Patent Publication Number: US-7587173-B2

Title: Antenna steering for an access point based upon spatial diversity

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/479,701, filed Jun. 19, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of wireless local area networks, and in particular, to an antenna steering algorithm for an access point operating within a wireless local area network. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various standards allow remote stations, such as portable computers, to be moved within a wireless local area network (WLAN) and connect via radio frequency (RF) transmissions to an access point (AP) that is connected to a wired network. The wired network is often referred to as a distribution system. The various standards include the IEEE 802.11 standard and its corresponding letter revisions thereof, such as 802.11b and 802.11g, for example. 
     A physical layer in the remote stations and in the access point provides low level transmissions by which the stations and the access point communicate. Above the physical layer is a media access control (MAC) layer that provides services, such as authentication, deauthentication, privacy, association and disassociation, for example. 
     In operation, when a remote station comes on-line, a connection is first established between the physical layers in the station and the access point. The MAC layers can then connect. Typically, for the remote stations and the access point, the physical layer RF signals are transmitted and received using monopole antennas. 
     A monopole antenna radiates in all directions, generally in a horizontal plane for a vertically oriented element. Monopole antennas are susceptible to effects that degrade the quality of communication between the remote station and the access point, such as reflection or diffraction of radio wave signals caused by intervening objects. Intervening objects include walls, desks and people, for example. These objects create multi-path, normal statistical fading, Rayleigh fading, and so forth. As a result, efforts have been made to mitigate signal degradation caused by these effects. 
     One technique for counteracting the degradation of RF signals is to use two antennas to provide diversity. The two antennas are coupled to an antenna diversity switch in one or both of the remote stations and the access point. The theory behind using two antennas for antenna diversity is that, at any given time, at least one of the antennas is likely receiving a signal that is not suffering from the effects of multi-path. Consequently, this antenna is the antenna that the remote station or access point selects via the antenna diversity switch for transmitting/receiving signals. Nonetheless, there is still a need to address the degradation of RF signals between the remote stations and an access point in a wireless local area network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing background, an object of the present invention is to improve communications between an access point and remote stations within a wireless local area network. 
     An improvement over simple diversity is provided through an antenna steering process for access points (i.e., wireless gateways) used in wireless local area networks. Directional antennas improve the throughput of the network, and increase the range between the access point and the remote stations (i.e., wireless user devices). A directional antenna provides a higher signal-to-noise ratio than an omni-directional antenna in most cases, thus allowing the link to operate at higher data rates. 
     The antenna steering process may be resident in the media access control (MAC) layer of the access point, and selects a best or preferred directional antenna pattern based on signal quality metrics available from the physical layer upon receiving signals from the remote stations. 
     According to the principles of the present invention, during processes such as registration, authentication or subsequent data exchanges between the access point and a selected remote station, a preferred direction for the steered access point antenna is determined. In one embodiment, software or firmware operating at the access point makes this determination. The access point antenna control software/firmware may build a database that includes the identity of the remote station and the antenna direction associated with that station for achieving optimum communications performance. 
     Hardware may be employed to operate with inherent diversity selection circuitry in typical 802.11 equipment for selecting the preferred directional antenna angle. The access point may use signaling to cause the remote stations to transmit a probe response signal, wherein the access point measures the signal quality of the probe response signal. The access point may compare metrics corresponding to signals received from the remote stations in a directional antenna mode against metrics corresponding to signals received from the remote stations in an omni-directional mode to determine if a new antenna scan should be performed. If the access point determines that hidden nodes are present, it may invoke a protection mechanism using request-to-send/clear-to-send (RTS/CTS) messaging as defined in the 802.11 standard, for example. 
     The benefits of augmenting the access point with a directional antenna are two-fold: improved throughput to individual remote stations and an ability to support more users in the network. In most RF environments, the signal level received at the remote station can be improved by having the access point transmit using a shaped antenna beam pointed in the direction of the station. The shaped antenna beam may provide a 3-5 dB gain advantage, for example, over the omni-directional antenna typically deployed with an access point. The increased signal level allows the link between the access point and the remote station to operate at higher data rates, especially at the outer band of the coverage area. The directional antenna steering process is resident in the access point to support operation with the remote stations. 
