Patent Description:
Many electronic devices are capable of wirelessly communicating with other electronic devices. In particular, these electronic devices can include a networking subsystem that implements a network interface for: a cellular network (UMTS, LTE, etc.), a WLAN (e.g., a wireless network such as described in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) <NUM> standard or Bluetooth from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland, Washington), and/or another type of wireless network. For example, many electronic devices communicate with each other via WLANs using an IEEE <NUM>-compatible communication protocol (which are sometimes collectively referred to as 'Wi-Fi').

In existing WLANs, an access point may increase spatial selectivity by focusing an antenna radiation pattern (which is henceforth referred to as 'an antenna pattern') during transmission using beamforming. For example, the access point may implement beamforming by combining antenna elements in a phased array. Moreover, in some existing WLANs, an access point may change a direction of a main lobe or node in the antenna pattern during transmission, so that the transmitted energy is directed towards a particular recipient, such as a station or an electronic device.

However, access points in existing WLANs usually use an omnidirectional antenna pattern when receiving frames or packets from a station or an electronic device. Because the receive antenna pattern is not directional, losses may be increased. This may adversely impact the communication performance in a WLAN and, thus, may degrade the user experience when attempting to communicate using such networks.

<CIT>, discloses a WLAN access point with an extended coverage area.

As defined by claim <NUM>, the invention provides an access point, comprising: an antenna node configured to couple to an antenna; and an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna node, configured to wirelessly communicate with at least an electronic device in a wireless local area network, WLAN, wherein the access point is configured to associate and establish a connection with the electronic device in the WLAN, wherein the access point is configured to communicate with a computer using a wired communication protocol, and wherein the access point is configured to: determine a receive antenna pattern of the antenna that is associated with the electronic device; store, in memory in the access point, information that specifies the receive antenna pattern; and when the access point predicts that the electronic device will transmit a frame to the access point within a subsequent time interval: select the receive antenna pattern and set an antenna pattern of the antenna to the receive antenna pattern; and receive the frame associated with the electronic device using the receive antenna pattern, wherein the transmission by the electronic device is predicted based on the access point transmitting a trigger frame for at least the electronic device, wherein the trigger frame is compliant with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, <NUM>. 11ax, and wherein, after a time reserved by the trigger frame expires, the antenna pattern reverts to an omnidirectional antenna pattern.

Preferred embodiments of the access point are defined by claims <NUM> to <NUM>. The determining of the receive antenna pattern may involve the access point: receiving frames from the electronic device that are transmitted by the electronic device, where the frames are received by the access point using different receive antenna patterns of the antenna; determining values of a performance metric based on the received frames; and selecting the receive antenna pattern from the receive antenna patterns based on the values of the performance metric. Note that primary lobes in the receive antenna patterns may have different directions.

Furthermore, the determining of the receive antenna pattern may involve the access point: transmitting frames to the electronic device using different transmit antenna patterns of the antenna; receiving, from the electronic device, values of a performance metric based on at least some of the frames that were received by the electronic device; selecting a transmit antenna pattern from the transmit antenna patterns based on the values of the performance metric; and assigning the receive antenna pattern as the transmit antenna pattern. Note that primary lobes in the transmit antenna patterns may have different directions.

Additionally, transmission by the electronic device may be predicted based on the access point: receiving an RTS frame from the electronic device and, in response, transmitting a CTS frame to the electronic device. Alternatively, the access point may transmit a trigger frame to at least the electronic device.

In some embodiments, the interface circuit is configured to communicate with a second electronic device in the WLAN, and the access point is configured to: determine a second receive antenna pattern of the antenna that is used when receiving a frame from the second electronic device. Then, the access point may store, in memory, information that specifies the second receive antenna pattern. Moreover, when the access point predicts that the second electronic device will transmit a frame to the access point within a subsequent time interval, the access point may select the second receive antenna pattern and may set an antenna pattern of the antenna to the second receive antenna pattern. Next, the access point may receive the frame from the second electronic device using the second receive antenna pattern. Thus, the receive antenna pattern and the second receive antenna pattern may, respectively, be specific to particular electronic devices in the WLAN.

Note that the receive antenna pattern may be set by coupling one or more antenna elements in the antenna to ground in order to steer the antenna pattern of the antenna in a direction. For example, the antenna elements may include reflectors.

