Method and system for 60 GHz location determination and coordination of WLAN/WPAN/GPS multimode devices

• US 7,912,449 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hansen, Christopher J., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao; Minh D
• Application Number:
  US11/924,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/16, 455/456.6, 340/426.19, 340/539.13, 340/584, 342/417
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Within a local region, information may be communicated between two or more wireless multimode communication devices (WMCD) comprising 60 GHz band and lower frequency band wireless interfaces. Spatial relationships between devices may vary. The 60 GHz interface may handle location determination operations and data transfers. The lower frequency band may support WPAN, WLAN and may handle coordination of communications and data transfers. The WMCDs may be coupled with a network. Antennas may be directional. Moreover, the spatial orientation of the antennas may be dynamically modified or swept across a specified angle. Furthermore, intelligent and/or adaptive antenna systems may be utilized. The WMCDs may utilize a position and/or time reference system to aid in location determination operations.

Claims

1. A method for enabling wireless communication, the method comprising

in a communication system comprising a plurality of wireless multimode communication devices (WMCDs), each of which comprises an integrated 60 GHz interface and one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces,

determining via a 60 GHz interface of one of said plurality of WMCDs, a location of at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs;

and

coordinating communication between said one of said plurality of WMCDs and said at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs via said one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising coordinating communication between said one of said plurality of WMCDs and said at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs via said 60 GHz interface and/or via said one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating between one or more of said plurality of WMCDS via said 60 GHz interface and one or more of directional, steered, adaptive and intelligent antennas or antenna systems.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising handling said coordinating communications among said plurality of WMCDs via said lower radio frequency band interfaces via one or more of an 802.11 WLAN, a Bluetooth WPAN and/or a Wimedia UWB.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising coordinating utilization of wireless transmission frequencies and physical interfaces for said communications among said plurality of WMCDs.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising coordinating communications between said plurality of WMCD wherein a first portion of said plurality of WMCD is located in a first local region and a second portion of said plurality of WMCD is located in a second local region.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining the location of one or more of said plurality of WMCDs based on measurements made via said 60 GHz interface and one or more of directional, steered, adaptive and intelligent antennas or antenna systems.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining the location of one or more of said plurality of WMCDs based on global positioning system (GPS) information.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating location information to one or more of said plurality of WMCDs via said lower radio frequency band interfaces and one or more of an 802.11 WLAN, a Bluetooth WPAN and/or a Wimedia UWB.

10. A system for enabling wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a communication system comprising a plurality of wireless multimode communication devices (WMCDs), each of which comprises an integrated 60 GHz interface and one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces,

said one or more circuits in one of said plurality of WMCDs determines via its corresponding 60 GHz interface, a location of at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs; and

said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs coordinates communication between said one of said plurality of WMCDs and said at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs via said one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs enables coordination of communication between said one of said plurality of WMCDs and said at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs via said 60 GHz interface and/or via said one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs enables communication between one or more of said plurality of WMCDs via said 60 GHz interface and one or more of directional, steered, adaptive and intelligent antennas or antenna systems.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs enables handling said coordination of communications among said plurality of WMCDs via said lower radio frequency band interfaces via one or more of an 802.11 WLAN, a Bluetooth WPAN and/or a Wimedia UWB.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs enables coordination of wireless transmission frequencies utilization and physical interfaces for said communications among said plurality of WMCDs.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs enables coordination of communications between said plurality of WMCD wherein a first portion of said plurality of WMCD is located in a first local region and a second portion of said plurality of WMCDs is located in a second local region.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs enables determination of the location of one or more of said plurality of WMCDs based on measurements made via said 60 GHz interface and one or more of directional, steered, adaptive and intelligent antennas or antenna systems.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs enables determination of the location of one or more of said plurality of WMCDs based on global positioning system (GPS) information.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits in said one of said plurality of WMCDs enables communication of location information to one or more of said WMCDs via said lower radio frequency band interfaces and one or more of an 802.11 WLAN, a Bluetooth WPAN and/or a Wimedia UWB.

19. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for enabling wireless communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

in a communication system comprising a plurality of wireless multimode communication devices (WMCDs), each of which comprises an integrated 60 GHz interface and one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces,

determining via a 60 GHz interface of one of said plurality of WMCDs, a location of at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs; and

coordinating communication between said one of said plurality of WMCDs and said at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs via said one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces.

20. The machine-readable storage according to claim 19, wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables coordinating communication between said one of said plurality of WMCDs and said at least one other of said plurality of WMCDs via said 60 GHz interface and/or via said one or more lower radio frequency band interfaces.

21. The machine-readable storage according to claim 19, wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables communicating between one or more of said plurality of WMCDs via said 60 GHz interface and one or more of directional, steered, adaptive and intelligent antennas or antenna systems.

22. The machine-readable storage according to claim 19, wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables handling said coordinating communications comprising coordinating utilization of wireless transmission frequencies and physical interfaces among said plurality of WMCDs via said lower radio frequency band interfaces via one or more of an 802.11 WLAN, a Bluetooth WPAN and/or a Wimedia UWB.

23. The machine-readable storage according to claim 19, wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables coordinating communications between said plurality of WMCD wherein a first portion of said plurality of WMCD is located in a first local region and a second portion of said plurality of WMCD is located in a second local region.

24. The machine-readable storage according to claim 19, wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables determining the location of one or more of said plurality of WMCDs based on measurements made via said 60 GHz interface, a global positioning system (GPS) and one or more of directional, steered, adaptive and intelligent antennas or antenna systems.

25. The machine-readable storage according to claim 19, wherein said at least one code section comprises code that enables communicating location information to one or more of said WMCDs via said lower radio frequency band interfaces and one or more of an 802.11 WLAN, a Bluetooth WPAN and/or a Wimedia UWB.