Device and methods for increasing wireless connection speeds

• US 7,394,783 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sasson, Roni, Ben-Eli, David, Rainish, Doron, Tamir, Tal
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/945,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20060062174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/67.13, 455/135, 455/295, 455/296, 455/574, 455/426.1, 370/311, 702 81- 84, 375/147
• US Class Current: 370/328
• 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

Systems and methods may operate to increase the throughput of a wireless connection by passing a wireless signal from a communications subsystem to an application subsystem for physical layer processing of the wireless signal. Other embodiments include systems and methods for selectively activating a processor of an application subsystem when an improvement in wireless throughput is possible.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem, the wireless signal at a physical layer;

analyzing at least one aspect of wireless performance;

first determining an availability of a processor of an application subsystem, where the processor is operably coupled to the PHY device;

second determining if the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved;

if it is second determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved and first determined that the processor of the application subsystem is available, then activating the processor of the application subsystem to process the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem, wherein processing the wireless signal at the processor includes processing the wireless signal at the physical layer to generate a processed signal at the physical layer and passing the processed signal back to the PHY device;

if it is second determined that at least one aspect of wireless performance can not be improved or first determined that the processor is not available, processing the wireless signal using the PHY device at the physical layer to generate a processed signal at the physical layer;

determining that at least one other aspect of wireless performance can be improved and that the processor of the application subsystem is available, and continuing to activate the processor and to use the processor for the processing of the wireless signal;

passing the processed signal from the PHY device to a media access control (MAC) device for layer 2 and layer 3 processing to generate a data signal at a transport layer; and

passing the data signal at the transport layer from the MAC device back to the application subsystem.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is available unless any of the following are true:

the processor is executing a processor-intensive task, the processor is in a power-save mode;

or the processor has ceased performing instruction for any reason.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is available unless an algorithm that is optimal for current operating conditions of the communication subsystem is contained on the communication subsystem.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating the processor further comprises:

accessing an algorithm; and

processing the wireless signal with the accessed algorithm within the processor of the application subsystem.

5. A machine readable medium having machine executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage device, which when executed perform the following operations:

receiving an unprocessed wireless signal on a PHY device of a communication subsystem, the wireless signal at a physical layer;

analyzing at least one aspect of wireless performance;

first determining an availability of a processor of an application subsystem, where the processor is operably coupled to the PHY device;

second determining if the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved;

if it is second determined that the at least one aspect of wireless performance can be improved and first determined that the processor of the application subsystem is available, then activating the processor of the application subsystem to process the wireless signal within the processor of the application subsystem, wherein processing the wireless signal at the processor includes processing the wireless signal at the physical layer to generate a processed signal at the physical layer and passing the processed signal back to the PHY device;

if it is second determined that at least one aspect of wireless performance can not be improved or first determined that processing is not available, processing the wireless signal using the PHY device at the physical layer to generate a processed signal at the physical layer;

determining that at least one other aspect of wireless performance can be improved and that the processor of the application subsystem is available, and continuing to activate the processor and to use the processor for the processing of the wireless signal;

passing the processed signal from the PHY device to a media access control (MAC) device for layer 2 and layer 3 processing to generate a data signal at a transport layer; and

passing the data signal at the transport layer from the MAC device back to the application subsystem.

6. The machine readable medium of claim 5, wherein the processor is available unless any of the following are true:

the processor is executing a processor-intensive task, the processor is in a power-save mode;

or the processor has ceased performing instruction for any reason.

7. The machine readable medium of claim 5, wherein the processor is available unless an algorithm that is optimal for current operating conditions of the communication subsystem is contained on the communication subsystem.

8. The machine readable medium of claim 5, wherein the activating the processor further comprises:

accessing an algorithm; and

processing the wireless signal with the accessed algorithm within the processor of the application subsystem.