Wireless communication system

Abstract

An access point allows access from at least one user device, which may be a wireless device or a wired local area network device. The access point has radio frequency transceiver circuitry for communicating over a wireless link with a base station selected from a plurality of available base stations, and an antenna, having an adjustable preferred direction for transmission and reception of radio frequency signals. Control circuitry selects a preferred direction for the antenna such that the access point can establish a wireless link with one of said base stations, based on a data rate that is available over the wireless link.

1 . A method of operating an access point, wherein the access point is adapted to allow access from at least one user device, and wherein the access point comprises radio frequency transceiver circuitry for communicating over a wireless link with a base station selected from a plurality of available base stations, the method comprising:
 selecting said base station based on data rates available over wireless links with said plurality of available base stations.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the access point allows access from at least one user device over a second wireless link. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the access point allows access from at least one user device over a WiFi link. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the access point allows access from at least one user device over a WiMax link. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the access point allows access from at least one user device over a wired local area network. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising automatically selecting said base station. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , comprising automatically selecting said base station as the base station providing the highest available data rate over its respective wireless link. 
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising: sequentially determining an available data rate associated with each of a plurality of possible antenna beam directions; and selecting a beam direction for future use, based on said available data rates. 
   
   
       9 . An access point, comprising:
 a first access interface, adapted to allow access from at least one user device;   radio frequency transceiver circuitry for communicating over a wireless link with a base station selected from a plurality of available base stations; and   control circuitry, for determining data rates available over wireless links with said plurality of available base stations.   
   
   
       10 . An access point as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising:
 an antenna, having a plurality of antenna elements; and   beam direction control circuitry, including variable amplitude adjustment devices in each of a plurality of signal paths associated with said antenna elements.   
   
   
       11 . An access point as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said control circuitry determines data rates available over wireless links with one or more of said plurality of available base stations by controlling said beam direction control circuitry to adjust a direction of a beam of said antenna, and successively determine data rates available over wireless links at said beam directions. 
   
   
       12 . An access point as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said access point is configured to automatically selects a beam direction for said antenna, in order to obtain a wireless link with one of said plurality of available base stations, having an acceptable data rate. 
   
   
       13 . An access point as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said access point is further configured to automatically selects a second beam direction for said antenna, in order to obtain a reserve wireless link with another of said plurality of available base stations. 
   
   
       14 . An access point as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising: an antenna, having a plurality of antenna elements; and beam direction switching circuitry, for switching respective antenna elements into and out of a plurality of signal paths associated with said antenna elements. 
   
   
       15 . An access point as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein at least two of said antenna elements can be switched into the respective signal paths at the same time, while at least one other antenna element is switched out of the respective signal path. 
   
   
       16 . An access point as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the first access interface is adapted to allow access from a user device to make a VoIP phone call. 
   
   
       17 . An access point as claimed in  claim 9 , having a solar power source. 
   
   
       18 . An access point as claimed in  claim 9 , having a wind power source. 
   
   
       19 . A method of operating an access point, wherein the access point is adapted to allow access from at least one user device, and wherein the access point comprises: radio frequency transceiver circuitry for communicating over a wireless link with a base station selected from a plurality of available base stations; and an antenna, having an adjustable preferred direction for transmission and reception of radio frequency signals; the method comprising:
 operating said access point such that the antenna has a preferred direction that is selected based on a data rate that is then available over the wireless link with a selected base station.   
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising:
 in an initial phase, operating the access point such that the antenna has a plurality of preferred directions in turn; and   for each of said preferred directions, determining an available data rate over a wireless link that can be established.   
   
   
       21 . An access point adapted to allow access from at least one user device, and the access point comprising:
 radio frequency transceiver circuitry for communicating over a wireless link with a base station selected from a plurality of available base stations;   an antenna, having an adjustable preferred direction for transmission and reception of radio frequency signals; and   control circuitry, for selecting a preferred direction for the antenna such that the access point can establish a wireless link with one of said base stations, based on a data rate that is available over the wireless link.   
   
   
       22 . An access point as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the antenna has a plurality of antenna elements; and the access point further comprises beam direction control circuitry, including variable amplitude adjustment devices in each of a plurality of signal paths associated with said antenna elements. 
   
   
       23 . An access point as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the antenna has a plurality of antenna elements; and the access point further comprises beam direction switching circuitry, for switching respective antenna elements into and out of a plurality of signal paths associated with said antenna elements.