Cooperative Transceiving Bus for WLAN Bluetooth Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
The interference between WLAN and Bluetooth technologies, which share the same 2.4 GHz frequency band, leads to degraded data throughput, reduced voice quality, and link disconnection due to mutual interference, especially when implemented on a single chip and sharing radio components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cooperative transceiving method where wireless interface devices communicate via a high-speed data bus to coordinate their activities, optimize packet sizes, and adaptively adjust frequency hopping sequences to minimize interference, allowing for concurrent operation without adverse effects on performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If WLAN and Bluetooth share the same 2.4 GHz frequency band, then device integration and spectrum utilization are improved, but mutual interference occurs leading to degraded data throughput and voice quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements time-division multiplexing where WLAN and Bluetooth transmissions are scheduled in periodic time slots. The WLAN interface transmits during designated WLAN time slots while Bluetooth transmits during Bluetooth time slots, creating a periodic alternating pattern that eliminates simultaneous transmissions and prevents mutual interference while maintaining high spectrum utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters including data rates, packet sizes, and time slot allocations based on real-time channel conditions and traffic requirements. The WLAN interface can adapt its data rate between different PHY modes (e.g., 11 Mbps, 54 Mbps) and the system dynamically optimizes packet dimensions to balance throughput and latency for both WLAN and Bluetooth communications
2Device complexity
If WLAN and Bluetooth are implemented on a single chip sharing radio components, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but interference between the two technologies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single chip implements time-division multiplexing with dedicated transmit and receive time slots for WLAN and Bluetooth. During WLAN transmit slots, the Bluetooth receiver is muted, and during Bluetooth transmit slots, the WLAN receiver is muted. This periodic activation pattern prevents self-interference while maintaining component sharing benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coexistence manager as an intermediary layer that coordinates between WLAN and Bluetooth protocols. This manager implements a coexistence interface that exchanges status information and control signals, mediating resource allocation and transmission scheduling to eliminate interference while both protocols operate on the same chip
3Reliability
If frequency hopping is used to reduce interference, then signal robustness is improved, but implementation complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic frequency hopping where both WLAN and Bluetooth interfaces hop to predetermined frequencies at scheduled intervals. The hopping pattern is synchronized and periodic, allowing the receivers to anticipate and tune to the correct frequencies at the right times, reducing processing complexity compared to aperiodic hopping while maintaining signal robustness
Solution Approach 2:
The frequency hopping sequences are predetermined and pre-synchronized between transmitting and receiving devices. The hopping pattern is established in advance through synchronization protocols, allowing devices to prepare their frequency tuning in advance rather than computing hop frequencies in real-time, thereby reducing processing overhead while maintaining robustness
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit includes a first wireless interface circuit that communicates packetized data to a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol. A second wireless interface circuit communicates packetized data to a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol. A plurality of signal lines communicate at least four lines of cooperation data between the first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit, wherein the cooperation data relates to cooperate transceiving in a common frequency spectrum.