Electronic device for scheduling plurality of links and method for operating electronic device

Abstract

In an electronic device and a method for operating the electronic device according to various embodiments, the electronic device may comprise a communication circuit for supporting a plurality of types of short-range wireless communication, including first short-range wireless communication and second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device may comprise a memory for storing at least one computer program. The electronic device may comprise at least one processor. The at least one computer program may comprise instructions which, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to detect activation of the second short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication by using a first link corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The instructions may cause the electronic device to schedule the first link and the second link on the basis of a first throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and a second throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication. The instructions may cause the electronic device to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link for a first time, and perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link for a second time, on the basis of the scheduling.

Description

Electronic device for performing scheduling of multiple links and method of operating the electronic device

[0001] One embodiment relates to an electronic device and a method of operating the electronic device, and relates to an electronic device that performs scheduling of a plurality of links.

[0002] With the proliferation of various electronic devices, wireless communication speeds have been improved. Among the wireless communications supported by recent electronic devices, IEEE 802.11 WLAN (or Wi-Fi) is a standard for implementing high-speed wireless connections across various electronic devices. While the first Wi-Fi implementations could support transmission speeds of up to 1-9 Mbps, Wi-Fi 6 technology (or IEEE 802.11 ax) can support transmission speeds of up to approximately 10 Gbps.

[0003] Electronic devices can support various services using relatively large amounts of data (e.g., UHD video streaming services, augmented reality (AR) services, virtual reality (VR) services, or mixed reality (MR) services) through wireless communication that supports high transmission speeds.

[0004] The IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard will introduce technology supporting multi-link operation (MLO) to improve data transmission and reception speeds and reduce latency. Electronic devices supporting MLO are expected to be able to transmit or receive data across multiple links, resulting in relatively high transmission speeds and low latency.

[0005] Electronic devices can simultaneously perform various short-range wireless communications (e.g., Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, NAN (neighbor awareness networking), soft AP) to perform various services simultaneously. Electronic devices can perform various short-range wireless communications through multiple links.

[0006] Electronic devices can simultaneously perform various short-range wireless communications (e.g., Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, NAN (neighbor awareness networking), soft AP) to perform various services simultaneously. Electronic devices can perform various short-range wireless communications through multiple links.

[0007] As the number of active short-range wireless communications increases, electronic devices must appropriately schedule multiple links. However, if the electronic device fails to appropriately schedule, data transmission and / or reception using other short-range wireless communications may be occupied by links used for data transmission and / or reception using some short-range wireless communications, resulting in a degradation in the quality of services used using other short-range wireless communications.

[0008] The technical tasks to be achieved in this document are not limited to the technical tasks mentioned above, and other technical tasks not mentioned will be clearly understood by those with ordinary skill in the art from the description below.

[0009] An electronic device according to an example may include a communication circuit that supports a plurality of short-range wireless communications, including a first short-range wireless communication and a second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device may include a memory that stores at least one computer program including a processing circuit. The electronic device may include at least one processor. The at least one computer program may include instructions that, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to detect activation of the second short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication using a first link corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The instructions may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link and the second link based on a first throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and a second throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The instructions may cause the electronic device to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link for a first time period, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link for a second time period, based on the scheduling.

[0010] According to one example, a computer-readable recording medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform, the instructions may cause the electronic device to detect activation of a second short-range wireless communication while performing a first short-range wireless communication using a first link corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The instructions may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link and the second link based on a first throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and a second throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The instructions may cause the electronic device to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link for a first time period, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link for a second time period, based on the scheduling.

[0011] According to an example, an operating method of an electronic device may include an operation of detecting activation of a second short-range wireless communication while performing a first short-range wireless communication using a first link corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The operating method of the electronic device may include an operation of performing scheduling of the first link and the second link based on a first throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and a second throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The operating method of the electronic device may include an operation of performing the first short-range wireless communication using the first link and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link for a first time period, and performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link for a second time period, based on the scheduling.

[0012] An electronic device according to an example may include a communication circuit supporting a plurality of short-range wireless communication protocols, including a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol. The electronic device may include at least one processor including a processing circuit. The at least one processor may receive a request related to a second short-range wireless communication corresponding to the second short-range wireless communication protocol from a second external device, different from the first external device, through the wireless communication circuit while the first short-range wireless communication corresponding to the first short-range wireless communication protocol is performed with the first external device through a first link corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link corresponding to a second frequency band. The processor may be configured to control the wireless communication circuitry such that, based at least in part on the request, while the first short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the first external device via the first link and not via the second link, the second short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the second external device via the second link, or while the first short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the first external device via the first link in a first time interval and via the second link in a second time interval different from the first time interval, the second short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the second external device via the second link and the first link in the first time interval and the second time interval, respectively.

[0013] An electronic device according to an example may include wireless communication circuitry supporting a plurality of short-range wireless communication protocols, including a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol. The electronic device may include a processor including a processing circuit. The processor may be configured to receive a request related to a third short-range wireless communication from a third external device through the wireless communication circuitry while simultaneously performing first and second short-range wireless communications corresponding to the first short-range wireless communication protocol and the second short-range wireless communication protocol with respect to a first external device and a second external device through a first link corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link corresponding to a second frequency band, respectively. The processor may be configured to control the wireless communication circuitry such that, based at least in part on the request, the second short-range wireless communication and the third short-range wireless communication are performed with respect to the second external device and the third external device via the second link, respectively, in different first and second time intervals, while the first short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the first external device via the first link and not via the second link.

[0014] An electronic device and an operating method of the electronic device according to one embodiment may perform scheduling of a first link and a second link based on a throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and a throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication by activating a second short-range wireless communication while activating a first short-range wireless communication. The electronic device may perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link for a first time period based on the scheduling, and may perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link for a second time period. The electronic device may perform scheduling so that each of the short-range wireless communications can be continuously performed by changing a link used by each of the short-range wireless communications, thereby improving the quality of the short-range wireless communication and / or the quality of a service using each of the short-range wireless communications.

[0015] An electronic device and an operating method of the electronic device according to one embodiment can set a first time period and a second time period based on a throughput of data transmitted / received via a first short-range wireless communication and a throughput of data transmitted / received via a second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device can improve the quality of short-range wireless communication requiring high throughput by setting the first time period and the second time period so that short-range wireless communication requiring high throughput occupies more of a second link having a higher frequency band.

[0016] The effects that can be obtained are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the description below.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which an electronic device operates in MLO (multi-link operation) according to one embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device according to one embodiment performing multiple short-range wireless communications via a first link, a second link, and / or a third link.

[0020] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of a schedule of a first link and a second link set by an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 5b is a diagram illustrating an example of a schedule of a first link and a second link set by an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 5c is a diagram illustrating an example of a schedule of a first link and a second link set by an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 5d is a diagram illustrating an example of a schedule of a first link and a second link set by an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of a schedule of a first link and a second link set by an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 6b is a diagram illustrating an example of a schedule of a first link and a second link set by an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic device (100) capable of performing the operations described in this document.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device (100) may be one of various forms of electronic devices, such as a notebook (190), smartphones (191) having various form factors (e.g., a bar-type smartphone (191-1), a foldable-type smartphone (191-2), or a sliderable (or rollable) type smartphone (191-3)), a tablet (192), a cellular phone (not shown), and other similar computing devices (not shown). The components, their relationships, and their functions illustrated in FIG. 1 are exemplary only and do not limit the implementations described or claimed in this document. The electronic device (100) may be referred to as a mobile device, a user device, a multi-function device, a portable device, or a server.

[0032] The electronic device (100) may include components including at least one processor (110) (hereinafter, referred to as processor (110)), at least one memory (120) (hereinafter, referred to as memory (120)), at least one display (140) (hereinafter, referred to as display (140)), at least one image sensor (150) (hereinafter, referred to as image sensor (150)), at least one communication circuit (160) (hereinafter, referred to as communication circuit (160)), and / or at least one sensor (170) (hereinafter, referred to as sensor (170)). The above components are merely exemplary. For example, the electronic device (100) may include other components (e.g., power management integrated circuitry (PMIC), audio processing circuitry, an antenna, a rechargeable battery, or an input / output interface). For example, some components may be omitted from the electronic device (100). For example, some components may be integrated into one component.

[0033] The processor (110) may be implemented as one or more IC (integrated circuit (or circuitry)) chips and may perform various data processing. The processor (110) may include at least one electrical circuit and may individually or collectively perform distributed processing of instructions (or programs, data, etc.) stored in the memory (120). The processor (110) may include a processor assembly including one or more processing circuits. The processor (110) may include any processing circuit operative to control the performance and operations of one or more components (e.g., the memory (120), the display (140), the image sensor (150), the communication circuit (160), and / or the sensor (170)) of the electronic device (100). For example, the processor (110) (e.g., the application processor (AP)) may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) (e.g., a single chip or a chipset). For example, the processor (110) may be implemented with multiple cores (or at least one core circuit), multiple chips, or multiple chipsets. For example, the processor (110) may include one or more processing circuits. For example, the processor (110) may include one or more processing circuits configured to individually and / or collectively perform various functions of the present disclosure. As a non-limiting example, at least a portion of the processor (110) may be included in a first chip of the electronic device (100), and at least another portion of the processor (110) may be included in a second chip of the electronic device (100) that is different from the first chip of the electronic device (100).

[0034] For example, the processor (110) may include a central processing unit (CPU) (111), a graphics processing unit (GPU) (112), a neural processing unit (NPU) (113), an image signal processor (ISP) (114), a display controller (115), a memory controller (116), a storage controller (117), a communication processor (CP) (118), and / or a sensor interface (119). These components of the processor (110) are merely exemplary. For example, the processor (110) may further include other components. For example, some components of the processor (110) may be omitted from the processor (110). For example, some components of the processor (110) may be included as separate components of the electronic device (100) outside the processor (110). For example, some components of the processor (110) (e.g., memory controller (116)) may be included within other components (e.g., at least a portion of memory (120), an interface (e.g., available for connection to at least one component of the electronic device (100)), a display (140) and / or an image sensor (150)).

[0035] The processor (110) may cause other components of the electronic device (100) to perform various operations by executing instructions stored in the memory (120). The CPU (111) (or central processing circuit) may be configured to control components of the processor (110) based on the execution of instructions stored in the memory (120) (e.g., volatile memory (121) and / or non-volatile memory (122)). The GPU (112) (or graphics processing circuit) may be configured to execute parallel operations (e.g., rendering). The NPU (113) (or neural processing circuit, or artificial intelligence (AI) chip) may be configured to execute operations for an artificial intelligence model (e.g., convolution computation). The ISP (114) (or image signal processing circuit) may be configured to process a raw image acquired through the image sensor (150) into a format suitable for a component within the electronic device (100) or a component of the processor (110). The display controller (115) (or display control circuit, or display processing unit (DPU)) may be configured to process an image acquired from the CPU (111), the GPU (112), the ISP (114), or the memory (120) (e.g., the volatile memory (121)) into a format suitable for the display (140). The memory controller (116) (or memory control circuit) may be configured to control reading data from the volatile memory (121) and writing data to the volatile memory (121). The storage controller (117) (or storage control circuit) may be configured to control reading data from the nonvolatile memory (122) and writing data to the nonvolatile memory (122).The CP (118) (communication processing circuit) may be configured to process data acquired from a component of the processor (110) into a format suitable for transmission to another electronic device via the communication circuit (160), or to process data acquired from another electronic device via the communication circuit (160) into a format suitable for processing by the component of the processor (110). For example, the communication circuit (160) may include one or more communication circuits. The sensor interface (119) (or sensing data processing circuit, sensor hub) may be configured to process data about the state of the electronic device (100) and / or the state of the surroundings of the electronic device (100), acquired via the sensor (170), into a format suitable for the component of the processor (110).

