Method and apparatus for software-based allocation and scheduling of hardware resources in a wireless communication device

• US 7,536,691 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Kavoori, Chakki, Holmes, David M., Rieken, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US09/927,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,840 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 718/102, 718/104, 718/1, 715/764, 715/771, 710/9, 370/310, 709/226
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44521 Dynamic linking or loading; Link editing at or after load time, e.g. Java class loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/12 Protocol engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An architecture and method for dynamic resource allocation and scheduling in a communication device is disclosed herein. The method of controlling hardware resources in a communication device having a processor, a computer readable memory, and at least one hardware resource coupled to each other includes several steps. The first step locates a memory address in the computer readable memory that is associated with a first hardware resource. In the next step, control information associated with the first memory address is transmitted to the first hardware resource for it to be operated. In the last step, a pointer associated with the first address that locates a subsequent address for a subsequent hardware resource, is read.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication device having a processor, a computer readable memory, and at least one hardware resource coupled to each other, a method of operating the hardware resources comprising:

a) locating a first address in the computer readable memory of the wireless communication device, the first address containing operating information associated with a first hardware resource;

b) transmitting operating information associated with the first address to the first hardware resource;

c) reading a pointer associated with the first address that locates a subsequent address for a subsequent hardware resource;

d) repeating steps a) through c) for a quantity of pointers respectively associated with multiple hardware resources; and

e) executing a pointer from a primary list of pointers that transfers control to a secondary list with operating information associated with the hardware resource,

wherein the method is performed in real time while the wireless communication device is operating.

2. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

e) returning to the first pointer when all of the quantity of pointers has been exhausted in a list stored in memory.

3. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

e) repeating steps a) through c) for each of multiple sets of operating information associated with multiple uses of the hardware resource.

4. The wireless communication device recited in claim 3 wherein the multiple sets of operating information are utilized within a system cycle.

5. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

e) repeating steps a) through d) for a plurality of entries of operating information for the hardware resource, wherein each of the entries is respectively associated with a reuse of the hardware resource for a different application at a different point in time.

6. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein the information for operating the first hardware resource includes semi-static hardware control parameters.

7. The wireless communication device recited in claim 6 wherein the semi-static hardware control parameters include flags, parameters, or states for the first hardware resource.

8. The wireless communication device recited in claim 7 wherein the hardware resources include at least one tracking finger.

9. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein the information for operating the first hardware resource includes dynamic hardware control parameters.

10. The wireless communication device recited in claim 9 wherein the dynamic hardware parameters are controlled by dedicated hardware resources.

11. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein the hardware resources include at least one searcher element.

12. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein the hardware resources include at least one downlink transmitter element.

13. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein the hardware resources include at least one matched filter element.

14. The wireless communication device recited in claim 1 wherein only the hardware resources associated with the secondary list that are grouped together for a specific category are enabled via the pointer from the primary list.

15. The wireless communication device recited in claim 14 wherein the secondary list has a pointer at the end of the operating information grouped together for the specific purpose, the pointer for the secondary list returning control to the primary list.

16. The wireless communication device recited in claim 14 wherein the primary list has a plurality of pointers that point to at least one other list that tracks an identification of a user of hardware resources.

17. In a wireless communication device having a processor, a means for storing a list of information, and at least one hardware resource coupled to each other, a method of operating the hardware resources comprising:

a) locating a first address in the means for storing a list of information of the wireless communication device, the first address containing operating information associated with a first hardware resource;

b) transmitting operating information associated with the first address to the first hardware resource;

c) reading a pointer associated with the first address that locates a subsequent address for a subsequent hardware resource;

d) repeating steps a) through c) for a quantity of pointers respectively associated with multiple hardware resources; and

e) executing a pointer from a primary list of pointers that transfers control to a secondary list with operating information associated with the hardware resource,

wherein the method is performed in real time while the wireless communication device is operating.