As defined by claim <NUM>, the invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an access point, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the access point, cause the access point to dynamically select a receive antenna pattern of an antenna in the access point by performing operations comprising: determining the receive antenna pattern of the antenna that is associated with an electronic device in a wireless local area network, WLAN, wherein the access point is configured to associate and establish a connection with the electronic device in the WLAN, and wherein the access point is configured to communicate with a computer using a wired communication protocol; storing, in memory in the access point, information that specifies the receive antenna pattern; and when the access point predicts that the electronic device will transmit a frame to the access point within a subsequent time interval: selecting the receive antenna pattern and setting an antenna pattern of the antenna to the receive antenna pattern; and receiving the frame associated with the electronic device using the receive antenna pattern, wherein the transmission by the electronic device is predicted based on the access point transmitting a trigger frame for at least the electronic device, wherein the trigger frame is compliant with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, <NUM>. 11ax, and wherein, after a time reserved by the trigger frame expires, the antenna pattern reverts to an omnidirectional antenna pattern.

Preferred embodiments of the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim <NUM> are defined by claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

As defined by claim <NUM>, the inventive provides a method for dynamically selecting a receive antenna pattern of an antenna in an access point, comprising: by the access point: determining the receive antenna pattern of the antenna that is associated with an electronic device in a wireless local area network, WLAN, wherein the access point is configured to associate and establish a connection with the electronic device in the WLAN, and wherein the access point is configured to communicate with a computer using a wired communication protocol; storing, in memory in the access point, information that specifies the receive antenna pattern; and when the access point predicts that the electronic device will transmit a frame to the access point within a subsequent time interval: selecting the receive antenna pattern and setting an antenna pattern of the antenna to the receive antenna pattern; and receiving the frame associated with the electronic device using the receive antenna pattern, wherein the transmission by the electronic device is predicted based on the access point transmitting a trigger frame for at least the electronic device, wherein the trigger frame is compliant with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, <NUM>. 11ax, and wherein, after a time reserved by the trigger frame expires, the antenna pattern reverts to an omnidirectional antenna pattern.

Preferred embodiments of the method of claim <NUM> are defined by claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Moreover, multiple instances of the same part are designated by a common prefix separated from an instance number by a dash.

An access point that performs dynamic selection of an electronic-device-specific receive antenna pattern of an antenna for use when receiving a frame from an electronic device in a WLAN is described. In particular, during operation the access point may determine the receive antenna pattern of the antenna that is used when receiving the frame from the electronic device. Then, the access point may store, in memory, information that specifies the receive antenna pattern. Moreover, when the access point predicts that the electronic device will transmit a frame to the access point within a subsequent time interval, the access point may select the receive antenna pattern and may set an antenna pattern of the antenna to the receive antenna pattern. For example, the access point may predict the electronic device is about transmit after receiving an RTS frame from the electronic device and transmitting a CTS frame to the electronic device. Alternatively, the access point may predict the electronic device is about transmit after transmitting a trigger frame to at least the electronic device. Next, the access point may receive the frame from the electronic device using the receive antenna pattern.

By customizing or tailoring the receive antenna pattern, this communication technique may increase the directionality of the antenna and, thus, may increase the receive sensitivity (e.g., by <NUM>-<NUM> dB). Consequently, this capability may improve the communication performance between the access point and the electronic device. For example, the communication technique may reduce the packet error rate or may increase the throughput. Moreover, the improved communication performance may improve the user experience when communicating with the access point via a WLAN.

In the discussion that follows, the electronic device and the access point communicate frames or packets in accordance with a wireless communication protocol, such as an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) <NUM> standard (which is sometimes referred to as 'Wi-Fi,' from the Wi-Fi Alliance of Austin, Texas), Bluetooth (from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland, Washington), and/or another type of wireless interface. In the discussion that follows, Wi-Fi is used as an illustrative example. However, a wide variety of communication protocols (such as Long Term Evolution or LTE, another cellular-telephone communication protocol, etc.) may be used.

Moreover, the access point may communicate with other access points and/or computers in a network using a wired communication protocol, such as an IEEE <NUM> standard (which is sometimes referred to as 'Ethernet') and/or another type of wired interface. In the discussion that follows, Ethernet is used as an illustrative example.

<FIG> presents a block diagram illustrating an example of communication among one or more access points <NUM> and one or more electronic devices <NUM> (such as a cellular telephone) in accordance with some embodiments. In particular, access points <NUM> may communicate with each other using wireless and/or wired communication. Note that access points <NUM> may include a physical access point and/or a virtual access point that is implemented in software in an environment of an electronic device or a computer. In addition, at least some of access points <NUM> may communicate with electronic devices <NUM> using wireless communication.

