrupt enable 

information 806, an interrupt is generated and provided to 

MAC coordinator logic 606 or another component of access 

station 102A. MAC coordinator logic 606 or the other com- 30 

ponent is then charged with investigating the ongoing affirmative constructive receive indicator and/or of notifying a 

user/operator to do so. 

Scanning logic 812 may act independently or interactively 

with any one or more of channel assignment information 802, 35 

receive indicator enable information 804, and timer logic 816. 

14 

units 608(1, 2 ... 13), and constructive receive indicators (1, 

2 ... 13) correspond to the state of the CCA input to MACs 

604(1, 2 ... 13). Based on the values for receive indicators (1, 

2 ... 13), charmel assignment information 802, and receive 

indicator enable information 804, MAC coordinator logic 

606 determines the constructive receive indicators (1, 2 ... 

13) for each RF part 610 (of FIG. 6) (as provided via MACs 

604, BB units 608, etc). 

Continuing with this exemplary implementation, MAC 

coordinator logic 606 operates as follows: 

An indicator "channel_wide_busy" for each charmel is 

defined, where channel_wide_busy is affirmative (e.g., 

active) if: 

the receive indicator from any BB units operating on that 

charmel indicates that a signal is being received, 

excluding those BB units whose receive indicator 

enable information is not set ( e.g., in masking register 

814). 

MAC coordinator logic 606 sets the constructive receive 

indicator for a particular MAC 604/BB unit 608 pair to 

affirmative (e.g., busy) if: 

the receive indicator for that BB unit 608 indicates affirmative (e.g., busy); or 

channel_wide_busy for the channel of this particular 

MAC 604/BB unit 608 pair is affirmative (e.g., 

active). 

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram 900 that illustrates another exemplary method for using MAC coordinator logic with multiple 

MACs and associated multiple BB units. Flow diagram 900 

includes six (6) blocks 902-912. The actions of flow diagram 

900 may be performed, for example, by MAC coordination 

logic of an access station ( e.g., by MAC coordinator logic 606 

of access station 102A of FIG. 8). 

At block 902, multiple respective receive indicators are 

accepted from respective multiple BB units. For example, 

receive indicators (1, 2 . .. 13) may be accepted from BB units 

608(1, 2 ... 13) at MAC coordinator logic 606. At block 904, 

non-enabled receive indicators of the multiple respective 

For example, scanning logic 816 may scan across communication beams 202 using different channels on receive to detect 

which channel or channels have the least or lowest interference levels. This scarming may occur once, periodically, continuously, and so forth. A channel assignment vector or similar for channel assignment information 802 may be 

configured responsive to such scanning and interference 

determinations of scarming logic 812. 

40 receive indicators are masked. For example, one or more of 

receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) may be masked in accordance 

with receive indicator enable information 804 using masking 

register 814. The non-masked receive indicators are therefore 

enabled receive indicators. 

At block 906, enabled receive indicators are mapped into 

channel-based groups. For example, those receive indicators 

ofreceive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) that are not masked out by 

masking register 814, may be segmented by channel in accordance with channel assignment information 802. It should be 

50 noted that the actions of blocks 904 and 906 in particular may 

be performed sequentially or partially, substantially, or completely simultaneously with each other. Once the enabled 

receive indicators are grouped, production of constructive 

receive indicators may be effectuated by group on a perAs another example, scanning logic 812 may scan across 45 

communication beams 202 to detect the presence of other 

access points (e.g., non-co-located access points) that are 

causing interference on a regular or constant basis. The existence of an access point may be inferred by receiving a basic 

service set identifier (BSSID) being broadcast by another 

access point. When another access point is detected within a 

coverage area of a particular communication beam 202 ( e.g., 

when an overlapping subnet is detected), scarming logic 812 

may interact with receive indicator enable information 804 to 

mask out a corresponding receive indicator from a BB unit 

608 that corresponds to the particular communication beam 

202. As a result, frequent receptions from the overlapping 

subnet ( e.g., another access station having an overlapping 

coverage area) do not constantly prevent BB unit 608/MAC 

604 pairs on the same channel from transmitting. Such a 

configuration or feature may be enabled by observing long 

term statistics of overlapping subnet traffic, through explicit 

communication between different various subnets or their 

network management entities, and so forth. 

