Information device with wireless modules

• US 20030048768A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Norimasa, Hanada, Toru, Tajima, Takeshi
• Application Number:
  US10/101,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

This invention provides an information device which disenables unselected wireless devices by directly controlling hardware, and thus can prevent interference between wireless devices using the same frequency band. In this invention, a BIOS controls an EC for a wireless module selected based on a user instruction, thereby controlling power supply to a Bluetooth module and power supply to a wireless LAN module. This makes it possible to enable either one of the modules and disenable the other module.

Claims

1. An information device comprising:

a first wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a first communication way;

a second wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a second communication way;

means which selects either one of said first and second wireless modules; and

a control unit which, when said first wireless module is selected by said selection means, disenables wireless communication via said second wireless module and then enables said first wireless module, and when said second wireless module is selected, disenables wireless communication via said first wireless module and then enables said second wireless module.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication way includes a communication way based on a Bluetooth standard, and the second communication way includes a communication way based on an IEEE 802.1b standard.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second wireless modules are powered off when wireless communication via said first and second wireless modules is disenabled.

4. An information device comprising:

a Bluetooth wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a Bluetooth standard;

a wireless LAN unit which performs wireless communication in accordance with an IEEE 802.1b standard;

a first utility which determines a selected wireless module on the basis of a user instruction, and when the selected wireless module is determined as said Bluetooth wireless module, instructs to power off said wireless LAN unit;

a second utility which instructs to turn on said Bluetooth wireless module on the basis of the instruction from said first utility that represents power off of said wireless LAN unit;

a BIOS which instructs to power off said wireless LAN unit on the basis of the instruction from said first utility, and instructs to power on said Bluetooth wireless module on the basis of the instruction from said second utility; and

a controller which controls to stop power supply to said wireless LAN unit on the basis of the instruction from said BIOS that represents power off of said wireless LAN unit, and which, upon receiving the instruction from said BIOS that represents power on of said Bluetooth wireless module, controls to supply power to said Bluetooth wireless module after said wireless LAN unit is powered off.

5. A device according to claim 4, further comprising means for loading a control driver of said Bluetooth wireless module to an operating system when said Bluetooth wireless module receives power.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein

when the selected wireless module is determined as said wireless LAN unit, said first utility notifies said second utility that said wireless LAN has been selected,

said second utility instructs said BIOS to power off said Bluetooth wireless module on the basis of the notification from said first utility that said wireless LAN has been selected,

said BIOS instructs said controller to power off said Bluetooth wireless module on the basis of the instruction from said second utility that represents power off of said Bluetooth wireless module, and

said controller powers off said Bluetooth wireless module on the basis of the instruction from said BIOS that represents power off of said Bluetooth wireless module.

7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising means for unloading a driver of said Bluetooth wireless module when said Bluetooth wireless module is powered off.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein

when the driver of said Bluetooth wireless module is unloaded, said first utility instructs said BIOS to power on said wireless LAN unit,

said BIOS instructs said controller to power on said wireless LAN unit on the basis of the instruction from said first utility that represents power on of said wireless LAN unit, and

said controller controls to supply power to the RF controller of said wireless LAN unit on the basis of the instruction from said BIOS that represents power on of said wireless LAN unit.

9. A device according to claim 4, wherein said controller includes a one-chip microcomputer.

10. A device according to claim 4, wherein said first and second wireless modules use a wireless frequency band in which said first and second wireless modules interfere with each other.

11. A wireless module switching method in an information device having a first wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a first communication way, and a second wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a second communication way, comprising:

determining based on a user instruction whether a selected wireless module is the first wireless module; and

when the selected wireless module is determined as the first wireless module, enabling the first wireless module and disenabling the second wireless module, and when the selected wireless module is not determined as the first wireless module, disenabling the first wireless module and enabling the second wireless module.

12. An information device comprising:

a first wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a first communication way;

a second wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a second communication way;

means which can select either one of said first and second wireless modules;

a BIOS which, when said first wireless module is selected by said selection means, instructs to stop power supply to said second wireless module and then instructs to supply power to said first wireless module, and when said second wireless module is selected by said selection means, instructs to stop power supply to said first wireless module and then instructs to supply power to said second wireless module; and

a controller which powers off either one of said first and second wireless modules and then powers on the other one of said first and second wireless modules on the basis of an instruction from said BIOS.

13. A wireless module switching method in an information device having a first wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a first communication way, and a second wireless module which performs wireless communication in accordance with a second communication way, comprising:

determining which of the first and second wireless modules has been selected, and notifying a BIOS of the information device of a determination result from selection means;

causing the BIOS to instruct to stop power supply to the second wireless module and then instruct to supply power to the first wireless module in accordance with a notification that the first wireless module has been selected, and to instruct to stop power supply to the first wireless module and instruct to supply power to the second wireless module in accordance with a notification that the second wireless module has been selected; and

powering on/off the first and second wireless modules on the basis of the instruction from the BIOS.