The wired communication among access points <NUM> may occur via network <NUM> (such as an intra-net, a mesh network, point-to-point connections and/or the Internet) and may use a network communication protocol, such as Ethernet. Moreover, the wireless communication using Wi-Fi may involve: transmitting advertising frames on wireless channels, detecting one another by scanning wireless channels, establishing connections (for example, by transmitting association or attach requests), and/or transmitting and receiving packets (which may include the association requests and/or additional information as payloads). In some embodiments, the wireless communication among access points <NUM> also involves the use of dedicated connections, such as via a peer-to-peer (P2P) communication technique.

As described further below with reference to <FIG>, access points <NUM> and/or electronic devices <NUM> may include subsystems, such as a networking subsystem, a memory subsystem and a processor subsystem. In addition, access points <NUM> and electronic devices <NUM> may include radios <NUM> in the networking subsystems. More generally, access points <NUM> and electronic devices <NUM> can include (or can be included within) any electronic devices with the networking subsystems that enable access points <NUM> and electronic devices <NUM> to communicate with each other using wireless and/or wired communication. This wireless communication can comprise transmitting advertisements on wireless channels to enable access points <NUM> and/or electronic devices <NUM> to make initial contact or detect each other, followed by exchanging subsequent data/management frames (such as association requests and responses) to establish a connection, configure security options (e.g., Internet Protocol Security), transmit and receive packets or frames via the connection, etc. Note that while instances of radios <NUM> are shown in access points <NUM> and electronic devices <NUM>, one or more of these instances may be different from the other instances of radios <NUM>.

As can be seen in <FIG>, wireless signals <NUM> (represented by a jagged line) are transmitted from radio <NUM>-<NUM> in access point <NUM>-<NUM>. These wireless signals may be received by radio <NUM>-<NUM> in electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. In particular, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit frames or packets. In turn, these frames or packets may be received by electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. Moreover, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may allow electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> to communicate with other electronic devices, computers and/or servers via network <NUM>.

Note that the communication among access points <NUM> and/or with electronic devices <NUM> may be characterized by a variety of performance metrics, such as: a received signal strength (RSSI), a data rate, a data rate for successful communication (which is sometimes referred to as a 'throughput'), an error rate (such as a retry or resend rate), a mean-square error of equalized signals relative to an equalization target, intersymbol interference, multipath interference, a signal-to-noise ratio, a width of an eye pattern, a ratio of number of bytes successfully communicated during a time interval (such as <NUM>-<NUM>) to an estimated maximum number of bytes that can be communicated in the time interval (the latter of which is sometimes referred to as the 'capacity' of a communication channel or link), and/or a ratio of an actual data rate to an estimated data rate (which is sometimes referred to as 'utilization').

In the described embodiments processing a packet or frame in access points <NUM> and electronic devices <NUM> includes: receiving wireless signals <NUM> with the packet or frame; decoding/extracting the packet or frame from received wireless signals <NUM> to acquire the packet or frame; and processing the packet or frame to determine information contained in the packet or frame.

Although we describe the network environment shown in <FIG> as an example, in alternative embodiments, different numbers or types of electronic devices may be present. For example, some embodiments comprise more or fewer electronic devices. As another example, in another embodiment, different electronic devices are transmitting and/or receiving packets or frames.

As noted previously, if one of access points <NUM> (such as access point <NUM>-<NUM>) uses an omnidirectional antenna pattern when receiving one or more frames or packets from one of electronic devices <NUM> (such as electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>), losses may be increased, which may degrade the communication performance. As described further below with reference to <FIG>, in order to address this challenge access point <NUM>-<NUM> may use an electronic-device-specific receive antenna pattern to receive the one or more frames or packets. This receive antenna pattern may have increased directionality relative to an omnidirectional antenna pattern (e.g., a primary lobe of the receive antenna pattern may be directed so that the received energy from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> in increased), which may increase the receive sensitivity and, thus, the communication performance.

In particular, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may determine the receive antenna pattern of an antenna in or associated with access point <NUM>-<NUM> that is used when receiving a frame or a packet from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. Then, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may store, in memory, information that specifies the determined receive antenna pattern.

