System and method of communication protocols in communication systems

• US 8,170,043 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AirHop Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AirHop Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: On, Hanson, Hui, Yan
• Primary Examiner(s): ABELSON, RONALD B
• Application Number:
  US12/428,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20090262753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 370/419, 370/310, 370/328
• US Class Current: 370/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00

Abstract

Systems and methods for communication protocols in communication systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, systems and methods for communication protocols in communications systems include implementing efficient techniques for supporting single and multiple protocols. In some embodiments, systems and methods for communication protocols in communications systems include providing a multimode communication device that includes a first network layer configured to route data between nodes on a network according to a first network layer protocol; a first logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control; a second network layer configured to route data between nodes on the network according to a second network layer protocol; a second logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control; a media access control layer providing channel access control and transmitting data to and from the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer; a physical layer configured to transform data received from the media access control layer into signals for transmission and transmit the signals, to receive signals from the network, convert the received signals into data and provide the data to the media access control layer.

Claims

1. A multimode communication device comprising:

a first network layer configured to route data between nodes on a network according to a first network layer protocol, wherein the first network layer comprises a first network layer service access point for communicating with a first application;

a first logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control, wherein the first logical link control layer comprises a first logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer and the second network layer;

a second logical link control layer in communication with the second network layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control, wherein the second logical link control layer comprises a second logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer and the second network layer;

a second network layer configured to route data between nodes on the network according to a second network layer protocol, wherein the first logical link control layer is in communication with the second network layer without requiring communication through the second logical link layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control using the first logical link control layer service access point, and wherein the second network layer comprises a second network layer service access point for communicating with a second application;

a media access control layer providing channel access control and transmitting data to and from the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer;

a physical layer configured to transform data received from the media access control layer into signals for transmission and transmit the signals, to receive signals from the network, convert the received signals into data and provide the data to the media access control layer.

2. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein the media access control layer comprises a first media access control service access point for communicating with the first logical link control layer and a second media access control service access point for communicating with the second logical link control layer, wherein the first media access control service access point and the second media access control service access point coordinate access to one or more resources of the media access control layer between the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer.

3. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein the first logical link control layer service access point and the second logical link control layer service access point coordinate access to one or more resources of the second network layer between the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer.

4. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein the first logical link control layer service access point and the second logical link control layer service access point coordinate access to one or more resources of the first network layer between the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer.

5. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point for communicating with the media access control layer.

6. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein the second logical link control layer is in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control using the second logical link control layer service access point.

7. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point for communicating with the media access control layer;

and wherein the second logical link control layer is in communication with the second network layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control using the second logical link control layer service access point.

8. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein a first protocol stack comprises the first logical link control layer and the first network layer, a second protocol stack comprises the second logical link control layer and the second network layer, and the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack operate independently of each other.

9. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein a first protocol stack comprises the first logical link control layer and the first network layer;

a second protocol stack comprises the second logical link control layer and the second network layer;

a third protocol stack comprises a third logical link control layer and a third network layer; and

the first protocol stack, the second protocol stack, and the third protocol stack operate independently of each other.

10. The multimode communication device of claim 1 wherein the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point with a unified application program interface (PHY UAPI) for communicating with the media access control layer.

11. A method for a multimode communication device comprising:

routing data between nodes on a network according to a first network layer protocol using a first network layer;

transmitting data to and from a first network layer and providing data flow control using a first logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer;

transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control using a second logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer;

routing data between nodes on the network according to a second network layer protocol using a second network layer, wherein the first logical link control layer is in communication with the second network layer without requiring communication through the second logical link layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control using a first logical link control layer service access point;

providing channel access control and transmitting data to and from the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer using a media access control layer; and

transforming data received from the media access control layer into signals for transmission and transmit the signals, to receive signals from the network, convert the received signals into data and provide the data to the media access control layer using a physical layer.

12. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the media access control layer comprises a first media access control service access point for communicating with the first logical link control layer and a second media access control service access point for communicating with the second logical link control layer;

and wherein the first media access control service access point and the second media access control service access point coordinate access to one or more resources of the media access control layer between the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer.

13. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the first logical link control layer comprises a first logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer and the second network layer, and the second logical link control layer comprises a second logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer and the second network layer.

14. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the first network layer comprises a first network layer service access point for communicating with a first application and a second application, and the second network layer comprises a second network layer service access point for communicating with the first application and the second application.

15. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point for communicating with the media access control layer.

16. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the second logical link control layer is in communication with the second network layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control.

17. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the second logical link control layer is in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control using a second logical link control layer service access point.

18. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the first logical link control layer comprises the first logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer and the second network layer, and the second logical link control layer comprises a second logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer and the second network layer;

wherein the first network layer comprises a first network layer service access point for communicating with a first application and a second application, and the second network layer comprises a second network layer service access point for communicating with the first application and the second application; and

wherein the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point for communicating with the media access control layer.

19. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the first logical link control layer comprises the first logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer and the second network layer, and the second logical link control layer comprises a second logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer and the second network layer;

wherein the first network layer comprises a first network layer service access point for communicating with a first application and a second application, and the second network layer comprises a second network layer service access point for communicating with the first application and the second application;

wherein the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point for communicating with the media access control layer; and

wherein the second logical link control layer is in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control using a second logical link control layer service access point.

20. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein a first protocol stack comprises the first logical link control layer and the first network layer, a second protocol stack comprises the second logical link control layer and the second network layer, and the first protocol stack and the second protocol stack operate independently of each other.

21. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein a first protocol stack comprises the first logical link control layer and the first network layer;

a second protocol stack comprises the second logical link control layer and the second network layer;

a third protocol stack comprises a third logical link control layer and a third network layer; and

the first protocol stack, the second protocol stack, and the third protocol stack operate independently of each other.

22. The method for a multimode communication device of claim 11 wherein the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point with a unified application program interface (PHY UAPI) for communicating with the media access control layer.

23. A multimode communication device comprising:

a first network layer configured to route data between nodes on a network according to a first network layer protocol;

a first logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control;

a second logical link control layer in communication with the second network layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control;

a second network layer configured to route data between nodes on the network according to a second network layer protocol, wherein the first logical link control layer is in communication with the second network layer without requiring communication through the second logical link layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control;

a media access control layer providing channel access control and transmitting data to and from the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer;

a physical layer configured to transform data received from the media access control layer into signals for transmission and transmit the signals, to receive signals from the network, convert the received signals into data and provide the data to the media access control layer,

wherein the first logical link control layer comprises a first logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer, and the second logical link control layer comprises a second logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the second network layer;

the first network layer comprises a first network layer service access point for communicating with a first application and a second application, and the second network layer comprises a second network layer service access point for communicating with the first application and the second application;

the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point for communicating with the media access control layer;

the second logical link control layer is in communication with the second network layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control.

24. A method for a multimode communication device comprising:

routing data between nodes on a network according to a first network layer protocol using a first network layer;

transmitting data to and from a first network layer and providing data flow control using a first logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer;

transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control using a second logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer;

routing data between nodes on the network according to a second network layer protocol using a second network layer, wherein the first logical link control layer is in communication with the second network layer without requiring communication through the second logical link layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control;

providing channel access control and transmitting data to and from the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer using a media access control layer;

transforming data received from the media access control layer into signals for transmission and transmit the signals, to receive signals from the network, convert the received signals into data and provide the data to the media access control layer using a physical layer,

wherein the first logical link control layer comprises a first logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the first network layer, and the second logical link control layer comprises a second logical link control layer service access point for communicating with the second network layer;

the first network layer comprises a first network layer service access point for communicating with a first application and a second application, and the second network layer comprises a second network layer service access point for communicating with the first application and the second application;

the physical layer comprises a physical layer service access point for communicating with the media access control layer;

the second logical link control layer is in communication with the second network layer and transmitting data to and from the second network layer and providing data flow control.