METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMIC AND DUAL ANTENNA BLUETOOTH (BT)/WLAN COEXISTENCE

• US 20100316027A1
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Raissinia, Alireza, Tsou, Eric Y., Chillariga, Gopal, Rick, Roland R., Linsky, Joel Benjamin, Kohlmann, Michael, Jones, Vincent Knowles, Lane, Mark Vernon
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• 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

An apparatus and method are disclosed for effectively and efficiently arbitrating concurrent usage between WLAN and Bluetooth access technologies for co-located wireless devices. A state level arbiter determines state and relevant parameters of a WLAN module and of a Bluetooth module of a wireless transceiver unit. The state level arbiter uses the state and relevant parameters to determine which access technology (WLAN or Bluetooth) or combination of the access technologies (WLAN or Bluetooth) will provide the best concurrent performance for wireless transmissions at a given time for specific Bluetooth states and WLAN states.

Claims

1. A method for arbitrating usage between a Bluetooth module and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) module within a wireless transceiver unit wherein the method comprises the steps of:

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a state level arbiter that is coupled to the Bluetooth module and that is coupled to the WLAN module;

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a packet level arbiter that is coupled to the Bluetooth module and that is coupled to the WLAN module;

determining within the state level arbiter state parameters and relevant parameters of the Bluetooth module and of the WLAN module;

determining within the state level arbiter a configuration of the packet level arbiter that arbitrates between the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module on a packet by packet basis; and

determining whether the Bluetooth module or the WLAN module provides a better concurrent performance at a given time.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selecting with the state level arbiter one of;

(1) the Bluetooth module and (2) the WLAN module wherein the selected module provides the better concurrent performance at a given time; and

performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected module.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining within the state level arbiter whether a combination of the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module provides a better concurrent performance at a given time.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

selecting with the state level arbiter one of;

(1) the Bluetooth module and (2) the WLAN module and (3) a combination of the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module wherein one of the selected module and the selected combination provides a better concurrent performance at a given time; and

performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected module or selected combination.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

utilizing the state level arbiter to select one of;

(1) a dual antenna concurrency technique and (2) a time division multiplex (TDM) technique wherein the selected technique provides a better concurrent performance at a given time; and

performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected technique.

6. The method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a primary antenna;

transmitting and receiving Bluetooth signals via the primary antenna;

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a diversity antenna; and

transmitting and receiving WLAN signals via the diversity antenna.

7. The method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a primary antenna;

providing within the wireless transceiver a programmable diplexer that comprises the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module;

coupling the programmable diplexer to the primary antenna and to the state level arbiter; and

controlling at least one operation of the programmable diplexer with the state level arbiter.

8. An apparatus for arbitrating usage between a Bluetooth module and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) module within a wireless transceiver unit wherein the apparatus comprises:

means for providing within the wireless transceiver unit a state level arbiter that is coupled to the Bluetooth module and that is coupled to the WLAN module;

means for providing within the wireless transceiver unit a packet level arbiter that is coupled to the Bluetooth module and that is coupled to the WLAN module;

means for determining within the state level arbiter state parameters and relevant parameters of the Bluetooth module and of the WLAN module;

means for determining within the state level arbiter a configuration of the packet level arbiter that arbitrates between the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module on a packet by packet basis; and

means for determining within the state level arbiter whether the Bluetooth module or the WLAN module provides a better concurrent performance at a given time.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

means for selecting with the state level arbiter one of;

(1) the Bluetooth module and (2) the WLAN module wherein the selected module provides the better concurrent performance at a given time; and

means for performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected module.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

means for determining within the state level arbiter whether a combination of the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module provides a better concurrent performance at a given time.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further comprising:

means for selecting with the state level arbiter one of;

(1) the Bluetooth module and (2) the WLAN module and (3) a combination of the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module wherein one of the selected module and the selected combination provides a better concurrent performance at a given time; and

means for performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected module or selected combination.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

means for utilizing the state level arbiter to select one of;

(1) a dual antenna concurrency technique and (2) a time division multiplex (TDM) technique wherein the selected technique provides a better concurrent performance at a given time; and

means for performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected technique.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

a primary antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver unit;

means for transmitting and receiving Bluetooth signals via the primary antenna;

a diversity antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver unit; and

means for transmitting and receiving WLAN signals via the diversity antenna.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further comprising:

a primary antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver unit;

a programmable diplexer within the wireless transceiver that comprises the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module;

wherein the programmable diplexer is coupled to the primary antenna and to the state level arbiter; and

means for controlling at least one operation of the programmable diplexer with the state level arbiter.