Moreover, when access point <NUM>-<NUM> predicts that electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> will transmit a frame or a packet to access point <NUM>-<NUM> within a subsequent time interval (such as an inter-frame space, a contention window, a network allocation vector, etc.), access point <NUM>-<NUM> may select the receive antenna pattern and may set an antenna pattern of the antenna to the receive antenna pattern. For example, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may predict the subsequent transmission by electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> based on access point <NUM>-<NUM>: receiving an RTS frame from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> and, in response, transmitting a CTS frame to electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. Alternatively, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit a trigger frame to at least electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>, such as the proposed trigger frame in IEEE <NUM>. Thus, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may predict the subsequent transmission by electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> based on one or more control frames or packets and, more generally, based on virtual carrier sensing.

Next, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may receive the frame(s) or the packet(s) from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> using the receive antenna pattern. Note that after a time reserved by the RTS frame and/or the trigger frame expires, the antenna pattern of the antenna in access point <NUM>-<NUM> may be reset. For example, the antenna pattern may revert to an omnidirectional antenna pattern.

Furthermore, the determining of the receive antenna pattern may involve access point <NUM>-<NUM>: receiving frames or packets from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> that are transmitted by electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> using a transmit antenna pattern, where the frames or packets are received by access point <NUM>-<NUM> using different receive antenna patterns of the antenna; determining values of a performance metric (such as throughput) based on the received frames; and selecting the receive antenna pattern from the receive antenna patterns based on the values of the performance metric. Note that primary lobes in the receive antenna patterns may have different directions.

Alternatively or additionally, the determining of the receive antenna pattern may involve access point <NUM>-<NUM>: transmitting frames or packets to electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> using different transmit antenna patterns of the antenna; receiving, from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>, values of a performance metric (such as throughput) based on at least some of the frames or the packets that were received by electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>; selecting a transmit antenna pattern from the transmit antenna patterns based on the values of the performance metric; and assigning the receive antenna pattern as the transmit antenna pattern. Note that primary lobes in the transmit antenna patterns may have different directions.

Thus, the receive antenna pattern may be predetermined by access point <NUM>-<NUM> in conjunction with electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>, such as during a calibration mode. Note that access point <NUM>-<NUM> and electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> may repeat the calibration mode periodically or after a time interval (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>) and/or as needed (e.g., when a location of electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> changes, when the communication performance degrades by more than <NUM> or <NUM>%, etc.).

Furthermore, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may repeat the at least some of the aforementioned operations for electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. Thus, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may: determine another receive antenna pattern of the antenna that is used when receiving a frame or packet from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>; and store, in the memory, information that specifies the other receive antenna pattern. Then, when access point <NUM>-<NUM> predicts that electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> will transmit a frame or a packet to access point <NUM>-<NUM> within a subsequent time interval, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may select the other receive antenna pattern and may set the antenna pattern of the antenna to the other receive antenna pattern. Next, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may receive the frame or the packet from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> using the other receive antenna pattern.

Thus, the receive antenna pattern and the other receive antenna pattern may, respectively, be specific to electronic devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in the WLAN in <FIG>. In this way, the communication technique may allow access point <NUM>-<NUM> to customize or tailor the directionality of the receive antenna pattern using predetermined information so that the communication performance with these electronic devices can be increased.

We now describe embodiments of the method. <FIG> presents a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method <NUM> for dynamically selecting a receive antenna pattern of an antenna in an access point, such as one of access points <NUM> in <FIG>. During operation, the access point may determine the receive antenna pattern (operation <NUM>) of the antenna that is used when receiving a frame from the electronic device. Then, the access point may store, in memory, information (operation <NUM>) that specifies the receive antenna pattern.

For example, the determining of the receive antenna pattern may involve the access point: receiving frames from the electronic device that are transmitted by the electronic device using a transmit antenna pattern, where the frames are received by the access point using different receive antenna patterns of the antenna; determining values of a performance metric based on the received frames; and selecting the receive antenna pattern from the receive antenna patterns based on the values of the performance metric. Alternatively or additionally, the determining of the receive antenna pattern may involve the access point: transmitting frames to the electronic device using different transmit antenna patterns of the antenna; receiving, from the electronic device, values of a performance metric based on at least some of the frames that were received by the electronic device; selecting a transmit antenna pattern from the transmit antenna patterns based on the values of the performance metric; and assigning the receive antenna pattern as the transmit antenna pattern.

Moreover, when the access point predicts that the electronic device will transmit a frame (operation <NUM>) to the access point within a subsequent time interval, the access point may select the receive antenna pattern (operation <NUM>) and may set an antenna pattern (operation <NUM>) of the antenna to the receive antenna pattern. For example, transmission by the electronic device may be predicted based on the access point: receiving an RTS frame from the electronic device and, in response, transmitting a CTS frame to the electronic device. Alternatively or additionally, the access point may transmit a trigger frame to at least the electronic device.

