Patent ID: 7061427

Claim:
A method for controlling a directional angle of a steerable antenna array, wherein a radio signal received via the array contains a preamble portion and a data portion, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the antenna array for receiving the radio signal in an omni-directional mode; receiving an initial part of the preamble; determining a quality metric of the initial part of the preamble; setting the array to a candidate angle; receiving a subsequent part of the preamble; determining a quality metric for the subsequent part so received; repeating the steps of setting the array, receiving a subsequent preamble part and determining a quality metric for at least one additional candidate angle; and selecting a candidate angle based on the quality metrics, wherein the preamble portion comprises short synchronization pulses and long synchronization pulses, and wherein the step of selecting a candidate angle is completed prior to reception of the long synchronization pulses.