Wireless communication protection method and system

Abstract

The invention provides a wireless communication protection method. The wireless communication protection method comprises the steps that a first device receives a transmission request from a third device; after identifying that the transmission request indicates a sending request, the first device at least arbitrates coexistence of the first network and the third network according to access priorities of the first network and the third network; when the third device is authorized to communicate with the fourth device through the third network, the first device sends a protection signal to the second device to disable communication from the second device to the first device; and after the communication from the second device to the first device is disabled, the first device sends an authorization signal representing an authorization state to the third device so as to enable the third device to communicate with the fourth device through the third network. Correspondingly, the invention also provides a wireless communication protection system. According to the invention, coexistence among different networks can be effectively managed, coexistence interference is reduced, and network performance is improved.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for coexistence of multiple wireless communication networks, and in particular, to a wireless communication protection method and system capable of reducing coexistence interference for coexisting networks. [Background Technology]

[0002] The rapid development of wireless communication technology has led to a proliferation of standard protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and Thread. However, some of these technologies operate in the same frequency band (such as 2.4 GHz), creating the possibility of interference and performance degradation.

[0003] Traditional systems often lack robust mechanisms to prevent such interference. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a wireless communication protection method to mitigate interference. [Summary of the invention]

[0004] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a wireless communication protection method, comprising: a first device receives a transmission request from a third device, wherein the first device and the third device are connected via a wired interface, the first device is configured to communicate with the second device via a first network, and the third device is configured to communicate with the fourth device via a third network; after recognizing that the transmission request represents a sending request, the first device arbitrates the coexistence of at least the first network and the third network based on at least the access priority of the first network and the third network; when the third device is authorized to communicate with the fourth device via the third network, the first device sends a protection signal to disable communication from the second device to the first device; after communication from the second device to the first device is disabled, the first device sends an authorization signal indicating an authorization status to the third device to enable the third device to communicate with the fourth device via the third network.

[0005] In some embodiments, the transmission request includes a first request status signal and a first request type signal, wherein the first request status signal indicates whether the transmission request is in an active state, and the first request type signal indicates whether the transmission request is a sending type or a receiving type for communicating with a fourth device.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first network is a Wi-Fi network, the third network is a Thread network, the first device supports the first network and the second network, the first device and the third device communicate through a wired interface, the second network is different from the first network and the third network, and the method also includes: the first device obtains access priorities of the first network, the second network and the third network.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first device sends the protection signal to disable communication from the second device to the first device, including: when the first device does not support the neighborhood awareness network function Non-NAN, the first device sends an empty packet carrying a power management PM field to the second device to disable communication from the second device to the first device; wherein, when the PM field corresponds to a first flag, it indicates that the second device should temporarily stop transmitting to the first device.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first device sending the protection signal to disable the communication from the second device to the first device includes: when the first device supports the Neighbor Awareness Network function NAN, the first device periodically sends CTS-to-self packets within a time interval to disable the communication from the second device to the first device.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method further includes: after the third device receives the authorization signal indicating the authorization status, the third device sends a data packet to the fourth device via the third network; after sending the data packet, the third device receives a confirmation signal from the fourth device; and after the third device receives the confirmation signal, the third device sends a second transmission request to the first device.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method further includes: the first device sending an authorization signal indicating an unauthorized state to the third device to prevent the third device from communicating with the fourth device through the third network; and, after sending the authorization signal indicating the unauthorized state, enabling communication between the second device and the first device through the first network.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method further includes: after the third device receives the authorization signal indicating the authorization status, sending the data packet to the fourth device via the third network; when the second network supported by the first device is activated, disabling communication between the third device and the fourth device; and after the second network of the first device enters an idle state, the third device resending the data packet to the fourth device via the third network.

[0012] In some embodiments, the access priority of the third network is lower than that of the first network and the second network, the first network is a Wi-Fi network, and the second network is a Bluetooth BT network.

[0013] In some embodiments, the third network has the lowest access priority, and the first device arbitrating the coexistence of at least the first network and the third network includes: the first device delaying the arbitration of the coexistence of at least the first network and the third network until all other networks of the first device enter an idle state.

[0014] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a wireless communication protection system, wherein the wireless communication protection system includes a first device and a third device connected to the first device through a wired interface, the first device is configured to communicate with the second device through a first network, and the third device is configured to communicate with the fourth device through a third network; wherein the first device is also configured to perform the following operations: receive a transmission request from the third device; after recognizing that the transmission request represents a sending request, arbitrate the coexistence of at least the first network and the third network based on at least the access priority of the first network and the third network; when the third device is authorized to communicate with the fourth device through the third network, send a protection signal to disable the communication from the second device to the first device; and after the communication from the second device to the first device is disabled, send an authorization signal indicating an authorization status to the third device to enable the third device to communicate with the fourth device through the third network.

