Synchronization of multiple processors in a multi-mode wireless communication device

• US 20040185899A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayem, Frederic, Borromeo, Leo, Lotter, Michiel
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• 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 1/3818 Arrangements for facilitating insertion or removal of identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2618 using hybrid code-time division multiple access [CDMA-TDMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0685 Clock or time synchronisation in a node; Intranode synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area 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 method for effecting timing synchronization within a multi-mode communication device is disclosed herein. The method includes configuring a host baseband processor of the multi-mode device to operate in accordance with a first wireless communications protocol of a first wireless communications system. A baseband co-processor of the device is also configured to operate in accordance with a second wireless communications protocol of a second wireless communications system. The method includes establishing, within the device, timing synchronization between the first and second communication systems on the basis of timing information transferred to the host baseband processor from the baseband co-processor.

Claims

1. A multi-mode wireless communication device, comprising:

a host baseband processor configured to operate in accordance with a first wireless communications protocol of a first wireless communications system;

a baseband co-processor configured to operate in accordance with a second wireless communications protocol of a second wireless communications system; and

means for establishing, within said device, timing synchronization between said first and second wireless communications systems on the basis of timing information transferred to said host baseband processor from said baseband co-processor.

2. The multi-mode communications device of claim 1 wherein said means for establishing timing synchronization includes means for issuing, from said host baseband processor, a timer capture interrupt to said baseband co-processor during a predetermined timer phase of said first wireless communications system.

3. The multi-mode communication device of claim 2 wherein said baseband co-processor is configured to provide at least one timer value pertinent to a timing state of said second wireless communications system to said host baseband processor in response to issuance of said timer capture interrupt, said means for synchronizing determining a timing difference between said first and second wireless communication systems based upon said predetermined timer phase and said at least one timer value.

4. The multi-mode communications device of claim 1 wherein said means for establishing timing synchronization includes means for reading a current value of at least one timer maintained by said baseband co-processor consistent with said second wireless communications protocol.

5. The multi-mode communications device of claim 1 wherein said host baseband processor further includes a higher-layer processing module and a modem for interfacing with said first wireless communication system, said higher-layer processing module being operatively coupled to said modem and to a baseband interface of said baseband co-processor.

6. The multi-mode communications device of claim 3 wherein said second wireless communications protocol comprises WCDMA, said baseband co-processor including first and second registers adapted to store said at least one timer value and an additional timer value pertinent to said second wireless communications protocol.

7. The multi-mode communications device of claim 6 wherein said at least one timer value corresponds to a slot counter and said additional timer value corresponds to a sample counter.

8. The multi-mode communications device of claim 1 wherein said host baseband processor includes a higher-layer processor configured to effect higher-layer processing of information processed by said baseband co-processor.

9. A timing synchronization method, comprising:

configuring a host baseband processor of a multi-mode device to operate in accordance with a first wireless communications protocol of a first wireless communications system;

configuring a baseband co-processor of a multi-mode device to operate in accordance with a second wireless communications protocol of a second wireless communications system;

establishing, within said device, timing synchronization between said first and second communication systems on the basis of timing information transferred to said host baseband processor from said baseband co-processor.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said establishing includes issuing a timer capture interrupt to said baseband co-processor.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said establishing further includes providing at least one timer value pertinent to a timing state of said second wireless communications system to said host baseband processor in response to issuance of said timer capture interrupt.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said establishing includes reading a current value of at least one timer maintained by said baseband co-processor consistent with said second wireless communications protocol.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said second wireless communications protocol comprises WCDMA, said establishing including storing at least one timer value and an additional timer value pertinent to an additional timing state of said second wireless communications system in first and second registers of said baseband co-processor.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said host baseband processor is further configured to effect higher-layer processing of information processed by said baseband co-processor.

15. A method for establishing timing synchronization between a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system within a multi-mode communication device, the method comprising:

generating a timer capture interrupt during a predetermined timing phase of said first wireless communication system;

storing a timer value of at least one timer pertinent to operation of said second wireless communication system in response to said timer capture interrupt;

reading said timer value; and

determining a timing relationship between said first and second wireless communication systems based upon said timer value.

16. The method of claim 15 further including:

storing an additional timer value of at least one other timer pertinent to operation of said second wireless communication system in response to said timer capture interrupt;

reading said additional timer value, said timing relationship being based at least in part upon said additional timer value.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein one or more timers are incremented pursuant to operation of said first wireless communication system, said determining a timing relationship including comparing at least one value of said one or more timers with said timer value.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said first wireless communications system operates in accordance with a first wireless communications protocol and said second wireless communications system operates in accordance with a second wireless communications protocol different from said first wireless communications protocol.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said first wireless communications protocol comprises GSM and said second wireless communications protocol comprises WCDMA.