Cooperative transceiving between wireless interface devices of a host device with shared modules

• US 20080279138A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ibrahim, Brima B., Desai, Prasanna, Gonikberg, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,826,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An circuit includes a first wireless interface circuit that transceives packetized data between a host module and a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol. A second wireless interface circuit transceives packetized data between the host module and a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol. The second wireless interface circuit includes at least one module that is shared with first wireless interface circuit, the module having a first state where the module is operational and a second state corresponding to a low-power state. The first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit operate in accordance with a wireless interface schedule that includes a first time interval where the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device contemporaneously use the at least one module in the first state and a second time interval where the at least one module is in the second state.

Claims

1. A circuit comprises:

a first wireless interface circuit that communicates packetized data to a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol;

a second wireless interface circuit that communicates packetized data to a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol, wherein the second wireless interface circuit includes at least one module that is shared with first wireless interface circuit, the at least one module having a first state where the at least one module is operational and a second state corresponding to a low-power state; and

a plurality of signal lines, coupled to the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit, that communicate cooperation data between the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit, wherein the cooperation data relates to cooperate use of the at least one module.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit operate in accordance with a wireless interface schedule that includes a first time interval wherein the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device contemporaneously use the at least one module in the first state and a second time interval wherein the at least one module is in the second state.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the first wireless communication protocol includes an 802.11 protocol, and wherein the first wireless interface circuit scans for an incoming beacon during the first time interval.

4. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the second wireless communication protocol includes a wireless pico-network protocol and the second wireless interface circuit performs a page scan during the first time interval.

5. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

a processing module, coupled to the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device, that generates the wireless interface schedule.

6. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the at least one module includes at least one of, an oscillator, and a low noise amplifier.

7. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the at least one module is powered off during the second time interval.

8. A circuit comprises:

a first wireless interface circuit that communicates packetized data to a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol;

a second wireless interface circuit that communicates packetized data to a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol, wherein the second wireless interface circuit includes at least one module that is shared with first wireless interface circuit, the at least one module having a first state where the at least one module is operational and a second state corresponding to a low-power state; and

wherein the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit operate in accordance with a wireless interface schedule that includes a first time interval wherein the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device contemporaneously use the at least one module in the first state and a second time interval wherein the at least one module is in the second state.

9. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the first wireless communication protocol includes an 802.11 protocol, and wherein the first wireless interface circuit scans for an incoming beacon during the first time interval.

10. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the second wireless communication protocol includes a wireless pico-network protocol and the second wireless interface circuit performs a page scan during the first time interval.

11. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the at least one module includes at least one of, an oscillator, and a low noise amplifier.

12. The circuit of claim 8 further comprising:

a plurality of signal lines, coupled to the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit, that communicate cooperation data between the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit, wherein the cooperation data relates to cooperate use of the at least one module.

13. The circuit of claim 8 further comprising:

a processing module, coupled to the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device, that generates the wireless interface schedule.

14. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the at least one module is powered off during the second time interval.

15. A method comprising:

communicating packetized data to a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol, using a first wireless interface circuit;

communicating packetized data to a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol using a second wireless interface circuit that includes at least one module that is shared with first wireless interface module, the at least one module having a first state where the at least one module is operational and a second state corresponding to a low-power state;

scheduling a first time interval wherein the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device contemporaneously use the at least one module; and

switching the at least one module to the second state during a second time interval.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first wireless communication protocol includes an 802.11 protocol, and wherein the first wireless interface circuit scans for an incoming beacon during the first time interval.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the second wireless communication protocol includes a wireless pico-network protocol and the second wireless interface circuit performs a page scan during the first time interval.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one module includes at least one of, an oscillator, and a low noise amplifier.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

communicating cooperation data between the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit, wherein the cooperation data relates to cooperate use of the at least one module.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

generating the wireless interface schedule.

21. A circuit comprises:

a plurality of wireless interface circuits that communicate packetized data to a corresponding plurality of external devices in accordance with a corresponding plurality of wireless communication protocols, wherein the plurality of wireless interface circuits includes at least one module that is shared, the at least one module having a first state where the at least one module is operational and a second state corresponding to a low-power state; and

wherein the plurality of wireless interface circuits operate in accordance with a wireless interface schedule that includes a first time interval wherein the plurality of wireless interface circuits contemporaneously use the at least one module in the first state and a second time interval wherein the at least one module is in the second state.

22. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the plurality of wireless communication protocols includes an 802.11 protocol used by a first wireless interface circuit of the plurality of wireless interface circuits, and wherein the first wireless interface circuit scans for an incoming beacon during the first time interval.

23. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the plurality of wireless communication protocol includes a wireless pico-network protocol used by a second wireless interface circuit of the plurality of wireless interface circuits, and wherein the second wireless interface circuit performs a page scan during the first time interval.

24. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the at least one module includes at least one of, an oscillator, and a low noise amplifier.

25. The circuit of claim 21 further comprising:

a plurality of signal lines, coupled to the plurality of wireless interface circuits, that communicate cooperation data between the plurality of wireless interface circuits, wherein the cooperation data relates to cooperate use of the at least one module.

26. The circuit of claim 21 further comprising:

a processing module, coupled to the plurality of wireless interface circuits, that generates the wireless interface schedule.

27. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the at least one module is powered off during the second time interval.