[0015] In some embodiments, the transmission request includes a first request status signal and a first request type signal, wherein the first request status signal indicates whether the transmission request is in an active state, and the first request type signal indicates whether the transmission request is a sending type or a receiving type for communicating with a fourth device.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first network is a Wi-Fi network, the third network is a Thread network, the first device supports the first network and the second network, the first device and the third device communicate through the wired interface, the second network is different from the first network and the third network, and the first device is further configured to: obtain access priorities of the first network, the second network and the third network.

[0017] In some embodiments, the first device is further configured to: when the neighborhood awareness network function Non-NAN is not supported, send an empty packet carrying a power management PM field to the second device to disable communication from the second device to the first device; wherein, when the PM field corresponds to a first flag, it indicates that the second device should temporarily stop transmission to the first device.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first device is further configured to: when the first device supports Neighbor Awareness Network function NAN, periodically send CTS-to-self packets within a time interval to disable communication from the second device to the first device.

[0019] In some embodiments, the third device is further configured to: after receiving the authorization signal indicating the authorization status, send a data packet to the fourth device via the third network; after sending the data packet, receive a confirmation signal from the fourth device; and after receiving the confirmation signal, send a second transmission request to the first device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first device is further configured to: send an authorization signal indicating an unauthorized state to the third device to prevent the third device from communicating with the fourth device through the third network; and after sending the authorization signal indicating the unauthorized state, enable communication between the second device and the first device through the first network.

[0021] In some embodiments, the third device is further configured to: send a data packet to the fourth device via the third network after receiving the authorization signal indicating the authorization status; disable communication between the third device and the fourth device when the second network supported by the first device is activated; and resend the data packet to the fourth device after the second network of the first device enters an idle state.

[0022] In some embodiments, the access priority of the third network is lower than that of the first network and the second network, the first network is a Wi-Fi network, and the second network is a Bluetooth BT network.

[0023] In some embodiments, the third network has the lowest access priority, and the first device is further configured to: after the transmission request is identified as the send request, postpone arbitration for coexistence of at least the first network and the third network until all other networks of the first device enter an idle state.

[0024] The present invention can effectively manage the coexistence between at least two networks, reduce coexistence interference, and improve network performance.

[0025] These and other objects of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, depicted in the various figures and drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication protection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 The Wi-Fi protection mechanism of the wireless communication protection system in the first mode is shown.

[0028] Figure 3 The Wi-Fi protection mechanism of the wireless communication protection system in the second mode is shown.

[0029] Figure 4 The Wi-Fi protection mechanism of the wireless communication protection system in the third mode is shown.

[0030] Figure 5 The Wi-Fi protection mechanism of the wireless communication protection system in the fourth mode is shown.

[0031] Figure 6 The Wi-Fi protection mechanism of the wireless communication protection system in the fifth mode is shown.

[0032] Figure 7 Shown Figure 1 A flowchart of a wireless communication protection method executed by a wireless communication protection system in the embodiment. [Specific implementation method]

[0033] The following description is of preferred embodiments of the present invention and is intended only to illustrate the technical features of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Certain terms are used throughout the specification and claims to refer to specific components. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that manufacturers may use different names for the same components. Therefore, this specification and claims do not distinguish components by name, but rather by functional differences. The terms "component," "system," and "device" used in this invention may refer to entities related to a computer, which may be hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The terms "including" and "comprising" used in the following description and claims are open-ended and should be interpreted as meaning "including, but not limited to..." Furthermore, the term "coupled" refers to an indirect or direct electrical connection. Therefore, when a device is described as being coupled to another device, this means that the device may be directly electrically connected to the other device or indirectly electrically connected to the other device through other devices or connections.

[0034] Figure 1is a block diagram of a wireless communication protection system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless communication protection system 100 is designed to mitigate interference and ensure efficient communication between different wireless technologies (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread) that coexist in the same device. The motivation behind the wireless communication protection system 100 is to create a powerful mechanism to prevent interference, especially for technologies like Thread that are susceptible to interference from Wi-Fi communications. The wireless communication protection system 100 incorporates a coexistence arbitration process that prioritizes different wireless technologies based on their access priority, thereby ensuring efficient allocation of wireless transmission / air time. This arbitration process helps resolve conflicts and improve overall system performance by effectively managing interference and prioritizing communication needs.