Next, the access point may receive the frame (operation <NUM>) from the electronic device using the receive antenna pattern.

In some embodiments, the access point optionally performs one or more additional operations (operation <NUM>). For example, the access point may repeat at least some of the aforementioned operations to determine another receive antenna pattern for use when receive a frame from another electronic device. Then, information specifying the other receive antenna pattern may be stored in memory (such as in the access point).

In some embodiments of method <NUM> (<FIG>), there may be additional or fewer operations. Furthermore, the order of the operations may be changed, and/or two or more operations may be combined into a single operation. For example, while the preceding embodiments illustrated method <NUM> using the antenna with different receive antenna patterns or different transmit antenna patterns, in some embodiments the access point may include different antennas that have different receive antenna patterns or different transmit antenna patterns.

<FIG> presents a drawing illustrating an example of communication among access point <NUM>-<NUM> and electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. In <FIG>, an interface circuit (IC) <NUM> in access point <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit frames <NUM> to electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. These frames may be transmitted to electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> using different transmit antenna patterns in an antenna in access point <NUM>-<NUM>. After or while receiving at least some of frames <NUM>, interface circuit <NUM> in electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit feedback <NUM> (such as values of a performance metric) to access point <NUM>-<NUM>. Then, based on feedback <NUM> (such as values of a performance metric), interface circuit <NUM> may select a transmit antenna pattern (TAP) <NUM> from the transmit antenna patterns. Moreover, interface circuit <NUM> may assign receive antenna pattern (RAP) <NUM> as transmit antenna pattern <NUM>.

Alternatively or additionally, interface circuit <NUM> may transmit frames <NUM> to access point <NUM>-<NUM>. These frames may be transmitted to access point <NUM>-<NUM> using a transmit antenna pattern in an antenna in electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>. Interface circuit <NUM> may receive at least some of frames <NUM> using different receive antenna patterns in the antenna in access point <NUM>-<NUM>. Then, based on feedback <NUM> (such as values of a performance metric), interface circuit <NUM> may select receive antenna pattern <NUM> from the receive antenna patterns.

Note that before interface circuit <NUM> transmits frames <NUM> and/or interface circuit <NUM> transmits frames <NUM>, interface circuits <NUM> and <NUM> may exchange control frames or packets (not shown) that arrange for or set up a calibration mode between access point <NUM>-<NUM> and electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>.

Next, interface circuit <NUM> may provide receive antenna pattern <NUM> and/or <NUM> to processor <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may store information <NUM> that specifies receive antenna pattern <NUM> and/or <NUM> in memory <NUM>.

Moreover, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may predict that electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> will transmit a frame <NUM> to access point <NUM>-<NUM> within a subsequent time interval. For example, interface circuit <NUM>: may receive an RTS frame <NUM> from interface <NUM>; and, in response, may transmit a CTS frame <NUM> to interface circuit <NUM>, and may provide notification <NUM> to processor <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, interface circuit <NUM> may transmit a trigger frame <NUM> to at least interface circuit <NUM>, and may provide notification <NUM> to processor <NUM>. Thus, in some embodiments, interface circuit <NUM> (such as firmware executed by interface circuit <NUM>) may determine when electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> is about to transmit frame <NUM>.

In response to notification <NUM> or <NUM>, processor <NUM> may access <NUM> information <NUM> in memory <NUM> (such as by performing a look-up), and may provide information <NUM> to interface circuit <NUM>. Moreover, interface circuit <NUM> may set <NUM> an antenna pattern of the antenna to the specified receive antenna pattern (such as receive antenna pattern <NUM> or <NUM>). Next, interface circuit <NUM> may transmit frame <NUM> to access point <NUM>-<NUM>, and interface circuit <NUM> may receive frame <NUM> using the selected receive antenna pattern.

<FIG> presents a drawing illustrating an example of a receive antenna pattern <NUM> of an antenna <NUM> in access point <NUM>-<NUM>. In particular, access point <NUM>-<NUM> may configure antenna elements in antenna <NUM> to select a direction <NUM> of a primary beam <NUM> in receive antenna pattern <NUM>. This selective directionality may improve the receive sensitivity when electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> transmits a frame or a packet to access point <NUM>-<NUM>.