15. A computer program product for arbitrating usage between a Bluetooth module and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) module within a wireless transceiver unit wherein the computer program product comprises:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

(a) code for providing within the wireless transceiver unit a state level arbiter that controls the Bluetooth module and that controls the WLAN module;

(b) code for providing within the wireless transceiver unit a packet level arbiter that arbitrates between the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module on a packet by packet basis;

(c) code for determining within the state level arbiter state parameters and relevant parameters of the Bluetooth module and of the WLAN module;

(d) code for determining within the state level arbiter a configuration of the packet level arbiter that arbitrates between the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module on a packet by packet basis; and

(e) code for determining within the state level arbiter whether the Bluetooth module or the WLAN module provides a better concurrent performance at a given time.

16. The computer program product as set forth in claim 15 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

code for selecting with the state level arbiter one of;

(1) the Bluetooth module and (2) the WLAN module wherein the selected module provides the better concurrent performance in a given time; and

code for performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected module.

17. The computer program product as set forth in claim 15 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

(d) code for determining within the state level arbiter whether a combination of the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module provides a better concurrent performance at a given time.

18. The computer program product as set forth in claim 17 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

code for selecting with the state level arbiter one of;

(1) the Bluetooth module and (2) the WLAN module and (3) a combination of the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module wherein one of the selected module and the selected combination provides a better concurrent performance at a given time; and

code for performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected module or selected combination.

19. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

code for causing the state level arbiter to select one of;

(1) a dual antenna concurrency technique and (2) a time division multiplex (TDM) technique wherein the selected technique provides a better concurrent performance at a given time; and

code for performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected technique.

20. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

code for operating the wireless transceiver unit with a primary antenna;

code for transmitting and receiving Bluetooth signals via the primary antenna;

code for operating the wireless transceiver unit with a diversity antenna; and

code for transmitting and receiving WLAN signals via the diversity antenna.

21. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

code for operating the wireless transceiver unit with a primary antenna;

code for operating within the wireless transceiver a programmable diplexer that comprises the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module;

code for operating the programmable diplexer when the programmable diplexer is coupled to the primary antenna and to the state level arbiter; and

code for controlling at least one operation of the programmable diplexer with the state level arbiter.

22. A method for arbitrating usage between a Bluetooth module and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) module within a wireless transceiver unit wherein the method comprises the steps of:

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a state level arbiter that is coupled to the Bluetooth module and that is coupled to the WLAN module;

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a packet level arbiter that is coupled to the Bluetooth module and that is coupled to the WLAN module;

determining within the state level arbiter state parameters and relevant parameters of the Bluetooth module and of the WLAN module;

determining within the state level arbiter a configuration of the packet level arbiter that arbitrates between the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module on a packet by packet basis; and

choosing from among choices consisting of the Bluetooth module, the WLAN module, or a combination thereof based upon a predetermined selection criterion/criteria.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

selecting with the state level arbiter one of;

(1) the Bluetooth module and (2) the WLAN module; and

performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected module/modules.

24. The method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

utilizing the state level arbiter to select one of;

(1) a dual antenna concurrency technique and (2) a time division multiplex (TDM) technique; and

performing wireless transmissions with the wireless transceiver unit for specific Bluetooth states and for specific WLAN states using the selected technique.

25. The method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a primary antenna;

transmitting and receiving Bluetooth signals via the primary antenna;

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a diversity antenna; and

transmitting and receiving WLAN signals via the diversity antenna.

26. The method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

providing within the wireless transceiver unit a primary antenna;

providing within the wireless transceiver a programmable diplexer that comprises the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module;

coupling the programmable diplexer to the primary antenna and to the state level arbiter; and

controlling at least one operation of the programmable diplexer with the state level arbiter.

27. An apparatus for arbitrating usage between a Bluetooth module and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) module within a wireless transceiver unit wherein the apparatus comprises:

a state level arbiter that is coupled to the Bluetooth module and that is coupled to the WLAN module;

a packet level arbiter that is coupled to the Bluetooth module and that is coupled to the WLAN module;

a processor for determining, within the state level arbiter, state parameters and relevant parameters of the Bluetooth module and of the WLAN module, said processor being capable of determining within the state level arbiter a configuration of the packet level arbiter that arbitrates between the Bluetooth module and the WLAN module on a packet by packet basis;

said processor being further capable of selecting one or more modules for communications among the Bluetooth module, the WLAN module, and a combination thereof, based upon a predetermined selection criterion/criteria.