     More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method for operating an access point in a WLAN, with the access point comprising a directional antenna for communicating with at least one remote station. The method comprises communicating with the at least one remote station using a current angle of the directional antenna, and scanning an alternate angle from a plurality of alternate angles of the directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station. The method further comprises measuring respective signals received via the current angle and the alternate angle from the at least one remote station, and selecting the current angle or the alternate angle as a preferred angle based upon the measured signals for continuing communications with the at least one remote station. 
     Selection of the current angle and scanning of the alternate angle may be performed at the MAC layer of the access point. The alternate angle may be selected as the preferred angle if the measured signal associated therewith exceeds the measured signal associated with the current angle by a predetermined threshold. Measuring the respective signals may comprise determining at least one of a received signal strength indication, a carrier-to-interference ratio, an energy-per-bit ratio and a signal-to-noise ratio. 
     Communicating with the at least one remote station may be based upon an exchange of packet data comprising a preamble and a data frame. The respective signals received via the current angle and the alternate angle are measured during a same preamble. Scanning the alternate angle may further comprise scanning a plurality of alternate angles during the same preamble. 
     The measuring may comprise measuring respective signals received via each alternate angle during the same preamble from the at least one remote station so that the current angle or one of the plurality of alternate angles is selected as the preferred angle. The plurality of alternate angles may be scanned based upon a predetermined sequence. 
     The method may further comprise storing the preferred angle of the at least one remote station, and during a next preamble, the stored preferred angle becomes a new current angle and the steps are repeated for selecting the new current angle or the alternate angle. Alternatively, if after a predetermined amount of time no new packet data is received by the access point, then the stored preferred angle becomes a new current angle and the steps as discussed above are repeated for selecting the new current angle or the alternate angle. 
     One of the plurality of alternate angles may comprise an omni angle. The directional antenna may comprise at least one active element and a plurality of passive elements. The access point may be operating based upon the IEEE 802.11 standard or the IEEE 802.16 standard, for example. However, the present invention is not limited to these standards. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an access point comprising a directional antenna, and a controller connected to the directional antenna for control thereof. The controller performs the following: selecting a current angle of the directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station, scanning an alternate angle from a plurality of alternate angles of the directional antenna for communicating with the at least one remote station, measuring respective signals received via the current angle and the alternate angle from the at least one remote station, and selecting the current angle or the alternate angle as a preferred angle for continuing communications with the at least one remote station based upon the measured signals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed on illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of a wireless local area network (WLAN) employing the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of an access point in the WLAN of  FIG. 1A  performing an antenna scan; 
         FIG. 2A  is a view of an access point of  FIG. 1A  having an external directive antenna array; 
         FIG. 2B  is a view of the access point of  FIG. 2A  having the directive antenna array incorporated in an internal PCMCIA card; 
         FIG. 3A  is a view of the directive antenna array of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic diagram of a switch used to select a state of an antenna element of the directive antenna of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an access point of  FIG. 1A  employing subsystems, layers and an antenna steering process according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a signal diagram optionally used by the antenna steering process of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is an alternative signal diagram optionally used by the antenna steering process of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an alternative block diagram of  FIG. 4  in which antenna diversity circuits are employed; 
         FIG. 7  is a signal diagram using a hidden node technique optionally used by the antenna steering process of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the network of  FIG. 1  with bi-directional signaling; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the network of  FIG. 1  with indications of the antenna beams; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart of a method for operating an access point in a WLAN based upon spatial diversity in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of a method for operating an access point in a WLAN based upon probe signals in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are respective flowcharts of a method for operating an access point in a WLAN based upon control frames in forward and reverse links in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart of a method for operating an access point in a WLAN based upon hidden node recognition in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternate embodiments. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1A , a wireless local area network (WLAN)  100  having a distribution system  105  will initially be discussed. Access points  110   a ,  110   b  and  10   c  are connected to the distribution system  105  via wired connections, such as wired data network connections. Each of the access points  110   a ,  110   b  and  110   c  has a respective zone  115   a ,  115   b ,  115   c  in which it is capable of communicating via radio frequency (RF) signals with the remote stations  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c . The remote stations  120   a ,  120   b ,  120   c  are supported with wireless local area network hardware and software to access the distribution system  105 . In the following description, when a general reference is made to the access points, the remote stations and the zones, the respective reference numerals  110 ,  120  and  115  may be used. 
