Patent ID: 8229506

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for enhancing acquisition of a connection to a wireless subscriber, the computer-implemented method comprising: allocating a first beam of an array antenna for use as a first acquisition beam, while an omnidirectional gain is also provided by the array antenna, the omnidirectional gain extending an omnidirectional range associated with the array antenna and the first acquisition beam extending beyond the omnidirectional range of the array antenna; defining a coverage area for the first acquisition beam; directing the first acquisition beam to move within the coverage area, wherein the coverage area begins at a first position and ends at a second position and wherein the first acquisition beam sweeps the coverage area from the first position to the second position for detection of any service request signals; determining whether a service request signal is received from the wireless subscriber at the array antenna via the first acquisition beam as the first acquisition beam moves through the coverage area, the wireless subscriber located within a range of the first acquisition beam but beyond the omnidirectional range of the array antenna; provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber in response to determining that the service request signal was received; determining that provisioning the connection to the wireless subscriber requires a second beam for providing an ongoing connection; and reallocating the first acquisition beam to serve as the second beam for providing the ongoing connection.