Device and methods for increasing wireless connection speeds

• US 20060062174A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rainish, Doron, Sasson, Roni, Tamir, Tal, Ben-Eli, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• 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

Systems and methods may operate to increase the throughput of a wireless connection by passing a wireless signal from a communications subsystem to an application subsystem for physical layer processing of the wireless signal. Other embodiments include systems and methods for selectively activating a processor of an application subsystem when an improvement in wireless throughput is possible.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an application subsystem, comprising;

a processor; and

a storage device; and

at least one communication subsystem, comprising;

a media access control (MAC) device; and

a physical (PHY) device, where the PHY device is operably coupled to the processor of the application subsystem.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication subsystem is operably coupled to a radio-frequency (RF) antenna and where the antenna is to receive a wireless signal and is to pass the wireless signal to the PHY device of the communication subsystem.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PHY device is to receive a wireless signal and is to pass the wireless signal to the processor of the application subsystem.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication subsystem is to receive wireless signals of a first and of a second type.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a first communication subsystem capable of receiving wireless signals of a first type;

a second communication subsystem capable of receiving wireless signals of a second type.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

further communication subsystems capable of receiving wireless signals of further types.

7. A system, comprising:

an application subsystem, comprising;

a processor; and

a storage device;

at least one communication subsystem, comprising;

a media access control (MAC) device; and

a physical (PHY) device, where the PHY device is operably coupled to the processor of the application subsystem; and

an omni-directional antenna operably coupled to the at least one communication subsystem, wherein the omni-directional antenna is to receive a wireless signal and is to pass the wireless signal to the PHY device of the at least one communication subsystem.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the PHY device is to receive a wireless signal and is to pass the wireless signal to the processor of the application subsystem.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one communication subsystem is to receive wireless signals of a first and of a second type.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one communication subsystem comprises:

a first communication subsystem capable of receiving wireless signals of a first type;

a second communication subsystem capable of receiving wireless signals of a second type.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system further comprises:

further communication subsystems capable of receiving wireless signals of further types.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem;

passing the wireless signal to a processor of an application subsystem; and

processing the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) /General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal is a wireless signal that conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal is a wireless signal that conforms to the IEEE 802.16 standard.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal is a Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) signal.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem;

analyzing the wireless signal for at least one aspect of wireless performance;

determining if the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved;

if it is determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved, then activating a processor of an application subsystem to process the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem, where the processor of the application subsystem is operably coupled to the PHY device; and

if it is determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can not be improved, processing the wireless signal within the PHY device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one aspect of wireless performance includes bit error rate, block error rate, frame error rate, throughput, SINR.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein activating a processor of an application subsystem further comprises:

accessing an algorithm; and

processing the wireless signal with the accessed algorithm within the processor of the application subsystem.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein accessing an algorithm further comprises:

ascertaining an environment in which the communication subsystem is operating;

selecting an algorithm that is optimized for the ascertained environment; and

accessing the selected algorithm.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein an environment includes any of the following:

density of wireless devices located proximally to the wireless interface;

tasks being performed concurrently on the processor; and

distance from a wireless access point.

22. A machine readable medium having machine executable instructions contained therein, which when executed perform the following operations:

receiving a wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem;

analyzing the wireless signal for at least one aspect of wireless performance;

determining if the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved;

if it is determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved, then activating a processor of an application subsystem to process the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem, where the processor of the application subsystem is operably coupled to the PHY device; and

if it is determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can not be improved, processing the wireless signal on the PHY device.

23. The machine readable medium of claim 22, wherein the at least one aspect of wireless performance includes bit error rate, block error rate, frame error rate, throughput, SINR.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 22, wherein activating a processor of an application subsystem further comprises:

accessing an algorithm; and

processing the wireless signal with the accessed algorithm within the processor of the application subsystem.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 24, wherein accessing an algorithm further comprises:

ascertaining an environment in which the communication subsystem is operating;

selecting an algorithm that is optimized for the ascertained environment; and

accessing the selected algorithm.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 25, wherein the environment includes any of the following:

density of wireless devices located proximally to the wireless interface;

tasks being performed concurrently on the co-processor; and

distance from a wireless access point.

