Systems, methods and devices for wireless device coexistence enhancement using activity overlap

Abstract

To provide systems, methods and devices for wireless device coexistence enhancement using activity overlap.SOLUTION: The systems, methods and devices provide coexistence between collocated transceivers in wireless devices. The methods include: receiving, at a scheduler, scheduling information for identifying the activity of a first transceiver during a designated period of time; and identifying, using a scheduler associated with a second transceiver, the activity of the second transceiver during the designated period of time, the second transceiver being collocated with the first transceiver in a wireless device. The methods also include scheduling, using the scheduler, the activity of the second transceiver based on an overlap of the transmit activity of the first transceiver with the transmit activity of the second transceiver.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to data transmission using wireless devices, and more particularly to enhancing coexistence of transceivers in such wireless devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Wireless devices may communicate with each other via one or more wireless modalities, such as, for example, a WLAN connection or a Bluetooth connection. Thus, such wireless communication may be implemented in a manner that conforms to a wireless protocol. Furthermore, such wireless devices may include various hardware components to facilitate such communication. For example, a wireless device may include a transmission medium that may include one or more transceivers and antennas. Conventional techniques for handling the activities of coexisting transceivers remain limited because they cannot efficiently facilitate sharing of the communication medium while ensuring that both transceivers have sufficient medium access. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0003] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram of an example system for coexistence enhancement, arranged in accordance with some embodiments. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram of an example device for coexistence enhancement, arranged in accordance with some embodiments. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram of an example method for coexistence enhancement, as implemented by some embodiments. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram of another example of a method for enhanced coexistence, as implemented by some embodiments. [Diagram 5] 11 is a diagram of a further example of a method for coexistence enhancement, as implemented by some embodiments. [Figure 6] 4 is an example timing diagram of a coexistence technique implemented in accordance with some embodiments. [Figure 7]4 is another example of a timing diagram of a coexistence technique implemented in accordance with some embodiments. [Figure 8] 4 is a diagram of a further example of a timing diagram of a coexistence technique, as implemented by some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0004] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presented concepts. The presented concepts may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations are not described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the described concepts. While some concepts will be described in conjunction with specific examples, it will be understood that these examples are not intended to be limiting.

[0005] The wireless device may include coexisting transceivers configured to communicate using one or more wireless transmission protocols. For example, the first transceiver may be a Bluetooth, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transceiver, and the second transceiver may be a WLAN transceiver that may be configured to communicate using a transmission protocol such as a Wi-Fi protocol. In various embodiments, the first transceiver may be performing a transmission operation that is demanding and requires frequent medium access. For example, the first transceiver may be transmitting audio data and may have relatively frequent medium access. In one specific example, the first transceiver may be a BLE transceiver, may be implemented in a low power device, and may perform Auracast. When implemented in this manner, the wireless device utilizes a time division multiple access (TDMA) communication medium access technique, and the window available to the second transceiver may be quite narrow. Thus, in such an example, the second transceiver may have difficulty scheduling a time when it may access the medium and may have to wait for a long period of time.

[0006] The embodiments disclosed herein provide the ability to improve medium access for coexisting transceivers by selectively allowing overlapping transmission activities. As described in further detail below, a scheduler may be configured to schedule the activities of the first transceiver and the second transceiver such that the transmission operations overlap without causing unacceptable interference. Additionally, the scheduler may ensure that the reception operations of the second transceiver are protected, such as reception periods associated with acknowledgement signals. By dynamically scheduling activities in this manner, the transmission periods of the second transceiver may be lengthened, potentially resulting in a significantly greater number of medium accesses for the second transceiver, improving coexistence of the transceivers.

[0007] 1 illustrates an example of a system for coexistence enhancement, configured in accordance with some embodiments. Thus, a system such as system 100 may include wireless devices used for wireless communication and also configured to perform coexistence and scheduling operations as disclosed herein. Thus, as described in further detail below, wireless devices included in system 100 may be configured to dynamically schedule the activities of the coexisting transceivers to intelligently allow overlapping activities and increase the available window for one or more of the coexisting transceivers.