     Present technology provides the access points  110  and the remote stations  120  with antenna diversity. Antenna diversity allows the access points  110  and the remote stations  120  to select one of two antennas to provide transmit and receive duties based on the quality of signals being received. One reason for selecting one antenna over the other occurs in the event of multi-path fading, in which a signal taking two different paths causes signal cancellation to occur at one antenna but not the other. Another example is when interference is caused by two different signals received at the same antenna. Yet another reason for selecting one of the two antennas is due to a changing environment, such as when a remote station  120   c  is carried from the third zone  115   c  to the first or second zones  115   a ,  115   b  as indicated by arrow  125 . 
       FIG. 1B  is a block diagram of a subset of the network  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1A  in which an access point  10   b , employing the principles of the present invention, is shown in greater detail with respect to the directive antenna lobes  130   a - 130   i . The directive antenna lobes  130   a - 130   i  will also be generally indicated by reference numeral  130 . The access point  10   b  sequences through the antenna lobes  130  during a scan of its environment to determine a preferred antenna direction. 
     During a scan, the access point  110   b  uses a directive antenna, as shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , to scan in search of RF signals transmitted by the remote station  120   b . At each scan direction (i.e., angle or antenna pattern), the access point  110   b  measures a signal or probe response and calculates a respective metric for that scan angle. Examples of the metrics include a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I), an energy-per-bit ratio (Eb/No), or other suitable measures, such as a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), of the quality of the received signal or signal environment. A combination of these measurements may also be made to determine the best or preferred antenna pattern, as readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. Based on the measured signal quality metrics, the access point  110   b  determines the preferred antenna angle or direction for communicating with the remote station  120   b.    
     The scans may occur before or after the remote station  110   b  has been authenticated and has associated with the distribution system  105 . Thus, the initial antenna scan may be accomplished within the MAC layer. Alternatively, the initial scan may be accomplished external from the MAC layer. Similarly, scans occurring after the remote station  110   b  has authenticated and has associated with the distribution system  105  may be accomplished within the MAC layer or by processes occurring external the MAC layer. 
       FIG. 2A  is a diagram of an access point  110  using an external directive antenna array  200   a . The directive antenna array  200   a  includes five monopole passive antenna elements  205   a ,  205   b ,  205   c ,  205   d  and  205   e  and one monopole, active antenna element  206 . The passive antenna elements  205   a ,  205   b ,  205   c ,  205   d  and  205   e  are generally referred to below by reference numeral  205 . The directive antenna element  200   a  is connected to the access point  110  via a universal serial bus (USB) port  215 . Other types of connections between the directive antenna array  200   a  and the access point  110  are readily acceptable. 
     The passive antenna elements  205  in the directive antenna array  200   a  are parasitically coupled to the active antenna element  206  to permit scanning. By scanning, it is meant that at least one antenna beam of the directive antenna array  200   a  can be rotated, optionally 360 degrees, in increments associated with the number of passive antenna elements  205 . 
     A detailed discussion of the directive antenna array  200   a  is provided in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0008672, published Jan. 24, 2002, entitled “Adaptive Antenna For Use In Wireless Communications System”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and which is assigned to the current assignee of the present invention. Example methods for optimizing antenna direction based on received or transmitted signals by the directive antenna array  200   a  are also discussed therein. 
     The directive antenna array  200   a  may also be used in an omni-directional mode to provide an omni-directional antenna pattern. The access points  110  may use an omni-directional pattern for transmission or reception. The access points  110  may also use the selected directional antenna when transmitting to and receiving from the remote stations  120 . 
       FIG. 2B  is an isometric view of an access point  110  with an internal directive antenna  220   b . In this embodiment, the directive antenna array  200   b  is on a PCMCIA card  220 . The PCMCIA card  220  is carried by the access point  110  and is connected to a processor (not shown). The directive antenna array  200   b  provides the same functionality as the directive antenna array  200   a  illustrated in  FIG. 2A . 
