Device, system, and method of multi-entity wireless communication adapter having a multi-channel mode

• US 20070070960A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bachrach, Yuval, Jalfon, Marc, Barak, Amit
• Application Number:
  US11/235,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20070070960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for a multi-entity wireless communication adapter, including at least a first connection module to communicate a first signal traffic corresponding to a basic service set station entity, a second connection module to communicate a second signal traffic corresponding to an entity that is not a basic service set station, a shared physical layer to process both the first and the second signal traffics, and a media access controller to control communication of the first and second signal traffics via first and second communication channels, respectively, according to a channel management scheme. Additional features are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

controlling at least first and second signal traffics to be communicated using a shared physical layer via first and second communication channels, respectively, according to a channel management scheme which is executable by a media access controller, wherein said first signal traffic corresponds to a basic service set station entity and said second signal traffic corresponds to an entity that is not a basic service set station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling said first and second signal traffics comprises switching said shared physical layer between said first and second channels according to said channel management scheme.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein switching comprises periodically switching between alternating first and second time periods in which said first and second signal traffics are processed via said shared physical layer, respectively.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein controlling comprises communicating a power save mode entry indication in said first signal traffic to indicate that said basic service set station entity is to enter power save mode for the duration of said second time period.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein controlling comprises communicating a quiet element in said second signal traffic to define a quiet period of said second signal traffic for the duration of said first time period.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising communicating said first communication channel over a link of a wireless local area network and communicating said second communication channel over a link of a wireless personal area network.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a multi-entity wireless communication adapter including at least a first connection module to communicate a first signal traffic corresponding to a basic service set station entity, a second connection module to communicate a second signal traffic corresponding to an entity that is not a basic service set station, a shared physical layer to process both said first and said second signal traffics, and a media access controller to control communication of said first and second signal traffics via first and second communication channels, respectively, according to a channel management scheme.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said multi-entity adapter comprises one or more components of said media access controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said media access controller is to periodically switch said shared physical layer between said first and second communication channels such that said first and second signal traffics are processed during alternating first and second time periods, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first connection module is to communicate a power save mode entry indication said first signal traffic to indicate entry into power save mode for the duration of said second time period.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second connection module is to communicate a quiet element in said second signal traffic to define a quiet period of said second signal traffic for the duration of said first time period.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first communication channel is a wireless local area network channel and wherein said second communication channel is a wireless personal area network channel.

13. A wireless communication system comprising:

a multi-entity wireless communication device comprising;

an adapter including at least a first connection module to communicate a first signal traffic corresponding to a basic service set station entity, a second connection module to communicate a second signal traffic corresponding to an entity that is not a basic service set station, a shared physical layer to process both said first and said second signal traffics, and a media access controller to control communication of said first and second signal traffics via first and second communication channels, respectively, according to a channel management scheme; and

one or more dipole antennae to transmit and receive signals corresponding to said first and second signal traffics over said first and second communication channels, respectively.

14. A wireless communication system according to claim 13, comprising:

one or more additional wireless communication devices to communicate with said multi-entity wireless communication device over a link of a wireless communication network.

15. A wireless communication system according to claim 14, wherein said wireless communication network is a wireless local area network.

16. A wireless communication system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said additional wireless communication devices is an access point of said wireless local area network, and wherein said first connection module is to communicate a power save mode entry indication in said first signal traffic to indicate entry into power save mode for the duration of said second time period.

17. A wireless communication system according to claim 16, wherein said access point is to buffer pending transmissions of said first signal traffic in response to said power save mode entry indication.

18. A wireless communication system according to claim 14, wherein said wireless communication network is a wireless personal area network.

19. A wireless communication system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said additional wireless communication devices is a client station of said wireless personal are network, and wherein said second connection module is to communicate a quiet element to define a quiet period of said second signal traffic for the duration of said first time period.

20. A wireless communication system according to claim 19, wherein said client station is to queue pending data transmissions of said second signal traffic in response to said quiet element.

21. A wireless communication system according to claim 13, wherein said first communication channel is a wireless local area network channel and wherein said second communication channel is a wireless personal area network channel.

22. A wireless communication system according to claim 13, wherein said adapter comprises one or more components of said media access controller.