[0008] In various embodiments, the system 100 may include a wireless device 102, which may be a wireless communication device. As mentioned above, such a wireless device may be compatible with one or more wireless transmission protocols, such as a Wi-Fi protocol or a Bluetooth protocol. In some embodiments, the wireless device 102 includes coexisting radios. For example, the wireless device 102 may include a WLAN radio and a Bluetooth radio that share access to a communication medium. For example, the wireless device 102 may include a first transceiver, such as transceiver 104, and a second transceiver, such as transceiver 105. The transceiver 104 may be a WLAN transceiver compatible with Wi-Fi specifications and protocols, and the transceiver 105 may be compatible with Bluetooth specifications and protocols. For example, the Bluetooth protocol may be a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol, also referred to as Bluetooth Smart.

[0009] In some embodiments, the wireless device 102 may be an audio streaming device configured to support one or more audio streaming services and features. For example, the transceiver 105 may be a BLE transceiver configured to support Bluetooth Auracast. The wireless device 102 may also be a smart device, such as those found in wearable devices, or a monitoring device, such as those found in smart buildings, environmental monitoring and energy management. It will be appreciated that such wireless devices may be any suitable device, such as those found in automobiles, other vehicles, or even medical implants.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, various wireless communication devices may communicate with each other via one or more wireless communication media. Additionally, each of the wireless devices 102 may include one or more antennas and may further include a processing device 106. As mentioned above, the wireless device 102 may also include coexisting transceivers, such as transceiver 104 and transceiver 105. As disclosed herein, the transceivers and their associated transmit and receive chains and processing logic may be referred to as radios. As described in more detail below, such processing devices, transceivers and radios may be configured to establish communication connections with other devices and transmit data in the form of data packets over such communication connections. Thus, a wireless device, such as the wireless device 102, is configured to schedule the activity of coexisting transceivers, such as transceiver 104 and transceiver 105, such that selective overlap of transmission activities is allowed.

[0011] In some embodiments, the system 100 may further include devices 108, which may be wireless devices. As discussed above, the devices 108 may be compatible with one or more wireless transmission protocols, such as a Wi-Fi protocol or a Bluetooth protocol. In some embodiments, the devices 108 may be configured as stations that communicate with the wireless device 102. For example, the devices 108 may be smart devices or other devices, such as audio devices, gaming systems, automobiles, other vehicles, and medical implants. In various embodiments, the devices 108 may be different types of devices than the wireless device 102. As discussed above, each of the devices 108 may include one or more antennas, as well as a processing device and a transceiver, that may be configured to establish communication connections with other devices and transmit data in the form of data packets over such communication connections. As discussed above, the devices 108 may also be configured to schedule the activities of coexisting transceivers such that selective overlap of transmission activities is allowed.

[0012] Figure 2 illustrates an example device for coexistence enhancement, arranged in accordance with some embodiments. More specifically, Figure 2 illustrates an example system, such as system 200, including wireless device 201. It will be appreciated that wireless device 201 may be any one of the wireless devices described above with reference to Figure 1, such as wireless device 102 and device 108.

[0013] In various embodiments, the wireless device 201 includes one or more transceivers, such as transceiver 204 and transceiver 205. In one example, the system 200 includes the transceiver 204 configured to transmit and receive signals using a communication medium that may include antenna 221 or antenna 222. As mentioned above, the transceiver 204 may be a WLAN transceiver. Thus, the transceiver 204 may be compatible with a Wi-Fi communication protocol, such as an 802.11ax protocol. In various embodiments, the transceiver 204 includes a modulator and demodulator, as well as one or more buffers and filters configured to generate and receive signals via antenna 221 and / or antenna 222.

[0014] The system 200 further includes a transceiver 205 that may coexist with the transceiver 204 in the wireless device 201. In various embodiments, the transceiver 205 is also configured to transmit and receive signals using a communication medium that may include the antenna 221 or the antenna 222. Thus, the transceiver 205 may be a Bluetooth transceiver compatible with a Bluetooth communication protocol. In one example, the Bluetooth protocol may be a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol. Additionally, the transceiver 205 includes a modulator and demodulator, as well as one or more buffers and filters configured to generate and receive signals via the antenna 221 and / or the antenna 222. Although the various embodiments are described with reference to the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi communication protocols, it will be understood that any suitable protocol may be used.