[0035] exist Figure 1In the present invention, the wireless communication protection system 100 includes a first device 10 and a third device 30, and optionally, a second device 20 and a fourth device 40. The first device 10 can be a combination chip supporting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (BT) functions, or a device (such as device 50) including such a combination chip. The first device 10 can communicate with the second device 20 via a Wi-Fi network (as an example of a first network). The first device 10 includes an arbitration module 10a, a Wi-Fi module 10b, and a BT module 10c. The arbitration module 10a, also known as the Packet Traffic Arbitration (PTA) module, is configured to perform coexistence arbitration (ARB). Specifically, the arbitration module 10a is configured to examine the transmission request and the priority of each relevant network and determine which network (e.g., Wi-Fi, BT, or Thread network, for example, the BT network can be used as an example of a second network) can perform data transmission and reception. In this embodiment, the third device 30 uses the Thread network protocol and is configured to communicate with the fourth device 40 over the Thread network (as an example of a third network). For example, when the third device 30 needs to transmit or receive data over the Thread network, it sends a transmission request to the first device 10. (A transmission request can be used to indicate a transmission request, a reception request, or an idle state. In this embodiment, the transmission request is implemented using a request status signal REQ_S and a request type signal REQ_T. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a similar function can be implemented using at least two bits of a specific signal.) The request status signal REQ_S is used to indicate whether the transmission request is in an activation state, while the request type signal REQ_T is used to indicate the type of transmission request, for example, a sending / transmitting (TX) type to request the transmission / transmission of data or a receiving (RX) type to request the reception of data. In one example, the request status signal REQ_S indicating the activation state and the request type signal REQ_T indicating the transmission (TX) type can together indicate a sending request, meaning that the third device wishes to perform a transmission operation over the third network. In another example, the request state signal REQ_S indicating the active state and the request type signal REQ_T indicating the receive (RX) type may jointly indicate a receiving request, which means that the third device wishes to perform a receiving operation through the third network.In addition, the request state signal REQ_S indicating an idle state is used to indicate that the transmission request is not enabled (i.e., indicating that there is no need to request a transmission opportunity), regardless of the request type signal REQ_T. Then, the first device 10 sends an authorization signal GS to the third device 30. The authorization signal GS indicates whether the request of the third device is authorized. Here, the authorization signal GS carries a message about the authorization status of the third device 30 approved by the first device 10, hereinafter referred to as an authorization signal GS indicating an authorized state or an unauthorized state. The Wi-Fi module 10b is connected to the arbitration module 10a for performing Wi-Fi communication according to the Wi-Fi request signal W_REQ and the Wi-Fi authorization signal W_GS. The BT module 10c is connected to the arbitration module 10a for performing BT communication according to the BT request signal BT_REQ and the BT authorization signal BT_GS.

[0036] The second device 20 is used to communicate with the first device 10 through the first network Net1 (hereinafter referred to as Wi-Fi network Net1). The second device 20 includes a transceiver 20a, a processor 20b connected to the transceiver 20a, and a memory 20c connected to the processor 20b. The transceiver 20a sends and receives radio frequency signals through the Wi-Fi network Net1, thereby achieving wireless communication. The processor 20b is configured to execute instructions and control the overall operation of the second device 20. The memory 20c stores data and instructions required for the operation of the second device 20, such as operating system data, network protocols, and any dedicated software. The second device 20 can be an access point (AP) in the Wi-Fi network Net1.

[0037] The third device 30 is connected to the first device 10 via a predefined wired interface (such as the 3-wire interface shown in this embodiment, but not limited thereto; for example, a 2-wire interface, etc.). The third device 30 includes a transceiver 30a, a processor 30b connected to the transceiver 30a, and a memory 30c connected to the processor 30b. The transceiver 30a sends and receives radio frequency signals (such as transmit signal TX_D and receive signal RX_D) via a third network Net3 (hereinafter referred to as Thread network Net3), thereby achieving wireless communication. The processor 30b is configured to execute instructions and control the overall operation of the third device 30. The memory 30c stores data and instructions required for the operation of the third device 30. In this embodiment, the third device 30 can be a wireless chip operating based on the Thread network protocol, wherein the Thread network protocol is different from the Bluetooth protocol and the Wi-Fi protocol, but can all operate in the same frequency band (such as 2.4 GHz). The third device 30 is used to communicate with the fourth device 40 via the Thread network Net3. When the third device 30 needs to send or receive data via the Thread network Net3, it sends a request status signal REQ_S and a request type signal REQ_T to the first device 10. Furthermore, the third device 30 and the first device 10 can be integrated into a communication device 50, enabling the communication device 50 to support Wi-Fi / BT and Thread functionality. In this embodiment, the wireless communication protection system 100 includes at least the first device 10 and the third device 30, which can be integrated into the communication device 50. It should be noted that the examples of various networks in the embodiments of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0038] The fourth device 40 is configured to communicate with the third device 30 via the Thread network Net3. The fourth device 40 includes a transceiver 40a, a processor 40b connected to the transceiver 40a, and a memory 40c connected to the processor 40b. Similarly, the transceiver 40a transmits and receives radio frequency signals via the Thread network Net3, thereby achieving wireless communication. The processor 40b is configured to execute instructions and control the overall operation of the fourth device 40. The memory 40c stores data and instructions required for the operation of the fourth device 40.

