Upper medium access control processor architecture

• US 6,052,580 A
• Filed: 07/31/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Khakoo, Shabbir Amirali
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SIMON
• Application Number:
  US08/903,869
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/418, 455/514, 455/515, 455/70, 455/181.1, 455/186.1, 455/248.2, 455/420, 455/560, 370/336, 370/329, 395/200.53, 395/200.54, 395/736
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4881 Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A upper medium access control processor is functionally defined by a set of tasks, where each task has a linked list queue for holding messages. Communications between tasks are achieved by placing the message onto the linked list queue of the desired task. The tasks are arranged into a plurality of prioritized groups for execution. The scheduler utilizes a N-phase scheme where tasks in a specific set of groups are executed at each phase. All tasks are guaranteed to run at least once during a complete cycle, thus preventing task starvation. The scheduler accommodates both synchronous and asynchronous tasks and still maintains the given priority scheme.

Claims

1. A wireless communications system which provides message and task handling between the system and a wireless handset, said system comprising:

an upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor functionality defined by a plurality of tasks;

said upper medium access control processor having a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a scheduler having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases and wherein at least one task of each of said plurality of groups is executed at each cycle of said scheduler.

2. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of groups is prioritized.

3. The wireless communications system according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of tasks include periodic and non-periodic tasks.

4. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of tasks has a linked list queue for holding messages, wherein each of said plurality of tasks communicates with another task by placing a message in said linked list queue of said another task.

5. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of tasks is a network layer functionality.

6. The wireless communications system according to claim 5, wherein said network layer functionality includes a utility driver for retrieving messages and passing said messages onto said network layer functionality state machine.

7. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of tasks is a data link control layer functionality.

8. The wireless communications system according to claim 7, wherein said network layer functionality includes a utility driver for retrieving messages and passing said messages onto said network layer functionality state machine.

9. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of tasks includes periodic tasks which execute at multiples of a given time interval.

10. A radio controller for providing message and task handling between a communications system and a wireless handset, said controller comprising:

an upper medium access control processor having a plurality of tasks which define a functionality of said upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor further having a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a phase controller having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases and wherein at least one task of each of said plurality of groups is executed at each cycle of said phase controller.

11. The radio controller according to claim 10, wherein:

said plurality of groups is prioritized; and

said plurality of tasks include synchronous and asynchronous tasks.

12. The radio controller according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of tasks includes a network layer functionality and a data link control layer functionality.

13. The radio controller according to claim 12, wherein said network layer functionality and said data link layer functionality each includes a utility driver for retrieving messages and passing said messages onto a specific state machine.

14. A processor for a radio controller, said processor comprising:

an upper medium access control processor performing a plurality of tasks which define a functionality of said upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor including a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a scheduler having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases and wherein at least one task of each of said plurality of groups is executed at each cycle of said scheduler.

15. The processor according to claim 14, wherein:

said plurality of groups is prioritized; and

said plurality of tasks include asynchronous and synchronous tasks.

16. The processor according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of tasks includes a network layer functionality and a data link control layer functionality, each functionality including a utility driver for retrieving messages and passing said messages onto a specific state machine.

17. A method for preventing starvation of tasks by guaranteeing execution of said tasks within a cycle of a scheduler, said method comprising:

defining a plurality of tasks as the functionality being executed by a upper medium access control processor;

defining a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

scheduling a portion of said plurality of groups to be executed at one of said N phases wherein at least one task of each of said plurality of groups is executed at each cycle of said scheduler.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of groups is prioritized and said plurality of tasks include periodic and non-periodic tasks.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of tasks includes periodic tasks which execute at multiples of a given time interval.

20. The method according to claim 17, further including the step of establishing for each of said plurality of tasks a linked list queue for holding messages, wherein each of said plurality of tasks communicates with another task by placing a message in said linked list queue of said another task.

