Concurrent multiple data rate communications in a wireless local area network

摘要

A wireless local area network (WLAN) provides optimal data throughput by operating at multiple data rates simultaneously. The WLAN includes a network master communicating with a plurality of remote client transceiver nodes. The network master maintains a table of active client transceiver nodes. The table includes a current data rate for each of the active client transceiver nodes. Periodic high-speed and low-speed beacon signals are transmitted from the network master to the active client transceiver nodes. Each of the active client transceiver nodes receives and processes the beacon signals to determine an optimal data rate. Then, each of the active client transceiver nodes transmits a return signal to the network master which designates the determined optimal data rate. Thereafter, the network master updates the table to reflect the optimal data rate for each of the active client transceiver nodes. Subsequent messages from the network master to the active client transceiver nodes are thereby transmitted at the current data rate for each respective one of the active client transceiver nodes.