Apparatus for time division multi-sector wireless LAN

A wireless terminal adapted to communicate with a wireless base station in any one of a-plurality of sectors, said wireless terminal comprising:

• a control unit for communicating with said wireless base station during a first period of time, and for receiving a packet containing a description representative of a length of a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time, and for disabling transmission during said second period of time.

A program product for an apparatus for a wireless base station adapted to communicate with a plurality of wireless terminals in a plurality of sectors, said program being operable to effect the steps of:

• during a first period of time, enabling one or more of said plurality of transceivers that are associated with respective one or more of said plurality of sectors that are not adjacent to each other, to communicate with wireless terminals, and disabling remaining one or more transceivers other than said enabled one or more transceivers, from communicating with wireless terminals;
• and,
• during a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time, enabling further one or more of said plurality of transceivers that are associated with respective further one or more of said plurality of sectors that are not adjacent to each other, to communicate with wireless terminals, said further one or more transceivers being disabled in said first period of time from communicating, and disabling further remaining one or more transceivers other than said enabled further one or more transceivers, from communicating with wireless terminals.

A method for communication in an apparatus for a wireless base station adapted to communicate with a plurality of wireless terminals in a plurality of sectors, said method comprising the steps of:

• during a first period of time, enabling one or more of said plurality of transceivers that are associated with respective one or more of said plurality of sectors that are not adjacent to each other, to communicate with wireless terminals, and disabling remaining one or more transceivers other than said enabled one or more transceivers, from communicating with wireless terminals;
• and,
• during a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time, enabling further one or more of said plurality of transceivers that are associated with respective further one or more of said plurality of sectors that are not adjacent to each other, to communicate with wireless terminals, said further one or more transceivers being disabled in said first period of time from communicating, and disabling further remaining one or more transceivers other than said enabled further one or more transceivers, from communicating with wireless terminals.

A method for communication in a wireless terminal adapted to communicate with a wireless base station in any one of a plurality of sectors, said method comprising:

• communicating with said wireless base station during a first period of time,
• receiving a packet containing a description representative of a length of a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time, and
• disabling transmission during said second period of time.