[0015] In various embodiments, system 200 further includes a processing device 224, which may include processing elements and / or logic implemented using one or more processor cores. Processing device 224 is therefore configured to perform coexistence and scheduling operations, as described in further detail below. More specifically, the processing elements included in processing device 224 may be configured to implement a packet traffic arbiter and scheduler, which may be configured to perform coexistence and scheduling operations as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the packet traffic arbiter and scheduler may be implemented in firmware included in processing device 224.

[0016] Additionally, the processing device 224 includes one or more components configured to implement a medium access control (MAC) layer configured to control hardware associated with a wireless transmission medium, such as that associated with a WLAN transmission medium. In one example, the processing device 224 may include a processor core block 210 that may be configured to implement a driver, such as a Bluetooth and / or Wi-Fi driver. The processing device 224 may further include a digital signal processor (DSP) core block 212 that may be configured to include microcode.

[0017] In various embodiments, the processor core block 210 comprises multiple processor cores each configured to implement a particular portion of a wireless protocol interface. For example, the Bluetooth protocol may be implemented using a Bluetooth stack in which software is implemented as a stack of layers, such layers configured to partition the particular functions utilized to implement the Bluetooth communication protocol. In various embodiments, the stack includes layers for the Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol, radio frequency communications, a service discovery protocol, as well as various other high level data layers. In addition, the stack also includes a link layer, which may be a link management protocol, a host controller interface, a low energy link layer, as well as various other timing layers.

[0018] System 200 further includes radio frequency (RF) circuitry 202 coupled to antenna 221 and antenna 222. In various embodiments, RF circuitry 202 may include various components, such as RF switches, diplexers, and filters. While FIG. 2 illustrates system 200 as having two antennas, it will be understood that system 200 may have a single antenna, or any suitable number of antennas. Thus, RF circuitry 202 may be configured to select an antenna for transmission / reception and may be configured to provide a connection between a selected antenna, such as antenna 221, and other components of system 200 via a bus, such as bus 211. Although one RF circuit is shown, it will be understood that wireless device 201 may include multiple RF circuits. Thus, each of the multiple antennas may have its own RF circuitry. Furthermore, each may be associated with a particular wireless communication protocol, such as a first antenna and RF circuitry for Wi-Fi and a second antenna and RF circuitry for Bluetooth.

[0019] System 200 includes a memory system 208 configured to store one or more data values ​​associated with the coexistence and schedule operations described above and in further detail below. Memory system 208 thus includes a storage device, which may be a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) configured to store such data values, and may include a cache configured to provide local caching. In various embodiments, system 200 further includes a host processor 214 configured to perform the processing operations performed by system 200.

[0020] It will be appreciated that one or more of the above-mentioned components may be implemented on a single chip or on different chips. For example, the transceiver 204, the transceiver 205 and the processing device 224 may be implemented on the same integrated circuit chip, such as the integrated circuit chip 220. In another example, the transceiver 204, the transceiver 205 and the processing device 224 may each be implemented on its own chip and thus may be separately located as a multi-chip module or on a common substrate, such as a printed circuit board (PCB). It will also be appreciated that the components of the system 200 may be configured in the context of a low energy device, a smart device, or a vehicle, such as an automobile. Thus, some components, such as the integrated chip 220, may be implemented at a first location, while other components, such as the antenna 221, may be implemented at a second location, and the connection between the two may be implemented via a connector, such as the RF circuit 202.

[0021] 3 illustrates an example method for enhanced coexistence implemented according to some embodiments. As described in more detail below, a method such as method 300 may be implemented to improve the efficiency of use of the communication medium by coexisting transceivers by allowing overlapping activity between the two transceivers. More specifically, overlapping transmission activity may be selectively implemented to increase medium availability for one of the coexisting transceivers.

[0022] The method 300 may perform an operation 302 in which schedule information may be received at a scheduler. In various embodiments, the schedule information identifies activity of the first transceiver during a specified period of time. Thus, the scheduler may receive schedule information indicating that communication medium activity associated with the first transceiver is imminent.

[0023] The method 300 may perform an operation 304 in which activity of the second transceiver during a specified period of time may be identified. Accordingly, additional schedule information associated with the second transceiver may be received and / or obtained, and communications medium activity associated with the second transceiver may be identified.

