Methods and apparatus for operating transceiver systems of a wireless platform

• US 7,392,061 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hurwitz, Roger A., Banginwar, Rajesh, Cronin, Thomas M., McVeigh, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phu; Sanh D
• Application Number:
  US11/014,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20060128350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/574, 455/343.2
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• 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

Embodiments of methods and apparatus to operate transceiver systems of a wireless platform are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a notification at a first transceiver system of a wireless platform having a plurality of transceiver systems, the notification being indicative of an incoming communication from a wireless network and associated with a second transceiver system of the wireless platform; and

transmitting an alert from the first transceiver system to the second transceiver system to cause the second transceiver system to transition from a disabled mode in which the second transceiver system is disabled from receiving incoming communication from the wireless network, to a wake-up mode to receive the incoming communication,

wherein the first transceiver system is operable in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol and the second transceiver system is operable in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second transceiver system consumes more power in the wake-up mode than in the disabled mode.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising prior to said receiving a notification at the first transceiver system selecting the first transceiver system as a host transceiver system to receive the notification and disabling the second transceiver system so that second transceiver system is disabled from receiving incoming communication from the wireless network.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein transmitting the alert to the second transceiver system from the first transceiver system comprises transmitting one or more of a wake-up call, message, or ping to the second transceiver system from the first transceiver system.

5. A method as defined in claim 3 further comprising selecting the first transceiver system to operate as the host transceiver system based on a determination that the first transceiver system is currently being used or was last used to communicate with one or more nodes of the wireless network.

6. A method as defined in claim 3 further comprising selecting the first transceiver system to operate as the host transceiver system based on one or more of power consumption or coverage area associated with one or more of the plurality of transceiver systems.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wireless platform is associated with one or more of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, desktop computer, a television, a personal data assistant, a wireless telephone, a pager, an audio/video player, a game device, a digital camera, a navigation device, or a wireless peripheral.

8. An article of manufacture including content, which when accessed, causes a machine to:

receiving a notification at a first transceiver system of a wireless platform having a plurality of transceiver systems, the notification being indicative of an incoming communication from a wireless network and associated with a second transceiver system of the wireless platform; and

transmitting an alert from the first transceiver system to the second transceiver system to cause the second transceiver system to transition from a disabled mode in which the second transceiver system is disabled from receiving incoming communication from the wireless network, to a wake-up mode to receive the incoming communication,

wherein the first transceiver system is operable in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol and the second transceiver system is operable in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol.

9. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 8, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to transmit an alert from the first transceiver system to the second transceiver system to cause the second transceiver system to transition from a lower power disabled mode to a higher power wake-up mode to receive the incoming communication.

10. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 8, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to prior to said receiving a notification at the first transceiver system select the first transceiver system as a host transceiver system to receive the notification and disabling the second transceiver system so that the second transceiver system is disabled from receiving incoming communications from the wireless network.

11. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 8, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to transmit the alert to the second transceiver system from the first transceiver system by transmitting one or more of a wake-up call, message, or ping to the second transceiver system from the first transceiver system.

12. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to select the first transceiver system to operate as the host transceiver system based on a determination that the first transceiver system is currently being used or was last used to communicate with one or more nodes of the wireless network.

13. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to select the first transceiver system to operate as the host transceiver system based on one or more of power consumption or coverage area associated with one or more of the plurality of transceiver systems.

14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 8, wherein wireless platform is associated with one or more of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a television, a personal data assistant, a wireless telephone, a pager, an audio/video player, a game device, a digital camera, a navigation device, or a wireless peripheral.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver to receive a notification at a first transceiver system of a wireless platform having two or more transceiver systems, the notification being indicative of an incoming communication from a wireless network and associated with a second transceiver system of the wireless platform; and

a transmitter to transmit an alert from the first transceiver system to the second transceiver system to cause the second transceiver system to transition from a disabled mode in which the second transceiver system is disabled from receiving incoming communications from the wireless network, to a wake-up mode to receive the incoming communication,

wherein the first transceiver system is operable in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol and the second transceiver system is operable in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said wake-up mode is higher power consumption mode than thee disabled mode.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising a selector to, prior to said receiver receiving a notification at the first transceiver system, select the first transceiver system as a host transceiver system to receive the notification and disabling the second transceiver system so that the second transceiver system is disabled from receiving incoming communications from the wireless network.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the alert comprises one or more of a wake-up call, message, or ping.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said selector to select the first transceiver system to operate as the host transceiver system based on a determination that the first transceiver system is currently being used or was last used to communicate with one or more nodes of the wireless network.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said selector to select the first transceiver system to operate as the host transceiver system based on one or more power consumption or coverage area associated with one or more of the plurality of transceiver systems.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the wireless platform is associated with one or more of a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a television, a personal data assistant, a wireless telephone, a pager, an audio/video player, a game device, a navigation device, or a wireless peripheral.

22. A system comprising:

a flash memory; and

a processor coupled to the flash memory to receive a notification at a first transceiver system of a wireless platform having two or more transceiver systems, the notification being indicative of an incoming communication from a wireless network and associated with a second transceiver system of the wireless platform, and to transmit an alert from the first transceiver system to the second transceiver system to cause the second transceiver system to transition from a disabled mode in which the second transceiver system is disabled from receiving incoming communications from the wireless network, to a wake-up mode to receive the incoming communication,

wherein the first transceiver system is operable in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol and the second transceiver system is operable in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol.

23. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein said wake-up mode is higher power consumption mode than the disabled mode.

24. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein said processor to, prior to said receive receiving a notification at first transceiver system, select the first transceiver system as a host transceiver system to receive the notification and disabling the second transceiver system so that the second transceiver system is disabled from receiving incoming communications from the wireless network.

25. A system as defined in claim 22, wherein the alert comprises one or more of a wake-up call, message, or ping.

26. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to select the first transceiver system to operate as the host transceiver system based on a determination that the first transceiver system is currently being used or was last used to communicate with one or more nodes of the wireless network.

27. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to select one of the plurality of transceiver systems to operate as the host transceiver system based on one or more of power consumption or coverage area associated with one or more of the plurality of transceiver systems.