Systems and methods for interference mitigation among multiple WLAN protocols
First Claim
1. A method for controlling communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, at least the first communication protocol using at least one time period during which communication is governed by rules of carrier sense multiple access, the method comprising the step of:
- transmitting a guard packet from a first communication device in accordance with the first communication protocol, the guard packet being formatted to alert and inform communication devices that use the first communication protocol to refrain from communication for a period of time in the frequency band to enable transmission of information from, or reception of information by, the first communication device in accordance with the second communication protocol during the period of time without colliding with signals in the frequency band on the first communication protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Interference mitigation or collision avoidance systems and procedures to allow different wireless local area network (WLAN) communication protocols to co-exist in the same frequency band, such as an unlicensed frequency band used for short-range wireless communications. The procedures ensure substantial throughput of information carried by signals of each WLAN protocol while preventing collisions between signals of different protocols.
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Citations
132 Claims
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1. A method for controlling communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, at least the first communication protocol using at least one time period during which communication is governed by rules of carrier sense multiple access, the method comprising the step of:
transmitting a guard packet from a first communication device in accordance with the first communication protocol, the guard packet being formatted to alert and inform communication devices that use the first communication protocol to refrain from communication for a period of time in the frequency band to enable transmission of information from, or reception of information by, the first communication device in accordance with the second communication protocol during the period of time without colliding with signals in the frequency band on the first communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for controlling communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, at least the first communication protocol using at least on time period that operates on rules of carrier sense multiple access, the method comprising steps of:
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at a first communication device, monitoring activity in the band to determine in which frequencies and whether communication occurs using the first and second communication protocols; when information is to be sent from the first communication device to another, or information is to be sent to the first communication device from another communication device, using the second communication protocol, determining whether a frequency of the signal be transmitted using the second communication protocol at least partially overlaps with the frequency range of signals transmitted in the frequency band using the first communication protocol; if it is determined that the signal to be transmitted using the second communication protocol may collide with signals in the frequency band on the first communication protocol, then transmitting a guard packet from the first communication device in accordance with the first communication protocol, the guard packet being formatted to alert and inform the first set of communication devices to refrain from communication for a period of time in the frequency band to enable transmission of information from, or reception of information by, the first communication device in accordance with the second communication protocol in the frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A controller for use in a wireless communication device that operates in a communication system that allows for communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a common frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, at least the first communication protocol using at least one time period that operates on rules of carrier sense multiple access, the controller being configured or programmed to perform the step of:
generating a guard packet for transmission from the communication device in accordance with the first communication protocol, the guard packet being formatted to alert and inform communication devices that use the first communication protocol to refrain from communication for a period of time in the frequency band to enable transmission of information from, or reception of information by, the communication device in accordance with the second communication protocol during the period of time without colliding with signals from communication devices using the first communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A software product stored on a processor readable memory containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps of:
generate a guard packet for transmission from a communication device in accordance with a first communication protocol, the guard packet being formatted to alert and inform communication devices using the first communication protocol to refrain from communication for a period of time in a frequency band to enable transmission of information from, or reception of information by, the communication device in accordance with a second communication protocol during the period of time without colliding with signals in the frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A method for controlling communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, wherein the first communication protocol uses at least one fixed frequency range in the frequency band and the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band, the method comprising steps of:
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at a first communication device having information to be transmitted using the second communication protocol, prior to transmission of a plurality of time slots in the frequency band using the second communication protocol, determining frequencies associated with each of the plurality of time slots; determining whether the frequencies associated with the plurality of time slots of the second communication protocol at least partially overlap with the at least one frequency range used by the first communication protocol in the frequency band; and transmitting information using the second communication protocol from the first communication device using up to a maximum number of time slots whose frequencies do not at least partially overlap with the frequency range of the first communication protocol in the frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A controller for use in a wireless communication device that controls communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, wherein the first communication protocol uses at least one fixed frequency range in the frequency band and the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band, the controller being configured or programmed to perform the steps of:
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prior to transmission of a plurality of time slots in the frequency band using the second communication protocol from the communication device, determining frequencies associated with each of the plurality of time slots; determining whether the frequencies associated with the plurality of time slots of the second communication protocol at least partially overlap with the at least one frequency range used by the first communication protocol in the frequency band; and assigning information to be transmitted from the communication device using the second communication protocol in up to a maximum number of time slots whose frequencies do not at least partially overlap with the frequency range of the first communication protocol in the frequency band.
