Communication device with millimeter wave interface and method for use therewith

• US 20090036067A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Granted Patent: US 8,254,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/91
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling

Abstract

A communication device has a plurality of circuit modules including a processing module, a memory module and a wireless telephony transceiver for communicating with a network in accordance with a wireless telephony protocol. An RF data bus communicates first data between at least two of the plurality of circuit modules over a first millimeter wave communication path.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a plurality of circuit modules including a processing module, a memory module and a wireless telephony transceiver for communicating with a network in accordance with a wireless telephony protocol; and

an RF data bus that communicates first data between at least two of the plurality of circuit modules over a first millimeter wave communication path.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the at least two of the plurality of circuit modules include:

a millimeter wave transceiver that communicates first data between at least two of the plurality of circuit modules by sending and receiving millimeter wave RF signals; and

a protocol conversion module coupled to convert the first data to a millimeter wave protocol for transmission over the RF data bus.

3. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

a millimeter wave modem coupled to receive second data from at least one external device and to transmit the second data over the RF data bus to at least one of the plurality of circuit modules.

4. The communication device of claim 3 wherein the millimeter wave modem receives the second data over a second millimeter wave communication path.

5. The communication device of claim 3 wherein the millimeter wave modem includes:

at least one millimeter wave transceiver that receives the second data over the second millimeter wave communication path and transmits the second data over the first millimeter wave communication path; and

a first protocol conversion module coupled to convert the second data to the millimeter wave protocol for transmission over the RF data bus.

6. The communication device of claim 3 wherein the millimeter wave modem is further coupled to receive third data from at least one of the plurality of circuit modules via the RF data bus, and to send the third data to the at least one external device.

7. The communication device of claim 6 wherein the at least one millimeter wave transceiver receives the third data over the first millimeter wave communication path and transmits the third data over the second millimeter wave communication path, and wherein the millimeter wave modem includes:

a second protocol conversion module coupled to convert the third data from the millimeter wave protocol for transmission to the at least one external device.

8. The communication device of claim 1 includes a RF data bus controller having:

an interface for communicating RF data bus access requests and allocations; and

a controller module coupled to;

receive an access request to the RF data bus via the interface;

determine RF data bus resource availability; and

when sufficient RF data bus resources are available to fulfill the access request, allocate, via the interface, at least one RF data bus resource in response to the access request.

9. The communication device of claim 8 wherein the interface receives the RF data bus access request from the plurality of circuit modules.

10. The communication device of claim 8 wherein the interface receives the RF data bus access request from at least one external device.

11. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the first millimeter wave communication path includes a wave guide.

12. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the first millimeter wave communication path includes a free space communication path.

13. A method comprising:

communicating, over a first millimeter wave communication path of an RF data bus, first data between a plurality of circuit modules including a processing module, a memory module and a wireless telephony transceiver.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

converting the first data to the millimeter wave protocol for transmission over the RF data bus.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving second data from at least one external device; and

transmitting the second data over the RF data bus to at least one of the plurality of circuit modules.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving the second data over a second millimeter wave communication path.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

converting the second data to the millimeter wave protocol for transmission over the RF data bus.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving third data from at least one of the plurality of circuit modules via the RF data bus; and

sending the third data to the at least one external device.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

converting the third data from the millimeter wave protocol for transmission to the at least one external device.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving an access request to access the RF data bus;

determining RF data bus resource availability; and

when sufficient RF data bus resources are available to fulfill the access request, allocating at least one RF data bus resource in response to the access request.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the RF data bus access request is received from at least one of the plurality of circuit modules.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the RF data bus access request is received from at least one external device.