Interoperability for bluetooth/IEEE 802.11

• US 20010010689A1
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Published: 08/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yan, Ran-Hong, Awater, Geert Arnout
• Granted Patent: US 7,046,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/344
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

The key of the invention is to introduce an interoperability device in a communication system which integrates an IEEE 802.11 transceiver and a Bluetooth transceiver. The device prevents that one transceiver is transmitting while the other is receiving, which would cause interference at the receiving transceiver. In addition, the device preferably prevents that both systems are transmitting at the same time to avoid interference at the receiving device(s). Optionally the device prohibits simultaneous reception of both transceivers. In that way the radio receiver can be shared between the devices, allowing a cheaper and smaller hardware design.

Claims

1. A device incorporating a first radio system operating at a first range of frequencies of operation and a second radio system operating at a second range of frequencies of operation, wherein at least a part of said first and second range of frequencies overlap, wherein the device further comprises a control means adapted to control the first and second radio systems such that such that only one or the other radio system may transmit at any one time.

2. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the first radio system is a Bluetooth system and the second radio system is an IEEE 802.11 system.

3. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the device is additionally controlled such that when one device is transmitting the other device cannot receive or transmit.

4. The device of

claim 3

wherein the device is additionally controlled such that when one device is receiving the other device cannot receive or transmit.

5. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the control means comprises a switching means adapted to switch on and off the first and second radio systems.

6. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the control means comprises a multiplexing means adapted to time multiplex transmissions from the first and second radio systems.

7. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the control means comprises a multiplexing means adapted to time multiplex transmissions from the Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 radio systems, the IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth transmissions being multiplexed into Bluetooth time-slots.

8. The device of

claim 7

, wherein the Bluetooth transmissions are through a single HV2 SCO link connection, the IEEE 802.11 transmissions being in two time-slots in every four.

9. The device of

claim 7

, wherein the Bluetooth transmissions are through a single HV3 SCO link connection, the IEEE 802.11 transmissions being in four time-slots in every six.

10. The device of

claim 7

, wherein the Bluetooth transmissions are through two HV3 SCO link connections, the IEEE 802.11 transmissions being in two time-slots in every six.

11. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the control means prevents transmission of IEEE 802.11 packets during a Bluetooth ACL packet transmission.

12. The device of

claim 2

, wherein the control means prevents transmission of Bluetooth ACL packets during an IEEE 802.11 packet transmission.

13. The device of

claim 12

in which the first and second radio systems share a common physical layer.

14. A method of incorporating a first radio system operating at a first range of frequencies of operation and a second radio system operating at a second range of frequencies of operation, wherein at least a part of said first and second range of frequencies overlap, into a single device, wherein the first and second radio systems are controlled such that only one or the other radio system transmits at any one time.

15. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the first radio system is a Bluetooth system and the second radio system is an IEEE 802.11 system.

16. The method of

claim 15

further comprising controlling the radio systems such that when one radio system is transmitting the other cannot receive or transmit.

17. The method of

claim 16

further comprising controlling the radio systems such that when one is receiving the other cannot receive or transmit.

18. The method of

claim 15

, wherein the radio systems are controlled by switching on and off the first and second radio systems.

19. The method of

claim 15

, comprising time multiplexing transmissions from the Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 radio systems, the IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth transmissions being multiplexed into Bluetooth time-slots.

20. The method of

claim 19

, wherein the Bluetooth transmissions are through a single HV2 SCO link connection, the IEEE 802.11 transmissions being in two time-slots in every four.

21. The method of

claim 19

, wherein the Bluetooth transmissions are through a single HV3 SCO link connection, the IEEE 802.11 transmissions being in four time-slots in every six.

22. The method of

claim 19

, wherein the Bluetooth transmissions are through two HV3 SCO link connections, the IEEE 802.11 transmissions being in two time-slots in every six.

23. The method of

claim 15

further comprising preventing transmission of IEEE 802.11 packets during a Bluetooth ACL packet transmission.

24. The method of

claim 15

further comprising preventing transmission of Bluetooth ACL packets during an IEEE 802.11 packet transmission.

25. The method of

claim 24

in which the first and second radio systems share a common physical layer.