Method and apparatus for directional radio communication

A method of directional radio communication in a communication network between a first station and a second station, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at the first station a first signal transmitted by said second station, said first signal being received as a set of signals from one or more different beam directions;
• determining a first beam direction corresponding to the beam direction from which a first one of said set of signals is first received by said first station and a second beam direction corresponding to the beam direction from which one of the set of signals having the greatest signal strength is received;
• and
• transmitting a signal from said first station to said second station in said first and said second beam directions.

A first station for directional radio communication in a mobile communication network with a second mobile station, the first station comprising:

• receiver means for receiving communication data transmitted by said second station, wherein the communication data can travel via one or more of a plurality of signal paths and is received as a set of signals from one or more of a plurality of different beam directions;
• determining means for determining a first beam direction corresponding to the beam direction from which a first one of said signals is received by said station representing a shortest one of said signal paths and a second beam direction corresponding to the beam direction from which one of said signals having the greatest signal strength is received;
• transmitter means for transmitting communication data to said second station;
• and
• control means for controlling the direction in which the communication data is transmitted, wherein when said first and second beam directions are different, the transmitter means is controlled by the control means to transmit the communication data in the first and second beam directions.