Communication system and methods utilizing a reactively controlled directive array

A method for accessing and communicating with nodes in a local area network including a computer modem and memory, comprising the steps of:

• selecting an omni directional mode for a directional antenna coupled to the computer modem;
• receiving radio signals from existing traffic in the local area network which includes a plurality of nodes, each node including a directional antenna coupled to the computer modem;
• identifying a node of the local area network using the directional antenna and computer modem;
• determining a valid direction of a selected node of the network;
• selecting a directional mode for the directional antenna and setting the antennas direction to the selected node;
• transmitting an acquisition request to the selected node, using the directional antenna and selected direction;
• receiving permission;
• a time slot list for the respective nodes of the local area network;
• identifying an antenna for each respective node of the network and storing the direction in a computer table in the memory;
• setting the direction for said directional antenna to begin a communication sequence with the selected node of the local area network;
• and
• transmitting and receiving radio communications with said selected node over said selected direction.

An electronic reconfigurable antenna comprising:

• a supporting member having a top surface and a ground plane bottom surface and an opening;
• A radiating element mounted in the opening;
• a plurality of microstrip lines surrounding the opening with each microstrip forming an rf choke by virtue of their high characteristic impedance, substantially quarter-wavelength electrical length, and low rf impedance to ground termination at a bias feed point;
• a plurality of antenna elements surrounding the radiating element, each antenna element attached to a different microstrip at the via;
• A plurality of switching device, each switching device coupled at one end to a different antenna element through the via hole and at the other end to a said ground plane on a back surface of the supporting member;
• a bias circuit coupled to each switching device whereby one state of the bias circuit places the switching device in a conducting condition to cause the attached antenna element to be in a low impedance state;
• a second state of the bias circuit causing the switching device to be in a non-conducting condition causing the antenna element to be in high impedance state;
• and
• means for causing the antenna to be in an omni-directional state when the antenna elements are in high impedance state and causing the antenna to be in a directional state when the antenna elements are in a low impedance state.