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94. A software product stored on a processor readable memory containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps of:
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determining frequencies associated with each of a plurality of scheduled time slots according to a second communication protocol, wherein a frequency for each time slot may be different within a frequency band; determining whether the frequencies associated with the plurality of time slots of the second communication protocol at least partially overlap with the at least one frequency range used by a first communication protocol in the frequency band; and assigning information to be transmitted using the second communication protocol in up to a maximum number of time slots whose frequencies do not at least partially overlap with the frequency range of the first communication protocol in the frequency band.
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95. A method for controlling communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a common frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, wherein the first communication protocol uses at least one fixed frequency range in the frequency band and the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that is transmitted in the frequency band, a method for transmitting information from a second communication device to a first communication device using the second communication protocol, comprising steps of:
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at the first communication device, determining whether a frequency of a poll packet to be transmitted from the first communication device to the second communication device and a frequency of one or more time slots to transmit information from the second communication device to the first communication device at least partially overlap with the frequency range of the first communication protocol; transmitting a poll packet to the second communication device from the first communication device if it is determined that the frequency of the poll packet and the frequency of the one or more time slots do not at least partially overlap with the frequency range of the first communication protocol; and at the second communication device, in response to receiving the poll packet, transmitting information to the first communication device using one or more time slots according to the second communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (96)
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97. A method for controlling communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, wherein communication using the first communication uses a plurality of time frames each of which includes a plurality of time intervals each of a variable time duration and dedicated to functions determined by rules of the first communication protocol, including a contention free time interval being dedicated to transmission of synchronous data, and wherein each time frame is transmitted at a different frequency in the frequency band, and wherein the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band, a method for preventing transmission of information in a time frame according to the first communication protocol from colliding with transmission of time slots of information using the second communication protocol, in a communication device, the method comprising steps of:
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prior to transmission of at least one time frame of information in the frequency band using the first communication protocol, determining a frequency of the at least one time frame; prior to transmissions of a plurality of time slots in the frequency band using the second communication protocol, determining frequencies associated with each of the plurality of time slots that are scheduled to transmit synchronous data; determining whether any of the plurality of time slots scheduled to transmit synchronous data using the second communication protocol at least partially overlap in frequency and time with the contention free time interval of the time frame of information to be transmitted using the first communication protocol; setting values for the durations and/or start times of one or more time intervals in the time frame of information to be transmitted using the first communication protocol so as to prohibit any communication device in the frequency band from transmitting information using the first communication protocol during the contention free time interval that would at least partially overlap with the transmission of one or more time slots scheduled to transmit synchronous data. - View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100)
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101. A controller for use in a wireless communication device that controls communication among a plurality of communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, wherein communication using the first communication uses a plurality of time frames each of which includes a plurality of time intervals each of a variable time duration and dedicated to functions determined by rules of the first communication protocol, including a contention free time interval being dedicated to transmission of synchronous data, and wherein each time frame is transmitted at a different frequency in the frequency band, and wherein the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band, a method for preventing transmission of information in a time frame according to the first communication protocol from colliding with transmission of time slots of information using the second communication protocol, by performing steps of:
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determining a frequency of the at least one time frame prior to scheduled transmission of at least one time frame of information in the frequency band using the first communication protocol; determining frequencies associated with each of the plurality of time slots prior to scheduled transmissions of a plurality of time slots in the frequency band using the second communication protocol; determining whether any of the plurality of time slots scheduled to transmit synchronous data using the second communication protocol at least partially overlap in frequency and time with the contention free time interval of the time frame of information to be transmitted using the first communication protocol; setting values for the durations and/or start times of one or more time intervals in the time frame of information to be transmitted using the first communication protocol so as to prohibit any communication device in the frequency band from transmitting information using the first communication protocol during the contention free time interval that would at least partially overlap with the transmission of one or more time slots scheduled to transmit synchronous data.
