Co-located radio operation

• US 20050059347A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson Technology Licensing AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson Technology Licensing AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Haartsen, Jacobus C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• 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

Abstract

A first radio transceiver is operated in close proximity to a second radio transceiver, even when the first and second radio transceivers operate in accordance with incompatible standards. Operation in this manner includes receiving a first signal that indicates whether the second radio transceiver is idle or busy and receiving a second signal that, when the second radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the second radio transceiver must have access to a second channel. Operation includes determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use a first channel based at least on the first signal.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first radio transceiver in close proximity to a second radio transceiver, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal that indicates whether the second radio transceiver is idle or busy;

receiving a second signal that, when the second radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the second radio transceiver must have access to a second channel; and

determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use a first channel based on at least the first signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the first signal comprises determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the first and second signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the first signal comprises:

enabling the first radio transceiver to use the first channel only when the first signal indicates that the second radio transceiver is idle and use of the first channel by the first radio transceiver will at no point be concurrent with a moment in time indicated by the second signal as being when the second radio transceiver must have access to the second channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first channel and the second channel occupy a same radio frequency spectrum.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first channel and the second channel are the same as one another.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal specifies a first future value of a clock.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal specifies a first time offset value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first radio transceiver operates in accordance with a first standard; and

the second radio transceiver operates in accordance with a second standard.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first standard is a standard for Bluetooth®

wireless technology and the second standard is a standard for WLAN 802.11 technology.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

relinquishing access to the first channel; and

generating a third signal that indicates that the first radio transceiver is idle.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising generating a fourth signal that indicates when the first radio transceiver must again have access to the first channel.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising:

prior to a time indicated by the fourth signal as being when the first radio transceiver must have access to the first channel, detecting that the first signal indicates that the second radio transceiver is idle, and in response thereto performing;

ensuring that the third signal indicates that the first radio transceiver is busy; and

enabling the first radio transceiver to access the first channel.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a third signal that indicates that the first radio transceiver is busy;

enabling the first radio transceiver to utilize the first channel; and

detecting that further use of the first channel by the first radio transceiver cannot be completed before a moment in time indicated by a second signal as being when the second radio transceiver must have access to the second channel, and in response to said detection, performing;

relinquishing access to the first channel;

ensuring that the third signal indicates that the first radio transceiver is idle; and

generating a fourth signal that indicates when the first radio transceiver must again have access to the first channel.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising:

in response to detecting that the first signal indicates that the second radio transceiver is idle, determining whether the second signal should be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the second signal should be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel comprises comparing the second signal to a predetermined value.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the second signal should be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel comprises:

receiving an active-indicating signal that indicates whether the second signal is active; and

using the active-indicating signal as an indicator of whether the second signal should be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising:

in response to determining that the second signal should not be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel, using a timer to determine when the first radio transceiver will relinquish use of the first channel.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a third signal that indicates whether the first radio transceiver is idle or busy.

19. The method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a third signal that indicates whether the first transceiver is idle or busy; and

in response to the first radio transceiver being idle while engaged in best-effort traffic, indicating to the second radio transceiver that a fourth signal is not active, wherein when the first radio transceiver is idle, the fourth signal, when active, indicates when the first radio transceiver must have access to a first channel.

20. The method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a third signal that indicates whether the first transceiver is idle or busy; and

generating a fourth signal that, when the first radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the first radio transceiver must have access to a first channel,

wherein;

the first radio transceiver is engaged in communication of isochronous traffic that permits each data exchange to occur at any of a predetermined plurality of moments within a corresponding window of time; and

generating the fourth signal includes determining when a last occurring one of the predetermined plurality of moments within an upcoming window of time will occur.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising:

detecting that the first signal indicates that the second radio transceiver is busy, and in response thereto remaining idle during a non-last occurring one of the predetermined plurality of moments within the upcoming window of time; and

in a subsequently occurring one of the predetermined plurality of moments within the upcoming window of time, carrying out a data exchange in accordance with one or more predefined retransmission procedures.

22. A controller for operating a first radio transceiver in close proximity to a second radio transceiver, the controller comprising:

logic that receives a first signal that indicates whether the second radio transceiver is idle or busy;

logic that receives a second signal that, when the second radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the second radio transceiver must have access to a second channel; and

logic that determines whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use a first channel based on at least the first signal.

23. The controller of claim 22, wherein the logic that determines whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the first signal comprises logic that determines whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the first and second signals.

24. The controller of claim 23, wherein the logic that determines whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the first signal comprises:

logic that enables the first radio transceiver to use the first channel only when the first signal indicates that the second radio transceiver is idle and use of the first channel by the first radio transceiver will at no point be concurrent with a moment in time indicated by the second signal as being when the second radio transceiver must have access to the second channel.

25. The controller of claim 22, wherein the first channel and the second channel occupy a same radio frequency spectrum.

26. The controller of claim 25, wherein the first channel and the second channel are the same as one another.

27. The controller of claim 22, wherein the second signal specifies a first future value of a clock.

28. The controller of claim 22, wherein the second signal specifies a first time offset value.

29. The controller of claim 22, wherein:

the first radio transceiver operates in accordance with a first standard; and

the second radio transceiver operates in accordance with a second standard.

30. The controller of claim 29, wherein the first standard is a standard for Bluetooth®

wireless technology and the second standard is a standard for WLAN 802.11 technology.

31. The controller of claim 22, comprising:

logic that relinquishes access to the first channel; and

logic that generates a third signal that indicates that the first radio transceiver is idle.

32. The controller of claim 31, comprising logic that generates a fourth signal that indicates when the first radio transceiver must again have access to the first channel.