[0036] The memory (120) may include one or more storage media (or one or more storage devices). For example, the memory (120) may include a memory assembly including one or more storage media. For example, the one or more storage media may include permanent memory (e.g., non-volatile memory (122)) such as a hard drive, flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), semi-permanent memory (e.g., volatile memory (121)) such as random access memory (RAM), any other suitable type of storage (or storage assembly), or any combination thereof. The memory (120) may include cache memory, which is one or more different types of memory used to temporarily store data for a function or feature of the electronic device (100). As a non-limiting example, the cache memory may be included within the processor (110). The memory (120) may be fixedly embedded within the electronic device (100) or incorporated into one or more suitable types of components (e.g., a subscriber identity module (SIM) card and / or a secure digital (SD) card) that may be repeatedly inserted into and removed from the electronic device (100).

[0037] For example, the memory (120) may store one or more software applications, such as an operating system (or system) software application, a firmware software application, a driver software application, a plug-in (e.g., add-in, add-on, and / or applet) software application, and / or any other suitable software applications. For example, the one or more software applications may include instructions executable by the processor (110). For example, the memory (120) may store instructions callable by an application programming interface (API). For example, the memory (120) may store instructions within a library.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which an electronic device and an access point (AP) operate in multi-link operation (MLO) according to one embodiment.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 2, the wireless LAN system (200) may include an electronic device (210) and / or an external electronic device (220). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (210) may perform short-range wireless communication with the external electronic device (220). Short-range wireless communication may refer to various communication methods that both the electronic device (210) and / or the external electronic device (220) may support. For example, the short-range wireless communication may be Wi-Fi. The external electronic device (220) may function as a base station that provides short-range wireless communication to at least one electronic device (210) located within the communication radius of the wireless LAN system (200). For example, the external electronic device (220) may include an access point (AP) of IEEE 802.11. The electronic device (210) may include a station (STA) of IEEE 802.11.

[0040] The Wi-Fi of the electronic device (210) may have a separate Wi-Fi network interface on the host processor for controlling operations in a wireless local area network (LAN) chipset. This may include information on a separate standard defined in software at a higher layer of the MAC / PHY according to the IEEE 802.11 standard in the WLAN chipset.

[0041] For example, in the case of a Wi-Fi network interface that follows Wi-Fi Direct, an interface can be created according to the Wi-Fi Direct standard, and in the case of Wi-Fi Aware, an interface can be created according to the Wi-Fi Aware standard. Here, the interface can be said to be an upper software protocol stack of a WLAN chipset that can control WLAN chipsets by creating a separate protocol based on the MAC / PHY standard protocol of the WLAN chipset that follows the IEEE 802.11 standard. When the application of the host processor uses the WLAN chipset by using the network interface, the WLAN chipset can operate according to the protocol.

[0042] For example, in the case of a mirroring application that creates a network interface using Wi-Fi direct, the device can be found and a connection can be made using a device called TV and the Wi-Fi direct standard protocol based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0043] A network interface can control a WLAN chipset by creating one or more network interfaces. For example, an electronic device can create an STA network interface to communicate with a Wi-Fi AP, and perform a connection with the Wi-Fi AP in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard. Applications that require communication with external servers used by the user (e.g., an Internet browser) can utilize this STA interface. In order to mirror to a TV using Wi-Fi direct, the device can be dedicated to a mirroring application that searches for and connects to the device using signals in accordance with the Wi-Fi direct standard and transmits the Wi-Fi screen.

[0044] In one embodiment, each network interface can simultaneously control a WLAN chipset. For example, a STA network interface can communicate with a Wi-Fi AP device via the first link of the WLAN chipset. Mirroring data can be transmitted to a TV via a second link using a Wi-Fi direct network interface. In other words, different data can be transmitted to different devices via different links simultaneously, depending on the network interface.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (210) and / or the external electronic device (220) may support multi-link operation (MLO). Multi-link operation may be an operation mode for transmitting or receiving data through multiple links (e.g., the first link (231), the second link (232)). Multi-link operation is an operation mode to be introduced in IEEE 802.11be, and may be an operation mode for transmitting or receiving data through multiple links based on multiple bands or channels.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (210) may include a plurality of communication circuits (e.g., a first communication circuit (211) and / or a second communication circuit (212)) to support multi-link operation. The first communication circuit (211) may transmit data to an external electronic device (220) via a first link (231) or receive data transmitted by the external electronic device (220) via the first link (231). The first communication circuit (211) may output or receive a signal of a frequency band corresponding to the first link (231) via a first antenna (213). The second communication circuit (212) may transmit data to the external electronic device (220) via a second link (232) or receive data transmitted by the external electronic device (220) via the second link (232). The second communication circuit (212) can output or receive a signal of a frequency band corresponding to the second link (232) through the second antenna (214).

[0047] According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (220) may include a plurality of communication circuits (e.g., a third communication circuit (221) and / or a fourth communication circuit (222)) to support multi-link operation. The third communication circuit (221) may transmit data to the electronic device (210) via the first link (231) or receive data transmitted by the electronic device (210) via the first link (231). The third communication circuit (221) may output or receive a signal of a frequency band corresponding to the first link (231) via the third antenna (233). The fourth communication circuit (222) may transmit data to the electronic device (210) via the second link (232) or receive data transmitted by the electronic device (210) via the second link (232). The fourth communication circuit (222) can output or receive a signal of a frequency band corresponding to the second link (232) through the fourth antenna (224).

[0048] In one embodiment, the frequency band of the first link (231) and the frequency band of the second link (232) may be different from each other. For example, the frequency band of the first link (231) may be 2.4 GHz, and the frequency band of the second link (232) may be 5 GHz or 6 GHz. Alternatively, the frequency band of the first link (231) and the frequency band of the second link (232) may be the same, but the channel number of the first link (231) and the channel number of the second link (232) may be different. For example, the first link (231) may be channel 1 of the 2.4 GHz frequency band, and the second link (232) may be channel 12 of the 2.4 GHz frequency band.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device according to one embodiment performing multiple short-range wireless communications via a first link and / or a second link.

[0050] According to one example, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (210) of FIG. 2) may perform first short-range wireless communication with a first external electronic device (220-a) (e.g., the external electronic device (220) of FIG. 2). The first short-range wireless communication may include various short-range wireless communications that the electronic device (210) and the first external electronic device (220-a) can support. For example, the first short-range wireless communication may be Wi-Fi, which is a short-range wireless communication defined in IEEE 802.11. According to one example, the electronic device (210) and the first external electronic device (220-a) may perform a role as an access point (AP) or a station (STA) defined in IEEE 802.11.

[0051] The electronic device (210) and the first external electronic device (220-a) can perform first short-range wireless communication using a plurality of links. Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device (210) and the first external electronic device (220-a) can perform first short-range wireless communication via a first link (e.g., the first link (231) of FIG. 2) (310) and a second link (e.g., the second link (232) of FIG. 2) (320). According to one example, the electronic device (210) can transmit data to the first external electronic device (220-a) via first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second link (320) and / or receive data from the first external electronic device (220-a) via first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second link (320). The electronic device (210) can simultaneously transmit / receive data via the first link and transmit / receive data via the second link. Simultaneously transmitting / receiving data via the first link and transmitting / receiving data via the second link may be referred to as real-simultaneous dual band (RSDB) or dual band simultaneous (DBS). In the examples below, it is assumed that the electronic device (210) can support simultaneous transmission / reception of data through the first link and transmission / reception of data through the second link.

[0052] In one example, the frequency bands of the first link (310) and the second link (320) may be different from each other. The frequency band of the second link (320) may be larger than the frequency band of the first link (310). For example, the first link (310) may be a link having a frequency band of the 2.4 GHz band, and the second link (320) may be a link having a frequency band of the 5 GHz band. In another example, the first link (310) may be a link having a frequency band of the 2.4 GHz band, and the second link (320) may be a link having a frequency band of the 6 GHz band. In another example, the first link (310) may be a link having a frequency band of the 5 GHz band, and the second link (320) may be a link having a frequency band of the 6 GHz band.

[0053] The electronic device (210) and the first external electronic device (220-a) can use the first channel of the first link and the second channel of the second link.

[0054] According to one example, the electronic device (210) can perform second short-range wireless communication with a second external electronic device (220-b) (e.g., the external electronic device (220) of FIG. 2). The second short-range wireless communication may include various short-range wireless communications that the electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can support. For example, the second short-range wireless communication may be device-to-device wireless communication, which may be either Wi-Fi Direct or a neighbor awareness network (NAN).

[0055] The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform second short-range wireless communication using a plurality of links. Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform second short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) and the second link (320). According to one example, the electronic device (210) can transmit data to the second external electronic device (220-b) via the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second link (320) and / or receive data from the second external electronic device (220-b) via the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0056] The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) established between the electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b). The channel of the first link (310) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication may be the same as the first channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication. A state in which the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication may be referred to as SCC (single channel concurrent). The electronic device (210) can simultaneously perform reception of data using the first short-range wireless communication and reception of data using the second short-range wireless communication in a state where the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) cannot simultaneously perform transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication in a state where the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication can be sequentially performed through a contention process.

[0057] The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) established between the electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b). The channel of the first link used to perform the second short-range wireless communication may be different from the first channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication. A state in which the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is different from the first channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication may be referred to as MCC (multi-channels concurrent).

[0058] The electronic device (210) may perform an operation (e.g., scheduling) of setting a time for performing data transmission / reception using the first short-range wireless communication and a time for performing data transmission / reception using the second short-range wireless communication, in a state where the channel of the first link (310) used for performing the second short-range wireless communication is different from the first channel of the first link (310) used for performing the first short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication during the time set for performing data transmission / reception using the first short-range wireless communication, and may perform the second short-range wireless communication during the time set for performing data transmission / reception using the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication during the time set for performing data transmission / reception using the first short-range wireless communication. Additionally, the electronic device (210) may not be able to perform the first short-range wireless communication during a time set to transmit / receive data using the second short-range wireless communication.

[0059] The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) established between the electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b). The channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication may be the same as the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication. A state in which the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication may be referred to as SCC (single channel concurrent). The electronic device (210) can simultaneously perform reception of data using the first short-range wireless communication and reception of data using the second short-range wireless communication in a state where the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) cannot simultaneously perform transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication in a state where the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication can be performed sequentially through a contention process.

[0060] The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) established between the electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b). The channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication may be different from the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication. A state in which the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is different from the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication may be referred to as MCC (multi-channels concurrent).

[0061] The electronic device (210) may perform an operation (e.g., scheduling) of setting a time for performing data transmission / reception using the first short-range wireless communication and a time for performing data transmission / reception using the second short-range wireless communication, in a state where the channel of the second link (320) used for performing the second short-range wireless communication is different from the first channel of the second link (320) used for performing the first short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication during the time set for performing data transmission / reception using the first short-range wireless communication, and may perform the second short-range wireless communication during the time set for performing data transmission / reception using the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication during the time set for performing data transmission / reception using the first short-range wireless communication. Additionally, the electronic device (210) may not be able to perform the first short-range wireless communication during a time set to transmit / receive data using the second short-range wireless communication.

[0062] According to one example, the electronic device (210) can perform third short-range wireless communication with a third external electronic device (220-c) (e.g., the external electronic device (220) of FIG. 2). The third short-range wireless communication may include various short-range wireless communications that the electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c) can support. For example, the third short-range wireless communication may be either a mobile hotspot or a Soft AP.

[0063] The electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c) can perform third short-range wireless communication using a plurality of links. Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c) can perform third short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) and the second link (320). According to one example, the electronic device (210) can transmit data to the third external electronic device (220-c) via the third short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second link (320) and / or receive data from the third external electronic device (220-c) via the third short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0064] The electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c) can perform third short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) established between the electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c).

[0065] The electronic device (210) can simultaneously perform reception of data using the first short-range wireless communication, reception of data using the second short-range wireless communication, and reception of data using the third short-range wireless communication when the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication, the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication, and the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the third short-range wireless communication are the same (SCC). The electronic device (210) cannot simultaneously perform transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication, transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the third short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication, transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the third short-range wireless communication can be sequentially performed through a contention process.

