Electronic device, method and communication system

• US 20060111042A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Pitchers, Stephen M
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• 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 electronic device (100) has a first wireless transceiver module (120) using a first communication protocol and a second wireless transceiver module (140) using a second communication protocol. Both wireless transceiver modules are coupled between an application layer (150) and an at least partially shared physical layer (110) of the electronic device (100). The second wireless transceiver module is equipped with a controller (142) to avoid interference with external signals on a frequency used by the second communication protocol. To avoid destructive interference in the physical layer (110) resulting from simultaneous communications from or to the first wireless transceiver module (120) and the second wireless transceiver module (140), the electronic device (100) further includes a mediator (160), which is responsive to an enabled communication involving the first wireless transceiver module (120), and which feeds a blocking signal into the controller (142) to avoid interference between the enabled communication and a transmission of the second wireless transceiver module (140).

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a first wireless transceiver module using a first communication protocol;

a second wireless transceiver module using a second communication protocol, the second wireless transceiver module comprising a controller for avoiding an interference with an external signal on a frequency of the second communication protocol; and

a mediator coupled between the first wireless transceiver module and the second wireless transceiver module, the mediator being arranged to provide the controller with a blocking signal in response to an enabled communication involving the first wireless transceiver module.

2. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller implements at least a part of a carrier sense multiple access-collision avoidance principle.

3. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first wireless transceiver module and the second wireless transceiver module share at least a part of a physical layer.

4. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mediator is arranged to provide the blocking signal during a time interval matching the duration of the enabled communication.

5. An electronic device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first wireless transceiver module comprises a further controller for avoiding an interference with a further external signal on a frequency of the first communication protocol;

the mediator being further arranged to provide the further controller with a further blocking signal in response to a further enabled communication involving the second wireless transceiver module.

6. A method for controlling communications involving a communication system, the communication system comprising:

a first wireless transceiver module using a first communication protocol;

a second wireless transceiver module using a second communication protocol, the second wireless transceiver module comprising a controller for avoiding an interference with an external signal on a frequency of the second communication protocol;

the method comprising the steps of;

detecting an enabled communication involving the first wireless transceiver module; and

providing the controller with a blocking signal in response to the enabled communication.

7. A communication system, comprising:

a wired network;

a first wireless transceiver module coupled to the wired network using a first communication protocol for communicating with a first external device;

a second wireless transceiver module coupled to the wired network using a second communication protocol for communicating with a second external device, the second wireless transceiver module comprising a controller for avoiding an interference with an external signal on a frequency of the second communication protocol; and

a mediator coupled to the first wireless transceiver module and the second wireless transceiver module for providing the controller with a blocking signal in response to an enabled communication involving the first wireless transceiver module.

8. A communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mediator is coupled to the controller via the wired network.

9. A communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first wireless transceiver module comprises a further controller for avoiding an interference with a further external signal on a frequency of the first communication protocol;

and

the mediator is arranged to provide the further controller with a further blocking signal responsive to a further enabled communication involving the second wireless transceiver module.

10. A communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first transceiver module and the second transceiver module share at least a part of a physical layer.