In an exemplary implementation, access station 102A may 

be configured as follows: The receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) 

correspond to the state of the CCA output as detected by BB 

55 channel basis. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, the actions ofblocks 

908 and 910 may be performed for as many groups ( e.g., two 

or more) as there are channels. 

At block 908, receive indicators of a channel-based group 

are combined into a charmel-based receive indicator. For 

60 example, receive indicators of receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) 

that are enabled and that correspond to a single channel may 

be logically "ORed" together. At block 910, multiple respective constructive receive indicators are produced using the 

channel-based receive indicator and a respective receive indi65 cator. For example, for each of multiple MAC 604/BB unit 

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sive to the corresponding respective receive indicator of 

receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) and the channel-based receive 

indicator. 

Thus, each respective constructive receive indicator of constructive receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) affirmatively indicates that a signal is being received to MACs 604(1, 2 ... 13) 

if an associated respective BB unit 608(1, 2 ... 13) forwards 

an affirmative receive indicator (1, 2 ... 13) or any respective 

BB unit 608(1, 2 . . . 13) mapped to the same charmel forwards 

16 

Receptions from other (undesired) access stations/subnets are 

identified so that they may be disregarded. Specifically, if a 

communication beam of a given access station is receiving a 

signal from another (undesired) access station/subnet, then 

5 the receive information corresponding to that communication 

beam is de-selected by receive information selector 1004 at 

receive information combiner 1002 for the relevant coordination function so as not to affect the combined receive inforan affirmative receive indicator (1, 2 ... 13). The actions of 10 

blocks 908 and 910 for each channel-based group may be 

performed sequentially or partially, substantially, or completely simultaneously with each other. 

mation (1, 2 ... K). Consequently, transmissions at a given 

access station are not restrained by signals that are received 

thereat from other access stations/overlapping subnets. 

Still yet another control factor for receive information 

selector 1004 is provided by packet content selectivity 1012. 

At block 912, the multiple respective constructive receive 

indicators are provided to multiple respective MACs. For 15 

example, constructive receive indicators (1, 2 ... 13) may be 

provided to MACs 604(1, 2 ... 13) from MAC coordinator 

logic 606. As indicated by the initial and final flow arrows in 

flow diagram 900 (as well as those of flow diagrams 500 and 

700 of FIGS. 5 and 7, respectively), the illustrated methods 20 

may repeat, continue, be part of a larger method, some combination thereof, and so forth. 

The content of one or more received packets are used to select 

which and/or how receive information (1, 2 ... N) is combined by receive information combiner 1002. For example, a 

destination address (e.g., a MAC address) of the received 

packet is compared to a destination address ( e.g., for a singular access point) or a set of destination addresses (e.g., for 

multiple co-located access points) of the receiving access 

point. 

If the destination address of the received packet is equivaFIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary implementation of and 

environment 1000 for signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404. Signal transmission/reception coordination 25 

logic 404 accepts as inputs receive information (1, 2 ... N) 

and produces as outputs combined receive information (1, 

lent to ( one of) the destination address( es) of the receiving 

access point ( access station), then the receive information for 

the received packet is selected for inclusion/consideration by 

receive information selector 1004 at receive information 

combiner 1002. If not, then the receive information for the 

received packet is excluded for consideration by receive 

information selector 1004 at receive information combiner 

2 ... K). The number "N" ofreceive information inputs may 

not equal the number "K" of combined receive information 

outputs. 

In a described implementation, signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 includes receive information 

combiner 1002 and receive information selector 1004. 

Receive information combiner 1002 applies a signal coordination function to the receive information (1, 2 ... N) to 

produce the combined receive information (1, 2 ... K). The 

combined receive information (1, 2 ... K) may be utilized to 

ascertain signal reception and restrain signal transmission. 

