Fast frequency hopping full-duplex radio

• US 8,670,356 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keese, William, Summers, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghowrwal, Omar
• Application Number:
  US11/715,673
• Time in Patent Office: 2,561 Days
• Field of Search: 370/296, 375132-134, 375/138, 455/73, 455/78, 455/83
• US Class Current: 370/277
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0064 with separate antennas for the more than one band H04B1/0053 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for radio communication is disclosed. The radio system includes a plurality of radio transceivers and a switch. Each transceiver cannot be used alone to meet an operational requirement. The switch configured to switch between the plurality of transceivers to provide the operational requirement.

Claims

1. A system for radio communication, comprising:

a first radio transceiver;

a second radio transceiver, the first and the second radio transceivers being half-duplex radio transceivers and being individually susceptible to losing a time slot in a transmission sequence due to a frequency hopping setup time or a gain level change setup time;

a first switch being communicatively disposed between the first and second radio transceivers and an antenna, wherein the first switch is configured to connect one radio transceiver of the first and second radio transceivers to the antenna; and

a second switch being communicatively disposed between the first and second radio transceivers and a baseband circuitry, wherein the second switch is configured to connect the one radio transceiver of the first and second radio transceivers to the baseband circuitry such that a signal received by or transmitted by the one radio transceiver is communicated to the baseband circuitry through the second switch,

wherein the first switch and the second switch are configured to switch between the first and second radio transceivers to provide an operational requirement that at least an individual one of the first and second radio transceivers cannot provide alone, and

wherein the first and second radio transceivers are frequency hopping radio transceivers, and wherein while the first radio transceiver is receiving at a first frequency hopping frequency, the second radio transceiver is preparing to receive at a second frequency hopping frequency, and wherein the first and second switches switch from the first radio transceiver to the second radio transceiver.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operational requirement includes a capability to communicate in full-duplex.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein, while the first radio transceiver is transmitting at a third frequency hopping frequency, the second radio transceiver is preparing to transmit at a fourth frequency hopping frequency, wherein the first and second switches switch from the first radio transceiver to the second radio transceiver, and wherein the first and second switches provide full-duplex capabilities using the first and second radio transceivers.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operational requirement includes a capability to change a transmission frequency or a receive frequency without a blind spot.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein while the first radio transceiver is receiving a signal in an original frequency, the second radio transceiver is configured to prepare to receive a signal in a specified new frequency.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein when the signal in the specified new frequency is desired to be received, the first switch is configured to change from providing a received radio signal to the first radio transceiver to providing the received radio signal to the second radio transceiver.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operational requirement includes two or more of the following requirements:

a capability to communicate in full-duplex, a required frequency hopping performance, and a required gain level change performance.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operational requirement includes a capability to communicate in full-duplex, a required frequency hopping performance, and a required gain level change performance.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second switches are configured to provide the operational requirement by switching between the first and second radio transceivers receiving at least a portion of a signal.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second switches are configured to provide the operational requirement by switching between the first and second radio transceivers transmitting at least a portion of a signal.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second switches are controlled by one or more of the following:

a digital signal processor and a microprocessor.

16. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a third radio transceiver, a fourth radio transceiver, and a third switch being communicatively disposed between a second antenna and the baseband circuitry.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one the first and second radio transceivers comprises a commodity mobile handset chip.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is included in a cellular communication network component.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is included in a Base Transceiver Station.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the Base Transceiver Station is a Base Transceiver Station suitable for deployment in a home or enterprise setting.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the Base Transceiver Station communicates with a cellular communication network component via a packet data network backhaul.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operational requirement includes a capability to communicate with multiple mobile stations and shift between transceiver frequencies without a blind spot.

23. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of radio transceivers includes a quad-band radio frequency (RF) transceiver designed for use with one or more of the following communication standards:

a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) standard, and an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) standard.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a base transceiver station.

4. A system for radio communication, comprising:

a first radio transceiver;

a second radio transceiver, the first and the second radio transceivers being half-duplex radio transceivers and being individually susceptible to losing a time slot in a transmission sequence due to a frequency hopping setup time or a gain level change setup time;

a first switch being communicatively disposed between the first and second radio transceivers and an antenna, wherein the first switch is configured to connect one radio transceiver of the first and second radio transceivers to the antenna; and

a second switch being communicatively disposed between the first and second radio transceivers and a baseband circuitry, wherein the second switch is configured to connect the one radio transceiver of the first and second radio transceivers to the baseband circuitry such that a signal received by or transmitted by the one radio transceiver is communicated to the baseband circuitry through the second switch,

wherein the first switch and the second switch are configured to switch between the first and second radio transceivers to provide an operational requirement that at least an individual one of the first and second radio transceivers cannot provide alone, and

wherein the operational requirement includes a required frequency hopping performance that includes a shorter setup time to change a transmission frequency or a receive frequency than possible by only using one of the first and second radio transceivers.

8. A system for radio communication comprising:

a first radio transceiver;

a second radio transceiver, the first and the second radio transceivers being half-duplex radio transceivers and being individually susceptible to losing a time slot in a transmission sequence due to a frequency hopping setup time or a gain level change setup time;

a first switch being communicatively disposed between the first and second radio transceivers and an antenna, wherein the first switch is configured to connect one radio transceiver of the first and second radio transceivers to the antenna; and

a second switch being communicatively disposed between the first and second radio transceivers and a baseband circuitry, wherein the second switch is configured to connect the one radio transceiver of the first and second radio transceivers to the baseband circuitry such that a signal received by or transmitted by the one radio transceiver is communicated to the baseband circuitry through the second switch,

wherein the first switch and the second switch are configured to switch between the first and second radio transceivers to provide an operational requirement that at least an individual one of the first and second radio transceivers cannot provide alone, and

wherein the operational requirement includes a required gain level change performance that includes a shorter setup time to change a transceiver gain level than possible by using only one of the first and second radio transceivers.

9. A system for radio communication, comprising:

a first radio transceiver;

a second radio transceiver, the first and the second radio transceivers being half-duplex radio transceivers and being individually susceptible to losing a time slot in a transmission sequence due to a frequency hopping setup time or a gain level change setup time;

a first switch being communicatively disposed between the first and second radio transceivers and an antenna, wherein the first switch is configured to connect one radio transceiver of the first and second radio transceivers to the antenna; and

a second switch being communicatively disposed between the first and second radio transceivers and a baseband circuitry, wherein the second switch is configured to connect the one radio transceiver of the first and second radio transceivers to the baseband circuitry such that a signal received by or transmitted by the one radio transceiver is communicated to the baseband circuitry through the second switch,

wherein the first switch and the second switch are configured to switch between the first and second radio transceivers to provide an operational requirement that at least an individual one of the first and second radio transceivers cannot provide alone, and

wherein while the first radio transceiver is receiving a signal in an original gain level, the second radio transceiver is configured to prepare to receive a signal in a specified new gain level.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein when the signal in the specified new gain level is desired to be received, the first switch is configured to change from providing a received radio signal to the first radio transceiver to providing the received radio signal to the second radio transceiver.