Bluetooth introduction sequence that replaces frequencies unusable due to other wireless technology co-resident on a bluetooth-capable device

• US 8,903,314 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Linsky, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US12/791,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20110105027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/75, 455/410, 375/346
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/715 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/7154 with means for preventing interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• 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

Interference from other wireless technology co-resident on a Bluetooth-capable device may render one or more Bluetooth frequencies unusable for a Bluetooth introduction sequence. In this case, one or more usable frequencies may be substituted for the one or more unusable frequencies to permit the introduction sequence to proceed. The one or more usable frequencies may be selected from a known set of usable frequencies in the current Bluetooth frequency train. Alternatively, a frequency re-mapping process may be used to select the one or more usable frequencies from the current Bluetooth frequency train.

Claims

1. A method for a Bluetooth-capable device to replace frequencies that are unusable in a Bluetooth introduction sequence due to operation of another wireless technology in the device, comprising:

determining a frequency pair in a current frequency train, wherein the frequency pair consists of a listen frequency and a respond frequency;

determining whether the frequency pair is unusable for the introduction sequence; and

in response to a determination that the frequency pair is unusable for the introduction sequence, selecting from the current frequency train another said frequency pair from among a set of said frequency pairs that are usable for the introduction sequence;

wherein the introductory sequence is a Bluetooth inquiry or paging sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting includes selecting said another frequency pair randomly from said set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting includes selecting said another frequency pair to be a next said frequency pair of said set in the current frequency train.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting includes selecting said another frequency pair to be one of said frequency pairs of said set that temporally follows a next said frequency pair of said set in the current frequency train.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the introduction sequence is part of a Bluetooth paging sequence.

6. The method of claim 5, including responding to an unsuccessful attempt to receive a Frequency Hopping Synchronization (FHS) packet in the Bluetooth paging sequence by disabling operation of said another wireless technology.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said responding includes responding to repeated unsuccessful attempts to receive an FHS packet.

8. The method of claim 5, including, in response to a determination that a frequency on which an FHS packet is to be received in the Bluetooth paging sequence is unusable, disabling operation of said another wireless technology.

9. A method for a Bluetooth-capable device to replace frequencies that are unusable in a Bluetooth introduction sequence due to operation of another wireless technology in the device, comprising:

determining from a current frequency train a frequency usable as one of a listen frequency and a respond frequency;

determining whether a frequency from the current frequency train that corresponds to said usable frequency is usable as the other of said listen and respond frequencies; and

in response to a determination that the corresponding frequency is unusable as said other frequency, selecting a frequency usable as said other frequency from a set of frequencies in the current frequency train that are usable as said other frequency;

wherein the introductory sequence is a Bluetooth inquiry or paging sequence.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said determining a frequency usable as said one frequency includes, in response to an initial selection of a frequency that is not usable as said one frequency, performing a frequency re-mapping process relative to the current frequency train to determine said frequency usable as said one frequency.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said selecting includes performing a frequency re-mapping process relative to the current frequency train to determine said frequency usable as said other frequency.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said selecting includes selecting a next frequency from the current frequency train that is a member of said set.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said selecting includes performing a frequency re-mapping process relative to the current frequency train to determine said frequency usable as said other frequency.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said selecting includes selecting a next frequency from the current frequency train that is a member of said set.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the introduction sequence is part of a Bluetooth paging sequence.

16. The method of claim 15, including responding to an unsuccessful attempt to receive a Frequency Hopping Synchronization (FHS) packet in the Bluetooth paging sequence by disabling operation of said another wireless technology.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said responding includes responding to repeated unsuccessful attempts to receive an FHS packet.

18. The method of claim 15, including, in response to a determination that a frequency on which an FHS packet is to be received in the Bluetooth paging sequence is unusable, disabling operation of said another wireless technology.

19. An apparatus for permitting a Bluetooth-capable device to replace frequencies that are unusable in a Bluetooth introduction sequence due to operation of another wireless technology in the device, comprising:

means for determining a frequency pair in a current frequency train, wherein the frequency pair consists of a listen frequency and a respond frequency;

means for determining whether the frequency pair is unusable for the introduction sequence; and

means responsive to a determination that the frequency pair is unusable for the introduction sequence for selecting from the current frequency train another said frequency pair from among a set of said frequency pairs that are usable for the introduction sequence.

20. An apparatus for permitting a Bluetooth-capable device to replace frequencies that are unusable in a Bluetooth introduction sequence due to operation of another wireless technology in the device, comprising:

means for determining from a current frequency train a frequency usable as one of a listen frequency and a respond frequency;

means for determining whether a frequency from the current frequency train that corresponds to said usable frequency is usable as the other of said listen and respond frequencies; and

means responsive to a determination that the corresponding frequency is unusable as said other frequency for selecting a frequency usable as said other frequency from a set of frequencies in the current frequency train that are usable as said other frequency.

21. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a Bluetooth portion;

a further portion implementing wireless technology other than Bluetooth; and

a wireless transceiver facility coupled to said Bluetooth portion and said further portion;

wherein said Bluetooth portion includes a processor adapted to permit said Bluetooth portion to replace frequencies that are unusable in a Bluetooth introduction sequence due to operation of said further portion, said processor configured to determine a frequency pair in a current frequency train, wherein the frequency pair consists of a listen frequency and a respond frequency, said processor further configured to determine whether the frequency pair is unusable for the introduction sequence and, in response to a determination that the frequency pair is unusable for the introduction sequence, to select from the current frequency train another said frequency pair from among a set of said frequency pairs that are usable for the introduction sequence.

22. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a Bluetooth portion;

a further portion implementing wireless technology other than Bluetooth; and

a wireless transceiver facility coupled to said Bluetooth portion and said further portion;

wherein said Bluetooth portion includes a processor adapted to permit said Bluetooth portion to replace frequencies that are unusable in a Bluetooth introduction sequence due to operation of said further portion, said processor configured to determine from a current frequency train a frequency usable as one of a listen frequency and a respond frequency, to determine whether a frequency from the current frequency train that corresponds to said usable frequency is usable as the other of said listen and respond frequencies and, in response to a determination that the corresponding frequency is unusable as said other frequency, to select a frequency usable as said other frequency from a set of frequencies in the current frequency train that are usable as said other frequency.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium for permitting a Bluetooth-capable device to replace frequencies that are unusable in a Bluetooth introduction sequence due to operation of another wireless technology in the device, comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one data processor to determine a frequency pair in a current frequency train, wherein the frequency pair consists of a listen frequency and a respond frequency; and

code for causing the at least one data processor to determine whether the frequency pair is unusable for the introduction sequence and, in response to a determination that the frequency pair is unusable for the introduction sequence, to select from the current frequency train another said frequency pair from among a set of said frequency pairs that are usable for the introduction sequence.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium for permitting a Bluetooth-capable device to replace frequencies that are unusable in a Bluetooth introduction sequence due to operation of another wireless technology in the device, comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one data processor to determine from a current frequency train a frequency usable as one of a listen frequency and a respond frequency;

code for causing the at least one data processor to determine whether a frequency from

the current frequency train that corresponds to said usable frequency is usable as the other of said listen and respond frequencies and, in response to a determination that the corresponding frequency is unusable as said other frequency, to select a frequency usable as said other frequency from a set of frequencies in the current frequency train that are usable as said other frequency.