METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

• US 20100165973A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: SU, Jiun Jang, YEH, Chih Hao
• Granted Patent: US 8,199,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/345
• 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

A method for operating an electronic device using a first and a second communication protocols is provided. The electronic device includes an arbitrator to determine whether to communicate in accordance with the first or second communication protocol. The method estimates a period for transmitting a trigger frame by the electronic device, a period for receiving a first acknowledgement (ACK) frame by the electronic device, a period of a backoff procedure, a period for receiving a predetermined number of delivered frames by the electronic device, and a period of transmitting a second ACK frame by the electronic device. All the above estimated periods are added to be a predetermined time period. The trigger frame is transmitted to initiate the electronic device to communicate in accordance with the first communication protocol. The arbitrator determines whether to grant the electronic device to communicate in accordance with the second communication protocol based on the predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device using a first and a second communication protocols, comprising:

estimating a period for transmitting a trigger frame by said electronic device, a period for receiving a first acknowledgement (ACK) frame by said electronic device, a period of a backoff procedure, a period for receiving a predetermined number of delivered frames by said electronic device, and a period of transmitting a second ACK frame by said electronic device;

adding all said estimated periods to be a predetermined time period;

transmitting said trigger frame to initiate said electronic device to communicate in accordance with said first communication protocol; and

determining whether to grant said electronic device to communicate in accordance with said second communication protocol based on said predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic device is granted to communicate in accordance with said first communication protocol while not granted from communicating in accordance with said second communication protocol, and wherein said electronic device is granted to communicate in accordance with said second communication protocol while not granted from communicating in accordance with said first communication protocol.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when said predetermined time period is ended, said electronic device is granted to communicate in accordance with said second communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 2, before said predetermined time period is ended, further comprising a step of checking whether said second ACK frame is sent.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising a step of enabling said electronic device to communicate in accordance with said second communication protocol when said second ACK frame is sent.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second ACK frame is sent when said electronic device receives a frame with an End of Service Period (EOSP) bit.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the following steps before said predetermined time period is ended:

checking whether said first ACK frame is received within an ACK timeout period; and

enabling said electronic device to communicate in accordance with said second communication protocol if said first ACK frame is not received when said ACK timeout period is ended.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising the following steps when said predetermined time period is ended:

checking if said electronic device is receiving a frame;

enabling said electronic device to communicate in accordance with said first communication protocol until said frame is received completely; and

determining if said frame is a destined frame; and

if said frame is said destined frame, enabling said electronic device to communicate in accordance with said second communication protocol when said second ACK frame is sent.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the following steps when said predetermined time period is ended:

checking if said electronic device is receiving a frame;

enabling said electronic device to communicate in accordance with said first communication protocol until said frame is received completely; and

determining if said frame is a destined frame; and

enabling said electronic device to communicate in accordance with said second communication protocol when said frame is determined as not said destined frame.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said electronic device comprises a first module corresponding to said first communication protocol, a second module corresponding to said second communication protocol, and a Packet Traffic Arbitration (PTA) coupled to said first module and said second module, and said step of transmitting said trigger frame comprises:

said first module requesting said PTA for transmit said trigger frame; and

said PTA prohibiting said second module from receiving or transmitting signals when said electronic device communicating in accordance with said first communication protocol.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic device utilizes an Unscheduled automatic power save delivery (U-APSD) mechanism to communicate with an Access Point (AP) in accordance with said first communication protocol.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first communication protocol is IEEE 802.11 protocol, and said second communication protocol is Bluetooth protocol.

13. A wireless electronic device, comprising:

a first module configured to operate in accordance with a first communication protocol;

a second module configured to operate in accordance with a second communication protocol; and

an arbitrator coupled to the first module and the second module, configured to determine whether to grant the first module and not grant the second module or grant the second module and not grant the first module based on a predetermined time period;

wherein the predetermined time period is calculated by adding a period for transmitting said trigger frame by said first module, a period for receiving a first acknowledgement (ACK) frame by said first module, a period of a backoff procedure, a period for receiving a predetermined number of delivered frames by said first module, and a period of transmitting a second ACK frame by said first module.

14. The wireless electronic device of claim 13, wherein when said arbitrator grants said wireless electronic device to communicate in accordance with said first communication protocol, said first module transmits said trigger frame to initiate said predetermined time period.

15. The wireless electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first module utilizes an Unscheduled automatic power save delivery (U-APSD) mechanism to communicate with an Access Point (AP) in accordance with said first communication protocol.

16. The wireless electronic device of claim 14, wherein when said predetermined time period is ended, said arbitrator grants said second module and does not grant said first module.

17. The wireless electronic device of claim 14, wherein when said second ACK frame is sent, said arbitrator grants said second module and does not grant said first module.

18. The wireless electronic device of claim 17, wherein when said electronic device receives a frame with an End of Service Period (EOSP) bit, said first module sends said second ACK frame.

19. The wireless electronic device of claim 14, wherein if said first ACK is not received by said first module during an ACK timeout period, said arbitrator grants said second module and does not grant said first module when said ACK timeout period is ended.

20. The wireless electronic device of claim 14, wherein if said first module is receiving a frame when said predetermined period is ended, said arbitrator grants said first module and does not grant said second module at least until the frame is received completely.

21. The wireless electronic device of claim 13, wherein said first communication protocol is IEEE 802.11 protocol, and said second communication protocol is Bluetooth protocol.