Processor-independent communication of network availability

• US 8,942,632 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shen, Shu Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US13/672,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20140065967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/39, 455/509, 455/513, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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

In some embodiments, an electronic device includes a host processor and a module, coupled to the host processor, to communicate over a wireless network using a first wireless communications protocol. The electronic device also includes a controller, coupled to the host processor and the module, to communicate wirelessly with a remote device using a second wireless communications protocol, to obtain a status of the wireless network from the module independently of the host processor, and to transmit the status of the wireless network to the remote device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a host processor;

a module, coupled to the host processor, to communicate over a wireless network using a first wireless communications protocol; and

a controller, coupled to the host processor and the module, to communicate wirelessly with a remote device using a second wireless communications protocol, to obtain a status of the wireless network from the module independently of the host processor, and to transmit the status of the wireless network to the remote device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is to receive a notification of a change in the status of the wireless network from the module independently of the host processor and to provide the notification to the remote device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the host processor is configured to implement a first portion of a protocol stack corresponding to the second wireless communications protocol;

the controller is configured to implement a second portion of a protocol stack corresponding to the second wireless communications protocol; and

the controller is further configured to duplicate a function of the first portion of the protocol stack to respond to a query from the remote device independently of the host processor.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein:

the query comprises a service discovery request; and

the controller is to respond to the service discovery request by executing the duplicated function, wherein the duplicated function is to provide an indication of an ability of the controller to provide the status of the wireless network.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein:

the query comprises a service characteristics discovery request; and

the controller is to respond to the service characteristics discovery request by executing the duplicated function, wherein the duplicated function is to report a characteristic associated with an ability of the controller to provide the status of the wireless network.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an interface to provide the status of the wireless network from the module to the controller independently of the host processor.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), the first wireless communications protocol is a WLAN protocol, and the second wireless communications protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a cellular network, the first wireless communications protocol is a cellular protocol, and the second wireless communications protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communications protocol is a Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is to establish a connection with the remote device independently of the host processor.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the host processor is to enter a power saving mode when idle; and

the controller is to obtain the status of the wireless network from the module and provide the status of the wireless network to the remote device without waking the host processor from the power-saving mode.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the module and the controller are to provide the remote device access to the wireless network independently of the host processor.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

the module is a first module and the wireless network is a first wireless network;

the electronic device further comprises a second module, coupled to the host processor, to communicate over a second wireless network using a third wireless communications protocol; and

the controller is coupled to the second module and is to obtain a status of the second wireless network from the second module independently of the host processor and to provide the status of the second wireless network to the remote device.

14. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

in a controller in an electronic device;

obtaining a status of a wireless network that uses a first wireless communications protocol from a module in the electronic device for communicating using the first wireless communications protocol, wherein the status of the wireless network is obtained from the module independently of a host processor in the electronic device; and

transmitting the status of the wireless network to a remote device using a second wireless communications protocol.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a request from the remote device for the status of a wireless network;

wherein the status of the wireless network is obtained and transmitted in response to the request; and

wherein the request is received using the second wireless communications protocol.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a change in the status of the wireless network;

communicating the change in the status of the wireless network from the module to the controller independently of the host processor; and

in the controller, transmitting notification of the change in the status of the wireless network to the remote device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in the controller, establishing a connection with the remote device independently of the host processor.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in the host processor, transitioning from a normal operating mode to a power saving mode when idle;

wherein the receiving, obtaining, and transmitting are performed when the host processor is in the power saving mode.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising, in the controller:

receiving a service discovery request from the remote device; and

responding to the service discovery request independently of the host processor.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising, in the controller:

receiving a service characteristics discovery request from the remote device; and

responding to the service characteristics discovery request independently of the host processor.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by a controller in an electronic device, the one or more programs comprising:

instructions to obtain a status of a wireless network from a module in the electronic device for communicating using a first wireless communications protocol, wherein the status of the wireless network is to be obtained independently of a host processor in the electronic device; and

instructions to transmit the status of the wireless network to a remote device using a second wireless communications protocol.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions to obtain the status of the wireless network comprise instructions to obtain the status of the wireless network in response to a request received at the controller from the remote device using the second wireless communications protocol.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further comprise:

instructions to determine whether the status of the wireless network has changed; and

instructions to transmit notification of a change in the status of the wireless network to the remote device.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions to establish a connection with the remote device independently of the host processor.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions to respond, independently of the host processor, to a service discovery request from the remote device.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions to respond, independently of the host processor, to a service characteristics discovery request from the remote device.

27. An electronic device, comprising:

a host processor;

means for communicating over a wireless network using a first wireless communications protocol; and

means for communicating with a remote device using a second wireless communications protocol, comprising means for obtaining a status of the wireless network independently of the host processor and for transmitting the status of the wireless network to the remote device.

28. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the means for obtaining the status of the wireless network comprise means for obtaining the status of the wireless network in response to a request from the remote device.

29. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the means for communicating with the remote device comprise means for determining whether the status of the wireless network has changed and for transmitting notification of a change in the status of the wireless network to the remote device.

30. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the means for communicating with the remote device comprise means for establishing a connection with the remote device independently of the host processor.

31. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the means for communicating with the remote device comprise means for responding, independently of the host processor, to a service discovery request from the remote device.

32. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the means for communicating with the remote device comprise means for responding, independently of the host processor, to a service characteristics discovery request from the remote device.