27. A method, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem;

analyzing at least one aspect of wireless performance;

first, determining if the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved;

second, determining an availability of a processor of an application subsystem, where the processor is operably coupled to the PHY device;

if it is first determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved and second determined that the processor of the application subsystem is available, then activating the processor of the application subsystem to process the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem; and

if it is first determined that at least one aspect of wireless performance can not be improved or second determined that the processor is not available, processing the wireless signal using the PHY device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the processor is available unless any of the following are true:

the processor is executing a processor-intensive task, the processor is in a power-save mode;

or the processor has ceased performing instruction for any reason.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the processor is available unless an algorithm that is optimal for current operating conditions of the communication subsystem is contained on the communication subsystem.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the activating the processor further comprises:

accessing an algorithm; and

processing the wireless signal with the accessed algorithm within the processor of the application subsystem.

31. A machine readable medium having machine executable instructions contained therein, which when executed perform the following operations:

receiving an unprocessed wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem;

analyzing at least one aspect of wireless performance;

first, determining if the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved;

second, determining an availability of a processor of an application subsystem, where the processor is operably coupled to the PHY device;

if it is first determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved and second determined that the processor of the application subsystem is available, then activating the processor of the application subsystem to process the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem; and

if it is first determined that at least one aspect of wireless performance can not be improved or second determined that processing is not available, processing the wireless signal using the PHY device.

32. The machine readable medium of claim 31, wherein the processor is available unless any of the following are true:

the processor is executing a processor-intensive task, the processor is in a power-save mode;

or the processor has ceased performing instruction for any reason.

33. The machine readable medium of claim 31, wherein the processor is available unless an algorithm that is optimal for current operating conditions of the communication subsystem is contained on the communication subsystem.

34. The machine readable medium of claim 31, wherein the activating the processor further comprises:

accessing an algorithm; and

processing the wireless signal with the accessed algorithm within the processor of the application subsystem.

35. A method, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem;

analyzing at least one aspect of wireless performance;

first determining an availability of a processor of an application subsystem, where the processor is operably coupled to the PHY device;

second determining if the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved;

if it is second determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved and first determined that the processor of the application subsystem is available, then activating the processor of the application subsystem to process the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem; and

if it is second determined that at least one aspect of wireless performance can not be improved or first determined that the processor is not available, processing the wireless signal using the PHY device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the processor is available unless any of the following are true:

the processor is executing a processor-intensive task, the processor is in a power-save mode;

or the processor has ceased performing instruction for any reason.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the processor is available unless an algorithm that is optimal for current operating conditions of the communication subsystem is contained on the communication subsystem.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the activating the processor further comprises:

accessing an algorithm; and

processing the wireless signal with the accessed algorithm within the processor of the application subsystem.

39. A machine readable medium having machine executable instructions contained therein, which when executed perform the following operations:

receiving an unprocessed wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem;

analyzing at least one aspect of wireless performance;

first determining an availability of a processor of an application subsystem, where the processor is operably coupled to the PHY device;

second determining if the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved;

if it is second determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved and first determined that the processor of the application subsystem is available, then activating the processor of the application subsystem to process the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem; and

if it is second determined that at least one aspect of wireless performance can not be improved or first determined that processing is not available, processing the wireless signal using the PHY device.

40. The machine readable medium of claim 39, wherein the processor is available unless any of the following are true:

the processor is executing a processor-intensive task, the processor is in a power-save mode;

or the processor has ceased performing instruction for any reason.

41. The machine readable medium of claim 39, wherein the processor is available unless an algorithm that is optimal for current operating conditions of the communication subsystem is contained on the communication subsystem.

42. The machine readable medium of claim 39, wherein the activating the processor further comprises:

accessing an algorithm; and

processing the wireless signal with the accessed algorithm within the processor of the application subsystem.

43. An apparatus, comprising:

an application subsystem, comprising;

a processor; and

at least one communication subsystem, comprising;

a physical (PHY) device, where the PHY device is operably coupled to the processor of the application subsystem.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the at least one communication subsystem is operably coupled to a radio-frequency (RF) antenna and where the antenna is to receive a wireless signal and is to pass the wireless signal to the PHY device of the communication subsystem.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the PHY device is to receive a wireless signal and is to pass the wireless signal to the processor of the application subsystem.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the at least one communication subsystem is to receive wireless signals of a first and of a second type.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a first communication subsystem capable of receiving wireless signals of a first type;

a second communication subsystem capable of receiving wireless signals of a second type.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

further communication subsystems capable of receiving wireless signals of further types.