[0066] The electronic device (210) may perform an operation (e.g., scheduling) of setting a time for performing data transmission / reception using the first short-range wireless communication, a time for performing data transmission / reception using the second short-range wireless communication, and a time for performing data transmission / reception using the third short-range wireless communication when at least two channels among the channel of the first link (310) used for performing the first short-range wireless communication, the channel of the first link (310) used for performing the second short-range wireless communication, and the channel of the first link (310) used for performing the third short-range wireless communication are different from each other (MCC). The electronic device (210) can perform first short-range wireless communication during a time set to transmit / receive data using first short-range wireless communication, perform second short-range wireless communication during a time set to transmit / receive data using second short-range wireless communication, and perform third short-range wireless communication during a time set to transmit / receive data using third short-range wireless communication.

[0067] The electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c) can perform third short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) established between the electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c).

[0068] The electronic device (210) can simultaneously perform reception of data using the first short-range wireless communication, reception of data using the second short-range wireless communication, and reception of data using the third short-range wireless communication when the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication, the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication, and the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the third short-range wireless communication are the same (SCC). The electronic device (210) cannot simultaneously perform transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication, transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the third short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication, transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the third short-range wireless communication can be sequentially performed through a contention process.

[0069] The electronic device (210) may perform an operation (e.g., scheduling) of setting a time for transmitting / receiving data using the first short-range wireless communication, a time for transmitting / receiving data using the second short-range wireless communication, and a time for transmitting / receiving data using the third short-range wireless communication when at least two channels among the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication, the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication, and the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the third short-range wireless communication are different from each other (MCC). The electronic device (210) can perform first short-range wireless communication during a time set to transmit / receive data using first short-range wireless communication, perform second short-range wireless communication during a time set to transmit / receive data using second short-range wireless communication, and perform third short-range wireless communication during a time set to transmit / receive data using third short-range wireless communication.

[0070] As the number of active short-range wireless communications increases, the electronic device (210) may need to appropriately schedule multiple links. If the electronic device (210) fails to appropriately schedule, it may not be able to transmit and / or receive data using some short-range wireless communications, and the quality of services using short-range wireless communications may deteriorate.

[0071] Hereinafter, a specific example of performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) when the electronic device (210) activates the first short-range wireless communication, the second short-range wireless communication, and / or the third short-range wireless communication is described.

[0072] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0073] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., electronic device (210) of FIG. 3) may include communication circuitry (410) (e.g., communication circuitry (160) of FIG. 1), a processor (420) (e.g., processor (110) of FIG. 1, which may include processing circuitry), and / or memory (430) (e.g., memory (120) of FIG. 1).

[0074] The communication circuit (410) may be a communication circuit that supports a plurality of short-range wireless communications, including a first short-range wireless communication, a second short-range wireless communication, and / or a third short-range wireless communication, or may include a communication circuit.

[0075] For example, the first short-range wireless communication may be Wi-Fi, as defined in IEEE 802.11. The second short-range wireless communication may be device-to-device wireless communication, either Wi-Fi Direct or a neighbor awareness network (NAN). For example, the third short-range wireless communication may be a mobile hotspot or a Soft AP.

[0076] The communication circuit (410) can generate individual interfaces for the first short-range wireless communication, the second short-range wireless communication, and / or the third short-range wireless communication. The communication circuit (410) can generate the interface of the first short-range wireless communication according to the standard of the first short-range wireless communication (e.g., IEEE 802.11), the interface of the second short-range wireless communication according to the standard of the second short-range wireless communication, and the interface of the third short-range wireless communication according to the standard of the third short-range wireless communication. The interface of the first short-range wireless communication can refer to an interface between the communication circuit (410) and the processor (420) for performing the first short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication through the interface of the first short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) can control the communication circuit (410) through the interface of the first short-range wireless communication so that the communication circuit (410) can operate according to the standard of the first short-range wireless communication.

[0077] The interface of the second short-range wireless communication may refer to an interface including an interface circuit between a communication circuit (410) for performing the second short-range wireless communication and a processor (420). The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the second short-range wireless communication through the interface of the second short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) through the interface of the second short-range wireless communication so that the communication circuit (410) may operate according to the standard of the second short-range wireless communication.

[0078] The interface of the third short-range wireless communication may refer to an interface including an interface circuit between a communication circuit (410) for performing the third short-range wireless communication and a processor (420). The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the interface of the third short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) through the interface of the third short-range wireless communication so that the communication circuit (410) may operate according to the standard of the third short-range wireless communication.

[0079] The operation of the communication circuit (410) and processor (420) described below can be performed by using the first short-range wireless communication interface, the second short-range wireless communication interface, and / or the third short-range wireless communication interface.

[0080] The communication circuit (410) may include various circuit structures used for modulating and / or demodulating signals within the electronic device (210). For example, the communication circuit (410) may modulate a baseband signal into a radio frequency (RF) band signal to be output through an antenna (not shown), or may demodulate an RF band signal received through an antenna into a baseband signal and transmit the baseband signal to the processor (420).

[0081] The communication circuit (410) can perform first short-range wireless communication, second short-range wireless communication, and / or third short-range wireless communication through a first frequency band (e.g., 2.4 GHz), a second frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz) that is a higher frequency band than the first frequency band, and / or a third frequency band (e.g., 6 GHz) that is a higher frequency band than the second frequency band.

[0082] The communication circuit (410) can support multi-link operation (MLO). The communication circuit (410) supporting MLO can simultaneously transmit / receive data through a first link (e.g., the first link (310) of FIG. 3) and transmit / receive data through a second link (e.g., the second link (320) of FIG. 3).

[0083] The communication circuit (410) may support a simultaneous transmission and reception (STR) mode in which data can be simultaneously transmitted or received through a plurality of links including the first link (310) and / or the second link (320). For example, the communication circuit (410) may transmit and / or receive data to an external electronic device (e.g., the first external electronic device (220-a), the second external electronic device (220-b), and / or the third external electronic device (220-c) of FIG. 3) through the first link (310), while transmitting or receiving data to an external electronic device (e.g., the first external electronic device (220-a), the second external electronic device (220-b), and / or the third external electronic device (220-c) of FIG. 3) through the second link (320). However, in a situation where the difference between the frequency bands of the first link (310) and the second link (320) is less than a specified size, the communication circuit (410) may operate in a non-STR (non-simultaneous transmission and reception) mode in order to prevent (or reduce) interference between data transmission and reception through the first link (310) and data transmission and reception through the second link (320). The non-STR mode may refer to a mode in which the electronic device (210) does not receive data through the second link (320) when transmitting data through the first link (310).

[0084] In one example, the frequency bands of the first link (310) and the second link (320) may be different from each other. The frequency band of the second link (320) may be larger than the frequency band of the first link (310). For example, the first link (310) may be a link having a frequency band of the 2.4 GHz band, and the second link (320) may be a link having a frequency band of the 5 GHz band. In another example, the first link (310) may be a link having a frequency band of the 2.4 GHz band, and the second link (320) may be a link having a frequency band of the 6 GHz band. In another example, the first link (310) may be a link having a frequency band of the 5 GHz band, and the second link (320) may be a link having a frequency band of the 6 GHz band.

[0085] In one example, the frequency band of the first link (310) and the frequency band of the second link (320) may be the same. When the frequency band of the first link (310) and the frequency band of the second link (320) are the same, the channel of the first link (310) and the channel of the second link (320) may be different. The performance of the channel of the second link (320) may be greater than the performance of the channel of the first link (310).

[0086] The communication circuit (410) may perform an operation for receiving a signal transmitted by an external electronic device (e.g., the first external electronic device (220-a), the second external electronic device (220-b), and / or the third external electronic device (220-c) of FIG. 3) based on the control of the processor (420). The communication circuit (410) may receive a signal requesting transmission and / or reception of data through a specific channel from the processor (420), and control components of the communication circuit (410) (e.g., a low-noise amplifier, a switch, and / or a filter) to receive a signal through a frequency band corresponding to the specific channel.

[0087] The processor (420) may perform an operation of receiving data transmitted by an application processor (e.g., the processor (110) of FIG. 1) and generating a packet for transmitting the received data. The processor (420) may be defined as a communication processor included in the communication circuit (410) or a processing circuit included in the communication circuit that performs short-range wireless communication. In one example, when the processor (420) is included in the communication circuit (410) that performs short-range wireless communication, the processor (420) may be referred to as a core. The processor (420) may be electrically or operatively connected to the communication circuit (410) and may control the communication circuit (410).

[0088] The memory (430) may store at least one computer program including instructions that may be executed by the processor (420). The operations of the processor (420) described below may be performed according to the execution of instructions included in the computer program stored on the memory (430). When the processor (420) includes at least one processing circuit (or processors), at least one processing circuit (or processor) included in the processor (420) may individually or collectively execute instructions.

[0089] The processor (420) can perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) corresponding to the first frequency band and the second link (320) corresponding to the second frequency band (or in the MLO mode). The processor (420) can control the communication circuit (410) to transmit data to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310) or to receive data transmitted by the first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310), while transmitting data to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320) or to receive data transmitted by the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320).

[0090] In one example, the first short-range wireless communication may include Wi-Fi, the electronic device (210) may operate as an STA, and the first external electronic device (220-a) may operate as an AP. The electronic device (210) may transmit data to an external electronic device existing outside the short-range wireless communication system and / or receive data from an external electronic device existing outside the short-range wireless communication system via the first external electronic device (220-a).

[0091] The processor (420) can detect activation of the second short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication.

[0092] In one example, the processor (420) may detect activation of the second short-range wireless communication based on activation of an application and / or service using the second short-range wireless communication.

[0093] According to one example, the processor (420) may receive a request for activation of a second short-range wireless communication transmitted by an external electronic device connected via the first short-range wireless communication or an external electronic device different from the external electronic device, and detect activation of the second short-range wireless communication.

[0094] According to one example, the second short-range wireless communication may refer to short-range wireless communication between the electronic device (210) and a second external electronic device (e.g., the second external electronic device (220-b) of FIG. 3). For example, the second short-range wireless communication may include short-range wireless communication of any one of Wi-Fi direct and neighbor awareness networking (NAN). The second short-range wireless communication may be short-range wireless communication capable of transmitting and / or receiving data using the first link (310) and the second link (320). According to one example, the electronic device (210) may transmit data to a second external electronic device (220-b) using the first link (310) and / or receive data from the second external electronic device (220-b) using the first link (310), while transmitting data to the second external electronic device (220-b) using the second link (320) and / or receiving data from the second external electronic device (220-b) using the second link (320).

[0095] The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform a series of operations to activate the second short-range wireless communication.

[0096] According to one example, when the second short-range wireless communication is NAN, the electronic device (210) can activate the second short-range wireless communication by participating in a NAN cluster including a second external electronic device (220-b). The processor (420) can receive a signal (e.g., a discovery beacon) transmitted by the second external electronic device (220-b) or another external electronic device included in the NAN cluster including the second external electronic device (220-b), and check information related to the NAN cluster included in the discovery beacon. The information related to the NAN cluster can include a start time, length, and period of a discovery window of the NAN cluster. The information related to the NAN cluster can include information indicating a channel of the second short-range wireless communication to be performed in the DW section. The processor (420) may receive messages exchanged during the process of establishing a NAN data path with the second external electronic device (220-b) and / or messages related to a schedule related to NAN communication (e.g., a schedule update message), and may also determine a channel for the second short-range wireless communication based on the received messages. As used herein, “based on” includes the meaning of being based on at least a specific target.

[0097] The processor (420) can receive information indicating a channel of short-range wireless communication and check the channel of the first link (310) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the first link (310) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) can check whether the channel of the first link (310) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the first link (310) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication are the same.

[0098] The processor (420) can receive information indicating a channel of short-range wireless communication and check the channel of the second link (320) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the second link (320) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) can check whether the channel of the second link (320) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the second link (320) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication are the same.