The combined receive information (1, 2 ... K) may optionally be produced with regard to receive information selector 

1004. Receive information selector 1004 enables a selectivity 

to be applied to the combining of the receive information (1, 

30 1002. More generally for signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404, a coordination function may be applied to 

signal communication information in order to produce combined signal communication information that is utilized to 

coordinate signal transmission and reception. It should be 

35 noted that the destination address may be compared for an 

equivalency determination after a portion of the packet has 

been received but before the entirety of the packet has been 

received (i.e., before reception is complete). 

FIG. 11 illustrates a first exemplary multiple access station 

40 environment 1100 that includes signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404. Multiple access station environment 1100 includes two or more access stations 102. Each 

2 ... N). Factors controlling this receive information selec- access station 102 may be in wireless communication with at 

tivity are generally represented by general selectivity 1006. 

Receive information selector 1004 instructs receive informa- 45 

tioncombiner 1002 as to what receive information (1, 2 ... N) 

least one remote client 104 via an antenna, two or more 

antennas, or an antenna array 208. 

As illustrated, an access station 102a is in wireless communication with remote clients 104a(l), 104a(2) ... 104a(N) 

via wireless communications or communication links 106a 

(1), 106a(2) ... 106a(N), respectively. Access station 102b is 

is to be combined or excluded and into which groups or 

segments. 

In a more-specific implementation with reference to FIGS. 

6 and 8, signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 

may be realized as MAC coordinator logic 606. Thus, receive 

information (1, 2 ... N) may correspond to receive indicators 

(1, 2 ... 13), and combined receive information (1, 2 ... K) 

may correspond to constructive receive indicators (1, 2 ... 

13). Similarly, the functionality describe herein above with 

reference to charmel assignment information 802, receive 

indicator enable information 804/masking register 814, scanning logic 812, etc. is exemplary receive information selectivity control for receive information selector 1004. 

Continuing with FIG. 10, another control factor for receive 

information selector 1004 is provided by channel selectivity 

1008. Charmel selectivity 1008, via receive information 

selector 1004, enables receive information combiner 1002 to 

selectively combine respective receive information (1, 2 ... 

N) according to respective channel groups. 

Another control factor for receive information selector 

1004 is provided by overlapping subnet selectivity 1010. 

50 in wireless communication with remote clients 104b(l ), 104b 

(2) ... 104b(N) via wireless communications or communication links 106b(l), 106b(2) ... 106b(N), respectively. 

Each access station 102a and 102b is coupled to signal 

transmission/reception coordination logic 404 via a link 

55 1102. Specifically, access station 102a is coupled to signal 

transmission/reception coordination logic 404 via link 

1102a, and access station 102b is coupled to signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 via link 1102b. 

Links 1102a and 1102b are likely wired links, but they may 

60 instead be wireless links. Although signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 is shown separately from both 

access stations 102a and 102b, signal transmission/reception 

coordination logic 404 may alternatively be co-located at 

and/or located within an access station 102a or 102b. Addi65 tionally, access station 102a and/or 102b may also include 

internal signal transmission/reception coordination logic 

404. 

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Signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 as 

illustrated in FIG. 11 enables signal transmission/reception 

coordination across multiple access stations 102 to prevent or 

18 

sidering other issues beyond local packet thrashing. The 

selectability of signal transmission/reception coordination 

logic 404 (e.g., of FIG. 10) may entail excluding selected 

at least reduce interference. For example, there is potential MAC(s) from being provided combined receive information 

interference if access station 102a transmits wireless communication 106a(N) to remote client 104a(N) on a particular 

channel at the same time access station 102b transmits wireless communication 106b(l) to remote client 104b(l) on the 

same particular channel, especially because of the proximity 

ofremote client 104a(N) to remote client 104b(l). To eliminate this particular interference and ameliorate the overall 

network interference levels, signal transmission/reception 

coordination logic 404 restrains access station 102b from 

transmitting communication signal 106b(l) to remote client 

104b(l) when access station 102a is transmitting communication signal 106a(N) to remote client 104a(N), and vice 

versa. 