[0024] The method 300 may perform an operation 306 in which an activity of the second transceiver is scheduled based on an overlap between the transmission activity of the first transceiver and the transmission activity of the second transceiver. As described in further detail below, the transmission activity of the second transceiver may be scheduled such that an end of the transmission activity of the second transceiver coincides with an end of the transmission activity of the first transceiver. Thus, the transmission activities of the first transceiver and the second transceiver may overlap and end at approximately the same time. The scheduler, described in further detail below, may also ensure that a subsequent acknowledgement block associated with the second transceiver does not overlap with any activity of the first transceiver. It will be appreciated that, as disclosed herein, the coincident ends need not coincide exactly, but may be relatively close in time.

[0025] 4 illustrates another example of a method for enhancing coexistence, implemented according to some embodiments. Similar to that described above, a method such as method 400 may be implemented to improve the efficiency of use of the communication medium by coexisting transceivers by allowing overlapping activity between the two transceivers. As described in further detail below, one or more schedulers are used to manage schedule information for each coexisting transceiver and selectively allow overlapping transmission activities to increase medium availability to one or more of the coexisting transceivers.

[0026] The method 400 may perform an operation 402 that may fetch schedule information using a BLE scheduler. In various embodiments, the schedule information identifies BLE transceiver activity during a specified period of time. As described above, the activity may be audio streaming activity, such as may occur during an Auracast operation. Such activity thus has a duration and periodicity specified in a schedule, such schedule being managed by the BLE transceiver scheduler. Thus, during operation 402, the BLE scheduler generates schedule information for a next period of activity for the BLE transceiver, the schedule information identifying various blocks of activity, such as transmit and receive periods for the BLE transceiver.

[0027] The method 400 may perform an operation 404 in which schedule information is received at a WLAN scheduler. Thus, the schedule information is provided from the BLE scheduler to the WLAN scheduler over a communication interface between the two coexisting transceivers. As described above, the schedule information identifies BLE transceiver activity during a specified time period. Thus, the WLAN scheduler receives schedule information that identifies BLE transceiver activity and also indicates that communication medium activity associated with the BLE transceiver is imminent.

[0028] In some embodiments, the identification of the impending BLE activity is identified based on one or more other data values ​​and / or signals. For example, if BLE transmit activity precedes BLE receive activity, the bus bit is toggled when the BLE transceiver transitions from BLE receive to BLE transmit. Thus, in some embodiments, the WLAN scheduler is configured to detect and identify the toggling of the bus bit as an indication of impending BLE transmit activity.

[0029] The method 400 may perform an operation 406 in which activity of the WLAN transceiver during a specified time period is identified. Thus, the WLAN scheduler obtains additional schedule information associated with the WLAN transceiver and communication medium activity associated with the WLAN transceiver is identified.

[0030] The method 400 may perform operation 408, which may determine whether there is a transmit operation included in the identified BLE activity and WLAN activity. Such a determination is made based on an analysis of the schedule information performed by the WLAN scheduler. More specifically, the WLAN scheduler looks at each of the blocks of the identified activity to determine whether a transmit operation is identified. If it is determined that there is no identified transmit operation, the method 400 may proceed to operation 410, where the WLAN transceiver activity may be canceled to allow for the BLE transceiver receive and / or transmit operation. In various embodiments, the WLAN transceiver also transmits a protection frame for a known duration of the BLE transceiver activity. The protection frame may be transmitted after the RF active signal is asserted and detected by the WLAN transceiver, but before the start of the BLE activity. In some embodiments, instead of canceling the WLAN activity, the WLAN activity is modified based on the identified conflict. For example, the WLAN activity may not be canceled, but instead be rescheduled to avoid the identified conflict by scheduling the WLAN activity around the identified BLE activity. If it is determined that a transmit action has been identified, the method 400 may proceed to operation 412 .

[0031] Thus, during operation 412, it is determined whether the acknowledgement block overlaps with BLE activity. Thus, the WLAN scheduler identifies the timing and duration of an acknowledgement block during which the WLAN transceiver listens for an acknowledgement signal from another wireless device. Such an acknowledgement block follows a WLAN transmission block according to the WLAN protocol. Thus, the WLAN scheduler determines whether the identified BLE activity occurred during the period allocated to the acknowledgement block. If BLE activity is identified during this period, the method 400 may proceed to operation 410 where the WLAN activity is canceled or rescheduled. If no BLE activity is identified during this period, the method 400 proceeds to operation 414.

