HK1114968B - Wireless communication method and system - Google Patents

Description

Method and system for wireless communication

Technical Field

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and more particularly, to a method and system for changing the priority of a dependent frame in multiline coexistence.

Background

It is well known that certain conventional communication systems are used to provide wireless and wired communication between wireless and/or wired communication devices. These communication systems include national and/or international cellular telephone systems and the internet, as well as point-to-point home wireless networks. Each type of communication network is designed and operated in accordance with an associated communication standard. For example, a wireless communication System may operate in accordance with one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, bluetooth, Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), digital AMPS, Global System for mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution System (LMDS), multi-channel multi-point distribution System (MMDS), and/or variations thereof.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, such as a cellular phone, a walkie-talkie, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Personal Computer (PC), a laptop computer, or a home entertainment device, communicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communication devices. For direct communication, i.e., point-to-point communication, the participating wireless communication devices tune their receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels and communicate over the channel. Each channel may utilize one or more of a plurality of Radio Frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system. For indirect wireless communication, each wireless communication device communicates directly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or an associated access point (e.g., for indoor or in-building wireless networks) over the assigned channel or channels.

In order for each wireless communication device to participate in a wireless communication session, it utilizes a built-in radio transceiver including a receiver and a transmitter, or is connected to an associated radio transceiver, e.g., a base station of a home and/or indoor wireless communication network, or is connected to an RF modem. The transmitter modulates data according to a particular wireless communication standard to convert the data into an RF signal. However, different communication systems may use different standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standard and the bluetooth standard, which may share the same RF spectrum.

To mitigate signal interference due to sharing of the RF spectrum with other communication systems, the bluetooth standard allows frequency hopping, i.e., transmitting information on various frequencies. In this manner, the energy of the transmitted signal is spread across the RF spectrum from 2.402GHz to 2.480GHz for 79 channels, with the channels separated by 1 MHz. The bluetooth standard allows 1600 hops per second. The advantage of frequency hopping systems is that the information is spread over a wider frequency band. Thus, for some frequencies used in frequency hopping by bluetooth systems, signals transmitted by other systems using a portion of the same spectrum may appear as noise. Similarly, only a portion of the bluetooth transmission signal will interfere with signals transmitted by other systems.

Two or more bluetooth devices, up to eight devices, may form a bluetooth piconet (piconet) in which there is one master device and up to seven slave devices. Piconet bluetooth piconets. Piconet bluetooth piconet the bluetooth piconet shares a common communications data channel with an existing capacity of 1 megabit per second (Mbps) and the highest desired value of 3 Mbps. The data channel is divided into 625 microsecond time slots. Although the master device may initiate interaction with any slave device, the slave device can only respond to the master device. The piconet bluetooth piconet link between the master device and the slave device may be a Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) link or an Asynchronous Connectionless (ACL) link. The piconet bluetooth piconet may support up to three SCO links, with all other remaining bandwidth being used by ACL links.

In some current systems, bluetooth devices may share a platform with WLAN devices, which may be referred to as coexistence (coexistence). For example, a device such as a cellular phone may be integrated with a Bluetooth radio (Bluetooth radio) and a Wireless LAN radio (Wireless LAN radio). Sometimes simultaneous transmissions are required for bluetooth radio and WLAN radio. Since the bluetooth radio and the WLAN radio are close to each other and operate on the same frequency band, the transmission of one of the radios may interfere with the transmission of the other radio.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with aspects of the present invention.

Disclosure of Invention

A method and system for changing the priority of a dependent frame in multiline coexistence, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of wireless communication, the method comprising: if the bluetooth device does not assert priority to a collocated (collocated) WLAN device prior to starting a current bluetooth frame, and if it indicates that at least a remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame requires high priority, transmitting a high priority indication signal to the collocated WLAN device regarding at least the remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame.

Preferably, the method further comprises the bluetooth device de-asserting a signal indicative of bluetooth communication activity before the bluetooth device transmits a portion of a frame of data.