33. The controller of claim 31, comprising:

logic that, prior to a time indicated by the fourth signal as being when the first radio transceiver must have access to the first channel, detects that the first signal indicates that the second radio transceiver is idle, and in response thereto performs;

ensuring that the third signal indicates that the first radio transceiver is busy; and

enabling the first radio transceiver to access the first channel.

34. The controller of claim 22, comprising:

logic that generates a third signal that indicates that the first radio transceiver is busy;

logic that enables the first radio transceiver to utilize the first channel; and

logic that detects that further use of the first channel by the first radio transceiver cannot be completed before a moment in time indicated by a second signal as being when the second radio transceiver must have access to the second channel, and in response to said detection, performs;

relinquishing access to the first channel;

ensuring that the third signal indicates that the first radio transceiver is idle; and

generating a fourth signal that indicates when the first radio transceiver must again have access to the first channel.

35. The controller of claim 22, comprising:

logic that, in response to detecting that the first signal indicates that the second radio transceiver is idle, determines whether the second signal should be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel.

36. The controller of claim 35, wherein the logic that determines whether the second signal should be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel comprises logic that compares the second signal to a predetermined value.

37. The controller of claim 35, wherein the logic that determines whether the second signal should be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel comprises:

logic that uses an active-indicating signal as an indicator of whether the second signal should be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel, wherein the active-indicating signal indicates whether the second signal is active.

38. The controller of claim 35, comprising:

logic that, in response to determining that the second signal should not be considered when determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel, uses a timer to determine when the first radio transceiver will relinquish use of the first channel.

39. The controller of claim 22, further comprising:

logic that generates a third signal that indicates whether the first radio transceiver is idle or busy.

40. The controller of claim 22, comprising:

logic that generates a third signal that indicates whether the first transceiver is idle or busy; and

logic that, in response to the first radio transceiver being idle while engaged in best-effort traffic, indicates to the second radio transceiver that a fourth signal is not active, wherein when the first radio transceiver is idle, the fourth signal, when active, indicates when the first radio transceiver must have access to a first channel.

41. The controller of claim 22, comprising:

logic that generates a third signal that indicates whether the first transceiver is idle or busy; and

logic that generates a fourth signal that, when the first radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the first radio transceiver must have access to a first channel,

wherein;

the first radio transceiver is engaged in communication of isochronous traffic that permits each data exchange to occur at any of a predetermined plurality of moments within a corresponding window of time; and

the logic that generates the fourth signal includes logic that determines when a last occurring one of the predetermined plurality of moments within an upcoming window of time will occur.

42. The controller of claim 41, comprising:

logic that detects that the first signal indicates that the second radio transceiver is busy, and in response thereto causes the first radio transceiver to remain idle during a non-last occurring one of the predetermined plurality of moments within the upcoming window of time; and

logic that causes a data exchange in a subsequently occurring one of the predetermined plurality of moments within the upcoming window of time to be carried out in accordance with one or more predefined retransmission procedures.

43. An apparatus comprising:

a first radio transceiver comprising a first controller; and

a second radio transceiver comprising a second controller, wherein;

the first controller comprises;

logic that receives a first signal that indicates whether the second radio transceiver is idle or busy;

logic that receives a second signal that, when the second radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the second radio transceiver must have access to a second channel; and

logic that determines whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use a first channel based on at least the first signal; and

the second controller comprises;

logic that generates the first signal; and

logic that generates the second signal.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the logic that determines whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the first signal comprises logic that determines whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the first and second signals.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the set of one or more program instructions cause the processor to perform:

receiving a third signal that indicates whether the second radio transceiver is idle or busy; and

determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use the first channel based on at least the third signal.

45. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of one or more program instructions for causing one or more processors to operate a first radio transceiver in close proximity to a second radio transceiver, the set of one or more program instructions causing the processor to perform:

receiving a first signal that indicates whether the second radio transceiver is idle or busy;

receiving a second signal that, when the second radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the second radio transceiver must have access to a second channel; and

determining whether to enable the first radio transceiver to use a first channel based on at least the first signal.

46. A method of operating a first radio transceiver in close proximity to a second radio transceiver, the method comprising:

generating a first signal that indicates whether the first radio transceiver is idle or busy;

generating a second signal that, when the first radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the first radio transceiver must have access to a first channel.

47. A controller for operating a first radio transceiver in close proximity to a second radio transceiver, the controller comprising:

logic that generates a first signal that indicates whether the first radio transceiver is idle or busy; and

logic that generates a second signal that, when the first radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the first radio transceiver must have access to a first channel.

48. An apparatus comprising:

a first radio transceiver comprising a first controller; and

a second radio transceiver comprising a second controller, wherein;

the first controller comprises;

logic that generates a first signal that indicates whether the first radio transceiver is idle or busy;

logic that generates a second signal that, when the first radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the first radio transceiver must have access to a first channel; and

the second controller comprises;

logic that receives the first signal;

logic that receives the second signal; and

logic that determines whether to enable the second radio transceiver to use the second channel based on at least the first signal.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein:

the logic that determines whether to enable the second radio transceiver to use the second channel based on at least the first signal comprises logic that determines whether to enable the second radio transceiver to use the second channel based on at least the first and second signals.

50. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of one or more program instructions for causing one or more processors to operate a first radio transceiver in close proximity to a second radio transceiver, the set of one or more program instructions causing the processor to perform:

generating a first signal that indicates whether the first radio transceiver is idle or busy; and

generating a second signal that, when the first radio transceiver is idle, indicates when the first radio transceiver must have access to a first channel.