[0039] In the wireless communication protection system 100, when a third device 30 desires to communicate with a fourth device 40 via the Thread network Net3, the first device 10 receives a request status signal REQ_S and a request type signal REQ_T from the third device 30. After the first device 10 recognizes that the first request status signal REQ_S and the first request type signal REQ_T jointly indicate a transmission request, the first device 10 arbitrates the coexistence of at least the Wi-Fi network Net1 and the Thread network Net3 based on at least the access priority of the Wi-Fi network Net1 and the Thread network Net3. When the third device 30 is authorized to communicate with the fourth device 40 via the Thread network Net3, the first device 10 transmits a protection signal via the first network (Wi-Fi) Net1 to disable communication from the second device 20 to the first device 10. After communication from the second device 20 to the first device 10 is disabled, the first device 10 transmits an authorization signal indicating the authorization status to the third device 30, enabling communication between the third device 30 and the fourth device 40 via the Thread network Net3.

[0040] In other words, the wireless communication protection system 100 is intended to facilitate communication between devices (or devices) that use different wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi and Thread. The wireless communication protection system 100 includes two pairs of devices: a first device 10 and a second device 20, which communicate via a Wi-Fi network Net1; and a third device 30 and a fourth device 40, which communicate via a Thread network Net3. For example, the wireless communication protection system 100 can prioritize communication between the third device 30 and the fourth device 40 by temporarily suspending Wi-Fi communication between the first device 10 and the second device 20. This is achieved by the first device 10 sending a specific signal (i.e., the above-mentioned protection signal), prompting the second device 20 to temporarily suspend or disable Wi-Fi communication from the second device 20 to the first device 10. After the Thread communication is completed, the first device will notify the second device 20, allowing it to resume Wi-Fi communication. The details of the Wi-Fi protection mechanism are as follows.

[0041] Figure 2 The Wi-Fi protection mechanism of the wireless communication protection system in the first mode is shown. Generally speaking, the first device 10 can also support the second network, but is not limited to this. The second network is different from the first network and the third network. In this embodiment, the second network is a Bluetooth (BT) network. In the first mode, the first device 10 obtains the access priority of the Wi-Fi network, the BT network and the Thread network. Figure 2In the first mode shown, the Thread network has the highest priority (for example, the order of access priority is: Thread network>BT network>Wi-Fi network, or Thread network>Wi-Fi network>BT network). It is understood that the access priority can be predetermined or determined in combination with multiple factors, for example, the type of wireless technology, specific use cases and desired performance characteristics. These access priorities are usually determined during the design and configuration phase of the system. They are programmed into the firmware or software of the device and can be adjusted by the user. Figure 2 In the figure, the X-axis is the timeline. The request status signal REQ_S indicates whether the third device 30 (e.g., a Thread chip) is requesting wireless communication via the Thread network. For example, a request status signal REQ_S = 1 indicates that the third device 30 is requesting access (active state). A request status signal REQ_S = 0 indicates that the third device 30 is not requesting access (idle state). The request type signal REQ_T specifies the type of communication to be performed. For example, a request type signal REQ_T = 1 indicates that the transmission request is for data transmission (TX type). A request type signal REQ_T = 0 indicates that the transmission request is for data reception (RX type). The authorization signal GS is sent by the first device 10 (e.g., a Wi-Fi / Bluetooth combination chip) to the third device 30, indicating whether the transmission request is authorized. For example, an authorization signal GS = 0 indicates that the transmission request is authorized, referred to as an authorization signal GS indicating an authorized state. The third device 30 is allowed to access the Thread network. An authorization signal GS = 1 indicates that the transmission request is not authorized, referred to as an authorization signal GS indicating an unauthorized state. Therefore, the third device 30 must wait if it wants to access the Thread network.