Preferably, the method further comprises the bluetooth device deasserting a signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the method further comprises the bluetooth device asserting the signal indicative of bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the method further comprises the bluetooth device asserting a signal indicative of a bluetooth priority status and the signal indicative of bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the method further comprises the bluetooth device de-asserting at least one of: the signal indicative of a bluetooth priority status and the signal indicative of bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the bluetooth device operates as a slave device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine-readable storage, in which is stored a computer program having at least one code section for wireless communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of: if the bluetooth device does not assert priority to a collocated WLAN device prior to starting a current bluetooth frame, and if it is indicated that at least a remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame requires high priority, a high priority indication signal is transmitted to the collocated WLAN device with respect to at least the remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame.

Preferably, the machine-readable storage further comprises code that allows the bluetooth device to de-assert a signal indicating bluetooth communication activity before the bluetooth device transmits a portion of a frame of data.

Preferably, the machine-readable storage further comprises code that allows the bluetooth device to de-assert a signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the machine-readable storage further comprises code that allows the bluetooth device to assert the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the machine-readable storage further comprises code that allows the bluetooth device to assert a signal indicating a bluetooth priority status and the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the machine-readable storage further comprises code that allows the bluetooth device to de-assert at least one of: the signal indicative of a bluetooth priority status and the signal indicative of bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the bluetooth device operates as a slave device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system of wireless communication, the system comprising: circuitry within the bluetooth device to transmit a high priority indication signal to the collocated WLAN device for at least a remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame if the bluetooth device does not assert priority to the collocated WLAN device prior to starting the current bluetooth frame and if it indicates that at least the remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame requires high priority.

Preferably, the circuit is configured to de-assert the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity prior to the bluetooth device transmitting a portion of the frame of data.

Preferably, the circuit is configured to de-assert a signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the circuit is for asserting the signal indicative of bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the circuit is configured to assert a signal indicating a bluetooth priority status and to assert the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the circuit is for de-asserting at least one of: the signal indicative of a bluetooth priority status and the signal indicative of bluetooth communication activity.

Preferably, the bluetooth device operates as a slave device.

Various advantages, objects, and novel features of the invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a Bluetooth piconet that may be used in conjunction with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2a is a block diagram of a host device with a Bluetooth device and a WLAN device for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a block diagram of a multi-wire Bluetooth/WLAN coexistence interface that may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3a is a diagram of a low priority frame in multi-line Bluetooth/WLAN coexistence, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3b is a diagram of a high priority frame in multi-line Bluetooth/WLAN coexistence, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3c is a schematic diagram of changing the priority of a dependent frame in multiline bluetooth/WLAN coexistence according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart of exemplary steps for employing an enhanced coexistence solution for bluetooth and WLAN communication devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for changing the priority of a dependent frame in multiline coexistence. The slave frame may be a time period associated with a bluetooth frame associated with a bluetooth slave communication device. The method includes transmitting a high priority indication signal for at least a remaining portion of a current bluetooth frame to a collocated WLAN device if the bluetooth device does not assert (assert) priority to the collocated WLAN device prior to starting the current bluetooth frame, and if it indicates that at least the remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame requires high priority.

In transmitting the high priority indication signal to the collocated WLAN device, the bluetooth device may de-assert the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity. For example, the deassertion may be performed before a portion of a frame when the bluetooth device transmits data. The bluetooth device may assert a signal indicating bluetooth communication activity. The bluetooth device then asserts a signal indicating a bluetooth priority status and a signal indicating bluetooth communication activity. After the bluetooth device transmits the data packet, the bluetooth device deasserts the signal indicating the bluetooth priority status and/or the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.

The multiline coexistence approach may be used to facilitate communications, for example, when a bluetooth device is configured with a WLAN device and both devices need to operate. Thus, when a bluetooth device is to receive and/or transmit, the bluetooth device may send a signal to the WLAN device; while the WLAN device is transmitting, the WLAN device may transmit a signal to the bluetooth device. The bluetooth device may indicate whether a high priority is required in the bluetooth frame. A high priority indication allows bluetooth transmissions without interference from simultaneous WLAN transmissions. However, it is often necessary to indicate before the start of a frame.

Because the bluetooth communication may be initiated by the bluetooth master, the bluetooth master may determine whether the frame is a high priority or low priority bluetooth master. However, if the frame should be a high priority frame, the slave device is not always able to indicate that it is ahead of the frame. At some point, the bluetooth slave device can determine when the frame is a high priority frame. For example, when a Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) link is in an active state (active), the frames for SCO data transfer are high priority frames, since sound is transferred over the SCO link. The SCO frame may be every frame, every other frame, or every third frame.

