Method for performing wireless switching

Abstract

A wireless LAN (WLAN) system for communications among a plurality of users within a basic service system or cell comprising a switching access point (SAP) for transmitting and receiving point-to-multipoint communications to and from the users. A plurality of ports are available at the SAP, each of which assigned to a unique carrier frequency for isolating communications among the users to prevent collisions, with the ability of frequency assignment to be non-permanent, and a capability of dynamic or pseudo-random carrier assignment. An alternative embodiment of the SAP uses beamforming to provide spatial ports for assignments to the plurality of users.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A wireless LAN (WLAN) system for communications among a plurality of users within a basic service system or cell, comprising: 
 a switching access point (SAP) for transmitting and receiving point-to-multipoint communications to and from the users; and    a plurality of ports, each of which assigned to a unique carrier frequency for isolating communications among the users to prevent collisions;    wherein said assignment of frequencies is not permanent, and instead has capability of dynamic or pseudo-random carrier assignment.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said not permanent assignment is the dynamic carrier assignment which is achieved by request-to-send signals from the users and clear-to-send signals from the SAP.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said clear-to-send signals indicate a frequency assigned to the users.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said clear-to-send signals indicate a pseudo-random carrier assignment to the users.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  whereby said pseudo-random carrier assignment is achieved by frequency hopping of the users along a sequence of changing carriers, said sequence known a priori by the users and the SAP.  
     
     
         6 . A wireless LAN (WLAN) system for communications among a plurality of users within a basic service system or cell, comprising: 
 a switching access point (SAP) for transmitting and receiving point-to-multipoint communications to and from the users; and    a plurality of ports, each of which assigned to a unique spatial beam for isolating communications among the users to prevent collisions;    wherein the SAP receives more than one spatial beam at once.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein beamforming is used to create said spatial ports.  
     
     
         8 . A wireless LAN (WLAN) user terminal comprising: 
 a multiple frequency transmitter for transmitting a request-to-send message and for transmitting data over an assigned transmit carrier;    a multiple frequency receiver for receiving a clear-to-send signal over a first frequency and for receiving data over an assigned receive carrier; and    a frequency controller, operatively coupled to the multiple frequency receiver, for determining the assigned transmit and the assigned receive carrier of the user terminal using the received clear-to-send signal.    
     
     
         9 . The WLAN user terminal of  claim 8  wherein the clear-to-send signal indicating a pseudo-random transmit and receive carrier assignment.