Wireless Network Interface Component Sharing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless network devices, the coexistence of multiple wireless protocols such as WiMAX, WLAN, and Bluetooth, which share components, faces challenges in managing interference and ensuring efficient communication due to overlapping frequency usage and the need for coordinated component usage.

Innovation Solution

A wireless network interface with a component sharing control module that selectively transitions between states to allow different sub-client modules to use shared components, such as antennas and RF subsystems, while minimizing interference by reducing signal power and scheduling transmissions to prevent conflicts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If multiple wireless protocol sub-client modules (WiMAX, WLAN, Bluetooth) share common components (antenna, RF subsystems, baseband processors) to reduce device cost, then device manufacturing cost is reduced, but interference between protocols occurs and communication reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice manufacturing costVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic state transitions for sub-client modules, allowing them to enter sleep states when not actively communicating. The component sharing control module dynamically allocates shared components (antenna, RF subsystems) to active sub-clients, preventing interference while maintaining cost efficiency through component sharing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The component sharing control module acts as an intermediary between multiple sub-client modules sharing common components. It coordinates access to shared resources, manages state transitions, and prevents conflicts, thereby ensuring communication reliability while enabling cost-effective component sharing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If sub-client modules operate simultaneously using shared components, then communication throughput is improved, but interference between different wireless protocols increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication throughputVSAvoidinterference between protocols

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic time slot allocation where sub-client modules are assigned specific time windows for communication using shared components. During each time slot, only the designated active sub-client uses the shared antenna and RF subsystems, eliminating interference while maintaining overall system throughput through continuous periodic operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the first sub-client module enters sleep state to allow second sub-client module to use components, then component utilization efficiency is improved, but the first sub-client module may miss scheduled transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent utilization efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The component sharing control module performs preliminary actions by checking transmission schedules before allowing sub-client modules to enter sleep states. It ensures that sleep transitions occur only when no scheduled transmissions are pending, preventing data loss while maximizing component utilization efficiency during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1969772B1Coexistence system and method for wireless network devices

Publication Date: 2019.02.20 MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD

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AI summary

A wireless network interface includes a component, a first sub-client module that operates using a first wireless protocol, and a second sub-client module that operates using a second wireless protocol. The first and second wireless protocols are different. The first and second sub-client modules share use of the component. A component sharing control module selectively transitions the first sub-client module into and out of a state to allow the second sub-client module to use the component during the state.