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102. A software product stored on a processor readable memory containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps of:
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determining a frequency of at least one time frame prior to scheduled transmission of at least one time frame of information in a frequency band using a first communication protocol, wherein the first communication protocol uses a plurality of time frames each of which includes a plurality of time intervals each of a variable time duration and dedicated to functions determined by rules of the first communication protocol, a contention free time interval being dedicated for transmission of synchronous data, and wherein each time frame is transmitted at a different frequency in the frequency band; determining frequencies associated with each of the plurality of time slots prior to scheduled transmissions of a plurality of time slots in the frequency band using a second communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band; determining whether any of the plurality of time slots scheduled for transmission of synchronous data at least partially overlap in frequency and time with the contention free time interval; setting values for the durations and/or start times of one or more time intervals in the time frame of information to be transmitted using the first communication protocol so as to prohibit any communication device in the frequency band from transmitting information during the contention free time interval when it is determined that one or more time slots scheduled to transmit synchronous data overlap in frequency and time with the contention free time interval for a time frame.
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103. A method for controlling communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices concurrently occurs using first and second communication protocols, wherein communication according to the first communication protocol occurs during a plurality of time frames each of which includes a plurality of time intervals each of a variable time duration and dedicated to functions determined by rules of the first communication protocol, a particular time interval in a time frame being dedicated for communication of synchronous type data, and wherein each time frame is transmitted at a different frequency in the band, and wherein the second communication uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band and wherein one or more time slots are dedicated for communication of synchronous type data, a method for preventing transmission of information in a time frame according to the first communication protocol from colliding with transmissions of time slots of information using the second communication protocol, the method comprising steps of:
at a communication device, prior to a scheduled transmission of at least one time frame of information using the first communication protocol and to transmissions of a corresponding plurality of time slots using the second communication protocol, determining whether any of the plurality of time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol at least partially overlap in time with said particular time interval in the time frame; identifying those time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol that at least partially overlap with said particular time interval of the time frame; determining frequencies for each of the plurality of time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol; for each time slot whose frequency will at least partially overlap with a frequency of the time frame and will at least partially overlap in time with said particular time interval of the time frame, storing information in the communication device to manage communication in the frequency band using the first and second communication protocols so as to prevent collisions between transmissions of time slots according to the second communication protocol with a time frame according to the first communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118)
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119. A controller for use in a wireless communication device that controls communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a frequency band in which communication between communication devices concurrently occurs using first and second communication protocols, wherein communication using the first communication protocol occurs during a plurality of time frames each of which includes a plurality of time intervals each of a variable time duration and dedicated to functions determined by rules of the first communication protocol, a particular time interval in a time frame being dedicated for communication of synchronous type data, and wherein each time frame is transmitted at a different frequency in the band, and wherein the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band and wherein predetermined ones of the time slots are allocated for communication of synchronous type data, the controller being configured or programmed for preventing transmission of information in a time frame according to the first communication protocol from colliding with transmissions of time slots of information using the second communication protocol, by performing steps of:
prior to a scheduled transmission of at least one time frame of information using the first communication protocol and to transmissions of a corresponding plurality of time slots using the second communication protocol, determining whether any of the plurality of time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol at least partially overlap in time with said particular time interval in the time frame; identifying those time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol that at least partially overlap with said particular time interval of the time frame; determining frequencies for each of the plurality of time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol; for each time slot whose frequency will at least partially overlap with a frequency of the time frame and will at least partially overlap in time with said particular time interval of the time frame, storing information in the communication device to manage communication in the frequency band using the first and second communication protocols so as to prevent collisions between transmissions of time slots according to the second communication protocol with a time frame according to the first communication protocol.
