Abstract: Measurements for handoff are made by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) operating with a switched beam antenna in a wireless communication system. The switched beam antenna is a smart antenna generating a plurality of directional beams and an omni-directional beam. The WTRU measures signals from a plurality of cells with the omni-directional beam and/or one or more of the directional beams. The WTRU evaluates and reports to the network measurement of the omni-directional beam or the strongest beam for adding cells to an active set of cells. For removing cells from an active set of cells, the WTRU evaluates and reports to the network measurements of the antenna beam selected for communication with the active set cells.

Abstract: Network Allocation Vector (NAV) and “beam access control” (BAC) techniques are provided to address data collision problems in WLANs wherein APs provide wireless network access in a service area defined by multiple sectors via use of a switchable antenna system or the like. Preferably, every time the AP visits a sector and before the AP moves on to the next sector, the AP can set the NAV equal to the time it will take until its next visit. Alternatively, or in addition, a BAC bit is transmitted by an AP to control access to the AP by WTRUs disposed in a service sector in which the BAC is transmitted.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for adjusting the uplink transmission power of a WTRU utilizing a switched beam antenna. The method measures the received power of a pilot channel beacon in order to estimate the path loss associated with each directional antenna beam. A beam correction function is calculated based on an estimated gain difference between the beam which is currently used for transmission and the beam to which the WTRU will switch. The transmission power of the WTRU is adjusted according to the beam correction function at the time of beam switching. The beam correction function is equivalent to the response of the WTRU's averaging function to the estimated gain difference, offset by the same estimated gain difference.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for improving packet transmission and reducing latency in VoIP over WLAN using switched beam antennas having multiple directional antenna beams are disclosed. In an access point having a switched beam antenna, or other smart antenna system, the present invention extends the coverage area of an access point for authentication and association of a new WTRU, extends the access points coverage area during in session transmissions with a WTRU, and adjusts data rates. The method also controls Contention Period (CP)/Contention Free Period (CFP) timing amongst beams emanating from an access point having a switched beam antenna, or other smart antenna system. Fast diversity switching, frame level switching, lowered data rates, and scanning multiple directional antenna beams for the optimum transmission beam are disclosed to improve beam selection and packet transmission.

Abstract: Network Allocation Vector (NAV) and “beam access control” (BAC) techniques are provided to address data collision problems in WLANs wherein APs provide wireless network access in a service area defined by multiple sectors via use of a switchable antenna system or the like. Preferably, every time the AP visits a sector and before the AP moves on to the next sector, the AP can set the NAV equal to the time it will take until its next visit. Alternatively, or in addition, a BAC bit is transmitted by an AP to control access to the AP by WTRUs disposed in a service sector in which the BAC is transmitted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for wireless communication transmission power control are provided. Determination of gain factors and adjustments for physical channel reconfiguration in the context of transmission power control are addressed. Preferably, implementation is in conjunction with communication systems in which wireless communications are conducted between wireless transmit receive units (WTRUs) using multiple channels that are concurrently transmitted.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a cell sectorized by both an angle in azimuth and a distance from a base station are disclosed. A wireless communication system comprises a base station and a cell. The base station comprises an antenna array for generating a plurality of directional beams which are steerable both in azimuth and elevation. The cell is sectorized into a plurality of sectors defined in accordance with an angle in azimuth and a distance from the base station. At least one directional beam serves each sector. Beams serving adjacent sectors overlap each other, and a softer handover in a cell is performed in the overlapping region.

Abstract: A method for taking measurements with a smart antenna in a wireless communication system having a plurality of STAs begins by sending a measurement request from a first STA to a second STA. At least two measurement packets are transmitted consecutively from the second STA to the first STA. Each measurement packet is received at the first STA using a different antenna beam. The first STA performs measurements on each measurement packet and selects an antenna beam direction based on the measurement results.

Abstract: An access point operates in an 802.11 wireless communication network communicating with a client station, and includes a smart antenna for generating directional antenna beams and an omni-directional antenna beam. An antenna steering algorithm scans the directional antenna beams and the omni-directional antenna beam for receiving signals from the client station. The signals received via each scanned antenna beam are measured, and one of the antenna beams is selected based upon the measuring for communicating with the client station. The selected antenna beam is preferably a directional antenna beam. Once the directional antenna beam has been selected, there are several usage rules for exchanging data with the client station. The usage rules are directed to an active state of the access point, which includes a data transmission mode and a data reception mode.

Abstract: Measurement opportunities are provided to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) operating with a switched beam antenna in a CDMA wireless communication system. The switched beam antenna is a smart antenna generating a plurality of directional beams and an omni-directional beam. The bursty nature of packet data transmission generates periods of inactivity or low traffic during a call. The WTRU switches to antenna beams other than the selected antenna beam for receiving and measuring signals during these periods of inactivity or low traffic. Moreover, if the network has knowledge of the fact the WTRU is operating using a switched beam antenna, the network can use this information when making decisions on channel allocations, thus providing frequent measurement opportunities to the WTRU in order to support the switched beam antenna operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmit power control (TPC) while switching a beam among a plurality of beams in a wireless communication system. An antenna array generates a plurality of directional beams and preferably an omni-directional pattern and switches a beam among the plurality of beams preferably including the omni-directional pattern. Link quality on at least one of the plurality of beams is measured, and a beam having a greatest link quality is selected. If the selected beam is different from a current beam, a beam is switched from the current beam to the selected beam. While switching a beam, TPC parameters are adjusted based on the link quality difference between the link quality of the current beam and the link quality of the selected beam, and optionally, base on other parameters.

Abstract: Measurements for identifying pre-candidate cells are made by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) operating with a switched beam antenna in a wireless communication system. The switched beam antenna is a smart antenna generating a plurality of directional beams and an omni-directional beam. The WTRU measures signals from cells not in an active set of cells to define a pre-candidate set of cells. Measured signals from cells in the pre-candidate set of cells are compared to a threshold, and the corresponding cells are moved from the pre-candidate set of cells to a candidate set of cells based upon the comparison to the threshold. A measurement report is then sent to the network.

Abstract: Measurements for handoff are made by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) operating with a switched beam antenna in a wireless communication system. The switched beam antenna is a smart antenna generating a plurality of directional beams and an omni-directional beam. The WTRU measures signals from a plurality of cells with the omni-directional beam and/or one or more of the directional beams. The WTRU evaluates and reports to the network measurement of the omni-directional beam or the strongest beam for adding cells to an active set of cells. For removing cells from an active set of cells, the WTRU evaluates and reports to the network measurements of the antenna beam selected for communication with the active set cells.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for wireless communication transmission power control are provided. Determination of gain factors and adjustments for physical channel reconfiguration in the context of transmission power control are addressed. Preferably, implementation is in conjunction with communication systems in which wireless communications are conducted between wireless transmit receive units (WTRUs) using multiple channels that are concurrently transmitted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for wireless communication transmission power control are provided. Determination of gain factors and adjustments for physical channel reconfiguration in the context of transmission power control are addressed. Preferably, implementation is in conjunction with communication systems in which wireless communications are conducted between wireless transmit receive units (WTRUs) using multiple channels that are concurrently transmitted.