[0032] Thus, during operation 414, blocks of WLAN activity are scheduled such that reception of associated acknowledgement blocks does not overlap with BLE activity. More specifically, WLAN activity may be scheduled such that an end of a WLAN transmission block coincides with an end of a BLE transmission block. In a similar manner as described above, WLAN transceiver transmission activity is scheduled such that an end of a WLAN transmission activity coincides with an end of a BLE transmission activity. Thus, the WLAN scheduler aligns end times of the BLE and WLAN transmission blocks and generates the WLAN schedule based at least in part on the alignment. In various embodiments, the WLAN scheduler is configured to introduce a time offset. Thus, the alignment of the end points may include an offset such that the end of the WLAN transmission block occurs when the end of the BLE transmission block is offset to the end of the BLE transmission block. Further details regarding such alignment are described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 6-8.

[0033] As described in further detail below, in some embodiments, the schedule of the WLAN transmission block also includes the schedule of protected frames. For example, the WLAN scheduler schedules a clear-to-send (CTS) frame that coincides with the start of a BLE transmission period to reduce unnecessary WLAN transmission time and reduce overall power consumption. In some embodiments, in addition to or in lieu of using protected frames, one or more other operations are performed. For example, the WLAN scheduler is configured to apply a scaling factor to the WLAN activity. Thus, the WLAN scheduler may scale down a rate associated with the WLAN activity to better match the duration of the BLE transmission activity.

[0034] 5 illustrates an additional example of a method for enhancing coexistence implemented according to some embodiments. Similar to that described above, a method such as method 500 may be implemented to improve the efficiency of use of a communication medium by coexisting transceivers by allowing overlap of activity between the two transceivers. As described in more detail below, one or more schedulers are configured to determine whether multiple transmission periods can be stitched together to further improve the efficiency and availability of the medium.

[0035] Method 500 may perform operation 502, which may fetch schedule information using a BLE scheduler. Similar to that described above, the schedule information identifies BLE transceiver activity during a specified period, such activity having a duration and periodicity specified in a schedule, such schedule being managed by the BLE transceiver scheduler. Thus, during operation 502, the BLE scheduler generates schedule information for a next period of BLE transceiver activity, the schedule information identifying various activity blocks, such as transmit and receive periods for the BLE transceiver.

[0036] The method 500 may perform an operation 504 in which schedule information is received at a WLAN scheduler. Similar to that described above, the schedule information is provided to the WLAN scheduler from the BLE scheduler over a communication interface between the two coexisting transceivers. As described above, the schedule information identifies BLE transceiver activity during a specified time period. Thus, the WLAN scheduler receives schedule information that identifies BLE transceiver activity and also indicates that communication medium activity associated with the BLE transceiver is imminent.

[0037] Method 500 may perform an operation 506 of determining whether a WLAN transmission block can be scheduled. Similar to that described above, such a determination may be made based on identification of transmission activity in both the BLE transceiver and the WLAN transceiver, based on identification of a WLAN transmission block that is shorter than the BLE transmission block, and based on a WLAN transceiver acknowledgement block that does not conflict with the BLE activity. If it is determined that the WLAN transmission block cannot be scheduled, method 500 proceeds to operation 508 where the WLAN activity is cancelled. If it is determined that the WLAN transmission block can be scheduled, method 500 proceeds to operation 510.

[0038] Thus, during operation 510, the block of WLAN activity is scheduled such that the end of the WLAN transmission block coincides with the end of the BLE transmission block. As described above, the WLAN scheduler aligns the end times of the BLE and WLAN transmission blocks and generates the WLAN schedule based at least in part on this alignment. Also as described above, the WLAN scheduler may introduce a time offset and further use one or more protection frames. Thus, the schedule of WLAN activity may also include the schedule of one or more clear-to-send (CTS) frames.