[0099] According to one example, when the second short-range wireless communication is Wi-Fi direct, the processor (420) may negotiate (or determine) the channels of the first link (310) and the second link (320) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication during the process of activating the second short-range wireless communication with the second external electronic device (220-b). The processor (420) may check whether the channel of the first link (310) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the first link (310) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication are the same. The processor (420) may check whether the channel of the second link (320) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the second link (320) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication are the same.

[0100] When the processor (420) determines that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using the same channel of the first link (310) and that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using the same channel of the second link (320), separate scheduling operations for the first link and the second link may not be performed. When the electronic device (210) performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the first link (310) and that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using the same channel of the second link (320) (SCC), the electronic device (210) may simultaneously perform reception of a signal through the first short-range wireless communication and a signal through the second short-range wireless communication. Therefore, the processor (420) may not perform separate scheduling operations for the first link and the second link.

[0101] When the processor (420) determines that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using different channels of the first link (310) and that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using different channels of the second link (320), the processor (420) can perform scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0102] The processor (420) performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the first link (310), and performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the second link (320). However, if it is confirmed that the service using the first short-range wireless communication and / or the second short-range wireless communication is a designated service type (e.g., a service type indicating a service sensitive to delay time (e.g., a voice call, a video call)), the processor (420) may perform scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0103] Scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may refer to setting a time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310), a time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310), a time for performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320), and / or a time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320). Scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may also be referred to as scheduling of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication.

[0104] The processor (420) may consider the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication when performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320). The throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication may be determined as the sum of the throughputs of data transmitted / received through the first link (310) and data transmitted / received through the second link (320). The processor (420) may check (or monitor) the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication at designated intervals while the first short-range wireless communication is activated. The processor (420) may determine the throughput required for the service activated through the first short-range wireless communication as the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication.

[0105] The throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication may be determined as the sum of the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first link (310) and data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320). In one example, the processor (420) may determine the throughput required for a service to be activated via the second short-range wireless communication as the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. Alternatively, the processor (420) may determine the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by considering the history of the service to be activated via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0106] The processor (420) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0107] According to one example, the processor (420) may compare the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the short-range wireless communication with the higher throughput can occupy more of the second link (320). The frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz or 6 GHz) of the second link (320) may be higher than the frequency band (e.g., 2.4 GHz) of the first link (310), and the time required for data transmission and / or reception via the second link (320) may be less than the time required for data transmission and / or reception via the first link (310). Accordingly, the processor (420) can improve the quality of short-range wireless communication with higher throughput by scheduling the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that short-range wireless communication with higher throughput occupies more of the second link (320).

[0108] For example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is less than the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, the processor (420) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be longer than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0109] For another example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is greater than the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, the processor (420) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be shorter than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0110] The processor (420) can set a ratio of the first time and the second time based on a ratio of the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0111] According to one example, the processor (420) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be the same when the difference between the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication is less than or equal to a specified size.

[0112] According to one example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is less than (or exceeds) a specified size of the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, the processor (420) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) to be longer than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320). For example, the length of the first time may be three times the length of the second time.

[0113] According to one example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is greater than (or exceeds) a specified size of the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, the processor (420) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) to be shorter than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320). For example, the length of the second time may be three times the length of the first time.

[0114] According to one example, the processor (420) may set the length of the first time period and the second time period based on a value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) may set the ratio of the first time period and the second time period to be substantially equal to a value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication. For example, when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication is three times the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication, the length of the first time period may be three times the length of the second time period.

[0115] For example, as the value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication increases, the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) can be increased, and the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) can be decreased.

[0116] For another example, the processor (420) may decrease the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and increase the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) as the value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication decreases.

[0117] When the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication increases, the processor (420) can reduce the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and increase the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0118] The processor (420) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) during a first time period while performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320). The processor (420) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) during a first time period.

[0119] The processor (420) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) during a second time period during which the first short-range wireless communication is performed through the second link (320). The processor (420) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) and the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) during a second time period.

[0120] The examples described above are examples that utilize the throughput of the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of the second short-range wireless communication. However, the electronic device (210) according to the present disclosure may also perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) using parameters (e.g., delay time (or latency)) having characteristics similar to the throughput.

[0121] According to one example, the processor (420) may compare a latency required by the first short-range wireless communication and a latency required by the second short-range wireless communication, and perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the short-range wireless communication requiring a lower latency can occupy more of the second link (320). The frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz or 6 GHz) of the second link (320) may be higher than the frequency band (e.g., 2.4 GHz) of the first link (310), and the time required for data transmission and / or reception through the second link (320) may be less than the time required for data transmission and / or reception through the first link (310). Accordingly, the processor (420) can improve the quality of short-range wireless communication requiring lower latency by scheduling the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that short-range wireless communication requiring lower latency occupies more of the second link (320).

[0122] For example, if the latency of the first short-range wireless communication is greater than the latency of the second short-range wireless communication, the processor (420) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be longer than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0123] For another example, if the latency of the first short-range wireless communication is smaller than the latency of the second short-range wireless communication, the processor (420) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be shorter than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0124] The processor (420) can set the ratio of the first time and the second time based on the ratio of the latency of the first short-range wireless communication and the latency of the second short-range wireless communication.

[0125] According to one example, the processor (420) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be the same when the difference between the latency of the first short-range wireless communication and the latency of the second short-range wireless communication is less than or equal to a specified size.

[0126] According to one example, the processor (420) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be longer than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) when the latency of the first short-range wireless communication is greater than a specified size or more than the latency of the second short-range wireless communication. For example, the length of the first time may be three times the length of the second time.

[0127] According to one example, the processor (420) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be shorter than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) when the latency of the first short-range wireless communication is smaller than the latency of the second short-range wireless communication by a specified amount or more. For example, the length of the second time may be three times the length of the first time.

[0128] According to one example, the processor (420) may perform a first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for a first time period, and perform a second short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for a second time period. The channel used by the first short-range wireless communication may be the same as (e.g., single channel concurrent) or different from (e.g., multi-channel concurrent) the channel used by the second short-range wireless communication.

[0129] In one example, the processor (420) may perform the second short-range wireless communication over the second link (320) for a first time period, and perform the first short-range wireless communication over the second link (320) for a second time period. The channel used by the first short-range wireless communication may be the same as (e.g., single channel concurrent) or different from (e.g., multi-channel concurrent) the channel used by the second short-range wireless communication.

[0130] The example described above is an example in which the processor (420) performs scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on throughput. The processor (420) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) by considering various parameters as well as throughput.

[0131] According to one example, the processor (420) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on characteristics of a first service performed via the first short-range wireless communication and characteristics of a second service performed via the second short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) is longer than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320), when the first service is a service that is not sensitive to delay time (e.g., a streaming service, a small-capacity data download service) and the second service is a service that is sensitive to delay time (e.g., a screen mirroring service that displays a screen displayed on the display of the electronic device (210) on the display of another electronic device (e.g., a second external electronic device (220-b)), or a video call, a voice call, or a real-time broadcasting service that displays a screen displayed on the display of another electronic device (e.g., a second external electronic device (220-b)) on the display of the electronic device (210).

[0132] According to one example, the processor (420) may set priorities of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication based on various parameters (e.g., throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication, characteristics of the first service performed via the first short-range wireless communication, throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and characteristics of the second service performed via the second short-range wireless communication). The processor (420) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the priorities of the first short-range wireless communication and the priorities of the second short-range wireless communication.

[0133] For example, the priority of short-range wireless communication can be set higher when the throughput is high and the service via short-range wireless communication is sensitive to delay. Table 1 describes the scheduling method for the first link (310) and the second link (320) according to priority.

[0134] Priority of the first short-range wireless communication Priority of the second short-range wireless communication Scheduling method Priority HIGH HIGH Set the length of the first time and the length of the second time to be X (e.g., 3) times the length of the first time LOW Assign the second link (320) to the first short-range wireless communication, and assign the first link (310) to the second short-range wireless communication. MID HIGH Set the length of the first time to be X (e.g., 3) times the length of the second time MID Set the length of the first time and the length of the second time to be X (e.g., 3) times the length of the first time LOW HIGH Assign the second link (320) to the second short-range wireless communication, and assign the first link (310) to the first short-range wireless communication. MID Set the length of the first time to be X (e.g., 3) times the length of the second time LOW Set the length of the 1st hour and the length of the 2nd hour to be the same

[0135] The processor (420) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period.

[0136] The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support a power saving mode, the processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into the power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) to the first external electronic device (210-a) via the second link (320) before the start of the first time period (or during the second time period). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode through the second link (320), the first external electronic device (210-a) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the first period of time. The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) through the first link (310) to the second external electronic device (210-b) before the start of the first period of time (or during the second period of time).When the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal indicating that it is to enter a power saving mode via the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) via the first link (310) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the first period of time.

[0137] The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support a power saving mode, the processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into the power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) to the second external electronic device (210-b) via the second link (320) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period). When the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode through the second link (320), the second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a second period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the second period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the second period of time. The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to a first value (e.g., 1)) to the first external electronic device (210-a) through the first link (310) before the second period of time begins.When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal indicating that it is to enter a power saving mode via the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) via the first link (310) for a second period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the second period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the second period of time.

[0138] The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support TID-to-mapping, the processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal to the first external electronic device (210-a) to deactivate the second link (320) (e.g., no data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320)) before the start of the first time period (or during the second time period). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal for disabling the second link (320) through the second link (320), the first external electronic device (210-a) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the first period of time. The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal for disabling the first link (310) to the second external electronic device (210-b) through the first link (310) before the first period of time begins. The second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the first link (310) for a first time period as it receives a signal to deactivate the first link (310) through the first link (310), and the electronic device (210) may not perform second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the first time period.Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) for the first time.

[0139] The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a) and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support TID-to-mapping, the processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal to the second external electronic device (210-b) to deactivate the second link (320) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period), indicating that there is no data to be transmitted / received through the second link (320). The second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a second time period when the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal for deactivating the second link (320) through the second link (320), and the electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the second time period. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the second time period. The processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal for deactivating the first link (310) to the first external electronic device (210-a) through the first link (310) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal for disabling the first link (310) through the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the first link (310) for a second time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the second time.Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can perform a second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) for a second time.

[0140] The processor (420) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period. When the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (220-a), and the second external electronic device (220-b) support the TWT (Target wake time) protocol, the electronic device (210) can transmit parameters including a length of a first time, a start time of the first time, and / or an interval of the first time to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310), and can transmit parameters including a length of a second time, a start time of the second time, and / or an interval of the second time to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320). The electronic device (210) and the first external electronic device (220-a) can perform first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for a first time based on the length, start time, and / or interval of the first time, and can perform first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) for a second time based on the length, start time, and / or interval of the second time.

[0141] The electronic device (210) can transmit parameters including a length of a first time, a starting point of the first time, and / or an interval of the first time to a second external electronic device (220-b) via a second link (320), and can transmit parameters including a length of a second time, a starting point of the second time, and / or an interval of the second time to the second external electronic device (220-b) via the first link (310). The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform a second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) for the first time based on the length of the first time, the starting point, and / or the interval, and can perform the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the second time based on the length of the second time, the starting point, and / or the interval.

[0142] The processor (420) may, based on scheduling, check (or monitor) the extent to which the first short-range wireless communication and / or the second short-range wireless communication actually occupy the first link (310) and the second link (320) while performing the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication, and update (or modify) the scheduling based on the extent to which they actually occupy. In one example, the processor (420) may compare the time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) during the first time and the first time, and if the time for performing the second short-range wireless communication is lower than the first time by a specified amount or more, decrease the first time and increase the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320).

[0143] The processor (420) may detect activation of a third short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication. The third short-range wireless communication may include various short-range wireless communications that can be supported by the electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c). For example, the third short-range wireless communication may be either a mobile hotspot or a Soft AP.

