Permissible operating mode determination in a dual-mode radio

• US 6,757,532 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Haartsen, Jacobus
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US09/650,686
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.1, 455/67.3, 455/67.6, 455/41, 455/423, 455/424, 455/414, 455/522
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/267 taking into account the information rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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

It is determined whether a first kind of communication link, such as a high speed link, can be supported between a first unit and a second unit, wherein the first kind of communication link does not support a transmission range above a first maximum value. This is done by using a second kind of communication link, such as a low speed link, to determine a propagation loss value between the first unit and the second unit, wherein the second kind of communication link supports the transmission range above the first maximum value. Then, the propagation loss value is used to determine whether the first kind of communication link can be supported between the first unit and the second unit. The first and second units can be a master and slave in a piconet. Alternatively, they can both be slaves in a piconet.

Claims

1. A method of determining whether a first kind of communication link can be supported between a first unit and a second unit, wherein the first kind of communication link does not support a transmission range above a first maximum value, the method comprising:

using a second kind of communication link to determine a propagation loss value between the first unit and the second unit, wherein the second kind of communication link supports the transmission range above the first maximum value; and

using the propagation loss value to determine whether the first kind of communication link can be supported between the first unit and the second unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of using the propagation loss value to determine whether the first kind of communication link can be supported between the first unit and the second unit comprises:

using the propagation loss and a maximum transmission power level associated with the first maximum value to estimate a received signal strength value;

determining that the first kind of communication link cannot be supported between the first unit and the second unit if the estimated received signal strength value is below a predetermined value; and

determining that the first kind of communication link can be supported between the first unit and the second unit if the estimated received signal strength value is not below the predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first kind of communication link does not include use of spread spectrum techniques, and the second kind of communication link does include use of a spread spectrum technique.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first kind of communication link provides a higher rate of data transmission than does the second kind of communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein using the second kind of communication link to determine the propagation loss value between the first unit and the second unit comprises:

in the first unit, measuring a received signal strength value of a signal transmitted by the second unit; and

determining the propagation loss value between the first unit and the second unit as a function of the measured received signal strength value and a transmission power level used by the second unit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first unit is a master unit and the second unit is a slave unit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the master unit and the slave unit communicate in accordance with BLUETOOTH™

standards.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the first unit is a first slave unit in a piconet;

the second unit is a second slave unit in the piconet; and

the signal transmitted by the second unit is transmitted to a master unit in the piconet.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of, in the first unit, measuring the received signal strength value of the signal transmitted by the second unit comprises:

in the first unit, receiving a first packet transmitted by the master unit;

determining whether a packet address included in the first packet identifies the second slave unit; and

conditionally measuring the received signal strength value of a second packet transmitted in a next time slot if the packet address included in the first packet identifies the second slave unit.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the piconet operates in accordance with BLUETOOTH™

standards.

11. A method of determining a propagation loss value between a first slave unit in a piconet and a second slave unit in the piconet, the method comprising:

a) in the first unit, receiving a first packet transmitted by a master unit in the piconet;

b) determining whether a packet address included in the first packet identifies the second slave unit;

c) conditionally measuring the received signal strength value of a second packet transmitted in a next time slot if the packet address included in the first packet identifies the second slave unit; and

d) if the received signal strength value was measured, then determining propagation loss as a function of the measured received signal strength value and a value representative of a transmit power level used by the second unit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the piconet operates in accordance with BLUETOOTH™

standards.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

repeating steps a), b), and c) a sufficient number of times to generate a plurality measured received signal strength values; and

generating an average measured received signal strength value from the plurality of measured received signal strength values, and

wherein, the step of determining propagation loss as a function of the measured received signal strength value and the value representative of the transmit power level used by the second unit comprises determining propagation loss as a function of the average measured received signal strength value and the value representative of the transmit power level used by the second unit.

14. An apparatus that determines whether a first kind of communication link can be supported between a first unit and a second unit, wherein the first kind of communication link does not support a transmission range above a first maximum value, the apparatus comprising:

logic that uses a second kind of communication link to determine a propagation loss value between the first unit and the second unit, wherein the second kind of communication link supports the transmission range above the first maximum value; and

logic that uses the propagation loss value to determine whether the first kind of communication link can be supported between the first unit and the second unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the logic that uses the propagation loss value to determine whether the first kind of communication link can be supported between the first unit and the second unit comprises:

logic that uses the propagation loss value and a maximum transmission power level associated with the first maximum value to estimate a received signal strength value; and

logic that determines that the first kind of communication link cannot be supported between the first unit and the second unit if the estimated received signal strength value is below a predetermined value, and alternatively determines that the first kind of communication link can be supported between the first unit and the second unit if the estimated received signal strength value is not below the predetermined value.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first kind of communication link does not include use of spread spectrum techniques, and the second kind of communication link does include use of a spread spectrum technique.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first kind of communication link provides a higher rate of data transmission than does the second kind of communication link.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the logic that uses the second kind of communication link to determine the propagation loss value between the first unit and the second unit comprises:

in the first unit, logic that measures a received signal strength value of a signal transmitted by the second unit; and

logic that determines the propagation loss value between the first unit and the second unit as a function of the measured received signal strength value and a transmission power level used by the second unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first unit is a master unit and the second unit is a slave unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the master unit and the slave unit communicate in accordance with BLUETOOTH™

standards.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the first unit is a first slave unit in a piconet;

the second unit is a second slave unit in the piconet; and

the signal transmitted by the second unit is transmitted to a master unit in the piconet.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the logic that, in the first unit, measures the received signal strength value of the signal transmitted by the second unit comprises:

in the first unit, logic that receives a first packet transmitted by the master unit;

logic that determines whether a packet address included in the first packet identifies the second slave unit; and

logic that conditionally measures the received signal strength value of a second packet transmitted in a next time slot if the packet address included in the first packet identifies the second slave unit.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the piconet operates in accordance with BLUETOOTH™

standards.

24. An apparatus that determines a propagation loss value between a first slave unit in a piconet and a second slave unit in the piconet, the apparatus comprising:

a) in the first unit, logic that receives a first packet transmitted by a master unit in the piconet;

b) logic that determines whether a packet address included in the first packet identifies the second slave unit;

c) logic that conditionally measures the received signal strength value of a second packet transmitted in a next time slot if the packet address included in the first packet identifies the second slave unit; and

d) logic that determines propagation loss as a function of the measured received signal strength value and a value representative of a transmit power level used by the second unit if the received signal strength value was measured.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the piconet operates in accordance with BLUETOOTH™

standards.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

logic that operates elements a), b) and c) a sufficient number of times to generate a plurality measured received signal strength values; and

logic that generates an average measured received signal strength value from the plurality of measured received signal strength values, and

wherein, the logic that determines propagation loss as a function of the measured received signal strength value and the value representative of the transmit power level used by the second unit comprises logic that determines propagation loss as a function of the average measured received signal strength value and the value representative of the transmit power level used by the second unit.