Abstract: A method in a communication system including an access point and a plurality of stations, includes: selecting, at the access point, a quasi-omni-directional beam for use in transmitting and receiving control frames to and from the stations; selecting, at each station, one of a plurality of directional beams for use in transmitting and receiving control frames to and from the access point; at each of the stations, pausing transmission of Request To Send (RTS) control frames responsive to detecting (i) a RTS control frame from the access point to any one of the stations, or (ii) a Clear to Send (CTS) control frame from the access point to any one of the stations; wherein pausing transmission of RTS control frames is for a duration of time provided in the detected RTS control frame or CTS frame.

Abstract: A method in a wireless access point (AP) having an antenna controllable to transmit and receive using a set of AP sectors, includes: transmitting a plurality of beacon instances using each of the AP sectors, each beacon instance associated rotation schedule data defining a plurality of listening time slots corresponding to respective AP sectors; activating a rotating listening mode using the AP sectors in sequence according to the rotation schedule data; in response to detecting a sector sweep initiation message from a client device using an active one of the AP sectors, communicating with the client device to select an AP sector to use in establishing a link with the client device.

Abstract: A method in a wireless access point (AP) having an antenna controllable to transmit and receive using a set of AP sectors, includes: transmitting a plurality of beacon instances using each of the AP sectors, each beacon instance associated rotation schedule data defining a plurality of listening time slots corresponding to respective AP sectors; activating a rotating listening mode using the AP sectors in sequence according to the rotation schedule data; in response to detecting a sector sweep initiation message from a client device using an active one of the AP sectors, communicating with the client device to select an AP sector to use in establishing a link with the client device.