LTE/WI-FI COEXISTENCE

• US 20130272260A1
• Filed: 01/02/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Altair Semiconductor Ltd. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bitran, Yigal, Yagil, Ariel
• Granted Patent: US 9,258,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00698 using different RATs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• 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 communication in a wireless device (24) includes establishing a first connection with a base station (BS-28) of a long-range wireless data network, and a second connection on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). A time interval (96) is selected in the wireless device for communicating over the second connection. In preparation for the selected time interval, the BS is caused to refrain from scheduling data transmission from the wireless device to the BS over the first connection during the time interval, by reporting to the BS prior to the time interval that no data is pending for transmission from the wireless device. The wireless device communicates over the second connection on the WLAN during the time interval.

Claims

1. A method for communication, comprising:

in a wireless device, establishing a first connection with a base station (BS) of a long-range wireless data network, and a second connection on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

selecting in the wireless device a time interval for communicating over the second connection;

in preparation for the selected time interval, causing the BS to refrain from scheduling data transmission from the wireless device to the BS over the first connection during the time interval, by reporting to the BS prior to the time interval that no data is pending for transmission from the wireless device; and

communicating using the wireless device over the second connection on the WLAN during the time interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein reporting that no data is pending is performed even when some data is pending for transmission to the BS, so as to cause the BS to schedule transmission of the pending data outside the time interval.

3. The method according to claim 1, and comprising, in preparation for an end of the time interval, reporting to the BS that data is pending for transmission from the wireless device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein reporting that the data is pending comprises reporting an amount of the data that is different from an actual size of the pending data, so as to control a size of the scheduled transmission.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the long-range wireless data network operates in accordance with a Long Term Evolution (LTE) specification, and wherein reporting that no data is pending comprises sending a Buffer status Report (BSR) message.

6. The method according to claim 1, and comprising applying a communication pattern that alternates between the first and second connections, by alternately reporting to the BS that data is pending and that no data is pending.

7. The method according to claim 1, and comprising inhibiting communication over the second connection prior to and following the selected time interval.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein reporting to the BS comprises sending to the BS a reporting message at a time that takes into account a scheduling latency of the first connection.

9. A wireless device, comprising:

a Radio Frequency (RF) front end, which is configured to exchange RF signals so as to communicate on a long-range wireless data network and on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN); and

baseband circuitry, which is configured to establish, via the RF front end, a first connection with the BS of the long-range wireless data network and a second connection on the WLAN, to select a time interval for communicating over the second connection, to cause the BS, in preparation for the selected time interval, to refrain from scheduling data transmission from the wireless device to the BS over the first connection during the time interval by reporting to the BS prior to the time interval that no data is pending for transmission from the wireless device, and to communicate using the wireless device over the second connection on the WLAN during the time interval.

10-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for communication, comprising:

in a wireless device, establishing a first connection with a base station (BS) of a long-range wireless data network in an interleaved sequence of uplink intervals, for transmitting to the BS, and downlink intervals, for receiving from the BS;

establishing in the wireless device, concurrently with the first connection, a second connection with a station of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that is located in close proximity to the wireless device; and

preventing interference from transmission of the station on the second connection to reception of the BS on the first connection, by transmitting signals from the wireless device to the station so as to block the station from transmitting during the downlink time intervals.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein preventing the interference comprises blocking the wireless device from transmitting to the station on the second connection so as to prevent the station from transmitting acknowledgement messages to the wireless device during the downlink time intervals.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein preventing the interference comprises sending to the station a CTS-to-self message.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein preventing the interference comprises scheduling transmissions from the wireless device to the station such that respective acknowledgements from the station occur during the uplink intervals of the first connection.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein scheduling the transmissions comprises setting respective parameters of the transmissions such that the acknowledgements occur during the uplink intervals.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the parameters comprise at least one parameter type selected from a group of types consisting of durations and start times of the transmissions.

23. The method according to claim 17, wherein preventing the interference comprises communicating with the station using a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) that is selected such that the transmission of the station fits outside the downlink intervals.

24. The method according to claim 17, and comprising transmitting to the station using a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) that is selected to account for the interference from the transmission of the wireless device over the first connection to the reception of the station over the second connection.

25. The method according to claim 17, and comprising transmitting acknowledgement messages to the station at a power level that is lower than a normal power level used for data transmission to the station, and setting a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) of the acknowledgement messages to match the power level.

26. The method according to claim 17, wherein preventing the interference comprises transmitting the signals at a power level that is selected so as to block the station but refrain from blocking other stations that are not in close proximity to the wireless device.

27. The method according to claim 17, wherein preventing the interference comprises synchronizing in the wireless device a time base of the second connection to a frame time base of the first connection.

28. A wireless device, comprising:

a Radio Frequency (RF) front end, which is configured to exchange RF signals so as to communicate long-range wireless data network and on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN); and

baseband circuitry, which is configured to establish, via the RF front end, a first connection with a base station (BS) of the long-range wireless data network in an interleaved sequence of uplink intervals, for transmitting to the BS, and downlink intervals, for receiving from the BS, to establish, concurrently with the first connection, a second connection with a station of the WLAN that is located in close proximity to the wireless device, and to prevent interference from transmission of the station on the second connection to reception of the BS on the first connection, by transmitting signals from the wireless device to the station so as to block the station from transmitting during the downlink time intervals.

29-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A method for communication, comprising:

in a wireless device, establishing a first connection with a base station (BS) of a long-range wireless data network, and, concurrently with the first connection, a second connection on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

communicating with the BS over the first connection in a mode that predefines a pattern of activity periods and inactivity periods; and

configuring transmissions over the second connection based on the pattern of the activity and inactivity periods predefined for the first connection, so as to reduce interference between the first and second connections.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the first connection operates in accordance with a Long Term Evolution (LTE) specification, and wherein the mode comprises at least one mode selected from a group of modes consisting of Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) and Discontinuous Reception (DRX).

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein configuring the transmissions comprises preventing the transmissions over the second connection from occurring during the activity periods of the first connection.

42. The method according to claim 39, wherein configuring the transmissions comprises controlling the transmissions of the wireless device over the second connection.

43. The method according to claim 39, wherein configuring the transmissions comprises controlling the transmissions of an opposite endpoint with which the wireless device communicates over the second connection.

44. The method according to claim 39, wherein configuring the transmissions comprises controlling the transmissions based on at least one parameter selected from a group of parameters consisting of:

an identification of the activity periods that are assigned for uplink transmission and the activity periods that are assigned for downlink transmission;

power levels to be used for the transmissions; and

signal types to be used for the transmissions.

45. The method according to claim 39, wherein configuring the transmissions comprises synchronizing in the wireless device a time base of the second connection to a frame time base of the first connection.

46. A wireless device, comprising:

a Radio Frequency (RF) front end, which is configured to exchange RF signals so as to communicate on a long-range wireless data network and on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN); and

baseband circuitry, which is configured to establish, via the RF front end, a first connection with a base station (BS) of the long-range wireless data network and, concurrently with the first connection, a second connection on the WLAN, to communicate with the BS over the first connection in a mode that predefines a pattern of activity periods and inactivity periods, and to configure transmissions over the second connection based on the pattern of the activity and inactivity periods predefined for the first connection, so as to reduce interference between the first and second connections.

47-52. -52. (canceled)