18. A method of controlling hardware resources in a wireless communication device having a processor and a memory coupled to each other, the method comprising:

locating a first memory address in the memory associated with a first hardware resource;

transmitting control information associated with the first memory address to the first hardware resource to enable utilization of the first hardware resource;

determining a pointer that is associated with the first address that locates another memory address in the memory associated with a hardware resource that can be subsequently utilized; and

executing a pointer from a primary list of pointers that transfers control to a secondary list with operating information associated with the hardware resource,

wherein the method is performed in real time while the wireless communication device is operating.

19. An apparatus for managing hardware resources in a wireless communication device having a controller and a memory, the apparatus comprising:

means for locating a first memory address in the memory associated with a first hardware resource;

means for transmitting from the controller control information associated with the first memory address to the first hardware resource;

means for determining a pointer that is associated with the first memory address that locates another memory address in the memory associated with another hardware resource; and

means for executing a pointer from a primary list of pointers that transfers control to a secondary list with operating information associated with the hardware resource,

wherein the method is performed in real time while the wireless communication device is operating.

20. A method of operating a plurality of hardware resources of a wireless communication device comprising:

a) locating a current address in a memory, the current address containing operating information associated with a current hardware resource of the plurality of hardware resources;

b) transmitting to the current hardware resource operating information associated with the current address to the current hardware resource;

c) reading a pointer in the memory, which is associated with the current address, that identifies another address containing operating information for operating another hardware resource of the plurality of hardware resources; and

d) determining whether the current hardware resource is reused within a system cycle,

wherein if the current hardware resource is reused within a system cycle, further comprising the steps of;

e) saving the current hardware resource information from a current use; and

f) repeating steps b), c), and d) until the current hardware resource is not reused within a system cycle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a hardware resource is at least one of a searcher element, a downlink transmitter element, matched filter element, or tracker element.

22. A method of operating a plurality of hardware resources of a wireless communication device comprising:

a) locating a current address in a memory, the current address containing operating information associated with a current hardware resource of the plurality of hardware resources;

b) transmitting to the current hardware resource operating information associated with the current address to the current hardware resource;

c) reading a pointer in the memory, which is associated with the current address, that identifies another address containing operating information for operating another hardware resource of the plurality of hardware resources; and

d) determining whether the current hardware resource is reused within a system cycle, wherein if the current hardware resource is not reused within a system cycle, further comprising the steps of;

e) determining whether operation of the current hardware resource should be terminated; and

f) if operation of the current hardware resource should not be terminated, repeating steps a), b), c), and d) for another hardware resource of the plurality of hardware resources that becomes the current hardware resource.

23. An apparatus for dynamically implementing changes for scheduling hardware resources in a wireless communication device having a memory, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for locating a current address in the memory, the current address containing operating information associated with a current hardware resource;

b) means for transmitting operating information associated with the current address to the current hardware resource;

c) means for reading a pointer associated with the current address;

that identifies another address containing operating information for another hardware resource of the device; and

d) means for determining whether the current hardware resource is reused within a system cycle;

wherein if the current hardware resource is reused within a system cycle, further comprising;

e) means for saving the current hardware resource information from a current use,

wherein the changes for scheduling hardware resources are implemented in real time while the wireless communication device is operating.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein a hardware resource is at least one of a searcher element, a downlink transmitter element, matched filter element, or tracker element.

25. An apparatus for dynamically implementing changes for scheduling hardware resources in a wireless communication device having a memory, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for locating a current address in the memory, the current address containing operating information associated with a current hardware resource;

b) means for transmitting operating information associated with the current address to the current hardware resource;

c) means for reading a pointer associated with the current address, that identifies another address containing operating information for another hardware resource of the device; and

d) means for determining whether the current hardware resource is reused within a system cycle;

wherein if the current hardware resource is not reused within a system cycle, further comprising;

e) means for determining whether operation should be terminated,

wherein the changes for scheduling hardware resources are implemented in real time while the wireless communication device is operating.