[0144] The processor (420) may be configured to perform the third short-range wireless communication through one of the first link (310) and the second link (320) upon detecting activation of the third short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) may be configured to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication through the other of the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0145] According to one example, the processor (420) may compare the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated via the third short-range wireless communication) with the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and select a link to be allocated to the third short-range wireless communication based on the comparison result. According to one example, the processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) using a higher frequency band when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated through the third short-range wireless communication) is greater than the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication. According to one example, the processor (420) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) using a lower frequency band when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated through the third short-range wireless communication) is less than the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0146] The processor (420) may determine a third length of time during which the first short-range wireless communication occupies another link and a fourth length of time during which the second short-range wireless communication occupies another link based on the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The processor (420) may perform scheduling of the other link based on the determined length.

[0147] According to one example, the processor (420) may perform scheduling of another link so that the length of the third time is longer than the length of the fourth time when the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is greater than the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0148] According to one example, the processor (420) may perform scheduling of another link so that the length of the third time is shorter than the length of the fourth time when the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is less than the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0149] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are diagrams illustrating examples of schedules of a first link and a second link set by an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0150] According to one example, an electronic device (e.g., electronic device (210) of FIG. 4) can perform scheduling of a first link (e.g., first link (310) of FIG. 3) and a second link (e.g., second link (320) of FIG. 3).

[0151] When the electronic device (210) confirms that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using different channels of the first link (310) and that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using different channels of the second link (320), the electronic device (210) can perform scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0152] The electronic device (210) performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the first link (310), and performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the second link (320). However, if it is confirmed that the service using the first short-range wireless communication and / or the second short-range wireless communication is a designated service type (e.g., a service type indicating a service sensitive to delay time (e.g., a voice call, a video call)), the electronic device (210) can perform scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0153] Scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may refer to setting a time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310), a time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310), a time for performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320), and / or a time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320). Scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may also be referred to as scheduling of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication.

[0154] The electronic device (210) may consider the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication when performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320). The throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication may be determined as the sum of the throughputs of data transmitted / received via the first link (310) and data transmitted / received via the second link (320). The electronic device (210) may check (or monitor) the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication at designated intervals while the first short-range wireless communication is activated. The electronic device (210) may also determine the throughput required for the service activated through the first short-range wireless communication as the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication.

[0155] The throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication may be determined as the sum of the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first link (310) and data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320). In one example, the electronic device (210) may determine the throughput required for a service to be activated via the second short-range wireless communication as the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. Alternatively, the electronic device (210) may determine the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by considering the history of the service to be activated via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0156] The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0157] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may compare the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the short-range wireless communication with the higher throughput can occupy more of the second link (320). The frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz or 6 GHz) of the second link (320) may be higher than the frequency band (e.g., 2.4 GHz) of the first link (310), and the time required for data transmission and / or reception via the second link (320) may be less than the time required for data transmission and / or reception via the first link (310). Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can improve the quality of short-range wireless communication with higher throughput by scheduling the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that short-range wireless communication with higher throughput occupies more of the second link (320).

[0158] For example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is less than the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be longer than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0159] For another example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is greater than the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be shorter than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0160] The electronic device (210) can set a ratio of the first time and the second time based on a ratio of the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0161] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be the same when the throughput of the data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of the data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication are less than or equal to a specified size.

[0162] Referring to FIG. 5A, the electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) such that the first short-range wireless communication (501) using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication (503) using the second link (320) are performed for a first time period (505), and the first short-range wireless communication (504) using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication (502) using the first link (310) are performed for a second time period (506). The electronic device (210) may set the lengths of the first time period (505) and the second time period (506) to be the same.

[0163] According to one example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is equal to or greater than a specified size (or exceeds) the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) to be longer than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320). For example, the length of the first time may be three times the length of the second time.

[0164] Referring to FIG. 5B, the electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) such that the first short-range wireless communication (511) using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication (513) using the second link (320) are performed for a first time period (515), and the first short-range wireless communication (514) using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication (512) using the first link (310) are performed for a second time period (516). The electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time period (515) to be longer than the length of the second time period (516).

[0165] Referring to FIG. 5c, when the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is relatively large compared to the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, and when the priority of the first short-range wireless communication (e.g., LOW in Table 1) is lower than the priority of the second short-range wireless communication (e.g., HIGH in Table 1), the electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the first short-range wireless communication (521) using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication (522) using the second link (320).

[0166] According to one example, when the electronic device (210) determines that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using the same channel of the first link (310) and the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using the same channel of the second link (320), separate scheduling operations for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may not be performed. When the electronic device (210) performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the first link (310) and the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the second link (320) (SCC), the electronic device (210) may simultaneously perform reception of a signal through the first short-range wireless communication and a signal through the second short-range wireless communication. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may not perform separate scheduling operations for the first link (310) and the second link (320). Not performing separate scheduling operations for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may refer to the electronic device (210) not imposing separate restrictions on performing (531) the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication in the first link (310) and in the second link (320) (532). The fact that there is no separate restriction on performing (531) the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication on the first link (310) and on the second link (320) (532) may refer to not setting the electronic device (210) to not perform the first short-range wireless communication (or the second short-range wireless communication) through the specific link for a specific time or not setting the electronic device (210) to perform the first short-range wireless communication (or the second short-range wireless communication) through the specific link for a specific time.If the electronic device (210) does not impose separate restrictions on performing (531) the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication in the first link (310) and (532) in the second link (320), the transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and the transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication can be performed sequentially through a contention process.

[0167] Referring to FIG. 5D, the electronic device (210) can simultaneously perform reception (531) of data using the first short-range wireless communication and reception (532) of data using the second short-range wireless communication in a state where the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication. In the electronic device (210), in a state where the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication, transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication cannot be performed simultaneously, and transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication can be performed sequentially through a contention process.

[0168] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating examples of schedules of a first link and a second link set by an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0169] An electronic device (e.g., electronic device (210) of FIG. 4) may detect activation of a third short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication. The third short-range wireless communication may include various short-range wireless communications that can be supported by the electronic device (210) and a third external electronic device (e.g., third external electronic device (220-c) of FIG. 3). For example, the third short-range wireless communication may be either a mobile hotspot or a Soft AP.

[0170] The electronic device (210) may set the third short-range wireless communication to be performed via either the first link (310) or the second link (320) upon detecting activation of the third short-range wireless communication. If the third short-range wireless communication is a short-range wireless communication that requires continuous transmission and / or reception of signals (e.g., a Soft AP may require the electronic device (210) to transmit a beacon signal at designated intervals), the third short-range wireless communication may be required to occupy a single or exclusive link. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may ensure (or improve) the quality of a service using the third short-range wireless communication by setting the third short-range wireless communication to be performed via either the first link (310) or the second link (320).

[0171] The electronic device (210) can be configured to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication through the other of the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0172] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may compare the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated via the third short-range wireless communication) with the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and select a link to be allocated to the third short-range wireless communication based on the comparison result.

[0173] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) using a lower frequency band when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated through the third short-range wireless communication) is less than the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0174] Referring to FIG. 6A, the electronic device (210) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform the third short-range wireless communication (601) through the first link (310), and control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication (602) and the second short-range wireless communication (603) through the second link (320).

[0175] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) using a higher frequency band when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated through the third short-range wireless communication) is greater than the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0176] Referring to FIG. 6b, the electronic device (210) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform first short-range wireless communication (612) and second short-range wireless communication (613) through the first link (310), and control the communication circuit (410) to perform third short-range wireless communication (611) through the second link (320).

[0177] Although FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate that the third time period during which the first short-range wireless communication occupies another link and the fourth time period during which the second short-range wireless communication occupies another link are the same, the electronic device (210) can determine the third time period during which the first short-range wireless communication occupies another link and the fourth time period during which the second short-range wireless communication occupies another link based on the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the other link based on the determined lengths.

[0178] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of another link so that the length of the third time is longer than the length of the fourth time when the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is greater than the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0179] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of another link so that the length of the third time is shorter than the length of the fourth time when the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is less than the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0180] FIG. 7 is an operational flowchart (700) illustrating an operating method of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0181] An electronic device (e.g., electronic device (210) of FIG. 4) may detect activation of a second short-range wireless communication while performing a first short-range wireless communication using a first link (e.g., first link (310) of FIG. 3) and a second link (e.g., second link (320) of FIG. 3) in operation 710.

[0182] The electronic device (210) can perform a first short-range wireless communication using a first link (310) corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link (320) corresponding to a second frequency band (or in an MLO mode). The electronic device (210) can control the communication circuit (410) to transmit data to a first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310), or to receive data transmitted by the first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310), while transmitting data to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320), or to receive data transmitted by the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320).

[0183] In one example, the first short-range wireless communication may include Wi-Fi, the electronic device (210) may operate as an STA, and the first external electronic device (220-a) may operate as an AP. The electronic device (210) may transmit data to an external electronic device existing outside the short-range wireless communication system and / or receive data from an external electronic device existing outside the short-range wireless communication system via the first external electronic device (220-a).

[0184] The electronic device (210) can detect activation of the second short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication.

[0185] According to one example, the second short-range wireless communication may refer to short-range wireless communication between the electronic device (210) and a second external electronic device (e.g., the second external electronic device (220-b) of FIG. 3). For example, the second short-range wireless communication may include short-range wireless communication of any one of Wi-Fi direct and neighbor awareness networking (NAN). The second short-range wireless communication may be short-range wireless communication capable of transmitting and / or receiving data using the first link (310) and the second link (320). According to one example, the electronic device (210) may transmit data to a second external electronic device (220-b) using the first link (310) and / or receive data from the second external electronic device (220-b) using the first link (310), while transmitting data to the second external electronic device (220-b) using the second link (320) and / or receiving data from the second external electronic device (220-b) using the second link (320).

[0186] The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform a series of operations to activate the second short-range wireless communication.

[0187] According to one example, when the second short-range wireless communication is NAN, the electronic device (210) can activate the second short-range wireless communication by participating in a NAN cluster including a second external electronic device (220-b). The electronic device (210) can receive a signal (e.g., a discovery beacon) transmitted by the second external electronic device (220-b) or another external electronic device included in the NAN cluster including the second external electronic device (220-b), and check information related to the NAN cluster included in the discovery beacon. The information related to the NAN cluster can include a start time, length, and period of a discovery window of the NAN cluster. The information related to the NAN cluster can include information indicating a channel of the second short-range wireless communication to be performed in the DW section. The electronic device (210) may receive messages exchanged in the process of establishing a NAN data path with a second external electronic device (220-b) and / or messages related to a schedule related to NAN communication (e.g., schedule update message), and may check a channel of the second short-range wireless communication based on the received messages.

[0188] The electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and / or the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, in operation 720.

[0189] Scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may refer to setting a time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310), a time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310), a time for performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320), and / or a time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320). Scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may also be referred to as scheduling of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication.

[0190] The electronic device (210) may consider the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication when performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320). The throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication may be determined as the sum of the throughputs of data transmitted / received via the first link (310) and data transmitted / received via the second link (320). The electronic device (210) may check (or monitor) the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication at designated intervals while the first short-range wireless communication is activated. The electronic device (210) may also determine the throughput required for the service activated through the first short-range wireless communication as the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication.

[0191] The throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication may be determined as the sum of the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first link (310) and data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320). In one example, the electronic device (210) may determine the throughput required for a service to be activated via the second short-range wireless communication as the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. Alternatively, the electronic device (210) may determine the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by considering the history of the service to be activated via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0192] The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0193] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may compare the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the short-range wireless communication with the higher throughput can occupy more of the second link (320). The frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz or 6 GHz) of the second link (320) may be higher than the frequency band (e.g., 2.4 GHz) of the first link (310), and the time required for data transmission and / or reception via the second link (320) may be less than the time required for data transmission and / or reception via the first link (310). Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can improve the quality of short-range wireless communication with higher throughput by scheduling the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that short-range wireless communication with higher throughput occupies more of the second link (320).

