Multiple disparate wireless units sharing of antennas

• US 8,694,739 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Betts-LaCroix, Jonathan, Furlotti, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US13/176,734
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 711/100, 711/154, 343/702, 343/729, 343/893, 343/876
• US Class Current: 711/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1456 Hardware arrangements for backup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques

Abstract

Multiple disparate wireless units sharing of antennas are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a first wireless communication unit of a first wireless communication standard, where the first standard includes selecting one of two antennas provided. The apparatus further includes a second wireless communication unit of a second wireless communication standard, where a first antenna and a second antenna are shared by the first and second communication units. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first wireless communication unit implementing a first wireless communication standard, the first wireless communication standard supporting diversity among multiple antennas;

a second wireless communication unit implementing a second wireless communication standard different from the first wireless communication standard, the second wireless communication unit configured for use with one antenna;

a first antenna usable by the first wireless communication unit and by the second wireless communication unit;

a second antenna usable by the first wireless communication unit and by the second wireless communication unit; and

a control module configured to determine if the first antenna is in use in a high priority mode based upon activity state information indicating an activity state of the first wireless communication unit or the second wireless communication unit.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication unit is configured to select between the first antenna and the second antenna for communication, and the second wireless communication unit is configured to use a single one of the first antenna and the second antenna.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication unit is configured to select one of the first antenna and the second antenna for communication based upon a quality of reception by the antenna.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication unit is configured to select one of the first antenna and the second antenna for communication based upon use of the selected antenna by the first wireless communication unit.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to couple each of the first and second wireless communication units to one of the first and second antennas.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, the switch further configured to couple the second wireless communication unit to one of the first and second antennas based upon use of the antennas by the first wireless communication unit.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, the control module further configured to direct the first wireless communication unit or the second wireless communication unit to use the second antenna.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, the control module further configured to identify an available antenna for use based upon an indication by the first or second wireless communication unit that an antenna is required for communication.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a control module configured to determine if the first antenna is in use and, upon so determining, to cause the first or second wireless communication unit to use the second antenna.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

directing the first wireless communication unit or the second wireless communication unit to use the second antenna.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining if a first antenna is in use and, upon so determining, causing the first or second wireless communication unit to use a second antenna.

12. In a device comprising a first wireless communication unit implementing a first wireless communication standard and a second wireless communication unit implementing a second wireless communication standard different from the first wireless communication standard, the second wireless communication unit configured for use with one antenna, a method comprising:

selecting, by the first wireless communication unit, between the first antenna and the second antenna for communication;

communicating, by the second wireless communication unit, using a single one of the first antenna and the second antenna; and

determining if a first antenna in the device is in use in a high priority mode based upon activity state information indicating an activity state of the first wireless communication unit or the second wireless communication unit.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

selecting, by the first wireless communication unit, one of the first antenna and the second antenna for communication based upon a quality of reception by the antenna.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

selecting, by the second wireless communication unit, one of the first antenna and the second antenna for communication based upon use of the selected antenna by the first wireless communication unit.

15. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising:

coupling each of the first and second wireless communication units to one of a first antenna and a second antenna.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

coupling the second wireless communication unit to one of the first and second antennas based upon use of the antennas by the first wireless communication unit.