Direct digital signal processor control of multi-channel scan for re-establishing connections in a wirelessly networked device
First Claim
1. In a portable computer system comprising a digital signal processor (DSP) and a main processor, a method for establishing a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising:
- scanning a plurality of broadcast channels used by said wireless network, wherein said scanning is performed under direction of said DSP while said main processor remains in said low power mode;
determining whether a broadcast channel is acceptable for said wireless connection, wherein said determining is executed by said DSP while said main processor remains in said low power mode;
said DSP waking up said main processor provided a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified and otherwise said DSP repeating said scanning at periodic time intervals until said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, wherein said DSP is placed in a lower power sleep mode between each said scanning; and
said DSP identifying to said main processor said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for establishing a wireless connection between a portable computer system and a wireless network, particularly when the portable computer system goes out of coverage and a wireless connection needs to be re-established. The portable computer system has a main processor and a digital signal processor (DSP). The main processor is placed in a low power mode, conserving battery power. When the portable computer system goes out of coverage, broadcast channels used by the wireless network are scanned by the DSP instead of the main processor to identify channels that have sufficient signal strength for the wireless connection. Thus, the main processor remains in the low power mode. When the DSP identifies acceptable channels, it wakes up the main processor and identifies the channels having sufficient signal strength. The main processor then establishes a wireless connection using one of the channels identified by the DSP.
32 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a portable computer system comprising a digital signal processor (DSP) and a main processor, a method for establishing a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising:
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scanning a plurality of broadcast channels used by said wireless network, wherein said scanning is performed under direction of said DSP while said main processor remains in said low power mode;
determining whether a broadcast channel is acceptable for said wireless connection, wherein said determining is executed by said DSP while said main processor remains in said low power mode;
said DSP waking up said main processor provided a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified and otherwise said DSP repeating said scanning at periodic time intervals until said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, wherein said DSP is placed in a lower power sleep mode between each said scanning; and
said DSP identifying to said main processor said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A portable computer system comprising:
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a bus;
a wireless transceiver coupled to said bus;
a main processor coupled to said bus; and
a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to said bus, said DSP for executing a method for establishing a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising;
scanning a plurality of broadcast channels used by said wireless network, wherein said scanning is performed while said main processor is in a low power mode;
determining whether a broadcast channel is acceptable for said wireless connection, wherein said determining is executed while said main processor remains in said low power mode;
waking up said main processor provided a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified and otherwise said DSP repeating said scanning at periodic time intervals until said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, wherein said DSP is placed in a lower power sleep mode between each said scanning; and
identifying to said main processor said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a portable computer system comprising a digital signal processor (DSP) and a main processor, a method for establishing a wireless connection between said portable computer system and a wireless network, said method comprising:
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scanning a plurality of broadcast channels used by said wireless network, wherein said step of scanning is performed under direction of said DSP while said main processor is in a low power mode and wherein said step of scanning is automatically initiated in response to a triggering event;
said DSP comparing to a threshold value a measure of signal strength of each signal received over said plurality of broadcast channels, wherein said threshold is for defining a signal strength acceptable for said wireless connection;
said DSP waking up said main processor provided a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, and otherwise said DSP repeating said scanning until a broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection is identified, wherein said DSP is placed in a lower power sleep mode between each said scanning; and
said DSP identifying to said main processor said broadcast channel acceptable for said wireless connection. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification