Systems and methods for providing collaborative coexistence between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

• US 8,706,032 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Zhang, Zhenyu, Jan, James, Yuan, Shuangqing, Zhou, Cuifeng, Lee, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, ANGELICA
• Application Number:
  US12/100,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,204 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/501, 455/41.1, 455/41.3, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/562.1, 455/575.7, 455/101, 370/338, 370/913, 370/908, 370/277
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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

Methods and systems are described for providing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi coexistence on an electronic device. Aspects of exemplary embodiments include determining Bluetooth link parameters for a Bluetooth connection and Wi-Fi link parameters for a Wi-Fi connection. Also, a Bluetooth path loss for the Bluetooth connection and a Wi-Fi path loss for the Wi-Fi connection can be determined. According to this embodiment, one or more link conditions, based upon one or more of the Bluetooth link parameters, the Wi-Fi link parameters, the Bluetooth path loss, and the Wi-Fi path loss, may be calculated to determine if simultaneous collaboration between the Bluetooth connection and Wi-Fi connection is feasible. In response to simultaneous collaboration being feasible, the Bluetooth link parameters and the Wi-Fi link parameters are customized based on the one or more link conditions to permit simultaneous collaboration between the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection.

Claims

1. A method for providing a Bluetooth connection and a Wi-Fi connection on an electronic device, wherein the Wi-Fi connection exists between the electronic device and a Wi-Fi access point, the method comprising:

determining i) first Bluetooth link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Bluetooth connection from the perspective of the electronic device, and ii) first Wi-Fi link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Wi-Fi connection from the perspective of the electronic device;

determining i) second Bluetooth link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Bluetooth connection from the perspective of the Bluetooth peer device, and ii) second Wi-Fi link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Wi-Fi connection from the perspective of the Wi-Fi access point;

calculating one or more link conditions, based upon i) one or more of the first Bluetooth link parameters, ii) one or more of the second Bluetooth link parameters, iii) one or more of the first Wi-Fi link parameters, and iv) one or more of the second Wi-Fi link parameters, to determine if simultaneous transmission from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection is feasible;

in response to determining simultaneous-transmission to be feasible, altering at least one of

i) a Bluetooth transmit power of the electronic device,

ii) a transmit power of the Bluetooth peer device,

iii) frequency characteristics of the Bluetooth connection,

iv) a Wi-Fi transmit power of the electronic device,

v) a transmit power of the Wi-Fi access point, and

vi) a channel of the Wi-Fi connection,

based on the one or more link conditions to permit simultaneous transmission from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection; and

in response to determining simultaneous transmission to be unfeasible, implementing exclusive transmission to allow coexistence between the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection including precluding the Wi-Fi access point from transmitting frames in an area proximate to the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that simultaneous transmission is feasible when Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference does not exceed a predetermined threshold level of performance for at least one of the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference is based on at least the first Bluetooth link parameters, the second Bluetooth link parameters, the first Wi-Fi link parameters, and the second Wi-Fi link parameters.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference is based on i) receiver saturation of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi receivers, and ii) signal-to-noise ratios of the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transmissions transmitted and received by the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the exclusive transmission comprises transmitting a clear-to-send-to-self transmission from the electronic device to the Wi-Fi access point to preclude the Wi-Fi access point from transmitting frames in an area proximate to the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth connection further comprises a Bluetooth data stream, wherein the Wi-Fi connection further comprises a Wi-Fi data stream, and wherein the exclusive transmission comprises i) assigning priority to data from the Bluetooth data stream and the Wi-Fi data stream, and ii) transmitting the data based upon the priority.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a front end, wherein the front end is configured to:

electronically couple to i) a Bluetooth antenna, and ii) a Wi-Fi antenna, and

permit substantially simultaneous transmitting and receiving from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program instructions for providing a Bluetooth connection and a Wi-Fi connection on an electronic device, wherein the Wi-Fi connection exists between the electronic device and a Wi-Fi access point, the program instructions for:

determining i) first Bluetooth link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Bluetooth connection from the perspective of the electronic device, and ii) first Wi-Fi link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Wi-Fi connection from the perspective of the electronic device;

determining i) second Bluetooth link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Bluetooth connection from the perspective of the Bluetooth peer device, and ii) second Wi-Fi link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Wi-Fi connection from the perspective of the Wi-Fi access point;

calculating one or more link conditions, based upon i) one or more of the first Bluetooth link parameters, ii) one or more of the second Bluetooth link parameters, iii) one or more of the first Wi-Fi link parameters, and iv) one or more of the second Wi-Fi link parameters, to determine if simultaneous transmission from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection is feasible;

in response to determining simultaneous-transmission to be feasible, altering at least one of

i) a Bluetooth transmit power of the electronic device,

ii) a transmit power of the Bluetooth peer device,

iii) frequency characteristics of the Bluetooth connection,

iv) a Wi-Fi transmit power of the electronic device,

v) a transmit power of the Wi-Fi access point, and

vi) a channel of the Wi-Fi connection,

based on the one or more link conditions, to permit simultaneous transmission from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection; and

in response to determining simultaneous transmission to be unfeasible, implementing exclusive transmission to allow coexistence between the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection including precluding the Wi-Fi access point from transmitting frames in an area proximate to the electronic device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising program instructions for determining that simultaneous transmission is feasible when Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference does not exceed a predetermined threshold level of performance for at least one of the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference is based on at least the first Bluetooth link parameters, the second Bluetooth link parameters, the first Wi-Fi link parameters, and the second Wi-Fi link parameters.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference is based on i) receiver saturation of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi receivers, and ii) signal-to-noise ratios of the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transmissions transmitted and received by the electronic device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the program instructions for implementing exclusive transmission comprises program instructions for transmitting a clear-to-send-to-self transmission from the electronic device to the Wi-Fi access point to preclude the Wi-Fi access point from transmitting frames in an area proximate to the electronic device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the Bluetooth connection further comprises a Bluetooth data stream, wherein the Wi-Fi connection further comprises a Wi-Fi data stream, and wherein the program instructions for implementing exclusive transmission comprises:

program instructions for assigning priority to data from the Bluetooth data stream and the Wi-Fi data stream; and

program instructions for transmitting the data based upon the priority.

14. A system for providing a Bluetooth connection and a Wi-Fi connection on an electronic device, wherein the Wi-Fi connection exists between the electronic device and a Wi-Fi access point, the system comprising:

a Wi-Fi antenna configured to transmit and receive the Wi-Fi connection, wherein

first Wi-Fi link parameters represent radio frequency signal characteristics of the Wi-Fi connection from the perspective of the electronic device, and

second Wi-Fi link parameters represent radio frequency signal characteristics of the Wi-Fi connection from the perspective of the Wi-Fi access point;

a Bluetooth antenna configured to transmit and receive the Bluetooth connection, wherein

first Bluetooth link parameters represent radio frequency signal characteristics of the Bluetooth connection from the perspective of the electronic device, and

second Bluetooth parameters represent radio frequency signal characteristics of the Bluetooth connection from the perspective a Bluetooth peer device;

a front end coupled to the Wi-Fi antenna and the Bluetooth antenna, wherein the front end is configured to permit substantially simultaneous transmitting and receiving from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection; and

a processor executing machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

calculate one or more link conditions, based upon i) one or more of the first Bluetooth link parameters, ii) one or more of the second Bluetooth link parameters, iii) one or more of the first Wi-Fi link parameters, and iv) one or more of the second Wi-Fi link parameters, to determine if simultaneous transmission from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection is feasible;

in response to determining simultaneous transmission to be feasible, alter at least one of

i) a Bluetooth transmit power of the electronic device,

ii) a transmit power of the Bluetooth peer device,

iii) frequency characteristics of the Bluetooth connection,

iv) a Wi-Fi transmit power of the electronic device,

v) a transmit power of the Wi-Fi access point, and

vi) a channel of the Wi-Fi connection,

based on the one or more link conditions to permit simultaneous transmission from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection; and

in response to determining simultaneous transmission to be unfeasible, implementing exclusive transmission to allow coexistence between the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection including precluding the Wi-Fi access point from transmitting frames in an area proximate to the electronic device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein it is determined that simultaneous transmission is feasible when Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference does not exceed a predetermined threshold level of performance for at least one of the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference is based on at least the first Bluetooth link parameters, the second Bluetooth link parameters, the first Wi-Fi link parameters, and the second Wi-Fi link parameters.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the Bluetooth-Wi-Fi interference is based on i) receiver saturation of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi receivers, and ii) signal-to-noise ratios of the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transmissions transmitted and received by the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the exclusive transmission comprises transmitting a clear-to-send-to-self transmission from the electronic device to the Wi-Fi access point to preclude the Wi-Fi access point from transmitting frames in an area proximate to the electronic device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the Bluetooth connection further comprises a Bluetooth data stream, wherein the Wi-Fi connection further comprises a Wi-Fi data stream, further comprising an arbiter, wherein the arbiter is configured to assign priority to data from the Wi-Fi data stream and the Bluetooth data stream.

20. A method for providing collaborative coexistence between a Bluetooth connection and a Wi-Fi connection on an electronic device, wherein the Wi-Fi connection exists between the electronic device and a Wi-Fi access point, comprising:

determining i) first Bluetooth link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Bluetooth connection from the perspective of the electronic device, and ii) first Wi-Fi link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Wi-Fi connection from the perspective of the electronic device;

determining i) second Bluetooth link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Bluetooth connection from the perspective of the Bluetooth peer device, and ii) second Wi-Fi link parameters representing radio frequency signal characteristics of the Wi-Fi connection from the perspective of the Wi-Fi access point;

calculating one or more link conditions, based upon i) one or more of the first Bluetooth link parameters, ii) one or more of the second Bluetooth link parameters, iii) one or more of the first Wi-Fi link parameters, and iv) one or more of the second Wi-Fi link parameters, to determine if simultaneous transmission from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection is feasible;

in response to determining simultaneous-transmission to be feasible, altering at least one of

i) a Bluetooth transmit power of the electronic device,

ii) a transmit power of the Bluetooth peer device, and

iii) a Wi-Fi transmit power of the electronic device,

based on the one or more link conditions to permit simultaneous transmission from the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection; and

in response to determining simultaneous transmission to be unfeasible, implementing exclusive transmission to allow coexistence between the Bluetooth connection and the Wi-Fi connection including precluding the Wi-Fi access point from transmitting frames in an area proximate to the electronic device.