However, in general, bluetooth devices cannot determine whether a frame is high priority. Thus, the bluetooth slave communication device cannot transmit a timely reply because the WLAN device may be transmitting. An embodiment of the present invention allows for transmitting a high priority indication signal of a current frame to a WLAN device after the current frame has started. In this way, the bluetooth slave communication device can transmit a timely reply without interference from the WLAN device.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a bluetooth piconet that may be used in conjunction with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 1, a Personal Computer (PC)100, a laptop computer 110, and a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)120 are shown. These three master devices or master platforms, each may support bluetooth. Each master device may have a bluetooth application and a bluetooth communication device for transmitting and receiving signals. Each master device may then be considered a bluetooth device. Up to eight bluetooth devices may communicate with each other in a local network called a piconet. In a given piconet, only one of the bluetooth devices is the master and the others are slaves.

The process of designating a master each time a piconet is established is a dynamic process. A bluetooth device may be a member of multiple piconets in that it may be designated as a master for one piconet and as a slave for another piconet. Each bluetooth device may employ an algorithm that takes into account different variables, such as performance and power consumption requirements, when deciding whether to become a master device. For example, a bluetooth device may passively wait for other bluetooth devices to establish a piconet because of the transmission bandwidth that is utilized to transmit signals to locate other bluetooth devices to form the piconet. A bluetooth device that is looking for other bluetooth devices and establishes a connection with one or more bluetooth devices may be designated as a bluetooth master for this piconet. A plurality of interconnected piconets may be referred to as scatternets (scatternets), for example, where one bluetooth device may be a member of more than one piconet.

Although only a single piconet is shown in the figure, in a system comprising multiple piconets, a bluetooth device may act as a master in one piconet and as a slave in an adjacent piconet. For example, Bluetooth device A may act as a master in a first piconet P1 and as a slave in a second piconet P2. In another example, Bluetooth device A may act as a slave in a first piconet P1 and as a master in a second piconet P2. A master device, such as PC100, may communicate with each slave device, such as laptop 110 and PDA 120. However, the slave devices cannot directly communicate with each other. When the master moves out of communication range, the piconet is destroyed until another bluetooth device establishes the piconet.

Fig. 2a is a block diagram of a host device with a bluetooth device and a WLAN device for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 2, a master device 200 is shown. The master device 200 includes a bluetooth communication device 210, a WLAN communication device 212, a processor 220, and a memory 230. The bluetooth communication device 210 may be a bluetooth radio that may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be operable to exchange data, commands, and/or status with other bluetooth devices. The bluetooth communication device 210 includes a processor 211. The WLAN communication device 212 may be a WLAN radio and comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be operable to exchange data, commands, and/or status with other WLAN devices. The processor 220 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may enable exchanging data, commands, and/or status with the bluetooth communication device 210 and the WLAN communication device 212. Memory 230 may comprise suitable logic and/or circuitry that may be operable to store information such as data and/or code that may be utilized by other devices.

In operation, host device 200 may be, for example, a laptop computer, supported bluetooth functionality through bluetooth communication device 210, and connected to a LAN through WLAN communication device 212. Processor 220 may be a processor of master device 200. The application transmitted through the bluetooth communication device 210 may be a different application than the application accessing the LAN through the WLAN communication device 212. Thus, the data transmitted by communication devices 210 and 212 may not be coordinated when each device is to transmit.

When each communication device wishes to transmit, it asserts a signal line (signaline) to the other communication devices. For example, a 2-wire signaling protocol (2-wire signaling protocol) or a multiline signaling protocol (multiline signaling protocol) may be used between the bluetooth communication device 210 and the WLAN communication device 212. The signaling may be accomplished by, for example, the processor 211 and/or hardware circuitry in the bluetooth communication device 210. This signalling will be described in more detail with reference to fig. 2b and 2 c.

Figure 2b is a block diagram of a multi-wire bluetooth/WLAN coexistence interface that may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention. Referring to fig. 2b, a handshake module (handshaking block)210a is shown, as well as WLAN _ BUSY, BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY, BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS, and FREQUENCY signals between bluetooth communication device 210 and WLAN communication device 212.