[0042] like Figure 2As shown, at time point T1, the third device 30 sends a request status signal REQ_S=1 (i.e., in an active state) to the first device 10, indicating that the transmission request for requesting to send / receive data through the Thread network is activated. The request type signal REQ_T=1 (indicating TX type) is transmitted from the third device 30 to the first device 10. The authorization signal GS is configured to "1" to indicate an unauthorized state because the coexistence arbitration has not been completed. At time point T2, the request status signal REQ_S remains at "1". The request type signal REQ_T remains at "1". The authorization signal GS remains at "1". The first device 10 enters the PTA process to perform coexistence arbitration. The first device 10 checks the request type and priority of the Thread network. Since the Thread network has the highest priority, the first device 10 decides to grant access to the third device 30. At time point T3, the request status signal REQ_S remains at "1". The request type signal REQ_T remains at "1". The authorization signal GS remains at "1". The first device 10 transmits a protection signal via the first network (the network used for communication between the first device 10 and the second device 20) to disable (also described as disabling) Wi-Fi communication from the second device 20 to the first device 10 (e.g., entering a protected Wi-Fi state). Upon receiving the protection signal, the second device 20 temporarily suspends or disables Wi-Fi communication from the second device 20 to the first device 10, thereby preventing the second device 20 from causing airborne interference. It is understood that embodiments of the present invention may utilize two types of protection signals. One type of protection signal is a null packet carrying a power management (PM) field. The other type of protection signal is a clear-to-send (CTS)-to-self packet (also described as a CTS-to-self packet or a self-sent CTS packet). Details will be described later. At time T4, the request status signal REQ_S remains at "1." The request type signal REQ_T remains at "1." The grant signal GS changes from "1" to "0," indicating a transition from the unauthorized state to the authorized state. Therefore, the third device 30 is now authorized to communicate with the fourth device 40 through the Thread network. The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functions of the first device 10 are in an idle state. After receiving the authorization signal GS=0 indicating the authorization status, the third device 30 sends a data packet to the fourth device 40 through the Thread network. After the data packet is sent, at time point T5, the request status signal REQ_S remains at "1". The request type signal REQ_T changes from "1" to "0", indicating that the third device 30 switches to data reception (RX type) mode. The authorization signal GS remains at "0". The third device 30 can receive an acknowledgment (ACK) signal (i.e., Ack packet) from the fourth device 40.After the third device 30 receives the confirmation signal, at time point T6, the request status signal REQ_S changes from "1" to "0", indicating that the transmission request is no longer in an active state. The request type signal REQ_T remains at "0". The authorization signal GS changes from "0" to "1", indicating that the authorized state has changed to an unauthorized state. The first device 10 notifies the third device 30 that it is no longer authorized to access the Thread network. After time point T6, the first device 10 can send another empty packet carrying PM=0 to the second device, and the second device leaves Wi-Fi protection. Therefore, the communication between the first device 10 and the second device 20 can be restored. In other words, at time point T6, since the TX / RX cycle of the third device 30 has been completed, the first device 10 can send an authorization signal GS=1 indicating an unauthorized state to the third device 30 to prevent / block (prevent) the third device 30 from communicating with the fourth device 40 through the Thread network.

[0043] In short, the present invention introduces a four-step process to mitigate interference between coexisting networks. In step 1, a first device 10 receives a transmission request from a third device 30. This transmission request may contain two key pieces of information: a request status signal, REQ_S, and a request type signal, REQ_T. In step 2, the first device 10 identifies / samples the request status signal, REQ_S, and the request type signal, REQ_T, to determine whether the third device 30 is requesting to transmit (TX type) data or receive (RX type) data. In step 3, after recognizing that the request status signal, REQ_S, and the request type signal, REQ_T, indicate a transmit request, the first device 10 initiates a coexistence arbitration process. This process involves determining which network (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Thread) is granted access to data communications. The coexistence arbitration process takes into account the access priorities of the involved networks. These access priorities are typically pre-programmed into the device's firmware or software (i.e., the access priorities of each network can be predefined), but they can be adjusted by the user. In step 4, the first device 10 sends a grant signal GS to the third device 30, indicating the result of the arbitration process (indicating authorization or non-authorization). This grant signal GS notifies the third device 30 whether it is granted access to the Thread network for data communication. It is worth noting that the grant signal GS is set to "authorized" (e.g., GS = 0, indicating an authorized state) only after the arbitration process is completed and the Wi-Fi protection mechanism is successfully initiated. This ensures that the third device 30 can send data without interference from Wi-Fi communications.

[0044] As previously described, the protection signal can be a CTS-to-self packet or an empty packet carrying a PM field. For example, if the first device 10 supports Wi-Fi Neighborhood Aware Networking (NAN) functionality, the first device 10 can activate Wi-Fi protection by periodically sending CTS-to-self packets. This causes the second device 20 to temporarily cease communication with the first device upon receiving the CTS-to-self packets. This involves periodically sending CTS-to-self packets at predetermined intervals, effectively prompting the second device 20 to temporarily cease transmission to the first device 10. This mechanism ensures that the second device 20 remains silent to the first device 10 during Wi-Fi protection. To deactivate or exit Wi-Fi protection, the first device 10 stops sending CTS-to-self packets. Consequently, the second device 20 recognizes the cessation of CTS-to-self packets (i.e., does not recognize CTS-to-self packets from the first device 10) and resumes communication with the first device 10. This direct approach effectively manages Wi-Fi protection in the NAN situation, ensuring smooth communication flow and reducing interference. For another example, when the first device 10 does not support the Wi-Fi Non-Neighbor Aware Network (Non-NAN) function, the first device 10 can start Wi-Fi protection by sending an empty packet (or other packet type, such as a control packet) carrying a PM field set to the "first flag". After receiving the empty packet carrying "PM = first flag", the second device 20 temporarily suspends transmission (TX) to the first device 10. When it is necessary to leave Wi-Fi protection, the first device 10 sends an empty packet (or other packet type, such as a control packet) carrying a PM field set to the "second flag" to the second device 20. Thereby, the second device 20 can resume communication with the first device 10.

