Multiradio management through shared time allocation

• US 8,107,880 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Okker, Jani, Ylänen, Jussi, Pernu, Ville
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DINH
• Application Number:
  US11/691,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 370/326, 370/329, 370/330, 370/334, 370/345, 370/338, 370/346, 370/465, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different 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 system for managing the operation of a plurality of radio modules integrated within the same wireless communication device. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, time may be allocated for use in communicating over one or more wireless communication mediums. The allocated time may take the form of timeslots. The timeslots may be dedicated or shared timeslots, the type of timeslot affecting the behavior of each wireless communication medium. Use of shared timeslots may, for example, be determined locally to the radio modules based on a relative priority between the wireless communication mediums sharing the timeslot.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request at a radio module in a device to transmit at least one message via a wireless communication medium;

receiving schedule information including one or more periods of time when the radio module is allowed to communicate via the wireless communication medium, the one or more periods of time being scheduled as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module or timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio module is shared with one or more other radio modules;

controlling operation of the radio module by;

transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium during timeslots scheduled as dedicated for the radio module; and

determining a relative priority for the radio module with respect to the one or more other radio modules and transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium according to the relative priority during timeslots scheduled as shared with the one or more other radio modules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the schedule information is received from a multiradio controller also in the apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes determining other wireless communication mediums sharing the one or more timeslots.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes determining all of the wireless communication mediums sharing the one or more timeslots that want to communicate during the one or more shared timeslots.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes negotiating communication requirements with the one or more other radio modules.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes balancing communication requirements among a plurality of wireless communication mediums supported in the radio module.

7. A computer program product comprising a computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for causing a radio module in a device to receive a request to transmit at least one message via a wireless communication medium;

code for causing the apparatus to receive schedule information including one or more periods of time when the radio module is allowed to communicate via the wireless communication medium, the one or more periods of time being scheduled as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module or timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio module is shared with one or more other radio modules;

code for causing the apparatus to control operation of the radio module by;

transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium during timeslots scheduled as dedicated for the radio module; and

determining a relative priority for the radio module with respect to the one or more other radio modules and transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium according to the relative priority during timeslots scheduled as shared with the one or more radio modules.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the schedule information is received from a multiradio controller also in the apparatus.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes determining other wireless communication mediums sharing the one or more timeslots.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes determining all of the wireless communication mediums sharing the one or more timeslots that want to communicate during the one or more shared timeslots.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes negotiating communication requirements with the one or more other radio modules.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes balancing communication requirements among a plurality of wireless communication mediums supported in the radio module.

13. A device comprising:

one or more radio modules; and

at least one multiradio controller coupled to the one or more radio modules;

wherein the device is configured to;

receive a request at a radio module in the one or more radio modules to transmit at least one message via a wireless communication medium;

receive schedule information including one or more periods of time when the radio module is allowed to communicate via the wireless communication medium, the one or more periods of time being scheduled as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module or timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio module is shared with the one or more other radio modules;

control operation of the radio module by;

transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium during timeslots scheduled as dedicated for the radio module; and

determining a relative priority for the radio module with respect to the one or more other radio modules and transmit the at least one message via the wireless communication medium according to the relative priority during timeslots scheduled as shared with the one or more other radio modules.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the schedule information is received from the multiradio controller.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes determining other wireless communication mediums sharing the one or more timeslots.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes determining all of the wireless communication mediums sharing the one or more timeslots that want to communicate during the one or more shared timeslots.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes negotiating communication requirements with the one or more other radio modules.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein determining a relative priority for the radio module includes balancing communication requirements among a plurality of wireless communication mediums supported in the radio module.

19. A device comprising:

means for receiving a request at a radio module in an apparatus to transmit at least one message via a wireless communication medium;

means for receiving schedule information including one or more periods of time when the radio module is allowed to communicate via the wireless communication medium, the one or more periods of time being scheduled as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module or timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio module is shared with one or more other radio modules;

means for controlling operation of the radio module by;

transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium during timeslots scheduled as dedicated for the radio module; and

determining a relative priority for the radio module with respect to the one or more other radio modules and transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium according to the relative priority during timeslots scheduled as shared with the one or more radio modules.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the schedule information is received from a multiradio controller also in the device.