[0194] For example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is less than the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be longer than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0195] For another example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is greater than the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be shorter than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0196] The electronic device (210) can set a ratio of the first time and the second time based on a ratio of the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0197] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be the same when the throughput of the data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of the data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication are less than or equal to a specified size.

[0198] According to one example, when the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is smaller than a specified size of the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) to be longer than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320). For example, the length of the first time may be three times the length of the second time.

[0199] According to one example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is greater than a specified size of the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) to be shorter than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320). For example, the length of the second time may be three times the length of the first time.

[0200] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time and the second time based on a value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may set the ratio of the first time and the second time to be substantially equal to a value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication. For example, when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication is three times the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication, the length of the first time may be three times the length of the second time.

[0201] For example, as the value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication increases, the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) can be increased, and the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) can be decreased.

[0202] For another example, the electronic device (210) may decrease the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and increase the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) as the value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication decreases.

[0203] The electronic device (210) can reduce the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and increase the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) when the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication increases.

[0204] The electronic device (210) can schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) during a first period of time during which the second short-range wireless communication is performed through the second link (320). The electronic device (210) can schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) during a first period of time.

[0205] The electronic device (210) can schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) during a second time period during which the first short-range wireless communication is performed through the second link (320). The electronic device (210) can schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) and the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) during a second time period.

[0206] The example described above is an example in which the electronic device (210) performs scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on throughput. The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) by considering various parameters as well as throughput.

[0207] According to one example, the electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the characteristics of the first service performed via the first short-range wireless communication and the characteristics of the second service performed via the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) is longer than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320), when the first service is a service that is not sensitive to delay time (e.g., a streaming service, a small-capacity data download service) and the second service is a service that is sensitive to delay time (e.g., a screen mirroring service that displays a screen displayed on the display of the electronic device (210) on the display of another electronic device (e.g., a second external electronic device (220-b)), or a video call, a voice call, or a real-time broadcasting service that displays a screen displayed on the display of another electronic device (e.g., a second external electronic device (220-b)) on the display of the electronic device (210). Each processor may include one or more processors including a processing circuit.

[0208] According to one example, the electronic device (210) can set priorities of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication based on various parameters (e.g., throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication, characteristics of the first service performed via the first short-range wireless communication, throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and characteristics of the second service performed via the second short-range wireless communication). The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the priorities of the first short-range wireless communication and the priorities of the second short-range wireless communication.

[0209] As an example, the priority of short-range wireless communication can be set higher when the throughput is higher and the service via short-range wireless communication is a service that is sensitive to delay time.

[0210] The electronic device (210) can, in operation 730, perform first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period, and perform first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period.

[0211] The electronic device (210) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period.

[0212] The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support a power saving mode, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into the power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) to the first external electronic device (210-a) via the second link (320) before the start of the first time period (or during the second time period). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode through the second link (320), the first external electronic device (210-a) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the first period of time. The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) through the first link (310) to the second external electronic device (210-b) before the start of the first period of time (or during the second period of time).When the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal indicating that it is to enter a power saving mode via the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) via the first link (310) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the first period of time.

[0213] The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support a power saving mode, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into the power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) to the second external electronic device (210-b) via the second link (320) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period). When the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode through the second link (320), the second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a second period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the second period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the second period of time. Before the second period of time starts, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to a first value (e.g., 1)) to the first external electronic device (210-a) through the first link (310).When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal indicating that it is to enter a power saving mode via the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) via the first link (310) for a second period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the second period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the second period of time.

[0214] The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support TID-to-mapping, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal to the first external electronic device (210-a) to deactivate the second link (320) before the start of the first time period (or during the second time period), indicating that there is no data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal for deactivating the second link (320) through the second link (320), the first external electronic device (210-a) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the first period of time. The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal for deactivating the first link (310) to the second external electronic device (210-b) through the first link (310) before the first period of time starts (or during the second period of time). The second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the first link (310) for a first time period as it receives a signal to deactivate the first link (310) through the first link (310), and the electronic device (210) may not perform second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the first time period.Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) for the first time.

[0215] The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support TID-to-mapping, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal to the second external electronic device (210-b) to deactivate the second link (320) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period), indicating that there is no data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320). The second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a second time period when the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal for deactivating the second link (320) through the second link (320), and the electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the second time period. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the second time period. The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal for deactivating the first link (310) to the first external electronic device (210-a) through the first link (310) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal for disabling the first link (310) through the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the first link (310) for a second time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the second time.Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can perform a second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) for a second time.

[0216] The electronic device (210) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period. When the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (220-a), and the second external electronic device (220-b) support the TWT (Target wake time) protocol, the electronic device (210) can transmit parameters including a length of a first time, a start time of the first time, and / or an interval of the first time to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310), and can transmit parameters including a length of a second time, a start time of the second time, and / or an interval of the second time to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320). The electronic device (210) and the first external electronic device (220-a) can perform first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for a first time based on the length, start time, and / or interval of the first time, and can perform first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) for a second time based on the length, start time, and / or interval of the second time.

[0217] The electronic device (210) can transmit parameters including a length of a first time, a starting point of the first time, and / or an interval of the first time to a second external electronic device (220-b) via a second link (320), and can transmit parameters including a length of a second time, a starting point of the second time, and / or an interval of the second time to the second external electronic device (220-b) via the first link (310). The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform a second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) for the first time based on the length of the first time, the starting point, and / or the interval, and can perform the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the second time based on the length of the second time, the starting point, and / or the interval.

[0218] The electronic device (210) may, based on scheduling, check (or monitor) the extent to which the first short-range wireless communication and / or the second short-range wireless communication actually occupy the first link (310) and the second link (320) while performing the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication, and update (or modify) the scheduling based on the extent to which they actually occupy. In one example, the electronic device (210) may compare the time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) during the first time and the first time, and if the time for performing the second short-range wireless communication is less than or equal to a specified amount less than the first time, decrease the first time and increase the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320).

[0219] FIG. 8 is an operational flowchart (800) illustrating an operating method of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0220] An electronic device (e.g., electronic device (210) of FIG. 4) may detect activation of a second short-range wireless communication while performing a first short-range wireless communication using a first link (e.g., first link (310) of FIG. 3) and a second link (e.g., second link (320) of FIG. 3) in operation 810.

[0221] The electronic device (210) can perform a first short-range wireless communication using a first link (310) corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link (320) corresponding to a second frequency band (or in an MLO mode). The electronic device (210) can control the communication circuit (410) to transmit data to a first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310), or to receive data transmitted by the first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310), while transmitting data to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320), or to receive data transmitted by the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320).

[0222] In one example, the first short-range wireless communication may include Wi-Fi, the electronic device (210) may operate as an STA, and the first external electronic device (220-a) may operate as an AP. The electronic device (210) may transmit data to an external electronic device existing outside the short-range wireless communication system and / or receive data from an external electronic device existing outside the short-range wireless communication system via the first external electronic device (220-a).

[0223] The electronic device (210) can detect activation of the second short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication.

[0224] According to one example, the second short-range wireless communication may refer to short-range wireless communication between the electronic device (210) and a second external electronic device (e.g., the second external electronic device (220-b) of FIG. 3). For example, the second short-range wireless communication may include short-range wireless communication of any one of Wi-Fi direct and neighbor awareness networking (NAN). The second short-range wireless communication may be short-range wireless communication capable of transmitting and / or receiving data using the first link (310) and the second link (320). According to one example, the electronic device (210) may transmit data to a second external electronic device (220-b) using the first link (310) and / or receive data from the second external electronic device (220-b) using the first link (310), while transmitting data to the second external electronic device (220-b) using the second link (320) and / or receiving data from the second external electronic device (220-b) using the second link (320).

[0225] The electronic device (210) can, in operation 820, check the link and channel available for second short-range wireless communication.

[0226] The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform a series of operations to activate the second short-range wireless communication.

[0227] According to one example, when the second short-range wireless communication is NAN, the electronic device (210) can activate the second short-range wireless communication by participating in a NAN cluster including a second external electronic device (220-b). The electronic device (210) can receive a signal (e.g., a discovery beacon) transmitted by the second external electronic device (220-b) or another external electronic device included in the NAN cluster including the second external electronic device (220-b), and check information related to the NAN cluster included in the discovery beacon. The information related to the NAN cluster can include a start time, length, and period of a discovery window of the NAN cluster. The information related to the NAN cluster can include information indicating a channel of the second short-range wireless communication to be performed in the DW section. The electronic device (210) may receive messages exchanged in the process of establishing a NAN data path with a second external electronic device (220-b) and / or messages related to a schedule related to NAN communication (e.g., schedule update message), and may also check a channel of the second short-range wireless communication based on the received messages.

[0228] The electronic device (210) can receive information indicating a channel of short-range wireless communication and check the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the first link (310) to be used to perform the second short-range wireless communication.

[0229] The electronic device (210) can, at operation 830, check whether each of the first link (310) and the second link (320) can operate in SCC (single channel con-current).

[0230] The electronic device (210) can check whether the channel of the first link (310) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the first link (310) to be used to perform the second short-range wireless communication are the same.

[0231] The electronic device (210) can receive information indicating a channel of short-range wireless communication and check the channel of the second link (320) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the second link (320) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) can check whether the channel of the second link (320) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the second link (320) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication are the same.

[0232] For example, when the second short-range wireless communication is Wi-Fi direct, the electronic device (210) may, in the process of activating the second short-range wireless communication with the second external electronic device (220-b), negotiate (or determine) the channels of the first link (310) and the second link (320) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may check whether the channel of the first link (310) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the first link (310) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication are the same. The electronic device (210) may check whether the channel of the second link (320) used in performing the first short-range wireless communication and the channel of the second link (320) to be used in performing the second short-range wireless communication are the same.

[0233] When the electronic device (210) determines that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using the same channel of the first link (310) and that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using the same channel of the second link (320), separate scheduling operations for the first link and the second link may not be performed. When the electronic device (210) performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the first link (310) and that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using the same channel of the second link (320) (SCC), the electronic device (210) may simultaneously perform reception of a signal through the first short-range wireless communication and a signal through the second short-range wireless communication. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may not perform separate scheduling operations for the first link (310) and the second link (320). Not imposing separate restrictions on performing the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication on the first link (310) and the second link (320) may refer to not setting the electronic device (210) not to perform the first short-range wireless communication (or the second short-range wireless communication) through a specific link during a specific time or not setting the electronic device (210) to perform the first short-range wireless communication (or the second short-range wireless communication) through a specific link during a specific time. If the electronic device (210) does not impose separate restrictions on performing the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication in the first link (310) and in the second link (320), the transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and the transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication can be performed sequentially through a contention process.

[0234] When the electronic device (210) confirms that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using different channels of the first link (310) and that the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication are performed using different channels of the second link (320), the electronic device (210) can perform scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0235] The electronic device (210) performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the first link (310), and performs the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication using the same channel of the second link (320). However, if it is confirmed that the service using the first short-range wireless communication and / or the second short-range wireless communication is a designated service type (e.g., a service type indicating a service sensitive to delay time (e.g., a voice call, a video call)), the electronic device (210) can perform scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0236] The electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on whether the first link (310) and the second link (320) can be set to SCC, the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication, and / or the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, in operation 840.

[0237] Scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may refer to setting a time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310), a time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310), a time for performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320), and / or a time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320). Scheduling for the first link (310) and the second link (320) may also be referred to as scheduling of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication.

[0238] The electronic device (210) may consider the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication when performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320). The throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication may be determined as the sum of the throughputs of data transmitted / received via the first link (310) and data transmitted / received via the second link (320). The electronic device (210) may check (or monitor) the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication at designated intervals while the first short-range wireless communication is activated. The electronic device (210) may also determine the throughput required for the service activated through the first short-range wireless communication as the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication.