[0045] Figure 3 The wireless communication protection system 100 implements a Wi-Fi protection mechanism in the second mode. In the second mode, the access priority of Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth (BT) networks, and Thread networks can be expressed as Wi-Fi networks > Bluetooth (BT) networks > Thread networks. Thread networks have the lowest access priority. Figure 3 and Figure 2 The mechanism is similar. Figure 3 and Figure 2 The differences between are as follows. Figure 3In the embodiment, when both the Bluetooth (BT) network and the Wi-Fi network are in an idle state (idle), the first device 10 initiates arbitration (at time point T7) to determine and authorize the use of Thread. However, if the Bluetooth (BT) network becomes active (active) while the Thread network is being used (at time point T8), the first device 10 temporarily suspends the use of the Thread network because the Thread network has the lowest access priority. In an embodiment, after the arbitration result indicates that the Thread network will be authorized for use, the first device 10 can enable the second device 20 to enter Wi-Fi protection (at time point T3), for example, by sending an empty packet carrying PM = "first flag" or periodically sending CTS-to-self packets to the second device 20. Then, the first device 10 sends an authorization signal GS = 0 indicating the authorization status to the third device (at time point T4) to allow the third device 30 to transmit through the Thread network. During the transmission process of the third device 30, if the Bluetooth (BT) network supported by the first device 10 needs to become active (at time T8), the first device 10 immediately sends an authorization signal GS=1 indicating an unauthorized state to the third device 30, causing the third device 30 to suspend communication. Accordingly, after the Bluetooth (BT) network in the first device 10 becomes idle, the first device 10 can send an authorization signal GS=0 indicating an authorized state to the third device. Therefore, after receiving the authorization signal GS=0 indicating an authorized state, the third device 30 performs reception, such as receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) packet.

[0046] In short, Figure 3 In the example, after receiving the authorization signal GS = 0, indicating the authorization status, the third device 30 transmits a data packet to the fourth device 40 via the Thread network. When the Bluetooth (BT) network supported by the first device 10 is activated, communication between the third device 30 and the fourth device 40 is disabled. After the Bluetooth (BT) network of the first device 10 enters the idle state, the data packet is resent (or an ACK packet is received) via the Thread network.

[0047] Figure 4 The Wi-Fi protection mechanism of the wireless communication protection system 100 in the third mode is described. In this mode, the access priority of Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth (BT) networks, and Thread networks can be expressed as Bluetooth (BT) networks > Wi-Fi networks > Thread networks. Therefore, the Thread network has the lowest access priority. Figure 4 and Figure 3 The mechanism is similar. Figure 4 and Figure 3 The differences between are as follows. Figure 4In the example, when the Bluetooth (BT) network becomes active between time points T9 and T10, it is granted access due to its highest priority. Therefore, the Thread network and Wi-Fi network are temporarily suspended. Similarly, the first device 10 initiates arbitration and authorizes the third device 30 to access the Thread network only when both the Bluetooth (BT) network and the Wi-Fi network are idle. The wireless communication protection system 100 also enters Wi-Fi protection before sending the authorization signal GS=0 to the third device 30, indicating the authorization status.

[0048] Figure 5 The fourth mode of the wireless communication protection system 100 is described. The access priority of Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth (BT) networks, and Thread networks is expressed as Wi-Fi networks > Thread networks > Bluetooth (BT) networks. Therefore, Wi-Fi networks have the highest access priority. Figure 5 and Figure 2 The mechanism is similar. Figure 5 and Figure 2 The differences between are as follows. Figure 5 In this example, since the Wi-Fi network has the highest access priority, the first device 10 will begin authorizing the third device 30 to access the Thread network through the PTA process after the Wi-Fi network is idle (at time T7). The first device 10 can first initiate the Wi-Fi protected process and then send an authorization signal GS=0 to the third device 30, indicating the authorization status. Since the Thread network has a higher access priority than the Bluetooth (BT) network, after the third device 30 is authorized to access the Thread network, the Bluetooth (BT) network is suspended.

