Method and Apparatus for Power and Handover Management in a Multiple Wireless Technology Communication Device

• US 20110141939A1
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Medapalli, Kameswara
• Granted Patent: US 8,687,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/40 during macro-diversity or soft handoff
• 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

Method and apparatuses for power and handoff management in a multiple wireless technology communication device are disclosed. One method includes a wireless device communicating using a first technology, and detecting availability of a second technology. Logic control of the wireless device receives a power level indicator of communication signals of the first technology, and determining an acceptable power level of communication signals of the second technology based on the power level indicator. The logic control determines a requested power level of communication signals of the second technology based on a request from a base station. The logic control provides a modified link quality representation to the base station if the requested power level is greater than the acceptable power level. The wireless device transmits to the base station with the second technology at the acceptable power level.

Claims

1. A device that is operable to communicate using a first technology and a second technology, comprising:

a first modem operable to communicate using the first technology;

a second modem operable communicate using the second technology; and

a virtual driver communicatively coupled to the first modem and second modem, wherein the virtual driver is operable to provide a composite network interface during handover between the first technology and the second technology.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first technology and the second technology are wireless communication technologies.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the virtual driver is a filter driver.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the virtual driver reduces packet loss during the handover period by buffering packets from the first technology.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the virtual driver reduces packet loss during the handover period by draining packets from the first technology.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a connection manager operable to control handover between the first technology and the second technology.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the virtual driver is embedded in the connection manager.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the connection manager is operable to receive a requested power level from a base station, wherein the connection manager is operable to receive a power level indicator associated with a first technology signal, wherein the connection manager is operable to determine an acceptable power level of a second technology signal based on the power level indicator, wherein the connection manager is operable to provide a modified link quality representation to the base station if the requested power level is greater than the acceptable power level.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the connection manager is operable to determine whether to communicate through the second technology based on a value of the requested power level and an estimated quality of a second technology link.

10. The wireless apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is operative to cease communication with the first technology when successful communication with the second technology has been established.

11. A device that is operable to communicate using a first technology and a second technology, comprising:

a host controller operable to control handover between the first technology and the second technology;

a first modem operable to communicate using the first technology, wherein the first modem is a slave to the host controller;

a second modem operable communicate using the second technology, wherein the second modem is a slave to the first modem; and

a virtual driver communicatively coupled to the first modem and second modem, wherein the virtual driver is operable to provide a composite network interface during handover between the first technology and the second technology.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first technology and the second technology are wireless communication technologies.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the device comprises a connection manager.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the device comprises a virtual driver communicatively coupled to the first modem and second modem, wherein the virtual driver is operable to provide a composite network interface during handover between the first technology and the second technology.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the virtual driver is embedded in a connection manager.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the host controller is operable to receive a requested power level from a base station, wherein the connection manager is operable to receive a power level indicator associated with a first technology signal, wherein the connection manager is operable to determine an acceptable power level of a second technology signal based on the power level indicator, wherein the connection manager is operable to provide a modified link quality representation to the base station if the requested power level is greater than the acceptable power level.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the host controller is operable to determine whether to communicate through the second technology based on a value of the requested power level and an estimated quality of a second technology link.

18. The wireless apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device is operative to cease communication with the first technology when successful communication with the second technology has been established.

19. A method for communicating, comprising:

determining whether to handover between a first technology and a second technology; and

providing a composite network interface during handover between the first technology and the second technology.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first technology and the second technology are wireless communication technologies.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the composite network interface reduces packet loss during the handover period by buffering packets from the first technology.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the composite network interface reduces packet loss during the handover period by draining packets from the first technology.

23. The method of claim 19, comprising:

receiving a requested power level from a base station;

receiving a power level indicator associated with a first technology signal;

determining an acceptable power level of a second technology signal based on the power level indicator; and

providing a modified link quality representation to the base station if the requested power level is greater than the acceptable power level.

24. A method of claim 19, comprising controlling handover between the first technology and the second technology based on a requested power level and an estimated quality of a second technology link.