Dual-radio communication apparatus, and an operating method thereof

• US 20020012381A1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Mattisson, Sven, Haartsen, Jacobus, Bristow, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,975,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• 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

Abstract

A dual-radio communication apparatus (100) has a first radio device (110), such as a Bluetooth radio, for use in a first frequency band, and a second radio device (120), such as a Globalstar satellite radio, for use in a second frequency band, which is proximate to the first frequency band. The communication apparatus also has a controller coupled to the first and second radio devices. The first radio device may comprise a frequency-hopping spread-spectrum transmitter. Moreover, the first radio device (110) has a first operating mode employing a first frequency range. The first radio device also has a second operating mode employing a second frequency range, which is smaller than the first frequency range. The controller is adapted to set the first radio device in its second operating mode, when the second radio device (120) is in operation, and otherwise set the first radio device in its first operating mode.

Claims

1. A dual-radio communication apparatus (100, 200) having a first radio device (110, 210) for use in a first frequency band, a second radio device (120, 220) for use in a second frequency band, proximate to the first frequency band, and a controller (230) coupled to the first and second radio devices, characterized in that

the first radio device (110, 210) has a first operating mode employing a first frequency range, and a second operating mode employing a second frequency range, the second frequency range being smaller than the first frequency range, wherein the controller (230) is adapted to set the first radio device in its second operating mode, when the second radio device (120, 220) is in operation, and otherwise set the first radio device in its first operating mode.

2. A dual-radio communication apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first radio device (110, 210) comprises a frequency-hopping spread-spectrum transmitter (212), which uses a first plurality of hop carrier frequencies within said first frequency range in said first operating mode, and which uses a second plurality of hop carrier frequencies within said second frequency range in said second operating mode.

3. A dual-radio communication apparatus as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first radio device (110, 210) is a Bluetooth radio.

4. A dual-radio communication apparatus as in any preceding claim, wherein the second radio device (120, 220) is a Globalstar satellite radio.

5. A dual-radio communication apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the second plurality of hop carrier frequencies is a subset of the first plurality of hop carrier frequencies.

6. A dual-radio communication apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the first operating mode employs 79 hop carrier frequencies spaced apart by about 1 MHz and starting at about 2.4 GHz, and wherein the second operating mode employs the first 23 of these 79 hop carrier frequencies.

7. A method of operating a dual-radio communication apparatus (100, 200) having a first radio device (110, 210) for use in a first frequency band, and a second radio device (120, 220) for use in a second frequency band, proximate to the first frequency band, characterized by the steps of

a) determining whether the second radio device (120, 220) is in operation;

b) for the first radio device (110, 210), using a first frequency range, if the answer in step a) is in the negative; and

c) for the first radio device, using a second frequency range, the second frequency range being smaller than the first frequency range, if the answer in step a) is in the affirmative.

8. A method according to claim 7, the first radio device (110, 210) being of frequency-hopping spread-spectrum type, wherein step b) involves the use of a first plurality of hop carrier frequencies, which are distributed over said first frequency range, and wherein step c) involves the use of a second plurality of hop carrier frequencies, which are distributed over said second frequency range.