Patent ID: 8195098

Claim:
A method for beamforming training a trainee communications device with one or more trainer communications devices in a communications system, comprising: announcing a first period of time for receiving one or more predetermined bit sequences from the one or more trainer communications devices, wherein each of the one or more predetermined bit sequences carries an identifier identifying a trainer communications device; switching a receiving antenna pattern of the trainee communications device to a sector in accordance with a first predetermined rule, wherein an angle of the sector is set in accordance with the configuration of the receiving antenna pattern; staying in the sector for a second period of time in accordance with a second predetermined rule and listening for the one or more predetermined bit sequences; estimating channel characteristics and computing receiving antenna weighting vectors of the one or more trainer communications devices by using the corresponding received one or more predetermined bit sequences, respectively; and transmitting pertinent information about beamforming training to the corresponding one or more trainer communications devices by using the identifier, wherein the information comprises the estimated channel characteristics and receiving time of the one or more pre-determined bit sequences, respectively.