Multi-radio Controller for Co-located Transceiver Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-radio devices with co-located transceivers for wireless wide area and local area networks often experience interference between their communications, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A multi-radio controller coordinates the activities of WWAN and WLAN transceivers to mitigate interference by configuring the WLAN transceiver to transmit triggering frames after WWAN active periods, allowing downlink data frames to be received during designated transmission opportunities, and employing power-saving delivery modes and reverse direction protocols to manage traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radio transceivers are co-located in a single device to enable communication with multiple wireless networks, then the device's communication versatility and functionality are improved, but interference between the transceivers occurs and communication reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic time-division multiplexing where WWAN and WLAN transceivers are activated in alternating time slots. The WWAN transceiver operates during designated WWAN time slots while the WLAN transceiver is muted, then roles reverse in subsequent slots. This periodic switching prevents simultaneous transmission and reception that causes interference, while maintaining both communication networks' functionality through systematic time allocation.
2Reliability
If time-division multiplexing is implemented to reduce interference between transceivers, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multi-radio controller as an intermediary component that centrally manages and coordinates the operation of multiple transceivers. This controller receives buffer status reports from each transceiver queue, determines optimal time slot allocations, and controls transceiver activation/deactivation. By centralizing coordination functions in a dedicated controller rather than distributing complexity across transceivers, the system achieves reliable time-division multiplexing while managing device complexity through functional specialization.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a multi-radio controller and methods for preventing interference between co-located transceivers are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the multi-radio controller operates within a multi-radio device and is configured to cause a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver to transmit a triggering frame after an active period of a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) transceiver. The triggering frame indicates the duration of a transmission opportunity, which may be restricted to the time between active periods of the WWAN. In response to receipt of the triggering frame, the WLAN access point is configured to transmit a downlink data frame within the transmission opportunity.