Method and apparatus for multi-radio coexistence

• US 9,596,693 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Truong, Phan Dao Minh, Russell, Michael E., Sen, Indranil S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tang, Kiet
• Application Number:
  US14/334,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20140328331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• 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

A method for multi-radio coexistence receives historical frequency usage information and historical time usage information from a first radio. The method creates a time and frequency mask by extrapolating the historical frequency and time usage information to future times and frequencies when the first radio will be active and uses the time and frequency mask to schedule a second radio to avoid receiving when the first radio will likely be active. A related apparatus has a collocated radio input for receiving timing usage information, a non-collocated radio input for receiving frequency usage information, and a time and frequency mask generator for creating a time and frequency mask using the timing usage information and the frequency usage information. The method and apparatus predicts collocated and non-collocated radio activity in both the time and frequency dimensions to reduce interference among radios operating in overlapping or adjacent frequency bands.

Claims

1. A method for multi-radio coexistence comprising:

receiving historical frequency usage information from a first radio;

receiving historical time usage information from the first radio;

creating a time and frequency mask by extrapolating the historical frequency usage information and the historical time usage information to future times and future frequencies when the first radio will be active; and

using the time and frequency mask to schedule a second radio and one or more other radios to avoid receiving when the first radio will be active, the second radio being a master radio and the one or more other radios being slaves of the second radio.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

using the time and frequency mask to schedule the second radio to avoid transmitting when the first radio will be active.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first radio is collocated with the second radio.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the receiving historical frequency usage information from a first radio comprises:

receiving instantaneous frequency usage information.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the receiving historical time usage information from a first radio comprises:

receiving media access control level (MAC)-level timing information.

6. The method according to claim 3 wherein the receiving historical time usage information from a first radio comprises:

receiving hardware interface information.

7. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

receiving historical frequency usage information from a third radio, wherein the third radio is non-collocated with the second radio.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first radio is non-collocated with the second radio.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the receiving historical frequency usage information from a first radio comprises:

receiving over-the-air frequency usage information from the first radio.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the receiving historical frequency usage information from a first radio comprises:

using carrier sensing to obtain the historical frequency usage information from the first radio.

11. The method according to claim 1 further wherein using the time and frequency mask comprises:

adjusting timing scheduler of the second radio.

12. The method according to claim 1 further wherein using the time and frequency mask comprises:

adjusting an adaptive frequency hopping pattern of the second radio.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

transmitting the adjusted adaptive frequency hopping pattern to a compatible non-collocated radio.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the compatible non-collocated radio is a Bluetooth radio.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the first radio is a non-Bluetooth radio and the second radio is a Bluetooth radio.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

scheduling Bluetooth radio transmissions using the adjusted adaptive frequency hopping pattern.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising:

scheduling passive scans using the adjusted adaptive frequency hopping pattern.

18. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving additional frequency usage information from the first radio;

receiving additional time usage information from the first radio;

updating the time and frequency mask by extrapolating the historical frequency usage information, the additional frequency usage information, the historical time usage information, and the additional time usage information to future times and frequencies when the first radio will be active; and

using the updated time and frequency mask to schedule the second radio to avoid receiving when the first radio will be active.

19. A multi-radio coexistence apparatus comprising:

a collocated radio input for receiving timing usage information from a collocated radio;

a non-collocated radio input for receiving frequency usage information from a non-collocated radio;

a time and frequency mask generator, coupled to the collocated radio input and the non-collocated radio input, for creating a time and frequency mask using the timing usage information and the frequency usage information,

the multi-radio coexistence apparatus being operable to send the time and frequency mask to at least one of the collocated radio or the non-collocated radio and to one or more other radios, at least one of the collocated radio or the non-collocated radio being a master radio, the one or more other radios being slaves to the master radio, and the time and frequency mask being sent to the one or more other radios through the master radio.

20. The multi-radio coexistence apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the time and frequency mask generator comprises:

a time and frequency usage predictor, coupled to the collocated radio input and the non-collocated radio input, for extrapolating future times and future frequencies when the collocated radio or the non-collocated radio will be active.