The handshake module 210a may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may enable communication with the WLAN communication device 212. Thus, the bluetooth communication device 210 may indicate to the WLAN communication device 121 that it is communicating with other bluetooth communication devices and/or that it needs to send high priority data packets. For example, processor 211 and processor 220 may control handshake module 210 a.

The WLAN _ BUSY signal may be controlled by WLAN communication device 212, while the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY, BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS, and FREQUENCY signals may be controlled by handshake module 210 a. The FREQUENCY signal is an optional signal. The handshake module 210a may assert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal whenever there are any transmissions by the bluetooth communication device 210. The BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal may be used to indicate (signal) the PRIORITY of the particular bluetooth packet being transmitted by the bluetooth communication device 210.

For simplicity, fig. 2b shows that signals to and from the handshaking block 210a may be transmitted to the WLAN communication device 212. These signals to and from the handshake module 210a may be related to the coexistence method used, and may be sent to or from, for example, a Packet Traffic Arbitration (PTA) unit 212 a.

For example, PTA unit 212a can receive signals from communication device 210 and WLAN communication device 212 via bluetooth and arbitrate which device has priority for transmission and/or reception during a particular time period. The PTA unit 212a can communicate with the bluetooth communication device 210 to indicate whether the bluetooth communication device 210 has priority. The PTA unit 212a also communicates with the WLAN communication device 212 to see if it has priority.

Thus, the arbitration algorithm of PTA 212a causes the WLAN _ BUSY signal to be asserted even if the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal is asserted. If the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal is not asserted, it may assert the WLAN _ BUSY signal via PTA 212a when WLAN communication device 212 has data to transmit. Since the bluetooth communication device 210 is transmitting low priority data, it will stop transmitting data. Handshake module 210a asserts the optional FREQUENCY signal when the next packet is about to enter the WLAN band. Thus, the multiline coexistence interface can be used to mitigate interference that may occur when a bluetooth communication device and a WLAN device transmit simultaneously. The signaling when multilines coexist will be described in more detail with reference to fig. 3a and 3 b.

Fig. 3a is a diagram of a low priority frame in multi-line bluetooth/WLAN coexistence, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 3a, the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal and the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal are shown as being driven by the handshake module 210 a. The handshake module 210a may be part of a bluetooth communication device 210, and the bluetooth device 210 may be configured as, for example, a bluetooth slave device. Also shown are times T300 … T305 for the low priority bluetooth frame. For low priority frames, the acknowledgement of the slave device does not have to be sent in the same frame of acknowledgement data.

At time T300, the handshake module 210a may assert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal to indicate that a bluetooth frame will begin soon. A bluetooth frame typically includes two slots. The bluetooth master communication device transmits data in the first slot of a frame. The bluetooth slave communication device transmits the reply data to the bluetooth master communication device in the second slot of the frame. The assertion of the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal may occur before the start of a bluetooth frame.

Time 301 may indicate the time at which the first slot of the frame begins. The time period from time 301 to time 303 is approximately associated with the first time slot of the frame and the time period from time 303 to time 305 is approximately associated with the second time slot of the frame. The bluetooth communication device 210 may be a slave device that may receive data transmitted by the bluetooth master device in a portion of the first time slot. Although a frame typically includes two slots, more than two slots may be included. Thus, the time period from time 301 to time 303 may include multiple time slots and/or time 303 to time 305 may include multiple time slots.

At time 302, the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal may be asserted to indicate to the WLAN device that the bluetooth communication device 210 is transmitting data. After transmitting the data, the handshake module 210a may deassert (deassert) the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY and BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signals to indicate that the RF ACTIVITY for the current frame has ended. This may occur at time T304.

Figure 3b is a diagram of a high priority frame in multi-line bluetooth/WLAN coexistence, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 3b, the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal and the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal are shown as being driven by the handshake module 210 a. The handshake module 210a may be part of a bluetooth communication device 210, and the bluetooth device 210 may be a bluetooth slave device. Also shown are times T310 … T317 for a high priority bluetooth frame.

The slave needs to acknowledge data frames that the data from the master has received, while the data message being acknowledged is also in the same frame, which can be designated as high priority frames. The assertion of a high priority to the WLAN device allows the WLAN device to abort a transmission in order to not interfere with the bluetooth device's transmission. The designation of high priority for a particular packet may be designed and/or implemented accordingly. Some frames designated as high priority, e.g., Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) frames, may be used for voice data.

