Cooperative Wireless Interface Scheduling for Shared Radio Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

The interference between WLAN and Bluetooth technologies, when implemented on a single chip and sharing radio components, leads to degraded data throughput, reduced voice quality, and link disconnection due to mutual interference, particularly in collocated devices.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a high-speed data bus for wireless interface devices to communicate and coordinate their activities, allowing them to cooperate in transceiving and share resources, such as power amplifiers and oscillators, to minimize interference by optimizing packet transmission and scheduling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If WLAN and Bluetooth share radio components on a single chip, then device complexity is reduced and power consumption is lowered, but interference occurs leading to degraded data throughput and voice quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoiddata throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the radio resource allocation by creating separate resource pools for WLAN and Bluetooth communications within the shared radio components. The base station divides available time-frequency resources into distinct segments that can be dynamically assigned to different wireless technologies, preventing mutual interference while maintaining shared hardware architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation mechanisms where the base station continuously adjusts the allocation of time-frequency resources between WLAN and Bluetooth based on current traffic demands and channel conditions. This dynamic segmentation allows the system to adaptively optimize throughput for both technologies without requiring dedicated fixed resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If WLAN and Bluetooth share radio components on a single chip, then device complexity is reduced, but interference leads to reduced voice quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidvoice quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by creating isolated resource pools specifically allocated for voice traffic in both WLAN and Bluetooth systems. By segmenting the shared radio resources into dedicated voice channels with protected time slots and frequency bands, the system ensures reliable voice quality while maintaining the benefits of shared hardware architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates resource allocation between WLAN and Bluetooth systems. It implements a centralized scheduling mechanism that mediates access to shared radio components, ensuring that voice traffic from both technologies receives appropriate priority and protection from interference through coordinated resource assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If WLAN and Bluetooth operate simultaneously on shared radio components, then power consumption is reduced, but mutual interference causes link disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidlink stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic time-division multiplexing where WLAN and Bluetooth operations are scheduled in alternating time slots through the base station. During allocated periods, one technology transmits while the other remains in low-power receive or sleep mode, eliminating mutual interference while maintaining relatively low overall power consumption through this periodic operational pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station serves as an intermediary coordinator that manages simultaneous operations of WLAN and Bluetooth by implementing a centralized scheduling algorithm. It allocates time-frequency resources periodically and ensures that transmissions from both technologies do not overlap in a way that causes interference, thereby maintaining link stability while enabling energy-efficient shared hardware operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9265089B2Cooperative transceiving between wireless interface devices of a host device with shared modules

Publication Date: 2016.02.16 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

A circuit includes a first wireless interface circuit that transceives packetized data between a host module and a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol, wherein the first wireless protocol carries wireless telephony data for communication with a wireless telephony network. A second wireless interface circuit transceives packetized data between the host module and a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol. The second wireless interface circuit includes at least one module that is shared with first wireless interface circuit. The first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit operate in accordance with a wireless interface schedule that includes a first time interval where the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device contemporaneously use the at least one module.