     It should be understood that various other forms of directive antenna arrays can be used. Examples include the arrays described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,635 issued Feb. 4, 2003, entitled “Adaptive Antenna For Use In Wireless Communication Systems” and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0036586, published Mar. 28, 2002, entitled “Adaptive Antenna For Use In Wireless Communication System,” the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference and which are assigned to the current assignee of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3A  is a detailed view of the directive antenna array  200   a  that includes the passive antenna elements  205  and the active antenna element  206  as discussed above. The directive antenna array  200   a  also includes a ground plane  330  to which the passive antenna elements are electrically coupled, as discussed below in reference to  FIG. 3B . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3A , the directive antenna array  200   a  provides a directive antenna lobe  300  angled away from antenna elements  205   a  and  205   e . This is an indication that the antenna elements  205   a  and  205   e  are in a reflective mode, and the antenna elements  205   b ,  205   c  and  205   d  are in a transmission mode. In other words, the mutual coupling between the active antenna element  206  and the passive antenna elements  205  allows the directive antenna array  200   a  to scan the directive antenna lobe  300 , which, in this case, is directed as shown as a result of the modes in which the passive elements  205  are set. Different mode combinations of passive antenna element  205  result in different antenna lobe  300  patterns and angles, as readily understood by those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 3B  is a schematic diagram of an example circuit that can be used to set the passive antenna elements  205  in the reflective or transmission modes. The reflective mode is indicated by a representative elongated dashed line  305 , and the transmission mode is indicated by a shortened dashed line  310 . The representative modes  305  and  310  are respectively caused by coupling to a ground plane  330  via an inductive element  320  or a capacitive element  325 . The coupling of the passive antenna element  205   a  through the inductive element  320  or capacitive element  325  is performed via a switch  315 . The switch  315  may be a mechanical or electrical switch capable of coupling the passive antenna element  205   a  to the ground plane  330 . The switch  315  is set via a control signal  335 . 
     Coupled to the ground plane  330  via the inductor  320  is the passive antenna element  205   a , which is effectively elongated as shown by the longer representative dashed line  305 . This can be viewed as providing a “backboard” for an RF signal coupled to the passive antenna element  205   a  via mutual coupling with the active antenna element  206 . In the case of  FIG. 3A , both passive antenna elements  205   a  and  205   e  are connected to the ground plane  330  via respective inductive elements  320 . At the same time, in the example of  FIG. 3A , the other passive antenna elements  205   b ,  205   c  and  205   d  are electrically connected to the ground plane  330  via respective capacitive elements  325 . 
     The capacitive coupling effectively shortens the passive antenna elements as represented by the shorter representative dashed line  310 . Capacitively coupling all of the passive elements  325  effectively makes the directive antenna array  200   a  an omni-directional antenna. It should be understood that alternative coupling techniques may also be used between the passive antenna elements  205  and the ground plane  330 , such as delay lines and lumped impedances, for example. 
     Jumping to  FIG. 9 , an overhead view of the access point  110   b  generating an omni-directional antenna pattern  905  and a directional antenna pattern  910  through use of the directive antenna array  200   a  or  200   b  is provided. The access point  110   b  communicates with multiple stations  120   a - 120   d . Since access points  110  are usually remotely installed without nearby obstructions or moving reflectors (e.g., high on a wall or ceiling), the selection of the preferred antenna pattern direction is likely not going to change throughout the connection with a given remote station  120 . 
     The illustrated access point  110   b  may make use of a directional antenna  200   a  for downlink data frames transmitted to a selected remote station  120   c . For most broadcast and control frames, the access point may use the omni-directional antenna pattern  905  and the lowest available data rate to ensure that all remote stations  120  receive them. The directional antenna  200   a  may not increase the coverage area of the network  100 , but may increase the data rate for data frames sent to the remote stations  120 . The increased downlink rate is useful because the majority of the data transferred over the network  100  appears on the downlink (e.g., web page access, file transfers). One option is to use switched spatial diversity when the access point  110   b  is required to receive in the omni mode. The potential added link margin of 5 dB accommodates a throughput increase of 300%, for example. 
     Uplink data frames sent from the selected remote station  120   c  to the access point  110   b  during contention periods (CP) are received using the omni-directional antenna pattern since any remote station may have transmitted the frame. For large frames, the network configuration may require the remote station to use the request-to-send/clear-to-send (RTS/CTS) mechanism to reserve the wireless medium. In this case, the access point  110   b  could receive in a directional mode to increase the data rate on the uplink. This is somewhat dependent on the data rate selection algorithm implemented at the remote station  120   c.    