[0039] Method 500 may perform operation 512, which may determine whether another WLAN transmission block may be scheduled. Such a determination may be made based on the duration of the subsequent WLAN transmission block and the start time of the subsequent BLE transmission block. Thus, the WLAN scheduler determines whether there is sufficient time between the end of the first acknowledgement block and the start of the subsequent BLE transmission block to accommodate the subsequent WLAN transmission block and its associated acknowledgement block. Further details regarding such a determination are described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6. If it is determined that another WLAN transmission block may be scheduled, method 500 may return to operation 510. If it is determined that another WLAN activity cannot be scheduled, method 500 may end.

[0040] FIG. 6 illustrates example timing diagrams of coexistence techniques implemented according to some embodiments. As discussed above, moderate utilization of coexisting transceivers may be improved by allowing overlapping activity between the transceivers. Also as discussed above, one or more schedulers are used to manage schedule information for each coexisting transceiver and selectively allow overlapping transmission activity to increase medium availability to one or more of the coexisting transceivers. Thus, diagram 600 illustrates several timing diagrams, such as timing diagram 601, timing diagram 611, and timing diagram 617, illustrating various implementations of activities associated with coexisting transceivers.

[0041] More specifically, timing diagram 601 illustrates activity blocks associated with a first transceiver. According to some embodiments, the first transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver. The Bluetooth transceiver may be a BLE transceiver and may have various operations and activity blocks for advertising 602, secondary advertising 604, periodic advertising 608, and broadcast operations such as broadcast 610. As shown in timing diagram 611, such activity blocks may correspond to a Bluetooth RF active signal illustrated by BT RF active block 612. Time periods during which the Bluetooth RF active signal is not asserted may be available for the second transceiver for transmit and receive operations. In some embodiments, the second transceiver is a WLAN transceiver. Such availability times are illustrated by opportunity block 614. Additionally, block 616 illustrates time periods during which the communication medium is not used because the window of available time is too narrow for the second transceiver. Thus, block 616 represents unused opportunities for the communication medium.

[0042] Timing diagram 617 again illustrates the BT RF active block 612 and the opportunity block 620. In this example where selective overlap of transmit activity is enabled, opportunity block 620 represents an opportunity for receive operation. Opportunity block 622 indicates the available time for transmit operation of the second transceiver. As shown in timing diagram 617, the opportunities for transmit operation have been expanded and there are no unused opportunity periods on the communication medium.

[0043] FIG. 7 illustrates another example of a timing diagram of a coexistence technique implemented according to some embodiments. As discussed above, moderate utilization efficiency of coexisting transceivers may be improved by allowing activity overlap between the transceivers. As shown in diagram 700, multiple transmit operations of a second transceiver may be stitched and performed consecutively if permitted by the activity of the first transceiver. More specifically, the transmit activity of a first transceiver, such as a Bluetooth transceiver, is illustrated by blocks such as block 702. Additionally, transmit operations and corresponding acknowledgement receive operations are illustrated by blocks 704 and 706, respectively. As shown in diagram 700, it is clear that the transmit operations associated with blocks 702 and 704 overlap, while block 706 does not overlap and receive with any other block. Additionally, the scheduler determines that there is sufficient time between transmit blocks 702 and 707 and schedules additional transmit and acknowledgement receive blocks illustrated by blocks 708 and 710, respectively.

[0044] FIG. 8 illustrates a further example of a timing diagram of a coexistence technique implemented according to some embodiments. As discussed above, moderate utilization efficiency of coexisting transceivers may be improved by allowing activity overlap between the transceivers. As shown in diagram 800, a protection frame, such as protection frame 804, is used to facilitate coordination of transmission operations and improve overall efficiency of the wireless device. As discussed above, diagram 800 illustrates transmission operations of a first transceiver and a second transceiver, respectively, represented by blocks 802 and 806. In various embodiments, when the transmission period represented by block 802 is relatively long compared to the transmission period represented by block 806, protection frame 804 is used to facilitate coordination of the end points of blocks 802 and 806. More specifically, the WLAN transceiver may identify a duration of BLE transceiver activity based on the RF active signal. The WLAN transceiver may also identify a duration of WLAN transmission operation for a data packet. The WLAN transceiver may then schedule a protected frame such that the protected frame duration plus WLAN transmission activity is equal to the identified duration of BLE activity. In this manner, a protected frame may be configured and scheduled. The acknowledgement reception block is represented by block 808. The protected frame 804 may also have an associated NAV duration block 805.