For example, an interface circuit in radio <NUM>-<NUM> may provide control signals or settings that adapt or change receive antenna pattern <NUM> of antenna <NUM>. In particular, the control signals or settings may independently and selectively electrically couple pattern shapers or antenna elements (such as reflectors) in antenna <NUM> to ground in order to steer receive antenna pattern <NUM> in different directions (such as direction <NUM>). Thus, if one or more antennas elements in antenna <NUM> include N antenna pattern shapers, antenna <NUM> may have <NUM>N different receive antenna pattern configurations. More generally, a given receive antenna pattern may include amplitudes and/or phases of signals that specify a direction of the main or primary lobe or beam <NUM> of the given receive antenna pattern, as well as so-called 'exclusion regions' or 'exclusion zones' (which are sometimes referred to as 'notches' or 'nulls'). Note that an exclusion zone of the given receive antenna pattern includes a low-intensity region of the given receive antenna pattern. While the intensity is not necessarily zero in the exclusion zone, it may be below a threshold, such as 3dB or lower than the peak gain of the given antenna pattern. Thus, the given receive antenna pattern may include a local maximum (e.g., a primary beam <NUM>) that directs gain in direction <NUM> of electronic device <NUM>-<NUM> that is of interest and/or one or more local minima that reduce gain in the direction of other electronic devices that are not of interest. More generally, receive antenna pattern <NUM> may have N beams at locations of electronic devices (such as electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>) that will transmit to access point <NUM>-<NUM> in the subsequent time interval and/or M exclusion zones at the locations of electronic devices that will not transmit to access point <NUM>-<NUM> in the subsequent time interval, where N and M are integers. For example, antenna <NUM> may include M+<NUM> antenna elements and there may be M exclusion zones. In this way, the given receive antenna pattern may be selected so that communication that is undesirable (such as with the other electronic devices) is avoided to reduce or eliminate adverse effects (such as interference or crosstalk) and to increase the receive sensitivity to transmissions from electronic device <NUM>-<NUM>.

We now describe embodiments of an electronic device, which may perform at least some of the operations in the communication technique. <FIG> presents a block diagram illustrating an electronic device <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments, such as one of access points <NUM> or electronic devices <NUM>. This electronic device includes processing subsystem <NUM>, memory subsystem <NUM>, and networking subsystem <NUM>. Processing subsystem <NUM> includes one or more devices configured to perform computational operations. For example, processing subsystem <NUM> can include one or more microprocessors, ASICs, microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs).

Memory subsystem <NUM> includes one or more devices for storing data and/or instructions for processing subsystem <NUM> and networking subsystem <NUM>. For example, memory subsystem <NUM> can include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and/or other types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions for processing subsystem <NUM> in memory subsystem <NUM> include: one or more program modules or sets of instructions (such as program module <NUM> or operating system <NUM>), which may be executed by processing subsystem <NUM>. Note that the one or more computer programs may constitute a computer-program mechanism. Moreover, instructions in the various modules in memory subsystem <NUM> may be implemented in: a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly or machine language. Furthermore, the programming language may be compiled or interpreted, e.g., configurable or configured (which may be used interchangeably in this discussion), to be executed by processing subsystem <NUM>.

In addition, memory subsystem <NUM> can include mechanisms for controlling access to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem <NUM> includes a memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memory in electronic device <NUM>. In some of these embodiments, one or more of the caches is located in processing subsystem <NUM>.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem <NUM> is coupled to one or more high-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memory subsystem <NUM> can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, a solid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In these embodiments, memory subsystem <NUM> can be used by electronic device <NUM> as fast-access storage for often-used data, while the mass-storage device is used to store less frequently used data.

Networking subsystem <NUM> includes one or more devices configured to couple to and communicate on a wired and/or wireless network (i.e., to perform network operations), including: control logic <NUM>, an interface circuit <NUM> and one or more antennas <NUM> (or antenna elements). (While <FIG> includes one or more antennas <NUM>, in some embodiments electronic device <NUM> includes one or more nodes, such as nodes <NUM>, e.g., a pad, which can be coupled to the one or more antennas <NUM>. Thus, electronic device <NUM> may or may not include the one or more antennas <NUM>. ) For example, networking subsystem <NUM> can include a Bluetooth™ networking system, a cellular networking system (e.g., a <NUM>/<NUM> network such as UMTS, LTE, etc.), a universal serial bus (USB) networking system, a networking system based on the standards described in IEEE <NUM> (e.g., a Wi-Fi® networking system), an Ethernet networking system, and/or another networking system.

