Reducing interference between different communication systems sharing a common wireless transmission medium
First Claim
1. A method for reducing interference between two or more communication systems that share a common wireless transmission medium, the method comprising:
- transmitting one or more first-standard messages conforming to a first communication standard associated with a first of the communication systems in a first-standard beacon period for the first communication standard, wherein;
the one or more first-standard messages are designed to notify one or more nodes conforming to the first communication standard of (1) the existence of a contention free period (CFP) for the first communication system and (2) the existence of a contention access period (CAP) for the first communication system; and
transmitting one or more second-standard messages conforming to a second communication standard different from the first communication standard, associated with a second of the communication systems in a second-standard beacon period for the second communication standard, wherein;
the one or more second-standard messages are designed to notify one or more nodes conforming to the second communication standard of (1) the existence of a CFP for the second communication system and (2) the existence of a CAP for the second communication system; and
timing of the CFPs and CAPs for the first and second communication systems is coordinated such that;
a CFP for the first communication system spans (1) a CFP for the second communication system and (2) a second-standard beacon period; and
a CAP for the second communication system spans (1) a CAP for the first communication system and (2) a first-standard beacon period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a first wireless communication system conforms to the IEEE 802.15.3 standard and a second wireless communication system conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard, where the two systems share a common wireless transmission medium. A combined node functions as both an IEEE 802.15.3 piconet controller and an IEEE 802.11 access point. The combined node transmits IEEE 802.11 control/management frames to inform other IEEE 802.11 nodes about the beginning and end of IEEE 802.11 contention free periods (CFPs), each of which purposely spans an IEEE 802.15.3 CFP and the following superframe beacon. As such, IEEE 802.15.3 nodes have unfettered access to the common wireless transmission medium during IEEE 802.15.3 CFPs, while allowing access by IEEE 802.11 nodes to the medium during IEEE 802.15.3 contention access periods, thereby avoiding destructive interference between IEEE 802.15.3 and IEEE 802.11 communications. Other embodiments are not necessarily limited to these particular wireless LAN standards.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for reducing interference between two or more communication systems that share a common wireless transmission medium, the method comprising:
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transmitting one or more first-standard messages conforming to a first communication standard associated with a first of the communication systems in a first-standard beacon period for the first communication standard, wherein; the one or more first-standard messages are designed to notify one or more nodes conforming to the first communication standard of (1) the existence of a contention free period (CFP) for the first communication system and (2) the existence of a contention access period (CAP) for the first communication system; and transmitting one or more second-standard messages conforming to a second communication standard different from the first communication standard, associated with a second of the communication systems in a second-standard beacon period for the second communication standard, wherein; the one or more second-standard messages are designed to notify one or more nodes conforming to the second communication standard of (1) the existence of a CFP for the second communication system and (2) the existence of a CAP for the second communication system; and timing of the CFPs and CAPs for the first and second communication systems is coordinated such that; a CFP for the first communication system spans (1) a CFP for the second communication system and (2) a second-standard beacon period; and a CAP for the second communication system spans (1) a CAP for the first communication system and (2) a first-standard beacon period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A combined node comprising:
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(a) a first transceiver conforming to a first communication standard; (b) a second transceiver conforming to a second communication standard different from the first communication standard; and (c) a controller adapted to coordinate operations of the first and second transceivers, wherein; the first transceiver is part of a first communication system conforming to the first communication standard; the second transceiver is part of a second communication system conforming to the second communication standard; the first and second communication systems share a common wireless transmission medium; the first transceiver is adapted to transmit one or more first-standard messages conforming to the first communication standard, wherein; the one or more first-standard messages are designed to notify one or more other nodes conforming to the first communication standard of (1) the existence of a contention free period (CFP) for the first communication system and (2) the existence of a contention access period (CAP) for the first communication system; the second transceiver is adapted to transmit one or more second-standard messages conforming to the second communication standard, wherein; the one or more second-standard messages are designed to notify one or more other nodes conforming to the second communication standard of (1) the existence of a CFP for the second communication system and (2) the existence of a CAP for the second communication system, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the controller is adapted to coordinate timing of the CFPs and CAPs for the first and second communication systems such that; a CFP for the first communication system spans (1) a CFP for the second communication system and (2) a second-standard beacon period; and a CAP for the second communication system spans (1) a CAP for the first communication system and (2) a first-standard beacon period. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification