Multi-protocol interchip interface

• US 20040048572A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Longhorn Automotive Group LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Conexant Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Godfrey, Timothy Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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

Abstract

An interface between radios supporting different air interfaces is disclosed that avoids some of the costs and disadvantages associated with inter-radio interfaces in the prior art. The present invention enables the needed coordination across multiple wireless protocols, such as 802.11 and Bluetooth, by providing a communication link spanning different integrated circuits when each radio is on a separate integrated circuit. This low cost, low complexity link can be added to standard integrated circuits produced by individual companies without adding appreciably to the overall cost of the integrated circuits.

Claims

1. A radio comprising:

a channel-access controller for communicating in accordance with a first air interface, wherein said channel-access controller;

transmits a first set of signals to a collateral radio, said first set of signals comprising a first transmitting indication signal, a first receiving indication signal, and a first idle indication signal; and

receives a second set of signals from said collateral radio, said second set of signals comprising a first transmit inhibit signal; and

a host interface, wherein said host interface communicates the contents of a first data block associated with said first air interface to said channel-access controller when said first data block is received from a host interface bus.

2. The radio of claim 1 wherein said host interface also communicates the contents of a second data block associated with said second air interface to said collateral radio when said second data block is received from said host interface bus.

3. The radio of claim 1 wherein said second set of signals further comprises a polite request signal.

4. The radio of claim 1 wherein:

said first set of signals further comprises a second transmit inhibit signal and a polite request signal; and

said second set of signals further comprises a second transmitting indication signal, a second receiving indication signal, and a second idle indication signal.

5. The radio of claim 1 wherein said first air interface is 802.11 and said second air interface is Bluetooth.

6. The radio of claim 1 wherein said first set of signals and said second set of signals are communicated by a serial interface.

7. The radio of claim 6 wherein said serial interface is at least one of SERDES, IEEE1394 style data/strobe encoding, and RFF(2,5) coding.

8. The radio of claim 6 wherein said serial interface also communicates the contents of said second data block associated with said second air interface to said collateral radio.

9. The radio of claim 6, wherein said serial interface communicates with said collateral radio via a packet format.

10. The radio of claim 7, wherein said packet format is full-duplex, bi-directional.

11. The radio of claim 1, wherein said radio is an integrated circuit.

12. A multi-radio card comprising:

a first radio comprising a first channel-access controller for communicating in accordance with a first air interface wherein said first radio;

communicates the contents of a first data block associated with said first air interface to said first channel-access controller when said first data block is received from a host interface bus;

communicates the contents of a second data block associated with a second air interface to a second radio when said second data block is received from said host interface bus; and

transmits a first set of signals to said second radio, said first set of signals comprising a first transmitting indication signal, a first receiving indication signal, and a first idle indication signal; and

said second radio comprising a second channel-access controller for communicating in accordance with said second air interface wherein said second radio transmits a second set of signals to said first radio, said second set of signals comprising a first transmitter inhibit signal.

13. The multi-radio card of claim 12 further comprising an antenna switch for switching between a transmission signal corresponding to said first air interface and a transmission signal corresponding to said second air interface.

14. The multi-radio card of claim 12 wherein said second set of signals further comprises a polite request signal.

15. The multi-radio card of claim 12 wherein:

said first set of signals further comprises a second transmit inhibit signal and a polite request signal; and

said second set of signals further comprises a second transmitting indication signal, a second receiving indication signal, and a second idle indication signal.

16. The multi-radio card of claim 12 wherein said host interface bus operates in accordance with at least one of PCI, MiniPCI, and CardBus standards.

17. The multi-radio card of claim 12 wherein said first air interface is 802.11 and said second air interface is Bluetooth.

18. A computer comprising:

a first radio comprising a first channel-access controller for communicating in accordance with a first air interface wherein said first radio;

communicates the contents of a first data block associated with said first air interface to said first channel-access controller when said first data block is received from a host processor;

communicates the contents of a second data block associated with a second air interface to a second radio when said second data block is received from said host processor; and

transmits a first set of signals to said second radio, said first set of signals comprising a first transmitting indication signal, a first receiving indication signal, and a first idle indication signal;

said second radio comprising a second channel-access controller for communicating in accordance with said second air interface wherein said second radio transmits a second set of signals to said first radio, said second set of signals comprising a first transmitter inhibit signal; and

said host processor for communicating said first data block and said second data block to said first radio.

19. The computer of claim 18 further comprising an antenna switch for switching between a transmission signal corresponding to said first air interface and a transmission signal corresponding to said second air interface.

20. The computer of claim 18 wherein said second set of signals further comprises a polite request signal.

21. The computer of claim 18 wherein:

said first set of signals further comprises a second transmit inhibit signal and a polite request signal; and

said second set of signals further comprises a second transmitting indication signal, a second receiving indication signal, and a second idle indication signal.

22. The computer of claim 18 wherein the interface between said first radio and said host processor operates in accordance with at least one of PCI, MiniPCI, and CardBus standards.

23. The computer of claim 18 wherein said first air interface is 802.11 and said second air interface is Bluetooth.

24. A radio comprising:

an 802.11 medium access controller for communicating in accordance with an 802.11 air interface, wherein said 802.11 medium access controller;

transmits a first set of signals to a collateral radio, said first set of signals comprising a first transmitting indication signal, a first receiving indication signal, and a first idle indication signal; and

receives a second set of signals from said collateral radio, said second set of signals comprising a first transmit inhibit signal; and

a host interface, wherein said host interface communicates the contents of a first data block associated with said first air interface to said channel-access controller when said first data block is received from a host interface bus.

25. The radio of claim 24 wherein said host interface also communicates the contents of a second data block associated with said second air interface to said collateral radio when said second data block is received from said host interface bus.

26. The radio of claim 24 wherein said second set of signals further comprises a polite request signal.

27. The radio of claim 24 wherein:

said first set of signals further comprises a second transmit inhibit signal and a polite request signal; and

said second set of signals further comprises a second transmitting indication signal, a second receiving indication signal, and a second idle indication signal.

28. The radio of claim 24 wherein said first set of signals and said second set of signals are communicated by a serial interface.

29. The radio of claim 25 wherein said serial interface is at least one of SERDES, IEEE1394 style data/strobe encoding, and RFF(2,5) coding.

30. The radio of claim 28 wherein said serial interface also communicates the contents of said second data block associated with said second air interface to said collateral radio.

31. The radio of claim 30, wherein said serial interface communicates with said collateral radio via a packet format.

32. The radio of claim 31, wherein said packet format is full-duplex, bidirectional.

33. The radio of claim 24, wherein said radio is an integrated circuit.

34. A computer comprising:

a first radio comprising an 802.11 medium access controller for communicating in accordance with an 802.11 air interface wherein said first radio;

communicates the contents of a first data block associated with said first air interface to said first channel-access controller when said first data block is received from a host processor;

communicates the contents of a second data block associated with a Bluetooth air interface to a second radio when said second data block is received from said host processor; and

transmits a first set of signals to said second radio, said first set of signals comprising a first transmitting indication signal, a first receiving indication signal, and a first idle indication signal;

said second radio comprising a Bluetooth link controller for communicating in accordance with said Bluetooth air interface wherein said second radio transmits a second set of signals to said first radio, said second set of signals comprising a first transmitter inhibit signal; and

said host processor for communicating said first data block and said second data block to said first radio.

35. The computer of claim 34 wherein the interface between said first radio and said host processor operates in accordance, with at least one of PCI, MiniPCI, and CardBus standards.