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120. A software product stored on a processor readable memory containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps of:
prior to a scheduled transmission of at least one time frame of information using a first communication protocol and to transmissions of a plurality of time slots using a second communication protocol, wherein communication using the first communication protocol occurs during a plurality of time frames each of which includes a plurality of time intervals each of a variable time duration and dedicated to functions determined by rules of the first communication protocol, a particular time interval in a time frame being dedicated for communication of synchronous type data, and wherein each time frame is transmitted at a different frequency in the band, and wherein the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band and wherein predetermined ones of the time slots are allocated for communication of synchronous type data; determining whether any of the plurality of time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol at least partially overlap in time with the particular time interval in the time frame; identifying those time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol that at least partially overlap in time with the particular time interval of the time frame; determining frequencies for each of the plurality of time slots to be transmitted using the second communication protocol; for each time slot whose frequency will at least partially overlap with a frequency of the time frame, will at least partially overlap in time with the particular time interval of the time frame, storing information to manage communication in the frequency band using the first and second communication protocols so as to prevent collisions between transmissions of time slots according to the second communication protocol with a time frame according to the first communication protocol.
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121. A method for controlling communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices in a common frequency band in which communication between communication devices occurs using first and second communication protocols, wherein communication using the first communication protocol occurs during a plurality of time frames each of which includes a plurality of time intervals dedicated to functions determined by rules of the first communication protocol, a particular time interval in the time frame being dedicated to assigning the start time and duration of subsequent time intervals in the time frame, and wherein each time frame is transmitted at a different frequency in the band, and wherein the second communication protocol uses a frequency that changes for each of a plurality of time slots of information that are transmitted in the frequency band, wherein each time slot is separated by a silent time period, in a communication device capable of communicating using the first and second communication protocols a method for preventing transmission of information according to the second communication protocol from colliding with the beacon time interval, comprising steps of:
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generating from a common clock signal a first clock signal used to synchronize transmission of the time frames for the first communication protocol and a second clock signal used to synchronize the time slots for the second communication protocol; and scheduling transmission of time frames of the first communication protocol with respect to the first clock signal and transmission of time slots of the second communication protocol with respect to the second clock signal so as to guarantee that the particular time interval of a time frame in the first communication protocol is occurs during a silent time period between time slots of the second communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124)
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125. A method for enabling concurrent transmission of a first signal and reception of a second signal which at least partially overlap in frequency at a wireless communication device without substantial interference between the signals and degradation thereof, the first signal having a wide frequency bandwidth relative to that of the second signal, the method comprising steps of:
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filtering out from the first signal a portion of its frequency bandwidth to generate a filtered signal, whereby a frequency location and bandwidth of the second signal coincides with the portion of the frequency bandwidth filtered out from the first signal; transmitting the filtered signal; receiving the second signal at the wireless communication device concurrent with the transmission of the filtered signal; adding the filtered signal to the second signal to generate a composite signal; and filtering the composite signal to eliminate all but a portion corresponding to the frequency location and bandwidth of the second signal thereby recovering the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (126, 127, 128)
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129. A method for enabling concurrent transmission of a first signal and reception of a second signal which at least partially overlap in frequency at a wireless communication device without substantial interference between the signals and degradation thereof, the second signal having a wide frequency bandwidth relative to that of the first signal, the method comprising steps of:
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transmitting the first signal from the wireless communication device; receiving the second signal at the wireless communication device concurrent with the transmission of the first signal; adding the first signal and the second signal together to form a composite signal; filtering the composite signal to remove a portion of a bandwidth of the composite signal corresponding to a frequency location and bandwidth of the first signal, thereby recovering the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (130, 131, 132)
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Specification