Time multiplexing for coexistence within multiple communication systems

• US 8,953,506 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2012
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Bank of Intellectual Property, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Sohrabi, Katayoun
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMUEL, DEWANDA A
• Application Number:
  US13/668,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20130064155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 370/287, 370/341, 370/459, 370/330, 370/282, 370/277
• US Class Current: 370/287
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0067 Resource management and allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0069 Channel allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• 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 apparatus permitting the coexistence of multiple communication links to distinct wireless systems in a client device are disclosed. A wireless device can interface with both a primary communications system and at least one distinct communications system by managing the coexistence of active communications with the multiple communication systems. The wireless device can initially configure communications with the primary communications system for dynamically reconfigurable time multiplexed operation having scheduled periods of inactivity. The wireless device can determine timing and scheduling of communications with the distinct communications systems and can schedule the communications with the distinct communications systems during periods of inactivity in the primary communications system. The periods of inactivity may be limited to the scheduled periods of inactivity or can include unscheduled periods of inactivity occurring during active periods of the time multiplexed operation. The device may also use data priorities of communications to override overlapping communication activity.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication device, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication link in a first band, the first communication link comprising an uplink portion of a frame;

establishing a second communication link in a second band;

determining a portion of time during which the uplink portion of the frame has no resource allocations;

scheduling a period for transmission during the portion of time in which the uplink portion of the frame has no resource allocations; and

transmitting a second communication over the second communication link during the period for transmission, wherein the second communication is scheduled to occur during the portion of time in which the uplink portion of the frame has no resource allocations and outside of a guard period of the portion of time in which the uplink portion of the frame has no resource allocations.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame is an OFDMA frame.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining is based on a MAP portion of the frame.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining is based on a MAP portion of a second frame.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication link comprises Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) data in a downlink portion of the frame.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

initiating a communication activity over the first communication link, the communication activity comprising a first intrinsic priority level;

providing a second intrinsic priority level relating to the second communication;

comparing the first intrinsic priority level to the second intrinsic priority level prior to determining the portion of time during which the uplink portion of the frame has no resource allocations; and

suppressing the second communication if the first intrinsic priority level exceeds the second intrinsic priority level.

7. A method of operating a communication device, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication link in a first band;

establishing a second communication link in a second band;

initiating a first communication activity over the first communication link, the first communication activity comprising a first priority level and further comprising an uplink portion of a frame;

providing a second communication activity for transmission over the second communication link, the second communication activity comprising a second priority level;

comparing the first priority level to the second priority level; and

based on the comparing;

if the first priority level exceeds the second priority level;

suppressing the second communication activity; and

if the first priority level does not exceed the second priority level;

determining a portion of time during which the uplink portion of the frame has no resource allocations;

scheduling a period for transmission during the portion of time in which the uplink portion of the frame has no resource allocations; and

transmitting the second communication activity over the second communication link during the period for transmission.