Synchronized calibration for wireless communication devices

• US 20120309321A1
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Agarwal, Peyush, Hammerschmidt, Joachim S., Rajakarunanayake, Yasantha N.
• Application Number:
  US13/180,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20120309321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Synchronized calibration for wireless communication devices. A protocol is presented herein that allows for calibration operation(s) by one or more wireless communication devices to mitigate (or eliminate) the disruption caused to the communication medium thereby. A calibration announcement frame is provided by a wireless communication device intending to perform calibration operation(s), and respective receiving wireless communication devices may adaptively determine whether to perform a calibration operation based thereon. In response to a calibration announcement frame, one or more other wireless communication devices may also perform calibration operation(s) (e.g., in accordance with a group calibration event, simultaneously, etc.) or may perform some operations as to minimize any effects that may be incurred during such a calibration operation(s) (e.g., enter into some robust operational mode, power savings mode, etc.). Such a calibration announcement frame may indicate respective time slots (e.g., maintenance window) during which respective wireless communication devices may perform calibration operation(s).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio for receiving a calibration announcement frame from a wireless communication device indicating an upcoming calibration interval; and

a processing module for;

analyzing the calibration announcement frame to identify a first calibration operation to be performed by the wireless communication device;

based on the first calibration operation and at least one local decision criterion corresponding to the apparatus, adaptively determining whether to perform a second calibration operation during at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval; and

upon determination to perform the second calibration operation, directing the apparatus to perform the calibration operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first calibration operation corresponding to;

a loud and requires-silence calibration operation;

a loud and does-not-require-silence calibration operation;

a silent and requires-silence calibration operation;

or

a silent and does-not-require-silence calibration operation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one local decision criterion corresponding to at least one of a processing history, a temperature, a temperature change, a humidity level, a humidity level change, a period of time from a previous calibration operation, and whether the calibration operation being a loud and requires-silence calibration operation, a loud and does-not-require-silence calibration operation, a silent and requires-silence calibration operation, or a silent and does-not-require-silence calibration operation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

based on the calibration announcement frame, the processing module for directing the apparatus to perform at least one of;

enter a relatively more robust operational state from a relatively less robust operational state;

make no communication during the upcoming calibration interval.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

based on the calibration announcement frame, the processing module for informing an application layer of the apparatus, relatively higher than a physical (PHY) layer of the apparatus, of the upcoming calibration interval; and

the application layer for adaptively determining whether to perform at least one operation during the at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval and performing the at least one operation upon determination thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the calibration announcement frame indicating a maintenance window including a plurality of time intervals such that at least one of the plurality of time intervals corresponding to the apparatus during which the apparatus permitted to perform the calibration operation or at least one additional operation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the calibration announcement frame being a clear to send (CTS2SELF) communication frame, a beacon, or a broadcast packet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus being a wireless station (STA);

the wireless communication device being an access point (AP) or at least one additional STA.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a radio for receiving a calibration announcement frame from a wireless communication device indicating an upcoming calibration interval; and

a processing module for;

based on the calibration announcement frame, adaptively determining whether to perform a calibration operation during at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval; and

upon determination to perform the calibration operation, directing the apparatus to perform the calibration operation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the processing module for;

analyzing the calibration announcement frame to identify at least one additional calibration operation to be performed by the wireless communication device;

based on the at least one additional calibration operation, adaptively determining whether to perform the calibration operation during the at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval; and

upon determination to perform the calibration operation, directing the apparatus to perform the calibration operation.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one additional calibration operation corresponding to;

a loud and requires-silence calibration operation;

a loud and does-not-require-silence calibration operation;

a silent and requires-silence calibration operation;

or

a silent and does-not-require-silence calibration operation.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the processing module for considering at least one local decision criterion corresponding to the apparatus in accordance with adaptively determining whether to perform the calibration operation during the at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the at least one local decision criterion corresponding to at least one of a processing history, a temperature, a temperature change, a humidity level, a humidity level change, a period of time from a previous calibration operation, and whether the calibration operation being a loud and requires-silence calibration operation, a loud and does-not-require-silence calibration operation, a silent and requires-silence calibration operation, or a silent and does-not-require-silence calibration operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

based on the calibration announcement frame, the processing module for directing the apparatus to perform at least one of;

enter a relatively more robust operational state from a relatively less robust operational state;

make no communication during the upcoming calibration interval.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

based on the calibration announcement frame, the processing module for informing an application layer of the apparatus, relatively higher than a physical (PHY) layer of the apparatus, of the upcoming calibration interval; and

the application layer for adaptively determining whether to perform at least one operation during the at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval and performing the at least one operation upon determination thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the calibration announcement frame indicating a maintenance window including a plurality of time intervals such that at least one of the plurality of time intervals corresponding to the apparatus during which the apparatus permitted to perform the calibration operation or at least one additional operation.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the calibration announcement frame being a clear to send (CTS2SELF) communication frame, a beacon, or a broadcast packet.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the apparatus being a wireless station (STA);

the wireless communication device being an access point (AP) or at least one additional STA.

19. A method for operating a first wireless communication device, the method comprising:

via a wireless communication channel, receiving a calibration announcement frame from a second wireless communication device indicating an upcoming calibration interval;

based on the calibration announcement frame, adaptively determining whether to perform a calibration operation during at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval; and

upon determination to perform the calibration operation, performing the calibration operation.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

analyzing the calibration announcement frame to identify at least one additional calibration operation to be performed by the wireless communication device;

based on the at least one additional calibration operation, adaptively determining whether to perform the calibration operation during the at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval; and

upon determination to perform the calibration operation, performing the calibration operation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the at least one additional calibration operation corresponding to;

a loud and requires-silence calibration operation;

a loud and does-not-require-silence calibration operation;

a silent and requires-silence calibration operation;

or

a silent and does-not-require-silence calibration operation.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

considering at least one local decision criterion corresponding to the first wireless communication device in accordance with adaptively determining whether to perform the calibration operation during the at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the at least one local decision criterion corresponding to at least one of a processing history, a temperature, a temperature change, a humidity level, a humidity level change, a period of time from a previous calibration operation, and whether the calibration operation being a loud and requires-silence calibration operation, a loud and does-not-require-silence calibration operation, a silent and requires-silence calibration operation, or a silent and does-not-require-silence calibration operation.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

based on the calibration announcement frame, performing at least one of;

entering a relatively more robust operational state from a relatively less robust operational state;

making no communication during the upcoming calibration interval.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

based on the calibration announcement frame, informing an application layer of the first wireless communication device, relatively higher than a physical (PHY) layer of the first wireless communication device, of the upcoming calibration interval; and

wherein;

the application layer adaptively determining whether to perform at least one operation during the at least a portion of the upcoming calibration interval and performing the at least one operation upon determination thereof.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the calibration announcement frame indicating a maintenance window including a plurality of time intervals such that at least one of the plurality of time intervals corresponding to the apparatus during which the apparatus permitted to perform the calibration operation or at least one additional operation.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the calibration announcement frame being a clear to send (CTS2SELF) communication frame, a beacon, or a broadcast packet.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the first wireless communication device being a wireless station (STA);

the second wireless communication device being an access point (AP) or at least one additional STA.