[0045] Diagram 800 further illustrates an additional transmit operation indicated at block 810, and block 812 having a corresponding acknowledgement receive block indicated at block 814. As shown in diagram 800, because block 810 is short relative to block 812, a protection frame is not used to coordinate the end of block 810 and block 812. In this manner, the use of protection frames may be selective and dynamically implemented based on one or more transmission parameters associated with the transmit operations of the first transceiver and the second transceiver. As discussed above, the protection frame may be a CTS frame, although any suitable data frame may be used.

[0046] Although the above concepts have been described in detail for clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. It should be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the processes, systems and devices. Thus, the present examples should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. receiving, at a scheduler, schedule information identifying activity of a first transceiver during a specified period of time; identifying activity of a second transceiver during the specified period using a scheduler associated with the second transceiver, the second transceiver coexisting with the first transceiver within a wireless device; using the scheduler to schedule activity of the second transceiver based on an overlap between transmission activity of the first transceiver and transmission activity of the second transceiver; The method includes:

2. the activity of the second transceiver is scheduled to end at a time that coincides with the end of the activity of the first transceiver. The method of claim 1.

3. The method comprises: determining that an acknowledgement reception block may be scheduled after said activity of said second transceiver; scheduling said acknowledgement receiving block; Further comprising: The method of claim 1.

4. and determining that a protected frame is to be used for the step of scheduling the activity of the second transceiver. The method of claim 2.

5. The method further comprises the step of scheduling a protection frame for the second transceiver at the start of the activity of the first transceiver. The method according to claim 4.

6. the protection frame is a clear-to-send (CTS) frame; The method according to claim 5.

7. the activity of the second transceiver is scheduled to end after a specified time offset from the end of the activity of the first transceiver. The method of claim 1.

8. the first transceiver is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transceiver and the second transceiver is a WLAN transceiver; The method of claim 1.

9. the activity of the first transceiver includes a transmission operation for streaming audio data; The method according to claim 8.

10. A first transceiver; a first scheduler associated with the first transceiver, the first scheduler configured to generate schedule information identifying activity of the first transceiver during a specified period of time; A second transceiver; a second scheduler associated with the second transceiver; A system comprising: The second scheduler receiving the schedule information from the first scheduler; identifying activity of the second transceiver during the specified period of time; scheduling activity of the second transceiver based on an overlap between a transmission activity of the first transceiver and a transmission activity of the second transceiver; configured to implement system.

11. the activity of the second transceiver is scheduled to end at a time that coincides with the end of the activity of the first transceiver. The system of claim 10.

12. The second scheduler determining that an acknowledgement reception block may be scheduled after the activity of the second transceiver; scheduling said acknowledgement receiving block; and further configured to perform The system of claim 10.

13. The second scheduler determining that a protection frame should be used for the scheduling of the activity of the second transceiver; scheduling a protection frame for the second transceiver at a start of the activity of the first transceiver; and further configured to perform The system of claim 10.

14. the first transceiver is a BLE transceiver; the second transceiver is a WLAN transceiver; The system of claim 10.

15. the activity of the second transceiver is scheduled to end after a specified time offset from the end of the activity of the first transceiver. The system of claim 10.

16. A first transceiver; A second transceiver; A processing element; A device comprising: The processing element includes: receiving schedule information identifying activity of the first transceiver during a specified period of time; identifying activity of the second transceiver during the specified period of time; scheduling activity of the second transceiver based on an overlap between a transmission activity of the first transceiver and a transmission activity of the second transceiver; configured to implement device.

17. the activity of the second transceiver is scheduled to end at a time that coincides with the end of the activity of the first transceiver.

17. The device of claim 16.

18. The processing element includes: determining that an acknowledgement reception block may be scheduled after the activity of the second transceiver; scheduling said acknowledgement receiving block; and further configured to perform 17. The device of claim 16.

19. The processing element is determining that a protection frame should be used for the scheduling of the activity of the second transceiver; scheduling a protection frame for the second transceiver at a start of the activity of the first transceiver; and further configured to perform 17. The device of claim 16.

20. the first transceiver is a BLE transceiver; the second transceiver is a WLAN transceiver; 17. The device of claim 16.

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