[0049] Figure 6 The fifth mode of the wireless communication protection system 100 is described. The access priority of Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth (BT) networks, and Thread networks is expressed as: Bluetooth (BT) network > Thread network > Wi-Fi network. Therefore, the Bluetooth (BT) network has the highest access priority. Figure 6 and Figure 4 The mechanism is similar. Figure 6 and Figure 4 The differences between are as follows. Figure 6In this example, since the Bluetooth (BT) network has the highest access priority, the first device 10 will begin authorizing the third device 30 to access the Thread network through the PTA process after the Bluetooth (BT) network becomes idle (at time T7). The first device 10 can first initiate the Wi-Fi Protected Access process and then send an authorization signal GS=0 to the third device 30, indicating the authorization status. When the Bluetooth (BT) network becomes active between time T9 and T10, it is granted access due to its highest priority. Similarly, while the third device 30 is transmitting, if the Bluetooth (BT) network in the first device 10 needs to become active (at time T8), the first device 10 immediately sends an authorization signal GS=1 to the third device 30, indicating an unauthorized status, to suspend communication. Accordingly, after the Bluetooth (BT) network in the first device 10 becomes idle, the first device 10 can send an authorization signal GS=0 to the third device, indicating the authorization status. Therefore, after receiving the authorization signal GS=0, the third device 30 performs a reception, such as receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) packet.

[0050] In the above embodiment, it can be understood that when the Thread network has the highest access priority, once the first request state signal REQ_S and the first request type signal REQ_T are identified by the first device 10 (e.g., REQ_S=1 and REQ_T=1) as a transmission request, the first device 10 can arbitrate the coexistence of heterogeneous networks (i.e., including multiple different networks). Conversely, when the Thread network has the lowest access priority, the first device 10 delays arbitrating the coexistence of heterogeneous networks until all other networks of the first device 10 are idle. In addition, although the embodiment is described using an example scenario in which Wi-Fi, BT, and Thread coexist (i.e., the same device / system supports communication via these three networks), the present invention is not limited to this example scenario. For example, it is also applicable to usage scenarios where only Wi-Fi and Thread are used (i.e., the same device supports communication via Wi-Fi and Thread networks) or Wi-Fi and ZigBee are used (i.e., the same device supports communication via Wi-Fi and ZigBee networks). In other words, the embodiments of the present invention are applicable to devices or scenarios where Wi-Fi coexists with another network (i.e., Thread, ZigBee, or Z-Wave, which operate in the same frequency band as Wi-Fi). In practice, Wi-Fi and BT can often be integrated into a single chip, commonly referred to as a combo chip or multi-mode wireless chip. Such a chip can support both Wi-Fi and BT communication protocols, providing flexible wireless connectivity for devices.

[0051] Figure 7A flowchart of a wireless communication protection method performed by the wireless communication protection system 100 is shown. The wireless communication protection method includes steps S701 to S704. Any technical or hardware modifications fall within the scope of the present invention. Steps S701 to S704 are as follows.

[0052] Step S701: A first device receives a transmission request from a third device, wherein the first device and the third device are connected via a wired interface, the first device is configured to communicate with the second device via a first network, and the third device is configured to communicate with a fourth device via a third network.

[0053] Step S702: After recognizing that the transmission request represents a sending request, the first device arbitrates the coexistence of at least the first network and the third network based on at least the access priorities of the first network and the third network.

[0054] Step S703: When the third device is authorized to communicate with the fourth device via the third network, the first device sends a protection signal (via the first network) to disable communication from the second device to the first device;

[0055] Step S704: After the communication from the second device to the first device is disabled, the first device sends an authorization signal indicating an authorization status to the third device, so as to enable the third device to communicate with the fourth device via the third network.

[0056] The details of steps S701 to S704 have been described above and are therefore omitted here. The wireless communication protection system 100 can reduce / minimize interference between Wi-Fi and Thread communications by temporarily disabling Wi-Fi transmissions when Thread needs to transmit data, thereby preventing data loss and retransmissions. Furthermore, the wireless communication protection system 100 allows for prioritization of different wireless technologies based on their access priority, ensuring that high-priority communications are prioritized, thereby improving efficiency and performance. By effectively managing interference and prioritizing communication needs, the wireless communication protection method optimizes overall system performance, particularly in scenarios where multiple devices need to transmit simultaneously.

[0057] In summary, embodiments of the present invention disclose a wireless communication protection system and method. This wireless communication protection system can effectively reduce the coexistence interference generated by different devices operating under different network protocols. For example, by introducing a mechanism to temporarily disable Wi-Fi transmissions on Wi-Fi devices, interference from Wi-Fi devices can be reduced or avoided. Consequently, this wireless communication protection system improves the overall performance and efficiency of wireless communications in multi-network environments.