5 that restrains signal transmissions either consistently or in 

certain situations. Such excluded MACs may be selected 

when a MAC has higher downlink bandwidth requirements, 

when a particular MAC's downlink throughput is otherwise 

low, when a policy-based decision indicates that downlink 

10 communications are more important than uplink communications (e.g., a server is operating), and so forth. 

FIG. 13 illustrates a second exemplary multiple access 

station environment 1100 that includes signal transmission/ 

reception coordination logic 404. MAC coordinator logic 606 

15 of FIG. 12 is an example of a distributed signal transmission/ 

reception coordination logic 404 at a MAC level that optionally uses MAC primitives. On the other hand, signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 of FIG. 13 operates 

at a baseband level. 

The above-described inter-access station 102 restraining 

may include, for example, situations in which coordination 

logic 404 restrains access station 102b from transmitting to 20 

client 104b(l) when client 104a(N) is awaiting a short-term 

(e.g., an immediate) response to a frame that client 104a(N) 

transmitted to access station 102a in the recent past. More 

generally, an implementation may entail restraining transmission from an access point when another access point ( e.g., that 25 

is part of the same or a different access station 102) that is 

operating on the same or a different channel ( e.g., that is 

adjacent or otherwise) is expecting an immediate response to 

a frame that was transmitted by it. For example, this type of 

transmission restraint may be performed if the configuration 30 

of the wireless system is such that transmission by the access 

point interferes with the reception of the other access point. 

FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary multiple access station environment 1100 that includes MAC coordinator logic 606. 

MAC coordinator logic 606 of FIG. 12 logically functions 35 

like MAC coordinator logic 606 of FIG. 6 and/or FIG. 8, but 

it is distributed spatially as indicated by link 1202. Link 1202 

is likely a wired link, but it may instead be a wireless link. 

As illustrated, a respective emanation apparatus 1204 is 

coupled to a respective RF part 610. Specifically, RF part 40 

610(1) is coupled to emanation apparatus 1204(1), RF part 

610(2) is coupled to emanation apparatus 1204(2), and RF 

part 61 0(N) is coupled to emanation apparatus 1204(N). Each 

emanation apparatus 1204 includes an antenna or antenna 

array 208 and optionally a beamformer 612. 45 

At least each RF part 610 and emanation apparatus 1204 

pair may correspond to an individual access station 102 and/ 

or access point 402. In a described implementation, at least 

one RF part 610 and emanation apparatus 1204 pair is nonco-located with at least one other RF part 610 and emanation 50 

apparatus 1204 pair. At least some of the individual access 

station(s) 102 and/or access point(s) 402 have at least partly 

overlapping coverage areas. 

Besides being distributed, MAC coordinator logic 606 may 

operate analogously to a MAC coordinator logic 606 for a 55 

single access station 102 environment. In other words, MAC 

coordinator logic 606 accepts as inputs multiple receive indicators from BB units 608(1, 2 ... N) and produces as outputs 

multiple constructive receive indicators for associated 

respective MACs 604(1, 2 ... K). With a distributed MAC 60 

coordinator logic 606 that is coupled by link 1202 between or 

among two or more access stations 102, the thrashing of 

packets can be reduced, along with general network interference. 

In the exemplary multiple access station environment 1100 65 

(of FIGS. 11 and 12), as well as other environments, the 

overall system performance may also be improved by conAs illustrated, signal transmission/reception coordination 

logic 404 is distributed across multiple individual access station(s) 102 and/or access point(s) 402 that have at least partly 

overlapping coverage areas. It should be noted, however, that 

signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 is 

shown operating at the baseband level. Signal transmission/ 

reception coordination logic 404 accepts as inputs receive 

information from multiple RF parts 610(1, 2 ... N) and 

produces as outputs combined receive information for multiple respective BB units 608(1, 2 . .. K). Respective BB units 

608(1, 2 ... K) provide MAC primitives to respective MACs 

604(1, 2 , , , K) based on the combined receive information. 