[0239] The throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication may be determined as the sum of the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first link (310) and data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320). In one example, the electronic device (210) may determine the throughput required for a service to be activated via the second short-range wireless communication as the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. Alternatively, the electronic device (210) may determine the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by considering the history of the service to be activated via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0240] The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0241] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may compare the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the short-range wireless communication with the higher throughput can occupy more of the second link (320). The frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz or 6 GHz) of the second link (320) may be higher than the frequency band (e.g., 2.4 GHz) of the first link (310), and the time required for data transmission and / or reception via the second link (320) may be less than the time required for data transmission and / or reception via the first link (310). Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can improve the quality of short-range wireless communication with higher throughput by scheduling the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that short-range wireless communication with higher throughput occupies more of the second link (320).

[0242] For example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is less than the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be longer than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0243] For another example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication is greater than the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be shorter than the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320).

[0244] The electronic device (210) can set a ratio of the first time and the second time based on a ratio of the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0245] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) to be the same when the throughput of the data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of the data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication are less than or equal to a specified size.

[0246] According to one example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is smaller than (or exceeds) a specified size of the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) to be longer than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320). For example, the length of the first time may be three times the length of the second time.

[0247] According to one example, if the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is greater than (or exceeds) a specified size of the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) to be shorter than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320). For example, the length of the second time may be three times the length of the first time.

[0248] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may set the length of the first time and the second time based on a value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may set the ratio of the first time and the second time to be substantially equal to a value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication. For example, when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication is three times the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication, the length of the first time may be three times the length of the second time.

[0249] For example, as the value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication increases, the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) can be increased, and the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) can be decreased.

[0250] For another example, the electronic device (210) may decrease the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and increase the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) as the value (ratio) obtained by dividing the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication by the throughput of data transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication decreases.

[0251] The electronic device (210) can increase the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) and decrease the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) when the throughput of data transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication increases.

[0252] The electronic device (210) can schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) during a first period of time during which the second short-range wireless communication is performed through the second link (320). The electronic device (210) can schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) during a first period of time.

[0253] The electronic device (210) can schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) during a second time period during which the first short-range wireless communication is performed through the second link (320). The electronic device (210) can schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) to perform the second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) and the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) during a second time period.

[0254] The example described above is an example in which the electronic device (210) performs scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on throughput. The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) by considering various parameters as well as throughput.

[0255] According to one example, the electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the characteristics of the first service performed via the first short-range wireless communication and the characteristics of the second service performed via the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) may schedule the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the length of the first time for performing the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) is longer than the length of the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320), when the first service is a service that is not sensitive to delay time (e.g., a streaming service, a small-capacity data download service) and the second service is a service that is sensitive to delay time (e.g., a screen mirroring service that displays a screen displayed on the display of the electronic device (210) on the display of another electronic device (e.g., a second external electronic device (220-b)), or a video call, a voice call, or a real-time broadcasting service that displays a screen displayed on the display of another electronic device (e.g., a second external electronic device (220-b)) on the display of the electronic device (210).

[0256] According to one example, the electronic device (210) can set priorities of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication based on various parameters (e.g., throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication, characteristics of the first service performed via the first short-range wireless communication, throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and characteristics of the second service performed via the second short-range wireless communication). The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the priorities of the first short-range wireless communication and the priorities of the second short-range wireless communication.

[0257] As an example, the priority of short-range wireless communication can be set higher when the throughput is higher and the service via short-range wireless communication is a service that is sensitive to delay time.

[0258] The electronic device (210) can perform first short-range wireless communication and second short-range wireless communication based on scheduling in operation 850.

[0259] The electronic device (210) can simultaneously perform reception (531) of data using the first short-range wireless communication and reception (532) of data using the second short-range wireless communication in a state where the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) cannot simultaneously perform transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication in a state where the channel of the second link (320) used to perform the second short-range wireless communication is the same as the first channel of the second link (320) used to perform the first short-range wireless communication, and transmission of data using the first short-range wireless communication and transmission of data using the second short-range wireless communication can be sequentially performed through a contention process.

[0260] The electronic device (210) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period.

[0261] The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support a power saving mode, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into the power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) to the first external electronic device (210-a) via the second link (320) before the start of the first time period (or during the second time period). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode through the second link (320), the first external electronic device (210-a) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the first period of time. The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) through the first link (310) to the second external electronic device (210-b) before the start of the first period of time (or during the second period of time).When the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal indicating that it is to enter a power saving mode via the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) via the first link (310) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the first period of time.

[0262] The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support a power saving mode, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into the power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to the first value (e.g., 1)) to the second external electronic device (210-b) via the second link (320) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period). When the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode through the second link (320), the second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a second period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the second period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the second period of time. The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal indicating entry into a power saving mode (e.g., a null data frame in which the PM bit is set to a first value (e.g., 1)) through the first link (310) to the first external electronic device (210-a) before the second period of time starts (or during the first period of time).When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal indicating that it is to enter a power saving mode via the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) via the first link (310) for a second period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the second period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the second period of time.

[0263] The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support TID-to-mapping, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal to the first external electronic device (210-a) to deactivate the second link (320) before the start of the first time period (or during the second time period), indicating that there is no data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal for deactivating the second link (320) through the second link (320), the first external electronic device (210-a) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a first period of time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the first period of time. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the second short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the first period of time. The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal for deactivating the first link (310) to the second external electronic device (210-b) through the first link (310) before the first period of time starts (or during the second period of time). The second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the first link (310) for a first time period as it receives a signal to deactivate the first link (310) through the first link (310), and the electronic device (210) may not perform second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the first time period.Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can perform the first short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) for the first time.

[0264] The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period based on scheduling. In one example, when the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (210-a), and / or the second external electronic device (210-b) support TID-to-mapping, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal to the second external electronic device (210-b) to deactivate the second link (320) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period), indicating that there is no data to be transmitted / received via the second link (320). The second external electronic device (210-b) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the second link (320) for a second time period when the second external electronic device (210-b) receives a signal for deactivating the second link (320) through the second link (320), and the electronic device (210) may not perform the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for the second time period. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may perform the first short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) for the second time period. The electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to transmit a signal for deactivating the first link (310) to the first external electronic device (210-a) through the first link (310) before the second time period starts (or during the first time period). When the first external electronic device (210-a) receives a signal for disabling the first link (310) through the first link (310), the electronic device (210) may not transmit data to the electronic device (210) through the first link (310) for a second time, and the electronic device (210) may not perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for the second time.Accordingly, the electronic device (210) can perform a second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) for a second time.

[0265] The electronic device (210) can control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period based on scheduling, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period. When the electronic device (210), the first external electronic device (220-a), and the second external electronic device (220-b) support the TWT (Target wake time) protocol, the electronic device (210) can transmit parameters including a length of a first time, a start time of the first time, and / or an interval of the first time to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the first link (310), and can transmit parameters including a length of a second time, a start time of the second time, and / or an interval of the second time to the first external electronic device (220-a) through the second link (320). The electronic device (210) and the first external electronic device (220-a) can perform first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for a first time based on the length, start time, and / or interval of the first time, and can perform first short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) for a second time based on the length, start time, and / or interval of the second time.

[0266] The electronic device (210) can transmit parameters including a length of a first time, a starting point of the first time, and / or an interval of the first time to a second external electronic device (220-b) via a second link (320), and can transmit parameters including a length of a second time, a starting point of the second time, and / or an interval of the second time to the second external electronic device (220-b) via the first link (310). The electronic device (210) and the second external electronic device (220-b) can perform a second short-range wireless communication via the second link (320) for the first time based on the length of the first time, the starting point, and / or the interval, and can perform the first short-range wireless communication via the first link (310) for the second time based on the length of the second time, the starting point, and / or the interval.

[0267] The electronic device (210) may, based on scheduling, check (or monitor) the extent to which the first short-range wireless communication and / or the second short-range wireless communication actually occupy the first link (310) and the second link (320) while performing the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication, and update (or modify) the scheduling based on the extent to which they actually occupy. In one example, the electronic device (210) may compare the time for performing the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) during the first time and the first time, and if the time for performing the second short-range wireless communication is lower than the first time by a specified amount or more, decrease the first time and increase the second time for performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320).

[0268] FIG. 9 is an operational flowchart (900) illustrating an operating method of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0269] An electronic device (e.g., electronic device (210) of FIG. 4) may detect activation of a third short-range wireless communication while performing first short-range wireless communication and second short-range wireless communication using a first link (e.g., first link (310) of FIG. 3) and a second link (e.g., second link (320) of FIG. 3) in operation 910.

[0270] The electronic device (210) may detect activation of a third short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication. The third short-range wireless communication may include various short-range wireless communications that the electronic device (210) and the third external electronic device (220-c) can support. For example, the third short-range wireless communication may be either a mobile hotspot or a Soft AP.

[0271] The electronic device (210) may be configured to perform the third short-range wireless communication through one of the first link (310) and the second link (320) in operation 920.

[0272] The electronic device (210) may set the third short-range wireless communication to be performed via either the first link (310) or the second link (320) upon detecting activation of the third short-range wireless communication. If the third short-range wireless communication is a short-range wireless communication that requires continuous transmission and / or reception of signals (e.g., a Soft AP may require the electronic device (210) to transmit a beacon signal at designated intervals), the third short-range wireless communication may be required to occupy a single or exclusive link. Accordingly, the electronic device (210) may ensure (or improve) the quality of a service using the third short-range wireless communication by setting the third short-range wireless communication to be performed via either the first link (310) or the second link (320).

[0273] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may compare the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated via the third short-range wireless communication) with the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication, and select a link to be allocated to the third short-range wireless communication based on the comparison result.

[0274] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) using a lower frequency band when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated through the third short-range wireless communication) is less than the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0275] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the second link (320) using a higher frequency band when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated through the third short-range wireless communication) is greater than the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0276] The electronic device (210) can be configured to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication through the other link among the first link (310) and the second link (320) in operation 930.

[0277] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication through a second link (320) using a higher frequency band when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated through the third short-range wireless communication) is less than the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0278] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may control the communication circuit (410) to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) using a lower frequency band when the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication (e.g., the minimum throughput required by a service to be activated through the third short-range wireless communication) is greater than the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0279] The electronic device (210) can determine a third length of time during which the first short-range wireless communication occupies another link and a fourth length of time during which the second short-range wireless communication occupies another link based on the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device (210) can perform scheduling of the other link based on the determined length.

[0280] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of another link so that the length of the third time is longer than the length of the fourth time when the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is greater than the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0281] According to one example, the electronic device (210) may perform scheduling of another link so that the length of the third time is shorter than the length of the fourth time when the throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication is less than the throughput of data transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0282] According to an example, an electronic device may include a communication circuit (410) that supports a plurality of short-range wireless communications, including a first short-range wireless communication and a second short-range wireless communication. The electronic device may include a memory (430) that stores at least one computer program. The electronic device may include at least one processor (420). The at least one computer program may include instructions that, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor (420), cause the electronic device to detect activation of a second short-range wireless communication while performing the first short-range wireless communication using a first link (310) corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link (320) corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The instructions may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on a first throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and a second throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The instructions may cause the electronic device to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period (505, 515), and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period (506, 516), based on the scheduling.

[0283] In an electronic device according to an example, the length of the first time (505, 515) and the length of the second time (506, 516) can be determined based on the first throughput and the second throughput.

[0284] In an electronic device according to an example, the ratio of the first time (505, 515) and the second time (506, 516) can be determined based on the ratio of the first throughput and the second throughput.

[0285] In an electronic device according to an example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor (420), may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) such that a length of the second time (506, 516) is greater than a length of the first time (505, 515) when the first throughput is greater than the second throughput.

[0286] In an electronic device according to an example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor (420), may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) such that a length of the first time (505, 515) and / or a length of the second time (506, 516) changes when the first throughput and / or the second throughput changes.