     In downlink transmissions, the access point  110   b  may decide to transmit small packets during contention periods using the omni-directional pattern and a lower data rate. The reason for this is that a remote station on the “other” side of the coverage area (such as remote station  120   e ) may not hear the access point transmission from the directional antenna pattern  910  pointed away from it. This is the familiar “hidden node” problem where two remote stations  120  do not hear each other and end up transmitting at the same time. In this case the two remote stations are  120   c  and  120   e . A method to avoid this problem, especially for large data frames, is described below in reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     The directional antenna patterns at the access point  110  can thus provide higher data rates for downlink and uplink data frame exchanges with the remote stations  120 , which is the bulk of the network traffic. Network connectivity is maintained with the nominal gain of the omni-directional antenna of the access point  110 . That is, the remote stations  120  can associate with the access point  110  and maintain the connection without the use of the directional antenna  200   a.    
     A set of rules as provided in TABLE 1 can be defined to take advantage of the omni-directional and directional characteristics of the directional antenna  200   a . TABLE 1 includes addresses of the remote stations  120  currently associated with the access point  110  and their current antenna direction selection. TABLE 1 may delineate example antenna direction selections based on frame sequences from the 802.11 standard (TABLES 21 and 22 therein). In TABLE 1, “Dir” indicates direction, “UL” indicates uplink, and “DL” indicates downlink. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Example Antenna Selection Rules 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Sequence 
                 Dir 
                 Antenna 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Selection 
               
               
                   
                 Beacon 
                 DL 
                 Omni 
               
               
                   
                 Data 
                 DL 
                 Dir 
                 See FIG. 5A 
               
               
                   
                 RTS-CTS-Data 
                 UL 
                 Omni/Dir 
                 See FIG. 5B 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     A process can be described in a set of rules that determine when to select the omni-directional pattern and when to select a directional pattern. For example, the access point  110  may select a directional pattern during time intervals when transmitting or receiving to/from a single remote station  120 . 
     A block diagram showing the interfaces of the access point  110  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The illustrated access point  110  includes various subsystems and layers. An antenna subsystem  405  may include the directional antenna  200   b  and supporting circuitry, buses and software to operate the directional antenna. The antenna subsystem  405  interfaces to the physical layer  410  and provides RF signals  412  thereto. 
     The physical layer  410  processes the RF signals  412  and determines signal quality measurements  417  to an antenna steering process  420 . The physical layer  410  sends processed signals based upon the RF signals  412  to the MAC layer  415 . The MAC layer  415  generates timing control messages  422 , which are also sent to the antenna steering process  420  in order to switch the antenna to the omni mode or directional mode when required. 
     The MAC layer  415  also sends data frames  429  to other processes (not shown). The illustrated physical layer  410 , MAC layer  415  and antenna steering process  420  may reside within a controller  400 . The antenna steering process  420  may be stored within a memory, for example, which may be a stand-alone memory or an embedded memory within a processor, for example. 
     The antenna steering process  420  maintains an “antenna table or database” or a “direction table or database”  425  as a function of the received signal quality measurements  417  made during antenna scans of each remote station  120 . For example, the direction table  425  may store a station ID and a corresponding antenna direction (A, B, C) for directional communications with the remote stations  120 . Once the antenna directions in the direction table  425  have been determined, the antenna steering process  420  is used to provide directional antenna control  427  to the antenna subsystem  405 . If the signal quality measurements  417  are above a predetermined threshold indicating that the highest data rate can be supported in the omni-directional mode, the antenna direction may be held at the omni-directional (O) mode. 
     The following paragraphs describe various techniques in accordance with the present invention for determining the preferred direction to point a directional antenna  220   b  from an access point  110  to a remote station  120 . The first technique employs a spatial diversity selection mechanism. The second technique uses a sequence of probe signals exchanged between the access point  110  and the remote stations  120 . The third technique uses control messages (e.g., ACK or CTS) to make signal quality measurements of the received antenna directions at the access point  110 . The third technique is applicable in both forward and reverse direction links. 