Sometimes a bluetooth slave device may know when certain frames will be high priority frames. For example, when a bluetooth slave is in listen (sniff), hold (hold), or pause (park) mode, it can know when it is a high priority frame. The bluetooth slave may also know that, for example, the frame allocated to the SCO link is a high priority frame. The data packets may be transmitted in the SCO link by one of four methods. The first method is the HV3 method, where every third frame may be designated for SCO packets. The second method is the HV2 method, where every other frame may be designated for SCO packets. The third method is the HV1 method, where each frame may be designated for SCO packets. The fourth method is the DV method, in which digital and voice data are transmitted in the same data packet. DV packets may be sent in every frame. Thus, the bluetooth slave knows in advance when a frame is a high priority frame.

At time T310, the handshake module 210a may assert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal to indicate that a bluetooth frame will soon begin. Although a bluetooth frame typically includes two slots, there may be more than two slots in the frame. For simplicity, it is assumed that a frame has two slots. The first slot in the frame may be used by the bluetooth master communication device to transmit data. The second slot in the frame may be used by the bluetooth slave communication device to send acknowledgements and/or data to the bluetooth master communication device. The assertion of the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal may occur before the start of a bluetooth frame.

Time 313 indicates the start of the first slot of the frame. The time period from time 313 to time 315 is approximately associated with the first time slot in the frame and the time period from time 315 to time 317 is approximately associated with the second time slot of the frame. The bluetooth communication device 210 may be a bluetooth slave device that may receive data transmitted by a bluetooth master device during a portion of a first time slot.

At time 311, the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal may be asserted to indicate to the WLAN communication device 212 that the next frame is a high PRIORITY frame. At time 313, the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal may be deasserted (deasserted) to indicate to the WLAN communication device 212 that the bluetooth communication device 210 is not transmitting in this slot. At time 314, the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal may be asserted to instruct the bluetooth communication device 210 to transmit in this slot.

After transmitting the data, the handshake module 210a may deassert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY and BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signals to indicate the end of RF ACTIVITY for the current frame. This may occur at time T316. At other times, the slave device may not know whether the frame is a high priority frame until after receiving data from the master device. However, it may be too late to next indicate that the current frame is a high priority frame using the method described with reference to fig. 3 b. Therefore, another method is needed to indicate this situation, which will be described with reference to fig. 3 c.

Fig. 3c is a diagram illustrating changing the priority of a dependent frame in a multi-line bluetooth/WLAN coexistence according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 3c, BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY and BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signals are shown that may be driven by handshake module 210 a. The handshake module 210a may be part of a bluetooth communication device 210, and the bluetooth device 210 may be, for example, a bluetooth slave device.

Also shown are a number of times T320 … T326 to explain how the priority of the dependent frames is changed. Embodiments of the present invention may be used to change the priority of a frame from a low priority to a high priority after receiving data from a bluetooth master communication device, such as PC 100. The designation of high priority for a particular packet may be designed and/or implemented accordingly. The high priority frame may be a frame in which the bluetooth slave communication device sends a reply packet in the same frame as the data packet being acknowledged.

At time T320, the handshake module 210a may assert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal to indicate that a bluetooth frame will soon begin. Although a bluetooth frame typically includes two slots, there may be more than two slots in the frame. For simplicity, it is assumed that a frame has two slots. The first slot in the frame may be used by the bluetooth master communication device to transmit data. The second slot in the frame may be used by the bluetooth slave communication device to transmit acknowledgement data to the bluetooth master communication device. The assertion of the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal may occur before the start of a bluetooth frame.

Time instant 321 may indicate the time at which the first slot of a frame begins. The time period from time 321 to time 324 is approximately associated with the first time slot of the frame and the time period from time 324 to time 326 is approximately associated with the second time slot of the frame.

The bluetooth communication device 210 may be configured as a slave device that may receive data transmitted by the bluetooth master device in a portion of the first time slot. Processor 211 or processor 220 may parse the received data. It may determine that this is a high priority frame. Therefore, the WLAN needs to be informed so that the bluetooth slave communication device 210 will stop transmitting when it transmits an acknowledgement in the next slot.

