Coexistence techniques in wireless networks

Abstract

Techniques are provided for frequency coordination among two different wireless network protocols, such as the IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth protocols, operating in proximity with one another. Coordination is accomplished by the use of a first radio transceiver operating in accordance with a first communication protocol (which may be the 802.11 protocol) and using a frequency band (which may be the 2.4 GHz band), a base station connected to a wired network and operating in accordance with the first communication protocol, a second radio transceiver operating in accordance with a second communication protocol (which may be the Bluetooth protocol) and using the frequency band, and a coordinator associated with the base station for, in turn, activating the first radio transceiver, deactivating the first radio transceiver, activating the second radio transceiver, and deactivating the second radio transceiver.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 714,803, filed Nov. 16, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,039,358, issued May 2, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 175,262, filed Jan. 10, 2000 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 196,979, filed Apr. 13, 2000, each of which are incorporated in their entireties herein, and from which priority is claimed. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to wireless data communications networks, and in particular to arrangements for ensuring coexistence between wireless networks that share the same frequency band with different operating protocols. [0003] Wireless devices communicate with one another using agreed-upon protocols that are transmitted in predefined frequency bands. Often, devices using one or more wireless protocols may operate by transmission within the same frequency band. It is therefore necessary to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method for a wireless data communications system using two different communication protocols, such as Bluetooth and 802.11, for data communication between a mobile unit and an access point. The system includes an integrated circuit that controls the operation of the two protocols and a coordinator that activates and deactivates the Bluetooth protocol. The mobile unit can also operate as a master device and control the operation of slave devices communicating with it. The invention also provides a method for operating the Bluetooth protocol in a power saving mode and a method for avoiding interference between the Bluetooth and 802.11 protocols. The invention also provides a method for providing voice communications in a wireless data communications system using Bluetooth and 802.11 protocols. The technical effects of the invention include improved data communication speed and reliability, as well as improved voice communication quality and efficiency."

Problems solved by technology

Thus, if two or more devices began transmitting coincidentally at the same time and the resulting interference blocks all of the transmissions, each device will wait a random amount of time to attempt a retransmission.

Although communication protocols such as 802.11 and Bluetooth are designed to ensure that devices using the same protocol may operate in the same frequency band with a minimum of interference, there has heretofore been no method of coordination for the use of these wireless devices in the same frequency operating under different communication protocols.

The requirement for such frequent Bluetooth packet transmission makes it difficult to coordinate voice transmission using the Bluetooth SCO packets with 802.11 communications.

Images