Hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device

• US 20080165798A1
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nordic Semiconductor ASA
• Original Assignee: Hellosoft Incorporated (Imagination Technologies Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Barman, Kaushik, Aldaz, Luis, Johnson, Allan A., Malladi, Raghavendra, Wagner, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16

Abstract

A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device. A control plane module is for providing control functions of the hardware-centric MAC device. A hardware media access plane module communicatively coupled to the control plane module is for performing real-time data communication functions without requiring a microprocessor.

Claims

1. A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device comprising:

a control plane module for providing control functions of said hardware-centric MAC device; and

a hardware media access plane module communicatively coupled to said control plane module and for performing real-time data communication functions without requiring a microprocessor.

2. The hardware-centric MAC device of claim 1 wherein said hardware media access plane module is implemented in gate logic, such that real-timing requirements of said hardware-centric MAC device are handled in gate logic.

3. The hardware-centric MAC device of claim 1 wherein said hardware-centric MAC device is configured to provide real-time fragmentation and reassembly of said voice traffic in gate logic.

4. The hardware-centric MAC device of claim 3 wherein said control plane module is implemented in gate logic.

5. The hardware-centric MAC device of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of said control plane module is implemented in programmable hardware.

6. The hardware-centric MAC device of claim 1 wherein said control plane module is communicatively coupled to a microprocessor operable to provide control functionality of said MAC device.

7. The hardware-centric MAC device of claim 6 wherein said microprocessor is operable to execute a MAC driver for controlling configuration settings of said hardware-centric MAC device.

8. The hardware-centric MAC device of claim 7 wherein said microprocessor is not operable to execute said MAC driver during said real-time data communication.

9. The hardware-centric MAC device of claim 1 wherein said control plane module comprises a real-time logic (RTL) station management entity (SME) for monitoring features of said hardware-centric MAC device.

10. A voice communication device comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory communicatively coupled to said microprocessor;

a wireless communication module communicatively coupled to said microprocessor, said wireless communication module for receiving and transmitting voice traffic over a wireless connection and comprising;

a physical layer (PHY) device; and

a hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device communicatively coupled to said PHY device, wherein said MAC device is configured to perform real-time voice communication functions without requiring said RISC microprocessor.

11. The voice communication device of claim 10 wherein said hardware-centric MAC device comprises:

a control plane module for providing control functions of said hardware-centric MAC device; and

a hardware media access plane module communicatively coupled to said control plane module and for performing real-time data communication functions independent of said microprocessor.

12. The voice communication device of claim 10 wherein said hardware media access plane module is implemented in gate logic, such that real-timing requirements of said hardware-centric MAC device are handled in gate logic.

13. The voice communication device of claim 12 wherein said hardware-centric MAC device is configured to provide real-time fragmentation and reassembly of said voice traffic in gate logic.

14. The voice communication device of claim 13 wherein said control plane module is implemented in gate logic.

15. The voice communication device of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said control plane module is implemented in programmable hardware.

16. The voice communication device of claim 10 wherein said microprocessor is operable to provide control functionality of said MAC device.

17. The voice communication device of claim 16 wherein said microprocessor is operable to execute a MAC driver for controlling configuration settings of said hardware-centric MAC device.

18. The voice communication device of claim 17 wherein said microprocessor is not operable to execute said MAC driver during said real-time data communication.

19. The voice communication device of claim 10 wherein said control plane module comprises a real-time logic (RTL) station management entity (SME) for monitoring features of said hardware-centric MAC device.

20. A wireless transceiver comprising:

a physical layer (PHY) device; and

a hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device comprising;

a control plane module for providing control functions of said hardware-centric MAC device; and

a hardware media access plane module communicatively coupled to said control plane module and for performing real-time data communication functions without requiring a microprocessor.