Note that a transmit or receive antenna pattern (or antenna radiation pattern) of electronic device <NUM> may be adapted or changed using pattern shapers (such as reflectors) in one or more antennas <NUM> (or antenna elements), which can be independently and selectively electrically coupled to ground to steer the transmit antenna pattern in different directions. Thus, if one or more antennas <NUM> include N antenna pattern shapers, the one or more antennas may have <NUM>N different antenna pattern configurations. More generally, a given antenna pattern may include amplitudes and/or phases of signals that specify a direction of the main or primary lobe of the given antenna pattern, as well as so-called 'exclusion regions' or 'exclusion zones' (which are sometimes referred to as 'notches' or 'nulls'). Note that an exclusion zone of the given antenna pattern includes a low-intensity region of the given antenna pattern. While the intensity is not necessarily zero in the exclusion zone, it may be below a threshold, such as 3dB or lower than the peak gain of the given antenna pattern. Thus, the given antenna pattern may include a local maximum (e.g., a primary beam) that directs gain in the direction of electronic device <NUM> that is of interest, and one or more local minima that reduce gain in the direction of other electronic devices that are not of interest. In this way, the given antenna pattern may be selected so that communication that is undesirable (such as with the other electronic devices) is avoided to reduce or eliminate adverse effects, such as interference or crosstalk.

Networking subsystem <NUM> includes processors, controllers, radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supported networking system. Note that mechanisms used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on the network for each network system are sometimes collectively referred to as a 'network interface' for the network system. Moreover, in some embodiments a 'network' or a 'connection' between the electronic devices does not yet exist. Therefore, electronic device <NUM> may use the mechanisms in networking subsystem <NUM> for performing simple wireless communication between the electronic devices, e.g., transmitting advertising or beacon frames and/or scanning for advertising frames transmitted by other electronic devices as described previously.

Within electronic device <NUM>, processing subsystem <NUM>, memory subsystem <NUM>, and networking subsystem <NUM> are coupled together using bus <NUM>. Bus <NUM> may include an electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connection that the subsystems can use to communicate commands and data among one another. Although only one bus <NUM> is shown for clarity, different embodiments can include a different number or configuration of electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connections among the subsystems.

In some embodiments, electronic device <NUM> includes a display subsystem <NUM> for displaying information on a display, which may include a display driver and the display, such as a liquid-crystal display, a multi-touch touchscreen, etc..

Electronic device <NUM> can be (or can be included in) any electronic device with at least one network interface. For example, electronic device <NUM> can be (or can be included in): a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a subnotebook/netbook, a server, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a cellular telephone, a smartwatch, a consumer-electronic device, a portable computing device, an access point, a transceiver, a router, a switch, communication equipment, an access point, a controller, test equipment, and/or another electronic device.

Although specific components are used to describe electronic device <NUM>, in alternative embodiments, different components and/or subsystems may be present in electronic device <NUM>. For example, electronic device <NUM> may include one or more additional processing subsystems, memory subsystems, networking subsystems, and/or display subsystems. Additionally, one or more of the subsystems may not be present in electronic device <NUM>. Moreover, in some embodiments, electronic device <NUM> may include one or more additional subsystems that are not shown in <FIG>. Also, although separate subsystems are shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments some or all of a given subsystem or component can be integrated into one or more of the other subsystems or component(s) in electronic device <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments program module <NUM> is included in operating system <NUM> and/or control logic <NUM> is included in interface circuit <NUM>.

Moreover, the circuits and components in electronic device <NUM> may be implemented using any combination of analog and/or digital circuitry, including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors. Furthermore, signals in these embodiments may include digital signals that have approximately discrete values and/or analog signals that have continuous values. Additionally, components and circuits may be single-ended or differential, and power supplies may be unipolar or bipolar.

An integrated circuit (which is sometimes referred to as a 'communication circuit') may implement some or all of the functionality of networking subsystem <NUM>. The integrated circuit may include hardware and/or software mechanisms that are used for transmitting wireless signals from electronic device <NUM> and receiving signals at electronic device <NUM> from other electronic devices. Aside from the mechanisms herein described, radios are generally known in the art and hence are not described in detail. In general, networking subsystem <NUM> and/or the integrated circuit can include any number of radios. Note that the radios in multiple-radio embodiments function in a similar way to the described single-radio embodiments.

In some embodiments, networking subsystem <NUM> and/or the integrated circuit include a configuration mechanism (such as one or more hardware and/or software mechanisms) that configures the radio(s) to transmit and/or receive on a given communication channel (e.g., a given carrier frequency). For example, in some embodiments, the configuration mechanism can be used to switch the radio from monitoring and/or transmitting on a given communication channel to monitoring and/or transmitting on a different communication channel. (Note that 'monitoring' as used herein comprises receiving signals from other electronic devices and possibly performing one or more processing operations on the received signals).

