Combined bluetooth/alternate radio environment with criterion for reporting a condition of the alternate radio defined in a physical abstraction layer associated with the alternate radio

• US 8,126,447 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hillan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/348,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20100173621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/414.1, 455418-421, 455/422.1, 455/426.2, 455/428, 455/435.2, 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• 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

In a combined Bluetooth/alternate radio environment, an intermediate level software layer interprets operational conditions of a Bluetooth radio for an upper level, supervisory software layer. The intermediate level software layer also interfaces between the upper level software layer and a lower level software layer that interfaces to the alternate radio. The lower level software layer defines therein a criterion for reporting a condition of the alternate radio to the upper level software layer.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus that combines Bluetooth/alternate radio links, comprising:

a first radio unit for communicating with an external apparatus on a Bluetooth radio link;

a second radio unit for communicating with an external apparatus on a second radio link other than the Bluetooth radio link; and

a data processing portion that implements upper, intermediate and lower level software layers, said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said first radio unit and said upper level software layer to interpret operational conditions of a Bluetooth radio for an upper level, supervisory software layer, said lower level software layer providing interfacing between said second radio unit and said intermediate level software layer, and said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said upper and lower level software layers;

wherein said upper and intermediate level software layers are cooperable to permit said apparatus to respond to a first event associated with operation of said first radio unit, wherein said upper, intermediate and lower level software layers are cooperable to permit said apparatus to respond to a second event associated with operation of said second radio unit, wherein said intermediate level software layer notifies said upper level software layer of said first and second events, wherein said lower level software layer provides to said intermediate level software layer an event indicator that indicates occurrence of said second event, and wherein said lower level software layer provides said event indicator based on information received from said second radio unit and indicative of an operating condition associated with said second radio unit, and further based on information contained in said lower level software layer and defining a correspondence between said event indicator and said operating condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said defining information is programmable information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lower level software layer further provides to said intermediate level software layer information related to said operating condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said related information includes a coded version of a numerical value, and wherein the numerical value quantifies said operating condition.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lower level software layer further provides to said intermediate level software layer information indicative of a severity of said operating condition.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, including a third radio unit for communicating with an external apparatus on a third radio link other than the Bluetooth radio link and the second radio link, said data processing portion implementing a further lower level software layer providing interfacing between said third radio unit and said intermediate level software layer, said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said upper level software layer and said further lower level software layer, wherein said upper, intermediate and further lower level software layers are cooperable to permit said apparatus to respond to a third event associated with operation of said third radio unit, wherein said intermediate level software layer notifies said upper level software layer of said third event, wherein said further lower level software layer provides to said intermediate level software layer a further event indicator that indicates occurrence of said third event, and wherein said further lower level software layer provides said further event indicator based on information received from said third radio unit and indicative of an operating condition associated with said third radio unit, and further based on information contained in said further lower level software layer and defining a correspondence between said further event indicator and said operating condition associated with said third radio unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said intermediate level software layer provides said event indicator and said further event indicator to said upper level software layer, and wherein said upper level software layer uses said event indicator and said further event indicator to evaluate said second and third radio units relative to one another while said second and third radio units remain transparent to said upper level software layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said operating condition information includes information indicative of one of RSSI, BER, PER, a range to an external apparatus, and a number of unavailable channels.

9. A wireless communication apparatus that combines Bluetooth/alternate radio links, comprising:

first means for communicating with an external apparatus on a Bluetooth radio link;

second means for communicating with an external apparatus on a second radio link other than the Bluetooth radio link; and

third means for implementing upper, intermediate and lower level software layers, said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said first means and said upper level software layer to interpret operation conditions of a Bluetooth radio for an upper level, supervisory software layer, said lower level software layer providing interfacing between said second means and said intermediate level software layer, and said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said upper and lower level software layers;

wherein said upper and intermediate level software layers are cooperable to permit said apparatus to respond to a first event associated with said communication on said Bluetooth radio link, wherein said upper, intermediate and lower level software layers are cooperable to permit said apparatus to respond to a second event associated with said communication on said second radio link, wherein said intermediate level software layer notifies said upper level software layer of said first and second events, wherein said lower level software layer provides to said intermediate level software layer an event indicator that indicates occurrence of said second event, and wherein said lower level software layer provides said event indicator based on information produced in conjunction with said communication on said second radio link and indicative of an operating condition associated with said communication on said second radio link, and further based on information contained in said lower level software layer and defining a correspondence between said event indicator and said operating condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said defining information is programmable information.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said lower level software layer further provides to said intermediate level software layer information related to said operating condition.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said related information includes a coded version of a numerical value, and wherein the numerical value quantifies said operating condition.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said lower level software layer further provides to said intermediate level software layer information indicative of a severity of said operating condition.

14. A wireless communication method that combines Bluetooth/alternate radio links, comprising:

communicating with an external apparatus on a Bluetooth radio link;

communicating with an external apparatus on a second radio link other than the Bluetooth radio link; and

implementing upper, intermediate and lower level software layers, said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said upper level software layer and a first radio unit associated with said Bluetooth radio link, said lower level software layer providing interfacing between said intermediate level software layer and a second radio unit associated with said second radio link, and said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said upper and lower level software layers;

wherein said upper and intermediate level software layers are cooperable to permit a response to a first event associated with said first-mentioned communicating, wherein said upper, intermediate and lower level software layers are cooperable to permit a response to a second event associated with said second-mentioned communicating, wherein said intermediate level software layer notifies said upper level software layer of said first and second events, wherein said lower level software layer provides to said intermediate level software layer an event indicator that indicates occurrence of said second event, and wherein said lower level software layer provides said event indicator based on information produced in conjunction with said second-mentioned communicating and indicative of an operating condition during said second-mentioned communicating, and further based on information contained in said lower level software layer and defining a correspondence between said event indicator and said operating condition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said defining information is programmable information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said lower level software layer further provides to said intermediate level software layer information related to said operating condition.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said related information includes a coded version of a numerical value, and wherein the numerical value quantifies said operating condition.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said lower level software layer further provides to said intermediate level software layer information indicative of a severity of said operating condition.

19. A computer program product for supporting wireless communication, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one data processor to communicate with an external apparatus via a communication path including a Bluetooth radio link;

code for causing the at least one data processor to communicate with an external apparatus via a communication path including a second radio link other than the Bluetooth radio link; and

code for causing the at least one data processor to implement upper, intermediate and lower level software layers, said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said upper level software layer and a first radio unit associated with said Bluetooth radio link, said lower level software layer providing interfacing between said intermediate level software layer and a second radio unit associated with said second radio link, and said intermediate level software layer providing interfacing between said upper and lower level software layers;

wherein said upper and intermediate level software layers are cooperable to permit a response to a first event associated with said communication on said Bluetooth radio link, wherein said upper, intermediate and lower level software layers are cooperable to permit a response to a second event associated with communication on said second radio link, wherein said intermediate level software layer notifies said upper level software layer of said first and second events, wherein said lower level software layer provides to said intermediate level software layer an event indicator that indicates occurrence of said second event, and wherein said lower level software layer provides said event indicator based on information produced in conjunction with said communication on said second radio link and indicative of an operating condition during said communication on said second radio link, and further based on information contained in said lower level software layer and defining a correspondence between said event indicator and said operating condition.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said defining information is programmable information.