Method of managing the operation of a wireless communication device and corresponding wireless device

• US 8,036,159 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V. (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics NV
• Inventors: Berens, Friedbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi; Afsar M.
• Application Number:
  US12/018,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 370318-329, 370332-335, 370/342, 455/67.1, 455/440, 455/423, 455/522, 455/456.1, 375/130, 375/146, 375/219, 375/259, 375/261, 375/267, 375/298, 375/299, 375/308, 375/349
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/719 Interference-related aspects

Abstract

The method is for managing the operation of a wireless communication device including several different communication modules respectively adapted to operate according to several given communication protocols including a UWB module operating according to a UWB protocol based on an OFDM modulation scheme. The method includes controlling the UWB module for scanning a chosen frequency band, and managing a communication to be performed by the device on the basis of the scanning result.

Claims

1. A method of managing the operation of a wireless communication device including several different communication modules respectively adapted to operate according to several given communication protocols including an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) module operating according to an UWB protocol based on an OFDM modulation scheme, the method comprising:

controlling the UWB module to scan a selected frequency band and produce a scanning result; and

managing a communication to be performed by the wireless communication device on the basis of the scanning result.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scan is performed after the device is switched on.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scan is performed during at least one silence period of one of the communication protocols associated with one of the communication modules being used for performing the communication.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scan is performed during a reception phase of one of the communication protocols associated with one of the communication modules being used for performing the communication.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the managing comprises selecting one of the modules for performing the communication.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the managing comprises:

elaborating operation management information from the scanning result and from reference information related to the communication protocols respectively associated to the modules; and

managing operation of the module being used for the communication based upon the operation management information.

7. A wireless communication device comprising:

a plurality of different communication modules respectively adapted to operate according to several given communication protocols including an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication module adapted to operate according to a UWB protocol based on an OFDM modulation scheme;

a controller to control the UWB module for scanning a chosen frequency band and produce a scanning result; and

a management unit to manage a communication to be performed by the device on the basis of the scanning result.

8. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to control the UWB module for performing the scan after the device is switched on.

9. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to control the UWB module for performing the scan during at least one silence period of one of the communication protocols associated to one of the communication modules being used for performing the communication.

10. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to control the UWB module for performing the scan during a reception phase of one of the communication protocols associated to one of the communication modules being used for performing the communication.

11. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein the management unit comprises a selection unit to select one of the modules for performing the communication.

12. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a memory to store reference information related to the communication protocols respectively associated to the modules;

wherein the management unit comprises

a comparison block adapted to compare the scanning result with the reference information, and

a management controller adapted to manage the communication on the basis of the comparison result.

13. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein the UWB module comprises a front end stage and a first block coupled to the front end stage and adapted to perform a Fast Fourier Transform;

wherein the device further comprises a second block controllably coupled to outputs of the first transform block and adapted to deliver energy information respectively associated to the frequencies respectively corresponding to the outputs of the first transform block; and

wherein the controller is adapted to activate the second block.

14. The wireless communication device according to claim 13, wherein the front end stage comprises:

a frequency transposition unit; and

a controllable local oscillator adapted to deliver a transposition signal having a transposition frequency to the frequency transposition unit;

the controller being adapted to control the local oscillator for modifying the transposition frequency in accordance with the chosen frequency band to be scanned.

15. A wireless communication device comprising:

a plurality of different communication modules respectively adapted to operate according to several given communication protocols including an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication module adapted to operate according to a UWB protocol based on an OFDM modulation scheme;

a control means for controlling the UWB module for scanning a chosen frequency band and producing a scanning result; and

a management means for managing a communication to be performed by the device on the basis of the scanning result.

16. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, wherein the control means is adapted to control the UWB module for performing the scan after the device is switched on.

17. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, wherein the control means is adapted to control the UWB module for performing the scan during at least one silence period of one of the communication protocols associated to one of the communication modules being used for performing the communication.

18. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, wherein the control means is adapted to control the UWB module for performing the scan during a reception phase of one of the communication protocols associated to one of the communication modules being used for performing the communication.

19. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, wherein the management means comprises selection means for selecting one of the modules for performing the communication.

20. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, further comprising:

memory means for storing reference information related to the communication protocols respectively associated to the modules;

wherein the management means comprises

comparison means for comparing the scanning result with the reference information, and

management control means for managing the communication on the basis of the comparison result.

21. The wireless communication device according to claim 15, wherein the UWB module comprises a front end stage and a first means coupled to the front end stage and for performing a Fast Fourier Transform;

wherein the device further comprises a second means controllably coupled to outputs of the first means for delivering energy information respectively associated to the frequencies respectively corresponding to the outputs of the first means; and

wherein the controller is adapted to activate the second means.

22. The wireless communication device according to claim 21, wherein the front end stage comprises:

a frequency transposition means; and

a controllable local oscillator adapted to deliver a transposition signal having a transposition frequency to the frequency transposition means;

the control means being adapted to control the local oscillator for modifying the transposition frequency in accordance with the chosen frequency band to be scanned.