At time 322, the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal is deasserted. At time 323, BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY and BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signals are asserted to indicate to the WLAN communication device 212 that the bluetooth communication device 210 needs to transmit high PRIORITY data. After the data transfer, the handshake module 210a may deassert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY and BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signals to indicate the end of the high PRIORITY RF ACTIVITY for the current frame. This may occur at time T325.

Figure 4 is a flowchart of exemplary steps for changing priority using a multi-line coexistence interface of bluetooth and WLAN communication devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 4, the bluetooth communication apparatus 210 determines whether the next frame is a high priority frame in step 400. For example, if the SCO link is set to use the HV3 method, the next frame is a high priority frame. Thus, each third frame is a high priority SCO frame. If the next frame is a high priority frame, the next step is step 402. Otherwise, the next step is step 412.

In step 402, the bluetooth communication device 210 may assert a bluetooth RF ACTIVITY signal, e.g., a BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal. At step 404, a bluetooth status/priority signal may be asserted to indicate that bluetooth RF activity for the next frame is high priority. The asserted signal may be, for example, the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal. In step 406, the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal is deasserted. This indicates to the collocated (collocated) WLAN communication device 212 that, for example, the bluetooth communication device 210 is about to receive bluetooth packets.

In step 408, the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal is asserted. This signal is asserted to indicate to the collocated WLAN communication device 212 that the bluetooth communication device 210 will next transmit. In step 410, the bluetooth communication device 210 may deassert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY and BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signals to indicate to the collocated WLAN communication device 212 that the bluetooth frame is complete.

At step 412, which may be the next step after step 400, the bluetooth communication device 210 may assert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal. In step 414, the bluetooth device may receive a data packet from the bluetooth master device. Since the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal is asserted in step 412, the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal may not be asserted and then de-asserted, which would indicate that this frame is a low PRIORITY frame.

In step 416, the bluetooth communication device 210 may process the received data packet to determine if it must reply as soon as possible, for example, in the same frame of data received in step 414. If a high priority reply is required, the next step is step 418. Otherwise the next step is step 408.

In step 418, the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal may be de-asserted. In step 420, the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY and BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signals are asserted. This indicates to the collocated WLAN communication device 212 that the collocated bluetooth device is next transmitting with high priority. The bluetooth communication device 210 then transmits a reply packet. The next step is step 410.

Although embodiments of the present invention are described as asserting the coexistence signals, such as the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY and BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signals, in a particular order, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The specification of the coexistence method may determine the allowable range when one signal is asserted or de-asserted relative to the other. Thus, the assertion/de-assertion time instants may be designed and/or implemented accordingly.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a machine-readable storage, having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section executable by a machine, thereby causing the machine to perform steps as described above to alter a priority of a dependent frame for multiline coexistence.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the exemplary system allows a Bluetooth device, such as Bluetooth communication device 210, to communicate with a collocated WLAN device, such as WLAN communication device 212. The information communicated by the bluetooth communication device 210 includes, for example, the priority of data packets that the bluetooth communication device 210 sends to another bluetooth device, such as the bluetooth device PC 100. The bluetooth communication device 210 may be configured, for example, as a slave device. The transmitted priority indication signal is priority information regarding at least the remainder of the current bluetooth frame.

The priority may be a high priority if the bluetooth communication device 210 does not assert a high priority to the collocated WLAN communication device 212 before the start of the current bluetooth frame. This occurs because there is an indication that at least the remainder of the current bluetooth frame is of high priority. The indication may come from the receipt and processing of a data packet from a bluetooth master device, such as master PC 100.

In communicating the priority to the collocated WLAN device, the bluetooth communication device 210 may deassert the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity. This signal may be, for example, the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal. The de-assertion may occur, for example, before a portion of the current bluetooth frame at which the bluetooth communication device 210 may send data. The bluetooth communication device 210 may also assert a signal indicating bluetooth communication ACTIVITY, such as a BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal. The bluetooth communication device 210 may also assert a signal indicating a bluetooth PRIORITY STATUS, e.g., a BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal. After the bluetooth communication device 210 sends the data packet, it may deassert the signal indicating the bluetooth priority status and/or the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The method is implemented in a computer system using a processor and a memory unit.

