Wireless communication system and wireless station

Abstract

A station determines the presence/absence of directional beam control in an access point, on the basis of received power measured when data transmitted from the access point are received, and the type of the received data. In accordance with the result of this determination, the station controls transmitting power to transmit data to the access point.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A wireless communication method for a system which exchanges data between an access point and a station, the method comprising:
 measuring a received power of the station when data is received by the station;   detecting a type of the received data;   determining whether the access point performs a directional beam control based on the measured received power and the detected type of the received data; and   controlling a transmitting power of the station for transmitting data to the access point in accordance with the result of the determination.   
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting whether the received data are broadcast frame data or unicast frame data. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the determining comprises determining that space division multiple access (SDMA) is applicable at the access point when a level of a directional beam is larger than a predetermined level. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 detecting a transmitting power of the access point for transmitting data.   
   
   
       26 . A wireless communication method for a system which exchanges data between an access point and a station by CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access), the method comprising:
 measuring a received power of the station when data is received by the station;   detecting a type of the received data;   determining whether the access point performs a directional beam control based on the measured received power and the detected type of the received data;   controlling a transmitting power of the station for transmitting data to the access point in accordance with the result of the determination; and   controlling a carrier sense level of the station in accordance with the result of the determination.   
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting whether the received data are broadcast frame data or unicast frame data. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 detecting a transmitting power of the access point for transmitting data.   
   
   
       29 . A wireless communication method for a system which exchanges data between an access point and a station, the method comprising:
 measuring a first received power of the station when first data are broadcast from the access point and received power of second data are unicast from the access point;   determining whether the access point performs a directional beam based on the measured first received power and the measured second received power; and   controlling a transmitting power of the station for transmitting data to the access point when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control.   
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control, the controlling sets the transmitting power at a minimum necessary power receivable by the access point. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control, the determining further checks whether a space division multiple access is applicable at the access point, and when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control and that the space division multiple access is applicable at the access point, the controlling the transmitting power sets the transmitting power at a minimum necessary power receivable by the access point. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 detecting a transmitting power of the access point for transmitting the first data and the second data.   
   
   
       33 . A wireless communication method for a system which exchanges data between an access point and a station by CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access), the method comprising:
 measuring first received power of the station when first data are broadcast from the access point and second received power of the station when second data are unicast from the access point;   determining whether the access point performs a directional beam control based on the measured first received power and the measured second received power;   controlling a transmitting power of the station for transmitting data to the access point when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control; and   controlling a carrier sense level of the station in accordance with the result of the determination.   
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein when it is determined that the access point performs directional beam control, the controlling the carrier sense level raises the carrier sense level to such an extent that a carrier sense function does not degrade. 
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein
 when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control, the determining further checks whether a space division multiple access is applicable at the access point, and   when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control and that the space division multiple access is applicable at the access point, the controlling the carrier sense level raises the carrier sense level of the station to such an extent that a carrier sense function does not degrade.   
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 33 , further comprising:
 detecting first and second transmitting powers of the access point for transmitting the first data and the second data.   
   
   
       37 . A wireless communication method for a station which exchanges data with an access point, the method comprising:
 measuring first received power when first data are broadcast from the access point and second measures the received power when second data are unicast from the access point;   determining whether the access point performs a directional beam control based on the measured first and second received powers; and   controlling a transmitting power for transmitting data to the access point when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control.   
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control, the controlling sets the transmitting power at a minimum necessary power receivable by the access point. 
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein
 when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control, the determining further checks whether a space division multiple access is applicable at said access point, and   when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control and that the space division multiple access is applicable at said access point, the controlling the transmitting power sets the transmitting power at a minimum necessary power receivable by the access point.   
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 37 , further comprising:
 detecting first and second transmitting powers of the access point for transmitting the first data and the second data.   
   
   
       41 . A wireless communication method for a station which exchanges data with an access point by CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access), the method comprising:
 measuring first received power when first data are broadcast from the access point and second received power when second data are unicast from the access point;   determining whether the access point performs a directional beam control based on the measured first and second received powers;   controlling a transmitting power when it is determined that the access point performs the directional beam control; and   controlling a carrier sense level in accordance with a result of the determination.   
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 41 , further comprising:
 detecting first and second transmitting powers of the access point for transmitting the first data and the second data.