[0287] In an electronic device according to an example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor (420), may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) such that a first latency of one of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication is lower than a second latency of the other short-range wireless communication, or a throughput of one of the short-range wireless communication is higher than a throughput of the other short-range wireless communication.

[0288] In an electronic device according to an example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor (420), may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on characteristics of a first service performed via the first short-range wireless communication and characteristics of a second service performed via the second short-range wireless communication.

[0289] In an electronic device according to an example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor (420), may cause the electronic device to perform the third short-range wireless communication through one of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on detecting activation of the third short-range wireless communication, and to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication through the other of the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0290] In an electronic device according to an example, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the at least one processor (420), may cause the electronic device to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) when the throughput of data transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication is less than the first throughput and / or the second throughput.

[0291] In an electronic device according to one example, the third short-range wireless communication may include a Soft AP.

[0292] According to an example, a computer-readable recording medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor (420) of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform, the instructions may cause the electronic device to detect activation of a second short-range wireless communication while performing a first short-range wireless communication using a first link (310) corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link (320) corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The instructions may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on a first throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and a second throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The above instructions may cause the electronic device to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period (505, 515), and to perform the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period (506, 516), based on the scheduling.

[0293] In a recording medium according to an example, the length of the first time (505, 515) and the length of the second time (506, 516) can be determined based on the first throughput and the second throughput.

[0294] In a recording medium according to an example, the ratio of the first time (505, 515) and the second time (506, 516) can be determined based on the ratio of the first throughput and the second throughput.

[0295] In a recording medium according to an example, the instructions may cause the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) such that the length of the second time (506, 516) is greater than the length of the first time (505, 515) when the first throughput is greater than the second throughput.

[0296] The scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) can be performed so that the first latency of one of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication is lower than the second latency of the other short-range wireless communication, or the throughput of one of the short-range wireless communication is higher than the throughput of the other short-range wireless communication.

[0297] In a recording medium according to an example, the instructions enable the electronic device to perform scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on characteristics of a first service performed through the first short-range wireless communication and characteristics of a second service performed through the second short-range wireless communication.

[0298] In a recording medium according to an example, the instructions may set the electronic device to perform the third short-range wireless communication through one of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on detecting activation of the third short-range wireless communication. The instructions may set the electronic device to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication through the other of the first link (310) and the second link (320).

[0299] In an electronic device according to an example, the instructions may set the electronic device to perform the third short-range wireless communication through the first link (310) when the throughput of data transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication is less than the first throughput and / or the second throughput.

[0300] An operating method of an electronic device according to an example may include an operation of detecting activation of a second short-range wireless communication while performing a first short-range wireless communication using a first link (310) corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link (320) corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The operating method of the electronic device may include an operation of performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on a first throughput of data transmitted / received via the first short-range wireless communication and a second throughput of data to be transmitted / received via the second short-range wireless communication. The method of operating the electronic device may include, based on the scheduling, performing the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period (505, 515), and performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period (506, 516).

[0301] In a method of operating an electronic device according to an example, the first time (505, 515) and the second time (506, 516) can be determined based on the first throughput and the second throughput.

[0302] According to an example, an electronic device may include a communication circuit (410) that supports a plurality of short-range wireless communication protocols, including a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol. The electronic device may include a processor (420). The processor (420) may receive a request related to a second short-range wireless communication corresponding to the second short-range wireless communication protocol from a second external device, different from the first external device, through the communication circuit while the first short-range wireless communication corresponding to the first short-range wireless communication protocol is performed with respect to the first external device through a first link corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link corresponding to a second frequency band. The processor (420) may be configured to control the communication circuitry such that, based at least in part on the request, while the first short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the first external device via the first link and not via the second link, the second short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the second external device via the second link, or while the first short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the first external device via the first link in a first time interval and via the second link in a second time interval different from the first time interval, the second short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the second external device via the second link and the first link in the first time interval and the second time interval, respectively.

[0303] In an electronic device according to an example, the first short-range wireless communication protocol may correspond to one of a Station (STA) interface, a Peer to Peer (P2P) interface, a Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) interface, and a Soft Access Point (AP) interface, and the second short-range wireless communication protocol may correspond to another of the STA interface, the P2P interface, the NAN interface, and the Soft AP interface.

[0304] In an electronic device according to one example, the second frequency band may be substantially different from the first frequency band.

[0305] In an electronic device according to an example, the second frequency band may be substantially the same frequency band as the first frequency band. The second channel of the second link may be different from the first channel of the first link.

[0306] In an electronic device according to one example, the processor may be configured to control the communication circuit such that, while the first and second short-range wireless communications are performed simultaneously, a first latency corresponding to one of the first or second short-range wireless communications is lower than a second latency corresponding to the other of the first or second short-range wireless communications, or a first throughput corresponding to one short-range wireless communication is higher than a second throughput corresponding to the other of the short-range wireless communications, based at least on information related to the first and second short-range wireless communications.

[0307] In an electronic device according to one example, the information related to the first and second short-range wireless communications may include at least one of traffic usage of the first short-range wireless communication, quality of service (QoS) corresponding to the first short-range wireless communication, traffic demand of the second short-range wireless communication, or QoS corresponding to the second short-range wireless communication.

[0308] In an electronic device according to one example, the processor may identify the second short-range wireless communication and the first short-range wireless communication as the one short-range wireless communication and the other short-range wireless communication, respectively. The processor may be configured to control the communication circuit such that the first link and the second link are allocated to the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication, respectively, if a fourth latency corresponding to the second link is lower than a third latency corresponding to the first link or a fourth throughput corresponding to the second link is higher than a third throughput corresponding to the first link.

[0309] In an electronic device according to one example, the processor may identify the second short-range wireless communication and the first short-range wireless communication as the one short-range wireless communication and the other short-range wireless communication, respectively. The processor may be configured to control the communication circuit such that the first time interval is longer than the second time interval if the fourth latency corresponding to the second link is lower than the third latency corresponding to the first link or the fourth throughput corresponding to the second link is higher than the third throughput corresponding to the first link.

[0310] In an electronic device according to one example, the processor may be configured to control the communication circuit such that the first short-range wireless communication is performed through the first channel of the first link in the first time interval, and the second short-range wireless communication is performed through the first channel of the first link in the second time interval.

[0311] In an electronic device according to one example, the processor may be configured to control the communication circuit such that the first short-range wireless communication is performed through a first channel of the first link in the first time interval, and the second short-range wireless communication is performed through a second channel of the first link that is different from the first channel in the second time interval.

[0312] In an electronic device according to one example, the processor may control the communication circuit such that, while the first and second short-range wireless communications are performed simultaneously, the lengths of each of the first time interval and the second time interval are adjusted at least based on traffic information (traffic usage rate) of each communication of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication for each link of the first link and the second links.

[0313] An electronic device according to an example may include a communication circuit that supports a plurality of short-range wireless communication protocols, including a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol. The electronic device may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a request related to a third short-range wireless communication from a third external device through the communication circuit while first and second short-range wireless communications, respectively corresponding to the first short-range wireless communication protocol and the second short-range wireless communication protocol, are simultaneously performed with respect to a first external device and a second external device through a first link corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link corresponding to a second frequency band. The processor may be configured to control the communication circuitry so that, based at least in part on the request, the second short-range wireless communication and the third short-range wireless communication are performed with respect to the second external device and the third external device via the second link, respectively, in different first and second time intervals, while the first short-range wireless communication is performed with respect to the first external device via the first link and not via the second link.

[0314] In an electronic device according to one example, the processor may be configured to control the communication circuit such that, while the first, second, and third short-range wireless communications are performed simultaneously, a first latency corresponding to the first short-range wireless communication is lower than a second latency corresponding to the second short-range wireless communication and a third latency corresponding to the third short-range wireless communication, or a first throughput corresponding to the first short-range wireless communication is higher than a second throughput corresponding to the second short-range wireless communication and a third throughput corresponding to the third short-range wireless communication.

[0315] In an electronic device according to one example, the processor may be configured to control the communication circuit such that the second time interval is longer than the third time interval such that the second latency is lower than the third latency or the second throughput is higher than the third throughput.

Claims

In electronic devices, A communication circuit (410) supporting a plurality of short-range wireless communications including a first short-range wireless communication and a second short-range wireless communication; A memory (430) storing at least one computer program; and comprising at least one processor (420), The at least one computer program, when executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor (420), causes the electronic device to: While performing the first short-range wireless communication using a first link (310) corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link (320) corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, activation of the second short-range wireless communication is detected, Based on the first throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and the second throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication, scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) is performed, An electronic device storing instructions for performing the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period (505, 515) based on the scheduling, and performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period (506, 516). In the first paragraph, The length of the first time (505, 515) and the length of the second time (506, 516) are An electronic device determined based on the first throughput and the second throughput. In any one of the first and second paragraphs, The ratio of the above first time (505, 515) and the above second time (506, 516) is An electronic device determined based on a ratio of the first throughput and the second throughput. In any one of the first to third paragraphs, The above instructions, when executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor (420), cause the electronic device to: An electronic device that performs scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the length of the second time (506, 516) is greater than the length of the first time (505, 515) when the first throughput is greater than the second throughput. In any one of claims 1 to 4, The above instructions, when executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor (420), cause the electronic device to: An electronic device that performs scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the length of the first time (505, 515) and / or the length of the second time (506, 516) changes when the first throughput and / or the second throughput changes. In any one of claims 1 to 5, The above instructions, when executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor (420), cause the electronic device to: The first latency of one of the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication is lower than the second latency of the other short-range wireless communication, or An electronic device that performs scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the throughput of one of the short-range wireless communications is higher than the throughput of the other short-range wireless communications. In any one of claims 1 to 6, The above instructions, when executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor (420), cause the electronic device to: An electronic device that performs scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on the characteristics of the first service performed through the first short-range wireless communication and the characteristics of the second service performed through the second short-range wireless communication. In any one of claims 1 to 7, The above instructions, when executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor (420), cause the electronic device to: Based on detecting the activation of the third short-range wireless communication, the third short-range wireless communication is set to be performed through one of the first link (310) and the second link (320), An electronic device configured to perform the first short-range wireless communication and the second short-range wireless communication through another link among the first link (310) and the second link (320). In any one of claims 1 to 8, The above instructions, when executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor (420), cause the electronic device to: An electronic device configured to set the third short-range wireless communication to be performed through the first link (310) when the throughput of data transmitted / received through the third short-range wireless communication is less than the first throughput and / or the second throughput. In any one of claims 1 to 9, The above third short-range wireless communication An electronic device containing a Soft AP. In a method of operating an electronic device, An operation of detecting activation of a second short-range wireless communication while performing a first short-range wireless communication using a first link (310) corresponding to a first frequency band and a second link (320) corresponding to a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band; An operation of performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) based on a first throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the first short-range wireless communication and a second throughput of data to be transmitted / received through the second short-range wireless communication; An operating method of an electronic device, comprising: performing the first short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) and the second short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) for a first time period (505, 515) based on the scheduling; and performing the first short-range wireless communication using the second link (320) and the second short-range wireless communication using the first link (310) for a second time period (506, 516). In paragraph 11, The length of the first time (505, 515) and the length of the second time (506, 516) are An operating method of an electronic device determined based on the first throughput and the second throughput. In any one of the 11th to 12th clauses, The ratio of the above first time (505, 515) and the above second time (506, 516) is An operating method of an electronic device determined based on a ratio of the first throughput and the second throughput. In any one of claims 11 to 13, The operation of performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) is An operating method of an electronic device, comprising an operation of performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) such that the length of the second time (506, 516) is greater than the length of the first time (505, 515) when the first throughput is greater than the second throughput. In any one of claims 11 to 14, The operation of performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) is An operating method of an electronic device, comprising an operation of performing scheduling of the first link (310) and the second link (320) so that the length of the first time (505, 515) and / or the length of the second time (506, 516) changes when the first throughput and / or the second throughput changes.

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