Wireless local area network with enhanced carrier sense provision

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of varying said variable carrier detect threshold level and said variable defer threshold level.

Claim 4

A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing said variable carrier detect threshold level to a level above said variable defer threshold level.

Claim 5

A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing said variable carrier detect threshold level to a level approximately equal to said variable defer threshold level.

Claim 6

A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing said variable carrier detect threshold level to a level below said defer threshold level.

Claim 7

A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting a carrier detect threshold signal level so as to define a communication cell within which a plurality of mobile network stations communicate with a predetermined base station.

Claim 8

A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said step of establishing defer threshold level comprises the steps of selecting a defer threshold signal level such that it is approximately equal to a power level along the power/distance curve of a station located at one edge of said communication cell at a distance approximately located at the opposite side of said communication cell.

Claim 9

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the size of said communication cell is a function of said carrier detect threshold and said defer threshold.

Claim 10

A wireless local area network station adapted to transmit and receive a signal within a communication cell, comprising: a carrier detect threshold circuit configured to receive a carrier signal having a power signal level, said carrier detect threshold circuit generating a carrier detect indication signal when said power signal level is substantially equal or larger than a variable carrier detect threshole level, so as to define a range of signal levels above said variable carrier detect threshole level wherein received signals are processed; a defer threshold circuit configured to receive said carrier signal having said power signal level, said defer threshold circuit generating a defer indication signal when said power signal level is substantially equal or larger than a specifiable defer threshold parameter, above which transmission of signals is deferred; and a signal processing circuit coupled to said carrier detect threshold circuit and said defer threshold circuit so as to receive said carrier detect indication signal and said defer indication signal such that said signal processing circuit processes signal received by said network station in response to said carrier detect indication signal and said signal processing circuit defers transmission of signals by said network station in response to said defer indication signal.

Claim 11

A wireless local area network station adapted to transmit and receive a signal within a communication cell, comprising: a carrier detect threshold circuit configured to receive a carrier signal having a power signal level, said carrier detect threshold circuit generating a carrier detect indication signal when said power signal level is substantially equal or larger than a variable carrier detect threshole level, so as to define a range of signal levels above said variable carrier detect threshole level wherein received signals are processed; a defer threshold circuit configured to receive said carrier signal having said power signal level, said defer threshold circuit generating a defer indication signal when said power signal level is substantially equal or larger than a specifiable defer threshold parameter, above which transmission of signals is deferred; and a signal processing circuit coupled to said carrier detect threshold circuit and said defer threshold circuit so as to receive said carrier detect indication signal and said defer indication signal such that said signal processing circuit processes signal received by said network station in response to said carrier detect indication signal and said signal processing circuit defers transmission of signals by said network station in response to said defer indication signal.

Claim 12

The system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the levels of said carrier detect threshold level and said defer threshold level are variable.

Claim 13

The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said carrier detect threshold level is above said defer threshold level.

Claim 14

The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said carrier detect threshold level is approximately equal to said defer threshold level.

Claim 15

The system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said carrier detect threshold level is below said defer threshold level.

Claim 16

The system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said defer threshold level is approximately equal to a power level along the power/distance curve of a station located at one edge of said communication cell at a distance approximately located at the opposite side of said communication cell.

Claim 17

The system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the size of said communication cell is a function of said carrier detect threshold and said defer threshold.