Method and apparatus for scanning of channels simultaneously with exchanging data in a wireless device

• US 9,357,457 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Schmalz, Joachim, Kunz, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Elpenord, Candal
• Application Number:
  US14/151,490
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0088 Scheduling hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling

Abstract

A wireless device for wireless communication in a wireless area network. The wireless device includes a main radio channel for exchanging data with an access point in the wireless area network, as well as an auxiliary radio channel for scanning for availability of other access points in the wireless area network.

Claims

1. A method for performing a handoff procedure to switch an exchange of data between two different channels, the method comprising:

exchanging data, by a first radio channel of a wireless device, with a first access point over a first channel associated with the first access point, wherein exchanging data with the first access point comprises (i) transmitting, by the first radio channel, data to the first access point, and (ii) receiving, by the first radio channel, data from the first access point;

while the first radio channel of the wireless device is exchanging data with the first access point over the first channel,

scanning, by a second radio channel of the wireless device, a first group of channels pursuant to a configurable channel list, wherein the configurable channel list indicates (i) the first group of channels that are enabled to be scanned by the second radio channel, (ii) a second group of channels that are not enabled to be scanned by the second radio channel, and (iii) for each channel in the first group of channels, a corresponding time period for scanning the corresponding channel in the first group of channels, and

based on scanning the first group of channels, identifying, by the second radio channel of the wireless device, a second channel of the first group of channels, wherein the second channel is associated with a second access point; and

performing the handoff procedure to switch the exchange of data, by the first radio channel, over the first channel associated with the first access point to the second channel associated with the second access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the second channel further comprises:

based on scanning the first group of channels, determining, by the second radio channel of the wireless device, that the second channel of the first group of channels is capable of facilitating data exchange between the wireless device and the second access point over the second channel; and

based on determining that the second channel of the first group of channels is capable of facilitating data exchange between the wireless device and the second access point over the second channel, identifying, by the second radio channel of the wireless device, the second channel of the first group of channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first access point and the second access point are configured as a wireless local area network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second radio channel includes receive capabilities that is used to scan the first group of channels.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second radio channel does not include a transmitter due to the second radio channel including only receive capabilities.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning by the second radio channel of the wireless device is pursuant to a scanning protocol defined by a wireless standard.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurable channel list further indicates a time interval between scanning two channels in the first group of channels.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on scanning the first group of channels, updating a channel database, wherein the channel database identifies one or more channels, and wherein each of the one or more channels includes usable frames for communication by the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on scanning the first group of channels, updating a channel database, wherein the channel database identifies a first one or more channels, wherein each of the first one or more channels is capable of supporting exchange of data between the wireless device and first one or more corresponding access points, and wherein the first one or more channels comprises the second channel associated with the second access point.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the channel database identifies a second one or more channels, wherein each of the second one or more channels is incapable of supporting exchanging of data between the wireless device and second one or more corresponding access points.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the channel database comprises information associated with a third access point, wherein the third access point is associated with a third channel of the first one or more channels.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information associated with the third access point comprises one or more of (i) an wireless standard associated with the third access point, (ii) a service set identification associated with the third access point, and (ii) a quality of service indicator associated with the third channel.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pre-authorizing, by the second radio channel, the wireless device for data exchange with the second access point over the second channel.

14. A wireless device comprising:

a first radio channel configured to exchange data with a first access point over a first channel associated with the first access point, wherein exchanging data with the first access point comprises (i) transmitting, by the first radio channel, data to the first access point, and (ii) receiving, by the first radio channel, data from the first access point;

a second radio channel configured to, while the first radio channel is exchanging data with the first access point over the first channel,

(A) scan a first group of channels pursuant to a configurable channel list, wherein the configurable channel list indicates (i) the first group of channels that are enabled to be scanned by the second radio channel, (ii) a second group of channels that are not enabled to be scanned by the second radio channel, and (iii) for each channel in the first group of channels, a corresponding time period for scanning the corresponding channel in the first group of channels, and

(B) based on scanning the first group of channels, identify a second channel of the first group of channels, wherein the second channel is associated with a second access point; and

a controller configured to switch the exchange of data over the first channel associated with the first access point to the second channel associated with the second access point.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the second channel is configured to identify the second channel by:

based on scanning the first group of channels, determining that the second channel of the first group of channels is capable of facilitating data exchange between the wireless device and the second access point over the second channel; and

based on determining that the second channel of the first group of channels is capable of facilitating data exchange between the wireless device and the second access point over the second channel, identifying the second channel of the first group of channels.

16. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein:

the second radio channel includes receive capabilities that is used to scan the first group of channels; and

the second radio channel does not include a transmitter due to the second radio channel including only receive capabilities.

17. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the second radio channel is further configured to:

based on scanning the first group of channels, update a channel database, wherein the channel database identifies one or more channels, and wherein each of the one or more channels includes usable frames for communication by the wireless device.

18. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the second radio channel is further configured to:

based on scanning the first group of channels, update a channel database, wherein the channel database identifies a first one or more channels, wherein each of the first one or more channels is capable of supporting exchanging of data between the wireless device and first one or more corresponding access points, and wherein the first one or more channels comprises the second channel associated with the second access point.