In a described implementation for FIG. 13, the receive 

information comprises at least one received packet that is 

analyzed by signal transmission/reception coordination logic 

404. Implementing signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 at the baseband layer is typically more complex 

than implementing it at the MAC layer; however, there is 

more information and/or flexibility available at the baseband 

layer, which provides for more options. Furthermore, signal 

transmission/reception coordination logic 404 may be implemented at the baseband layer in a system that utilizes off-theshelf chips in which MAC and baseband functionality are 

integrated into a single chip or chips that may not separately 

expose desired MAC signal(s) (e.g., MAC primitives). 

Signal transmission/reception coordination logic 404 

applies one or more coordination functions to the receive 

information accepted from RF parts 610(1, 2 ... N). The 

resulting combined receive information is forwarded to BB 

units 608(1, 2 ... K). Based on the combined receive information, respective BB units 608(1, 2 ... K) provide MAC 

primitives to associated respective MACs 604(1, 2,,, K). The 

MAC primitives can instruct the MACs 604(1, 2 ... K) with 

regard to whether a signal is being received and/or constructively received by a corresponding RF part 610 and emanation 

apparatus 1204 pair. 

The diagrams of FIGS. 1-13 are illustrated as blocks representing features, devices, logic, functions, actions, some 

combination thereof, and so forth. However, the order and/or 

layout in which the diagrams are described and/or shown is 

not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number 

of the blocks can be combined, augmented, omitted, and/or 

re-arranged in any order to implement one or more methods, 

systems, apparatuses, access stations, arrangements, 

schemes, approaches, etc. for signal communication coordination. 

By way of example only, the blocks ofFIGS.1-13 ( e.g., the 

components of FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10-13 and/or the actions 

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7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal transmission/reception coordination logic restrains at least one other 

access point of the plurality of access points from transmitting a downlink signal. 

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal transmission/reception coordination logic restrains at least one other 

access point of the plurality of access points while the first 

access point is receiving the first signal. 

of FIGS. 5, 7, and 9) may be implemented fully or partially as 

one or more processors and/or as one or more media. Such 

processors may be general purpose microprocessors, specialpurpose digital signal processors, some combination thereof, 

and so forth. Such media may be transmission or storage 5 

media, volatile or non-volatile memory, programmable or 

hard-wired coding, some combination thereof, and so forth. 

Moreover, the media may include processor-executable 

instructions that one or more associated processors are 

capable of executing. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each access point of 10 the plurality of access points corresponds to a communication 

beam of a plurality of communication beams that emanate 

from the access station. 

Furthermore, although the description herein includes references to specific hardware-oriented implementations such 

as thoseofFIGS. 2-4, 6, 8 andl0-13 (as well as the exemplary 

general environment of FIG. 1), the features, logic, devices, 

and functions thereof as well as the actions of FIGS. 5, 7, and 15 

9 can be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, 

firmware, or combination thereof and using any suitable coding/logical mechanism(s ), wireless protocol paradigm(s ), 

radio frequency technology, and so forth. Additionally, the 

order in which the multiple blocks for the methods of FIGS. 20 

5, 7, and 9 are illustrated and/or described is not intended to be 

construed as a limitation and the actions of any number of the 

described blocks, or portions thereof, can be combined, augmented, omitted, and/or re-arranged in any order to implement one or more methods for signal communication coordi- 25 

nation. 

Although methods, systems, apparatuses, access stations, 

arrangements, schemes, approaches, and other implementations have been described in language specific to structural 

and functional features and/or flow diagrams, it is to be under- 30 

stood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not 

necessarily limited to the specific features or flow diagrams 

described. Rather, the specific features and flow diagrams are 

disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed 

invention. 

The invention claimed is: 

1. An apparatus comprising: 

a wireless input/output (I/O) unit that is configured to 

establish a plurality of access points; and 

signal transmission/reception coordination logic that is 

capable of ascertaining, by monitoring the plurality of 

access points for received signals, that a first access point 

35 

40 

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each access point of 

the plurality of access points is associated with a medium 

access controller/baseband unit pair. 

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal transmission/reception coordination logic comprises medium access 

controller coordination logic. 

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the medium access 

controller coordination logic links two or more access stations. 

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal transmission/reception coordination logic affects a baseband unit. 