     The first technique assumes that current 802.11 devices incorporate antenna switched diversity scan/control and that future 802.11 devices, such as 802.11a/802.11g/802.11n will also support switched diversity. The first technique is applicable after a remote station  120  has authenticated and associated itself with a network. It is assumed that the initial antenna scan is accomplished within the MAC/network layer protocol. With a directional or multi-element antenna  220   a , the first technique can make use of the diversity protocol to keep the antenna position/selection updated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the first technique functions as follows. The illustrated access point  110 ′ includes a controller  600 ′ connected to the antenna subsystem  405 ′. The controller  600 ′ comprises a physical layer  410 ′, which is given access to the antenna control signals, and a MAC layer ( FIG. 4 ). The MAC layer writes antenna selections into register A  605   a ′ and register B  605   b ′. Register A  605   a ′ contains the selected antenna position, and register B  605   b ′ contains a candidate antenna position. The physical layer  410 ′ is also in communications with a multiplexer  610 ′. The physical layer  410 ′ sends a diversity selection switch control signal  607 ′ to the multiplexer  610 ′ in a typical diversity selection control manner, but in this case, the diversity selection switch control signal controls whether the contents of register A  605   a ′ or register B  605   b ′ are used. 
     The selected antenna position is initially chosen during the network authentication/association protocol. The candidate antenna position is any other antenna position (including an omni-directional mode). The candidate antenna position is changed, in a predetermined sequence, after a valid packet has been received or after not receiving any packets for a predetermined time period. 
     After successfully receiving a packet, the physical layer  410 ′ sends received signal quality metrics (signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, multi-path/equalizer metrics, etc.) for both antenna positions to the MAC layer. During the packet reception, the physical layer  410 ′ functions as it does now for 802.11; that is, to switch between the two antenna positions and to use the best antenna position for packet reception. After valid packet reception by the physical layer  410 ′, the signal quality metrics for the two antenna positions are sent to the MAC layer. The MAC layer updates both the selected antenna position and the candidate antenna position. The selected antenna position is replaced with the best position based on the data received from the physical layer  410 ′. Filtering/hysteresis may be used to keep from “ping-ponging” between two antenna positions. 
     As stated previously, this technique takes advantage of the current 802.11 antenna switched diversity methods. It should be understood that this first technique may include hardware, software/firmware or combinations thereof. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a flowchart of the above described method for operating an access point  110  in a WLAN  100  based upon spatial diversity will be discussed. From the start (Block  1000 ), the method comprises communicating with the remote station  120  using a current angle of the directional antenna  220   b  at Block  1010 . Scanning through a plurality of alternate angles of the directional antenna  220   b  for communicating with the remote station  120  during the preamble is performed at Block  1020 . Respective signals received via the current angle and the plurality of alternate angles from the remote station  120  are measured at Block  1030 . During the preamble, the current angle or one of the plurality of alternate angles is selected at Block  1040  as a preferred angle based upon the measured signals for continuing communications with the remote station  120 . The method ends at Block  105 . 
     The second technique is based upon the transmission by the access point  110  of RTS messages to the remote stations  120 , and the reception of CTS messages transmitted in response by the remote stations to the access point. The 802.11 standard also defines a probe request/probe response exchange, which is typically used by remote stations  120  to determine the quality of the link to other stations  120 . 
     When used by the access point  110  to determine the preferred pointing direction to a selected remote station  120 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the access point  110  transmits a probe request signal  805  in the omni pattern and each of the potential directional patterns  130 , and measures the signal quality of the probe response signal  810  sent back from the remote station  110  while operating in the respective patterns. 
     Measurements of these response frames  810  make this a more reliable technique than the diversity selection technique described above. This second technique is preferably employed at least once immediately after a remote station  120  has associated with the access point  110 . However, there is an impact to network efficiency using additional probe request/probe response signals, but these exchanges may be infrequent. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a flowchart of the above described method for operating an access point  110  in a WLAN  100  based upon probe signals will be discussed. From the start (Block  1100 ), the method comprises selecting a remote station  120  at Block  1110 , transmitting a first probe signal via the omni angle of the directional antenna  220   b  to the selected remote station at Block  1120 , and measuring a first probe response signal received via the omni angle from the selected remote station responding to the first probe signal at Block  1130 . 
     A respective second probe signal is transmitted at Block  1140  via each one of the plurality of directional angles of the directional antenna  220   b  to the selected remote station  120 , and a second probe response signal received via each directional angle from the selected remote station responding to the respective second probe signal is measured at Block  1150 . The measured first probe response signal and the respective measured second probe response signals from the selected remote station  120  are stored in an antenna database at Block  1160 . 
