Systems and methods for coexistence of WLAN and bluetooth networks

• US 8,989,212 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wentink, Menzo, Berger, Doug, Carter, Trent
• Primary Examiner(s): PASIA, REDENTOR M
• Application Number:
  US14/183,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20140169249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/235, 370/252, 370/278, 370/282, 370/338, 370/461, 370/468
• US Class Current: 370/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for coexistence of WLAN and Bluetooth networks are described. At least one embodiment includes a method for operating a wireless device in both a 802.11 network and a Bluetooth network. In accordance with some embodiments, the method comprises monitoring transmission of Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) slots over the Bluetooth network, informing an access point (AP) in the 802.11 network not to transmit to the device before the end of an SCO slot, transmitting a power save trigger to the AP to retrieve buffered data from the AP, and transmitting data to the AP.

Claims

1. A method for operating a device in both a first network and a second network, the method comprising:

monitoring transmission of synchronous connection oriented slots over the second network;

informing an access point (AP) in the first network not to transmit to the device before the end of a synchronous connection oriented slot by setting a network allocation control at the AP, wherein the network allocation control expires at the end of the synchronous connection oriented slot;

transmitting a power save trigger to the AP to retrieve buffered data from the AP, wherein the power save trigger is a power save poll, a data frame with a power management control, or an unscheduled asynchronous power save trigger, wherein the data frame with the power management control is transmitted in a next-inter synchronous connection oriented gap after sending clear to send data; and

transmitting data to the AP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the AP sends the buffered data to the device across consecutive gaps between synchronous connection oriented slots after the end of a first synchronous connection oriented slot.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data is a voice frame.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein informing the AP occurs in an unscheduled period before a second synchronous connection oriented slot that precedes the first synchronous connection oriented slot.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the transmitting of the power save trigger occurs in the unscheduled period before the second synchronous connection oriented slot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting the network allocation control comprises sending the clear to send data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the informing the access point comprises sending timing information to the AP other than through the network allocation control, and the AP transmits downlink data after expiration of the network allocation control.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the timing information is conveyed as part of a media access control of a data frame containing the timing information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the data frame with the power management control set after a third synchronous connection oriented slot, wherein the third synchronous connection oriented slot occurs after a first synchronous connection oriented slot.

10. The Method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises voice data.

11. A wireless communication device capable of operating in both a first network and a second network, the device comprising

a timer module configured to monitor and determine a timing of synchronous connection slots;

and

a communications module configured to;

notify an access point not to transmit data based on the timing of the synchronous connection slots; and

transmit a power save control to retrieve the data from the access point, wherein the communications module notifies the access point not to transmit the data by setting a network allocation control such that the network allocation control expires at the end of a synchronous connection slot, wherein the power save control is a power save poll frame, a data frame with power management data, or an unscheduled asynchronous power save trigger frame, wherein the data frame with the power management data is transmitted in a next-inter synchronous connection slot gap after sending a clear to send frame.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the communications module comprises logic configured to send the clear to send frame over the first network.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the clear to send frame includes a duration field specifying duration of the network allocation control.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is configured to support voice packets.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the voice packets are High Quality Voice 3 (HV3) packets.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the synchronous connection slot is a Bluetooth Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) slot, the network allocation control is a Network Allocation Vector (NAV), the power save control is a Power Save-Poll (PS-Poll) frame, a data frame with a power management data is a data from with a Power Management (PM) bit not set, and the unscheduled asynchronous power save trigger frame is an Unscheduled Asynchronous Power Save Delivery (U-APSD) trigger frame.

17. A method for operating a wireless device in both a first network and a second network, the method comprising:

determining an end of a first synchronous slot;

setting a network allocation control that ends at the same time as the end of the first synchronous slot at an access point (AP) in the first network so that the AP stops transmitting data to the device;

transmitting a power save control to the AP to retrieve buffered data from the AP, wherein the power save control is one of a power save poll, a data frame with a power management control not set, and an unscheduled asynchronous power control, wherein the data frame with the power management control not set is transmitted in synchronous slot gap after sending a clear to send control;

transmitting data to the AP during a period set by the network allocation control and prior to a beginning of the first synchronous slot; and

receiving other data from the AP after the end of the first synchronous slot.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein setting the network allocation control comprises sending the clear to send control.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein for the unscheduled asynchronous power control, the AP sets an end of service control to indicate that the client may enter into a power save mode.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the end of service control is set on a final buffered downlink frame.