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal transmission/reception coordination logic affects a radio frequency 

(RF) part. 

15. An apparatus comprising: 

a wireless input/output (I/O) unit that is configured to 

establish a plurality of access points; and 

signal transmission/reception coordination logic that is 

capable of ascertaining, by monitoring the plurality of 

access points for received signals, that: 

a first access point of the plurality of access points is 

receiving a first signal on a first channel, 

a second access point of the plurality of access points is 

receiving a second signal that is ongoing on a second 

channel, the signal transmission/reception coordination 

logic adapted to restrain at least a third access point of 

the plurality of access points from transmitting a third 

signal on a third channel responsive to the ascertaining 

that the first access point is receiving the first signal and 

that the second access point is receiving the second 

signal that is ongoing-on the second channel, 

wherein the restraining at least the third access point prevents degradation to the first and second signals. 

of the plurality of access points is receiving a first signal 

and that is adapted to restrain at least two other access 45 

points of the plurality of access points from transmitting 

signal responsive to the ascertaining that the first access 

point is receiving the first signal; 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the prevented degradation to the first and second signals comprises inter-modu50 lation distortion. 

wherein the signal transmission/reception coordination 

logic restrains at least one other access point of the 

plurality of access points from transmitting the other 

signal on a first channel responsive to the ascertaining 

that the access point of the plurality of access points is 

receiving the signal on a second different channel. 

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access 55 

points established by the wireless I/O unit are co-located. 

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless I/O unit 

operates in accordance with at least one IEEE 802.11 standard. 

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal received by 60 

the access point comprises at least one uplinked packet. 

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal received by 

the access point comprises at least a portion of an uplinked 

packet. 

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least a portion of 65 

the uplinked packet comprises at least part of a preamble of 

the uplinked packet. 

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the prevented degradation to the first and second signals comprises interference. 

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of 

access points established by the wireless I/O unit are colocated. 

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wireless I/O 

unit operates in accordance with at least one IEEE 802.11 

standard. 

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signal received 

by the access point comprises at least one uplinked packet. 

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signal received 

by the access point comprises at least a portion of an uplinked 

packet. 

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least a portion 

of the uplinked packet comprises at least part of a preamble of 

the uplinked packet. 

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23. An apparatus comprising: 

a wireless input/output (I/O) unit that is configured to 

establish a plurality of access points; and 

signal transmission/reception coordination logic that 

restrains transmission from at least two access points 5 

when another access point is expecting a short-term 

response to a frame that was transmitted by said other 

access point; 

wherein the signal transmission/reception coordination 

logic restrains at least one other access point of the 10 

plurality of access points from transmitting the other 

signal on a first channel responsive to the ascertaining 

that the access point of the plurality of access points is 

receiving the signal on a second different channel. 15 

22 

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the different channels are adjacent. 

30. An apparatus comprising: 

a wireless input/output (I/O) unit that is configured to 

establish a plurality of access points; and 

signal transmission/reception coordination logic that is 

capable of ascertaining, by monitoring the plurality of 

access points for received signals, that a first access point 

of the plurality of access points is receiving a first signal 

on a first charmel and that is adapted to restrain at least a 

second access point of the plurality of access points from 

transmitting a second signal on a second channel different from the first charmel responsive to the ascertaining 

that the first access point is receiving the first signal. 

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plurality of 

access points established by the wireless I/O unit are colocated. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the short-term 

response to the frame comprises an immediate response to the 

frame. 

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the other access 

point is also established by the wireless I/O unit of the access 

station. 

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the wireless I/O 

unit operates in accordance with at least one IEEE 802.11 

20 standard. 

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the other access 

point is established by a different access station. 

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein one or more of the 

at least two access points and the other access point are 

operating on a same channel. 

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein one or more of the 

at least two access points and the other access point are 

operating on different channels. 

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the signal received 

by the access point comprises at least one uplinked packet. 

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the signal received 

by the access point comprises at least a portion of an uplinked 

25 packet. 

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least a portion 

of the uplinked packet comprises at least part of a preamble of 

the uplinked packet. 

* * * * * 

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