Multimode Communication Terminal and Multimode Communication Implementation Method

• US 20100113090A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Zhou, You, Yuan, Yu, Yang, Yu Dong, Lin, Yong Hua, Song, Hong Hua
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/553.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0064 with separate antennas for the more than one band H04B1/0053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0689 using different transmission schemes, at least one of them being a diversity transmission scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0871 using different reception schemes, at least one of them being a diversity reception scheme

Abstract

The present invention provides a multimode communication terminal which contains at least a first separate channel module and a second separate channel module. The multimode communication terminal can be configured to communicate by using the first channel module and/or the second channel module. The channel modules communicate according to different communication protocols. The multimode communication terminal further comprises: channel switch layer means for switching the first channel module to have parameter characteristics consistent with those of the second channel module, so that the multimode communication terminal enables the MIMO operation mode by using the first channel module and the second channel module at the same time. The present invention further provides a method for enabling a MIMO operation mode in a multimode communication terminal. By using a relatively small number of RF communication modules, the present invention implements a wireless mobile multimode communication terminal which enables various operation modes including the MIMO operation mode. Compared with the existing solutions, the present invention greatly reduces the size required by the terminal.

Claims

1. A multimode communication terminal, comprising:

a first channel module;

a second channel module, wherein said multimode communication terminal can be configured to communicate by using said first channel module and/or said second channel module, said first and second channel modules communicating according to different communication protocols respectively; and

a channel switch layer means for switching said first channel module to have parameter characteristics consistent with those of said second channel module, such that said multimode communication terminal enables a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) operation mode by using said first channel module and said second channel module at the same time, wherein said MIMO operation mode uses multiple antennas both at a transmitter and a receiver.

2. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein said channel switch layer means comprises:

a channel module switching means for extracting corresponding parameters from said second channel module, and for configuring at least said first channel module to be switched with said extracted parameters, such that said first channel module and said second channel module enable said multimode communication terminal to perform MIMO communication.

3. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein said channel switch layer means further comprises:

a switch notifying unit for issuing, upon determination of a switch, notification instructions to means in said channel switch layer means; and

a data channel switching means for changing a data channel associated with said first channel module so that said first channel module and said second channel module can be adapted to said MIMO operation mode;

wherein said data channel switching means operates according to the notification instructions of said switch notifying unit;

wherein said channel module switching means operates according to the notification instructions of said switch notifying unit; and

wherein said parameters from said second channel module include specific operating state parameters of the channel modules and/or signals controlling operating states of the channel modules.

4. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein said channel module switching means is further used for extracting a reference sample clock signal from said second channel module for providing said first channel module to be switched with said reference sample clock signal as a sample clock thereof.

5. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said channel switch layer means further comprises:

an array element switching module for selecting a spatial multiplexing signal processing algorithm that is adapted to an antenna array state of said MIMO operation mode to be switched to;

wherein said array element switching module operates according to said notification instructions of said switch notifying unit.

6. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said channel switch layer means further comprises:

an adjustment-correction module for correcting a channel difference of said channel modules which are switched to said MIMO operation mode;

wherein said adjustment-correction module operates according to the notification instructions of said switch notifying unit.

7. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein said channel switch layer means is further used for arranging said switch of all of said channel modules in a unified way, such that said multimode communication mode can freely operate in a desired operation mode by using one or more of all the channel modules.

8. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein:

said data channel switching means is further used for arranging data channels associated with said channel modules in a unified way, such that said channel modules can be adapted to a desired operation mode; and

said data channel switching means further includes protocol switching means for establishing data channels from said channel modules to proper baseband processing modules according to a current operation mode of said multimode communication terminal.

9. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein said channel modules comprise:

an antenna;

a RF processing module;

a sample clock; and

an A/D and D/A converter.

10. The multimode communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein said communication protocols of said first and second channel modules are selected from the group consisting of:

a Bluetooth communication protocol, a WLAN communication protocol and a mobile communication protocol.

11. A method for enabling a MIMO operation mode in a multimode communication terminal, the method comprising the step of:

switching a first channel module to have parameter characteristics consistent with those of a second channel module, so that said multimode communication terminal enables said MIMO operation mode by using said first channel module and said second channel module at the same time.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said switching step further comprises the steps of:

extracting corresponding parameters from said second channel module; and

configuring said first channel module to be switched with said extracted parameters, such that said first channel module and said second channel module enable said multimode communication terminal to perform MIMO communication.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said switching step further comprises the steps of:

issuing, upon determination of a switch, notification instructions to means in channel switch layer means; and

changing a data channel associated with said first channel module, such that said first channel module and said second channel module can be adapted to said MIMO operation mode;

wherein said step of changing said data channel is performed according to the notification instruction of said switch notifying unit;

wherein said step of extracting and configuring parameters is performed according to the notification instructions of said switch notifying unit; and

wherein said parameters from said second channel module include specific operating state parameters of channel modules and/or signals controlling operating states of the channel modules.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:

said step of extracting corresponding parameters further comprises a step of extracting a reference sample clock signal from said second channel module;

said step of configuring said first channel module further comprises a step of providing said first channel module to be switched with said reference sample clock signal as a sample clock thereof.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said switching step further comprises the step of:

selecting a spatial multiplexing signal processing algorithm which is adapted to an antenna array state of said MIMO operation mode to be switched to;

wherein the step of selecting is performed according to the notification instructions of said switch notifying unit.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said switching step further comprises the step of:

correcting a channel difference of said channel modules which are switched to said MIMO operation mode;

wherein the step of correcting said channel difference is performed according to the notification instructions of said switch notifying unit.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said switching step further comprises the step of:

arranging said switch of said channel modules in a unified way, such that said multimode communication mode can freely operate in desired operation mode by using one or more of said channel modules.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said step of changing said data channel associated with the channel module further comprises the step of:

arranging said data channels associated with said channel modules in a unified way, such that said channel modules can be adapted to a desired operation mode;

wherein said step of arranging data channels in a unified way comprises a step of establishing data channels from the respective channel modules to the proper baseband processing modules according to a current operation mode of said multimode communication terminal.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein said channel module comprises:

an antenna;

a RF processing module;

a sample clock; and

an A/D and D/A converter.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein said different communication protocols of said first and second channel modules are selected from the group consisting of:

a Bluetooth communication protocol, a WLAN communication protocol and a mobile communication protocol.