[0058] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that many modifications and variations can be made to the apparatus and method while retaining the teachings of the present invention.Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as being limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wireless communication protection method, comprising: The first device receives a transmission request from a third device, wherein the first device and the third device are connected via a wired interface, the first device is configured to communicate with the second device via a first network, and the third device is configured to communicate with a fourth device via a third network; After identifying that the transmission request represents a send request, the first device arbitrates coexistence of at least the first network and the third network based on at least access priorities of the first network and the third network; When the third device is authorized to communicate with the fourth device through the third network, the first device sends a protection signal to disable communication from the second device to the first device; After the communication from the second device to the first device is disabled, the first device sends an authorization signal indicating an authorization status to the third device to enable the third device to communicate with the fourth device through the third network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The transmission request includes a first request status signal indicating whether the transmission request is in an active state and a first request type signal indicating whether the transmission request is a transmission type or a reception type for communicating with a fourth device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first network is a Wi-Fi network, the third network is a Thread network, the first device supports the first network and the second network, the first device and the third device communicate via a wired interface, the second network is different from the first network and the third network, and the method further includes: The first device obtains access priorities of the first network, the second network, and the third network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first device sending the protection signal to disable communication from the second device to the first device includes: When the first device does not support a Neighbor Awareness Network (Non-NAN) function, the first device sends a null packet carrying a power management (PM) field to the second device to disable communication from the second device to the first device; When the PM field corresponds to the first flag, it indicates that the second device should temporarily stop transmitting to the first device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first device sending the protection signal to disable communication from the second device to the first device includes: In the case that the first device supports Neighbor Awareness Network (NAN), the first device periodically sends CTS-to-self packets within a time interval to disable the communication between the second device and the first device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: After the third device receives the authorization signal indicating the authorization status, the third device sends a data packet to the fourth device through the third network; After sending the data packet, the third device receives an acknowledgment signal from the fourth device; and After the third device receives the confirmation signal, the third device sends a second transmission request to the first device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The method further comprises: The first device sends an authorization signal indicating an unauthorized state to the third device to prevent the third device from communicating with the fourth device through the third network; and After sending the authorization signal indicating the unauthorized state, communication between the second device and the first device through the first network is enabled.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: After receiving the authorization signal indicating the authorization status, the third device sends a data packet to the fourth device via the third network; When a second network supported by the first device is activated, the first device disables communication between the third device and the fourth device; and After the second network of the first device enters an idle state, the third device resends the data packet to the fourth device through the third network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein: The access priority of the third network is lower than that of the first network and the second network, the first network is a Wi-Fi network, and the second network is a Bluetooth BT network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein: The third network has the lowest access priority, and the first device arbitrating the coexistence of at least the first network and the third network includes: The first device delays arbitration for coexistence of at least the first network and the third network until all other networks of the first device enter an idle state.

11. A wireless communication protection system, wherein: The wireless communication protection system includes a first device and a third device connected to the first device via a wired interface, the first device being configured to communicate with the second device via a first network, and the third device being configured to communicate with the fourth device via a third network; The first device is further configured to perform the following operations: receiving a transmission request from the third device; After identifying that the transmission request represents a send request, arbitrating coexistence of at least the first network and the third network based on at least the access priorities of the first network and the third network; When the third device is authorized to communicate with the fourth device through the third network, sending a protection signal to disable communication from the second device to the first device; and After the communication from the second device to the first device is disabled, an authorization signal indicating an authorization status is sent to the third device to enable the third device to communicate with the fourth device through the third network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein: The transmission request includes a first request status signal indicating whether the transmission request is in an active state and a first request type signal indicating whether the transmission request is a transmission type or a reception type for communicating with a fourth device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein: The first network is a Wi-Fi network, the third network is a Thread network, the first device supports the first network and the second network, the first device and the third device communicate through the wired interface, the second network is different from the first network and the third network, and the first device is further configured to: obtain access priorities of the first network, the second network and the third network.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein: The first device is further configured to: when not supporting a Neighbor Awareness Network (Non-NAN) function, send a null packet carrying a power management (PM) field to the second device to disable communication from the second device to the first device; When the PM field corresponds to the first flag, it indicates that the second device should temporarily stop transmitting to the first device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein: The first device is further configured to: when the first device supports a Neighbor Awareness Network function (NAN), periodically send CTS-to-self packets within a time interval to disable communication from the second device to the first device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein: The third device is further configured to: After receiving the authorization signal indicating the authorization status, sending a data packet to the fourth device via the third network; After sending the data packet, receiving an acknowledgment signal from the fourth device; and After receiving the confirmation signal, a second transmission request is sent to the first device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein: The first device is further configured to: sending an authorization signal indicating an unauthorized state to the third device to prevent the third device from communicating with the fourth device through the third network; as well as After sending the authorization signal indicating the unauthorized state, communication between the second device and the first device through the first network is enabled.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein: The third device is further configured to: After receiving the authorization signal indicating the authorization status, sending a data packet to the fourth device via the third network; disabling communication between the third device and the fourth device when a second network supported by the first device is activated; as well as After the second network of the first device enters an idle state, the data packet is resent to the fourth device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein: The access priority of the third network is lower than that of the first network and the second network, the first network is a Wi-Fi network, and the second network is a Bluetooth BT network.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein: The third network has the lowest access priority, and the first device is further configured to: After the transmission request is identified as the send request, arbitration for coexistence of at least the first network and the third network is postponed until all other networks of the first device enter an idle state.

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