Method and system for dynamically programmable serial/parallel bus interface

• US 8,429,320 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: du Preez, Andrew, Zhou, Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Misiura, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US12/755,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 710/106, 710/104, 710/305, 710/100, 370/438
• US Class Current: 710/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4286 using a handshaking protocol, e.g. RS232C link
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for dynamically programmable serial/parallel bus interface may include performing in a first communication device coupled to a communication bus, attaching communication protocol information to a data signal for each data transaction with one or more other communication devices communicatively coupled to the communication bus. The one or more other communication devices may be controlled utilizing the attached communication protocol information. The communication protocol information may be dynamically adjusted and/or adaptively adjusted. The communication bus may be a serial or parallel communication bus. The serial communication bus may be a two-wire, three-wire, or four-wire bus. The attached communication protocol information comprises a multi-wire protocol, a 3-wire protocol, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocol, a System Power Management Interface (SPMI), or an RF Bus protocol.

Claims

1. A method for arbitrating communication signals comprising:

receiving data transactions from at least two communication devices coupled to a communication bus; and

coordinating reception and transmission of the data transactions on the communication bus from the at least two communication devices, comprising reducing the interference between low power activities of the at least two of the communication devices;

wherein;

the data transactions include protocol information; and

the coordination reduces or eliminates traffic collisions using the protocol information contained within the data transactions.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coordinating makes scanning a spectrum for nearby nodes, sending periodic messages to a nearby access point or basestation, or receiving broadcast information more efficient.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coordinating reduces power consumption or increases battery life.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coordinating allows both a reception of Bluetooth frames and a transmission of WLAN acknowledgement concurrently.

2. A system for arbitrating communication signals comprising:

at least two communication devices;

a packet traffic arbiter (PTA); and

a communication bus coupled to the at least two communication devices and the PTA;

wherein;

the PTA receives data transmissions, comprising protocol information, from the at least two communication devices;

the PTA coordinates the reception and transmission of data transmissions from the at least two communication devices to reduce or eliminate traffic collisions using the protocol information; and

the PTA reduces the interference between low-power activities of at least, two of the communication devices.

14. The system according to claim 2, wherein the PTA makes scanning a spectrum for nearby nodes, sending periodic messages to a nearby access point or basestation, or receiving broadcast information more efficient for at least two of the communication devices.

15. The system according to claim 2, wherein the PTA reduces power consumption or increases battery life for at least two of the communication devices.

16. The system according to claim 2, wherein the PTA both receives Bluetooth frames and transmits WLAN acknowledgement concurrently.

3. A method for arbitrating communication signals comprising:

receiving data transactions from at least two communication devices coupled to a communication bus; and

coordinating reception and transmission of the data transactions on the communication bus from the at least two communication devices;

wherein;

the data transactions include protocol information comprising transmission coordination information, handover information, and spectrum information; and

the coordination reduces or eliminates traffic collisions using the protocol information contained within the data transactions.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the coordination further comprises aiding in making handover decisions.

10. The method according to claim 3, wherein the protocol information aids in controlling the at least two communication devices.

11. The method according to claim 3, further comprising dynamically adjusting the protocol information.

12. The method according to claim 3, further comprising adaptively adjusting the protocol information.

13. The method according to claim 3, wherein the protocol information comprises a multi-wire protocol, a 3-wire protocol, a Serial Peripheral Interface protocol, a System Power Management Interface, or an RF Bus protocol.

5. A system for arbitrating communication signals comprising:

at least two communication devices;

a packet traffic arbiter (PTA); and

a communication bus coupled to the at least two communication devices and the PTA;

wherein;

the PTA receives data transmissions, comprising protocol information comprising transmission coordination information, handover information, and spectrum information, from the at least two communication devices; and

the PTA coordinates the reception and transmission of data transmissions from the at least two communication devices to reduce or eliminate traffic collisions using the protocol information.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the PTA uses the coordination to aid in making handover decisions.

17. The system according to claim 5, wherein the protocol information aids in controlling the at least two communication devices.

18. The system according to claim 5, wherein the PTA dynamically adjusts the protocol information.

19. The system according to claim 5, wherein the PTA adaptively adjusts the protocol information.

20. The system according to claim 5, wherein the protocol information comprises a multi-wire protocol, a 3-wire protocol, a Serial Peripheral Interface protocol, a System Power Management Interface, or an RF Bus protocol.