Method and device for the management and storage of non-volatile data relative to a communicating device

• US 7,493,115 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ST-Ericcson SA (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Mastio, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya; Sam
• Application Number:
  US10/872,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/412.1, 455/410, 455/411, 455/426.1, 455/67.11, 455/550.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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

A wireless communication interface (2) of a communicating device (1) to which an identification address (BD_ADD) is assigned for communicating. The interface (2) includes radio frequency circuits (4) and a memory (32) for recording data relative to an operating test phase of the radio frequency circuits. According to the invention, the memory (32) is rendered hardware interdependent of the radio frequency circuits (4) of the communication interface (2). The identification address (BD_ADD) is written into the memory (32). Applications of the present invention include wireless networks and pico-networks such as “Bluetooth,” “Zig Bee,” and similar protocol.

Claims

1. A method for individually testing a radio frequency circuit of a wireless communication interface of a communicating device adapted for a pico-network protocol, the pico-network protocol based upon a stack of hardware protocol layers including a radio protocol layer, a baseband protocol layer and a link management protocol layer, the method comprising:

operating on a wireless communication interface at least one radio frequency circuit, wherein an individual identification address for communication is assigned to the wireless communication interface uniquely for each radio frequency circuit, and wherein the at least one radio frequency circuit is physically integrated in a chip with circuits of the radio protocol layer of the pico-network protocol;

electrically coupling to the wireless communication interface, a single physical programmable array of read only memory for recording both test data associated with an operating test phase of the radio frequency circuit and the individual identification address, without a need to reprogram the read only memory in order to complete the individual testing and calibration of the radio frequency circuit, wherein the single physical programmable array of read only memory is physically integrated in a chip with circuits of one of the baseband protocol layer and the link management protocol layer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the memory is integrated into a chip of the radio frequency circuit.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing at least one communication interface test; and

writing into the memory without regard to order;

at least one data element relative to the communication interface test, and

the identification address, when operating a communication interface in an encapsulated product form.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification address is written into the memory before the radio frequency circuit are connected to other elements that comprise the wireless communication interface.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification address is written into the memory after the radio frequency circuit has been connected to other elements of the wireless communication interface, and before a connection of the wireless communication interface with a communicating device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating on the wireless communication interface includes a device of a type of device that communicates over a wireless network, the identification address being an address used to recognize the device in the network.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the device is the type of device that communicates over a pico-network according to a Bluetooth compatible protocol.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a one time programmable memory.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein at least one other data element normally grouped with the identification address is also stored in the memory.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is also stored in the memory:

encryption/decryption data;

data relative to a specific operating mode; and

customization data.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data relative to an operating test phase of the interface include at least one of the following:

an indication of a compliance of the interface with respect to a tested parameter or a tested set of parameters;

a validity certificate according to the communication protocol; and

at least one of calibration and correction data of the communication interface circuits.

12. A wireless communication interface operating in accordance with the method of claim 1.

13. A wireless communication interface for a communicating device to which an individual identification address is assigned for communication, the wireless communication interface comprising:

at least one radio frequency circuit which is unique for the communication interface so that each radio frequency circuit is tested individually; and

a single physical programmable array of read only memory integrated in a chip with circuits of one of a baseband protocol layer and a link management protocol layer of a pico-network protocol, the single physical programmable array of read only memory designed to record both test data relative to an operating test phase of the radio frequency circuit and the individual identification address,

wherein the single physical programmable array of read only memory stores the individual identification address without a need to reprogram the read only memory in order to complete the individual testing and calibration of the radio frequency circuit.

14. The wireless communication interface according to claim 13, wherein the memory is a one time programmable (OTP)-type memory.

15. The wireless communication interface according to claim 13, wherein the memory also stores at least one other data element normally grouped with a specific address.

16. A wireless communication device adapted for a pico-network protocol, the pico-network protocol based upon a stack of hardware protocol layers including a radio protocol layer, a baseband protocol layer and a link management protocol layer, the wireless communication device comprising:

an interface to which an individual identification address is assigned for communication;

at least one radio frequency circuit that is unique for the communication interface so that each radio frequency circuit is tested individually, the at least one radio frequency circuit integrated in one or more chips that include circuits of the radio protocol layer; and

a single physical programmable array of read only memory integrated in a chip with circuits of one of the baseband protocol layer and the link management protocol layer, the single physical programmable array of read only memory designed to record both test data relative to an operating test phase of the radio frequency circuit and the individual identification address,

wherein the single physical programmable array of read only memory stores the individual identification address without a need to reprogram the read only memory in order to complete the individual testing and calibration of the radio frequency circuit.

17. The wireless communication device according to claim 16, further comprising:

a stage for reading and providing a claimant with the identification address, wherein in that the stage includes the reading of the identification address from the memory used additionally to record data relative to the operating test phase of the interface.

18. The wireless communication device according to claim 17, including a stage for reading and providing a claimant with at least one other data element normally grouped with a specific address, wherein the stage includes reading of the other data element from the memory used additionally to record the data relative to the operating test phase of the interface.

19. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the radio frequency circuit further comprises:

a connection port whose output is adapted to write into the memory the identification address, and to write into the memory the data relative to the test.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the pico-network protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.