21. A radio module, comprising:

a radio modem configured to send wireless messages via a wireless communication medium;

a message queue for holding one or more pending wireless messages;

a controller coupled to at least the radio modem and the message queue;

one or more transmitters coupled to at least the controller and configured to send information to at least one of a multiradio controller and other radio modules; and

one or more receivers coupled to at least the controller and configured to receive at least one of schedule information including one or more periods of time when a radio module is allowed to communicate and information from other radio modules;

wherein the controller is configured to;

receive a request at the radio module to transmit at least one message via a wireless communication medium;

receive schedule information including one or more periods of time when the radio module is allowed to communicate via the wireless communication medium, the one or more periods of time being scheduled as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module or timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio module is shared with the one or more other radio modules;

control operation of the radio module by;

transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium during timeslots scheduled as dedicated for the radio module; and

determining a relative priority for the radio module with respect to the one or more other radio modules and transmit the at least one message via the wireless communication medium according to the relative priority during timeslots scheduled as shared with the one or more radio modules.

22. The radio module of claim 21, wherein the transmitter and receiver communicate over a communication bus dedicated to conveying delay-sensitive information.

23. A radio module, comprising:

a radio modem configured to send wireless messages via a plurality of wireless communication mediums;

a plurality of message queues for holding one or more pending wireless messages;

a controller coupled to at least the radio modem and the plurality of message queues;

one or more transmitters coupled to at least the controller and configured to send information to at least a multiradio controller; and

one or more receivers coupled to at least the controller and configured to receive at least schedule information including one or more periods of time when a radio module is allowed to communicate;

wherein the controller is configured to;

receive a request at the radio module to transmit at least one message via a wireless communication medium;

receive schedule information including one or more periods of time when the radio module is allowed to communicate via the wireless communication medium, the one or more periods of time being scheduled as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module or timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio module is shared with the one or more other radio modules;

control operation of the radio module by

transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium during timeslots scheduled as dedicated for the radio module; and

determining a relative priority for the radio module with respect to the one or more other radio modules and transmit the at least one message via the wireless communication medium according to the relative priority during timeslots scheduled as shared with the one or more other radio modules.

24. The radio module of claim 23, wherein the transmitter and receiver are further configured to send and receive information to other radio modules.

25. The radio module of claim 23, wherein at least one transmitter and receiver are components of an interface coupled to a communication bus which is dedicated to conveying delay-sensitive information.

26. The radio module of claim 25, wherein the communication bus is dedicated to conveying delay-sensitive radio module status information between a plurality of radio modules incorporated in a wireless communication device.

27. A method, comprising:

receiving a request to transmit one or more messages via at least one radio module supporting at least one wireless communication medium;

receiving loading information related to at least one of the at least one radio module and the at least one wireless communication medium;

determining whether any of the one or more messages are high priority messages;

if any of the messages are high priority messages, and a potential communication conflict exists, scheduling timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module in an operational schedule for the high priority messages;

scheduling any other available timeslots as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio modules is shared in the operational schedule with one or more other radio modules; and

communicating the operational schedule to the at least one radio module.

28. A multiradio controller, comprising:

at least one interface module for facilitating communication; and

a control module, coupled to at least the interface module, wherein the control module is configured to;

receive a request to transmit one or more messages via at least one radio module supporting at least one wireless communication medium;

receive loading information related to at least one of the at least one radio module and the at least one wireless communication medium;

determine whether any of the one or more messages are high priority messages;

if any of the messages are high priority messages, and a potential communication conflict exists, schedule timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module in an operational schedule for the high priority messages;

schedule any other available timeslots as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio module is shared in the operational schedule with one or more other radio modules; and

communicate the operational schedule to the at least one radio module.

29. A system, comprising:

one or more radio modules imbedded in a wireless communication device;

a multiradio controller, coupled to the one or radio modules;

at least one of the one or more multiradio modules receiving a request to transmit at least one message via a wireless communication medium;

the at least one radio module receiving schedule information from the multiradio controller, the schedule information including one or more periods of time when the at least one radio module is allowed to communicate via the wireless communication medium, the one or more periods of time being scheduled as timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium is dedicated for the radio module or timeslots during which access to the wireless communication medium for the radio module is shared with one or more radio modules;

the at least one radio module transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium during timeslots scheduled as dedicated for the at least one radio module; and

the at least one radio module further determining a relative priority for the radio module with respect to the one or more other radio modules and transmitting the at least one message via the wireless communication medium according to the relative priority during timeslots scheduled as shared with the one or more other radio modules.