     A preferred directional angle for the selected remote station  120  is selected at Block  1170  based upon the measured second probe response signals. The measured first probe response signal from the omni angle is compared at Block  1180  with the measured second probe response signal from the preferred directional angle. The first probe signal comprises a request-to-send (RTS) message and the first probe response signal comprises a clear-to-send (CTS) message. Similarly, the second probe signal comprises an RTS message and the second probe response signal comprises a CTS message. The omni angle or the preferred directional angle is selected at Block  1190  based upon the comparing for continuing communications with the selected remote station  120 . The method ends at Block  1195 . 
     The third technique exploits the control frames used in normal data exchanges between the access point  110  and the remote stations  120 . This technique may be used in both forward link communications and reverse link communications. Since the clear-to-send (CTS) and acknowledge (ACK) messages are sent at the lower data rates, the access point  110  can use these messages to compare the omni pattern  905  to the currently selected directional pattern  130 . This is illustrated in  FIG. 5A  with the dashed lines on the antenna selection timing. This can serve as a method to determine whether the currently selected direction  130  has maintained its advantage over the omni-directional pattern  905 . This advantage is typically based upon a predetermined threshold to prevent frequent switching between two antenna patterns having similar signal quality metrics. 
     For example, during the CTS messages, the omni-directional mode may be used to receive this message to calculate a first signal quality measurement. During the ACK message, a test antenna direction may be used to receive this message to calculate a second signal quality measurement. Comparison of the first and second signal quality measurements is performed and a determination is made as to whether the test antenna direction should be stored. That is, whether the directional mode provides a higher gain than omni-directional mode. Comparisons may also be performed between two different directional antenna directions. 
     The same types of measurements and comparisons may be conducted during a reverse link data transmission, as shown in  FIG. 5B . During the ACK message, the access point  110  may calculate a signal quality measurement and compare it to an omni-directional mode measurement or other directional mode measurement. Comparisons may be conducted over several communications with the selected remote station  110  before scanning a different antenna direction. 
     The direction table  425  in  FIG. 4  may be augmented with signal quality measurements from the process or processes described above for the omni and selected directional antenna pattern. If the advantage drops below a predetermined threshold, the access point  110  reverts back to the omni selection and performs an antenna search using one of the first two techniques described above. 
     In cases where the remote station  120  goes into a power-save mode or has long idle periods with no data transfers, the access point  110  reverts back to the omni pattern selection. When the remote station  120  becomes active again, the access point  110  may perform another antenna search. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , respective flowcharts of a method for operating an access point  120  in a WLAN  100  based upon control frames in forward and reverse links will be discussed. From the start (Block  1200 ), the method comprises receiving in the forward link a first control frame via a first antenna pattern of the directional antenna  220   b  from the remote station  120  at Block  1210 , and transmitting a first data frame to the remote station at Block  1220 , and receiving a second control frame via a second antenna pattern of the directional antenna from the remote station at Block  1230 . 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 at Block  1240 . The respective measured signal qualities associated with the first and second antenna patterns are compared at Block  1250 . The second antenna pattern for transmitting a second data frame to the remote station  120  is selected at Block  1260  if the measured signal quality associated with the second antenna pattern exceeds the measured signal quality associated with the first antenna pattern by a predetermined threshold. The first control frame received comprises a clear-to-send message, and the second control frame received comprises an acknowledgement message. The method ends at Block  1270 . 
     The method for operating an access point  120  in a WLAN  100  based upon control frames in the reverse link comprises from the start (Block  1300 ), receiving a first control frame via a first antenna pattern of the directional antenna  220   b  from the remote station at Block  1310 , transmitting a second control frame to the remote station at Block  1320 , and receiving a first data frame via a second antenna pattern of the directional antenna from the remote station at Block  1330 . A signal quality of the first control frame received via the first antenna pattern and a signal quality of the first data frame received via the second antenna pattern are measured at Block  1340 . The respective measured signal qualities associated with the first and second antenna patterns are compared at Block  1350 . The second antenna pattern for transmitting a second data frame by the access point  110  to the remote station  120  is selected at Block  1360  if the measured signal quality associated with the second antenna pattern exceeds the measured signal quality associated with the first antenna pattern by a predetermined threshold. The first control frame received comprises a request-to-send message, and the second control frame transmitted comprises a clear-to-send message. The method ends at Block  1370 . 