The present invention can also be implemented by a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods of the invention and which, when loaded in a computer system, is able to carry out these methods. The computer program in this document refers to: any expression, in any programming language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduced in different formats to implement specific functions.

While the invention has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A method of wireless communication, the method comprising: if the bluetooth device does not assert priority to a collocated WLAN device prior to starting a current bluetooth frame, and if it is indicated that at least a remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame requires high priority, transmitting a high priority indication signal to the collocated WLAN device regarding at least the remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame; the Bluetooth device operates as a slave device; when the bluetooth device is to receive and/or transmit, the bluetooth device may send a signal to the WLAN device; while the WLAN device is transmitting, the WLAN device may transmit a signal to the bluetooth device; the bluetooth device may indicate whether a high priority is required in the bluetooth frame; a high priority indication allows bluetooth transmissions without interference from simultaneous WLAN transmissions, but requires an indication before the start of the frame;

the Bluetooth device comprises a handshake module used for communicating with the WLAN device; the WLAN equipment comprises a message transmission arbitration unit; having WLAN _ BUSY, BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY, BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS and FREQUENCY signals between the Bluetooth device and the WLAN device; the WLAN _ BUSY signal may be controlled by the WLAN device, while the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY, BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS, and FREQUENCY signals are controlled by the handshake module; the FREQUENCY signal is an optional signal; the handshake module may assert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal whenever there are any transmissions by the bluetooth device; the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal is used to indicate the PRIORITY of a particular bluetooth packet being transmitted by the bluetooth device; the message transmission arbitration unit can receive signals from the Bluetooth equipment and the WLAN equipment through Bluetooth and arbitrate which equipment has priority for sending and/or receiving in a specific time period; the message transmission arbitration unit can communicate with the Bluetooth equipment to indicate whether the Bluetooth equipment has priority; the message transmission arbitration unit also communicates with the WLAN device to see if it has priority.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the Bluetooth device deasserting a signal indicating Bluetooth communication activity before the Bluetooth device transmits a portion of a frame of data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the Bluetooth device deasserting a signal indicating Bluetooth communication activity.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the Bluetooth device asserting the signal indicative of Bluetooth communication activity.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the Bluetooth device asserting a signal indicating a Bluetooth priority status.

6. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising: circuitry within a bluetooth device for transmitting a high priority indication signal to a collocated WLAN device for at least a remaining portion of a current bluetooth frame if the bluetooth device does not assert priority to the collocated WLAN device prior to starting the current bluetooth frame and if it indicates that at least the remaining portion of the current bluetooth frame requires high priority; the Bluetooth device operates as a slave device; when the bluetooth device is to receive and/or transmit, the bluetooth device may send a signal to the WLAN device; while the WLAN device is transmitting, the WLAN device may transmit a signal to the bluetooth device; the bluetooth device may indicate whether a high priority is required in the bluetooth frame; a high priority indication allows bluetooth transmissions without interference from simultaneous WLAN transmissions, but requires an indication before the start of the frame;

the Bluetooth device comprises a handshake module used for communicating with the WLAN device; the WLAN equipment comprises a message transmission arbitration unit; having WLAN _ BUSY, BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY, BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS and FREQUENCY signals between the Bluetooth device and the WLAN device; the WLAN _ BUSY signal may be controlled by the WLAN device, while the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY, BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS, and FREQUENCY signals are controlled by the handshake module; the FREQUENCY signal is an optional signal; the handshake module may assert the BT _ RF _ ACTIVITY signal whenever there are any transmissions by the bluetooth device; the BT _ PRIORITY _ STATUS signal is used to indicate the PRIORITY of a particular bluetooth packet being transmitted by the bluetooth device; the message transmission arbitration unit can receive signals from the Bluetooth equipment and the WLAN equipment through Bluetooth and arbitrate which equipment has priority for sending and/or receiving in a specific time period; the message transmission arbitration unit can communicate with the Bluetooth equipment to indicate whether the Bluetooth equipment has priority; the message transmission arbitration unit also communicates with the WLAN device to see if it has priority.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the circuit is configured to de-assert the signal indicating Bluetooth communication activity before the Bluetooth device transmits the portion of the frame of data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the circuit is configured to de-assert the signal indicating Bluetooth communication activity.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the circuit is configured to assert the signal indicating bluetooth communication activity.