In some embodiments, an output of a process for designing the integrated circuit, or a portion of the integrated circuit, which includes one or more of the circuits described herein may be a computer-readable medium such as, for example, a magnetic tape or an optical or magnetic disk. The computer-readable medium may be encoded with data structures or other information describing circuitry that may be physically instantiated as the integrated circuit or the portion of the integrated circuit. Although various formats may be used for such encoding, these data structures are commonly written in: Caltech Intermediate Format (CIF), Calma GDS II Stream Format (GDSII) or Electronic Design Interchange Format (EDIF). Those of skill in the art of integrated circuit design can develop such data structures from schematics of the type detailed above and the corresponding descriptions and encode the data structures on the computer-readable medium. Those of skill in the art of integrated circuit fabrication can use such encoded data to fabricate integrated circuits that include one or more of the circuits described herein.

While the preceding discussion used an Ethernet and a Wi-Fi communication protocol as an illustrative example, in other embodiments a wide variety of communication protocols and, more generally, wireless communication techniques may be used. Thus, the communication technique may be used in a variety of network interfaces. Furthermore, while some of the operations in the preceding embodiments were implemented in hardware or software, in general the operations in the preceding embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety of configurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of the operations in the preceding embodiments may be performed in hardware, in software or both. For example, at least some of the operations in the communication technique may be implemented using program module <NUM>, operating system <NUM> (such as a driver for interface circuit <NUM>) or in firmware in interface circuit <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, at least some of the operations in the communication technique may be implemented in a physical layer, such as hardware in interface circuit <NUM>.

Moreover, while the preceding embodiments illustrated the communication technique while an access point receives a frame or a packet from an electronic device, in some embodiments the access point may concurrently receive frames or packets from two or more electronic devices. For example, the communication protocol in a WLAN may use orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). In these embodiments, the access point may use the average of the predetermined receive antenna patterns for the two or more electronic devices when the access point determines that the two or more electronic devices will transmit frames or packets within a subsequent time interval. Alternatively, the access point may receive the frames or packets from the two or more electronic devices by ping ponging or alternating between the predetermined receive antenna patterns for the two or more electronic devices. In these embodiments, an error-correction technique (such as an error-correction code associated with the frames or packets, redundancy, etc.) may be used to correct for any errors that occur and/or to recover information that is not received.

In the preceding description, we refer to 'some embodiments. ' Note that 'some embodiments' describes a subset of all of the possible embodiments, but does not always specify the same subset of embodiments.

Claim 1:
An access point (<NUM>-<NUM>), comprising:
an antenna node (<NUM>) configured to couple to an antenna (<NUM>); and
an interface circuit (<NUM>), coupled to the antenna node (<NUM>), configured to wirelessly communicate with at least an electronic device (<NUM>-<NUM>) in a wireless local area network, WLAN, wherein the access point is configured to associate and establish a connection with the electronic device in the WLAN, wherein the access point (<NUM>-<NUM>) is configured to communicate with a computer using a wired communication protocol, and wherein the access point (<NUM>-<NUM>) is configured to:
determine (<NUM>) a receive antenna pattern (<NUM>) of the antenna (<NUM>) that is associated with the electronic device (<NUM>-<NUM>);
store (<NUM>), in memory (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the access point (<NUM>-<NUM>), information (<NUM>) that specifies the receive antenna pattern (<NUM>); and
when the access point (<NUM>-<NUM>) predicts (<NUM>) that the electronic device (<NUM>-<NUM>) will transmit a frame (<NUM>) to the access point (<NUM>-<NUM>) within a subsequent time interval:
select (<NUM>) the receive antenna pattern (<NUM>) and set (<NUM>) an antenna pattern of the antenna (<NUM>) to the receive antenna pattern (<NUM>); and
receive (<NUM>) the frame (<NUM>) associated with the electronic device (<NUM>-<NUM>) using the receive antenna pattern (<NUM>),
wherein the transmission by the electronic device (<NUM>-<NUM>) is predicted (<NUM>) based on the access point (<NUM>-<NUM>) transmitting a trigger frame for at least the electronic device (<NUM>-<NUM>),
wherein the trigger frame is compliant with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, <NUM>.11ax, and
wherein, after a time reserved by the trigger frame expires, the antenna pattern reverts to an omnidirectional antenna pattern.