Patent ID: 8675617

Claim:
A client station for operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system, the client station comprising: a switched beam antenna for generating a plurality of directional antenna beams; a beam switching unit coupled to said switched beam antenna for selecting the plurality of directional antenna beams; a transceiver coupled to said beam switching unit; and a beam commutation module for running a beam commutation algorithm for performing a commutation sequencing of the plurality of directional antenna elements so that said switched beam antenna is operated as a virtual beam former by selecting one of the directional antenna beams for receiving desired signals, selecting at least one other directional antenna beam for receiving the desired signals, and alternating selection of the directional antenna beams for receiving the desired signals; with said plurality of directional antenna beams being grouped into pairs, with the directional antenna beams in each pair being directly adjacent one another, and with the commutation sequencing sequences through opposing pairs with a directional antenna beam being alternately selected in each opposing pair.