21. A wireless communications system which provides message and task handling between the system and a wireless handset, said system comprising:

an upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor functionality defined by a plurality of tasks;

said upper medium access control processor having a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a scheduler having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases;

wherein said plurality of tasks includes;

a first uplink path for a network layer function;

a second uplink path for a data link control layer function;

a first downlink path for a network layer function; and

a second downlink path for a data link control layer function.

22. The wireless communications system according to claim 21, wherein said first and second uplink path and said first and second downlink path are in one of said plurality of groups.

23. The wireless communications system according to claim 21, wherein said first and second uplink path are in one group of said plurality of groups and said first and second downlink path are in another group of said plurality of groups, wherein said one group and said another group are of different priorities.

24. A wireless communications system which provides message and task handling between the system and a wireless handset, said system comprising:

an upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor functionality defined by a plurality of tasks;

said upper medium access control processor having a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a scheduler having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases and wherein said scheduler has 4 phases.

25. A wireless communications system which provides message and task handling between the system and a wireless handset, said system comprising:

an upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor functionality defined by a plurality of tasks;

said upper medium access control processor having a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a scheduler having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases and wherein said plurality of tasks includes periodic tasks which execute at multiples of a given time interval and wherein said given time interval is 200 milliseconds.

26. A radio controller for providing message and task handling between a communications system and a wireless handset, said controller comprising:

an upper medium access control processor having a plurality of tasks which define a functionality of said upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor further having a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a phase controller having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases; and

wherein said plurality of tasks includes;

a first uplink path for a network layer function;

a second uplink path for a data link control layer function;

a first downlink path for a network layer function; and

a second downlink path for a data link control layer function.

27. The radio controller according to claim 26, wherein said first and second uplink path are in one group of said plurality of groups and said first and second downlink path are in another group of said plurality of groups, wherein said one group and said another group are of different priorities.

28. A radio controller for providing message and task handling between a communications system and a wireless handset, said controller comprising:

an upper medium access control processor having a plurality of tasks which define a functionality of said upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor further having a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a phase controller having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases;

wherein;

said phase controller has 4 phases; and

said plurality of tasks includes periodic tasks which execute at multiples of a given time interval, wherein each of said plurality of tasks having a linked list queue for holding messages, wherein each of said plurality of tasks communicates with another task by placing a message in said linked list queue of said another task.

29. A processor for a radio controller, said processor comprising:

an upper medium access control processor performing a plurality of tasks which define a functionality of said upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor including a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a scheduler having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases;

wherein said plurality of tasks includes;

a uplink path for each of a network layer function and a data link control layer function; and

a downlink path for each of said network layer function and said data link control layer function.

30. A processor for a radio controller, said processor comprising:

an upper medium access control processor performing a plurality of tasks which define a functionality of said upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor including a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of task; and

scheduler having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases;

wherein each uplink path is in a first group and each downlink path is in a second group, wherein said first group and said second group have different priorities.

31. A processor for a radio controller, said processor comprising:

an upper medium access control processor performing a plurality of tasks which define a functionality of said upper medium access control processor;

said upper medium access control processor including a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

a scheduler having N phases, wherein a portion of said plurality of groups are executed at one of said N phases;

wherein;

said scheduler has 4 phases; and

said plurality of tasks includes periodic tasks which execute at multiples of a given time interval.

32. A method for preventing starvation of tasks by guaranteeing execution of said tasks within a given interval, said method comprising:

defining a plurality of tasks as the functionality being executed by a upper medium access control processor;

defining a plurality of groups, each of said plurality of groups including a portion of said plurality of tasks; and

scheduling a portion of said plurality of groups to be executed at one of said N phases

wherein said plurality of tasks includes;

a first uplink path for a network layer function;

a second uplink path for a data link control layer function;

a first downlink path for a network layer function; and

a second downlink path for a data link control layer function.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said first and second uplink path are in one group of said plurality of groups and said first and second downlink path are in another group of said plurality of groups, wherein said one group and said another group are of different priorities.