     The fourth techniques is a hidden node protection technique that provides a protection mechanism when employing a directional antenna  220   b  at the access point  110  to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of hidden nodes. Hidden nodes occur when not all of the remote stations  120  in the network  100  can hear communications between the access point  110  and a selected remote station  120 , and therefore, those that cannot hear can transmit when the medium is in use. This causes collisions, particularly at the access point  110 . 
     When the access point  110  has data for transmission to a remote station  120 , the control process sets the selected antenna direction by scanning the direction table  425  in  FIG. 4  to determine if there are potential hidden nodes. For example, the access point  110  may look for remote stations  120  in the opposite direction from the selected antenna direction. 
     Referring to the timing diagram of  FIG. 7 , if the control software determines that a potential for hidden nodes exists, the access point  110  first transmits a CTS message to a known unused MAC address using the omni-directional mode of the antenna  220   a . This process serves to tell all of the remote stations  120  in the network that an exchange is to occur and not to transmit until the exchange is finished. The access point  110  then switches to the selected antenna direction for the intended remote station  120  and communications proceed. Another approach to preventing the hidden node problem is to perform a four-way frame exchange protocol (RTS, CTS, data and ACK) with a desired remote station  120 . 
     If the control software determines that there is no potential for a hidden node, the access point  110  may not send the CTS message and communications may start immediately with the access point  110  antenna set to the proper direction. If required by the network protocol, the RTS message can be addressed to the intended receiver, resulting in a CTS message back to the access point  110  as an acknowledgement, as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     Note that in the process described in reference to  FIG. 7 , efficiency is improved since the RTS message is not transmitted by the access point  110  since the CTS message is all that is necessary to cause the remote stations  120  to halt transmissions. The remote station  120  indicated in the ID section of the standard 802.11 protocol header ensures the specified remote station receives the data frame. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , a flowchart for operating an access point  120  in a WLAN  100  based upon hidden node recognition will be discussed. From the start (Block  1400 ), the method comprises creating an antenna database by associating between the access point  110  and each remote station  120  a respective measured signal quality corresponding to the plurality of antenna patterns at Block  1410 . The respective measured signal qualities are determined by the access point  110  based upon communications with each remote station  120 . For each remote station  120  a preferred antenna pattern based upon the antenna database is determined at Block  1420 , and a remote station and the corresponding preferred antenna pattern to communicate with are selected at Block  1430 . Based upon the antenna database and prior to communicating with the selected remote station, it is determined at Block  1440  if any non-selected remote stations have the potential of not being aware when such communications actually occurs. This is determined by comparing the measured signal quality associated with the preferred antenna pattern for the selected remote station with the respective signal qualities associated with the non-selected remote stations when using the same preferred antenna pattern. 
     If there is a potential for a hidden node, then a message is broadcast at Block  1450  indicating that the access point  110  and the selected remote station  120  are to communicate with one another. As noted above, this broadcast may be in the form of an unsolicited clear-to-send message via the omni antenna pattern to the remote stations  120 . The CTS has an unused address that does not correspond to any of the remote stations  120 . Alternatively, a four-way frame exchange protocol (RTS, CTS, data and ACK) is performed with the selected remote station  120  to prevent the hidden node problem. The method ends at Block  1460 . 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. For instance, the access point is not limited to the IEEE 802.11 standard. The antenna algorithm for an access point as discussed above is applicable to other types of local area networks, as readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, such as those defined by the IEEE 802.16 standard. 
     In addition, other features relating to antenna steering are disclosed in copending patent applications filed concurrently herewith and assigned to the assignee of the present invention and are entitled ANTENNA STEERING FOR AN ACCESS POINT BASED UPON PROBE SIGNALS, Ser. No. 10/870,696; ANTENNA STEERING FOR AN ACCESS POINT BASED UPON CONTROL FRAMES, Ser. No. 10/870,718; and ANTENNA STEERING AND HIDDEN NODE RECOGNITION FOR AN ACCESS POINT, Ser. No. 10/870,702.