Coexistence techniques in wireless networks

Abstract

Techniques are provided for frequency coordination among two different wireless network protocols, such as the IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth protocols, operating in proximity with one another. Coordination is accomplished by the use of a first radio transceiver operating in accordance with a first communication protocol (which may be the 802.11 protocol) and using a frequency band (which may be the 2.4 GHz band), a base station connected to a wired network and operating in accordance with the first communication protocol, a second radio transceiver operating in accordance with a second communication protocol (which may be the Bluetooth protocol) and using the frequency band, and a coordinator associated with the base station for, in turn, activating the first radio transceiver, deactivating the first radio transceiver, activating the second radio transceiver, and deactivating the second radio transceiver.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A method for operating a wireless data communications system having an access point and at least one mobile unit associated with said access point using a first wireless protocol, wherein said mobile unit is arranged to conduct wireless data communications with other units using a second wireless protocol, comprising: 
 transmitting periodic beacon signals from said access point according to said first wireless protocol;    transmitting global clear to send signals from said access point according to said first wireless protocol, said global clear to send signals preventing mobile units from transmitting signals using said first data communications protocol during an allocated time interval within said beacon signal period;    controlling said access point to avoid transmissions during said allocated time interval;    operating said mobile unit in response to said global clear to send signal to conduct wireless communications acting as a master unit using said second wireless protocol during said allocated time interval.    
   
   
       30 . A method as specified in  claim 29  wherein said first wireless data communications protocol is the IEEE 802.11 protocol.  
   
   
       31 . A method as specified in  claim 30  wherein said second wireless communication protocol is Bluetooth.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 29  wherein said beacon signal period is divided into three time intervals, and wherein said access point conducts power saving mode data communications during a first time interval, wherein said allocated time interval is a second time interval and wherein said access point conducts data communications using said first wireless protocol during a third time interval.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein said first time interval is immediately following said beacon signal.  
   
   
       34 . A method as specified in  claim 32  wherein said first wireless data communications protocol is the IEEE 802.11 protocol.  
   
   
       35 . A method as specified in  claim 34  wherein said second wireless communication protocol is Bluetooth.  
   
   
       36 . A method of operating a data communications system using a master-slave protocol, wherein a master transceiver transmits to slave units during first even time slots and wherein slave units transmit to said master unit during odd time slots, and wherein said transmissions follow a predetermined frequency hop pattern at a hop rate corresponding to said time slots, comprising: 
 operating said master unit during a first time period of each time slot to detect interfering signals at a frequency corresponding to the following time slot, and    inhibiting transmission by said master transceiver during even time slots if interfering signals have been detected during either of the current or previous time slots.    
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein said operating step comprises tuning said master unit to receive signals corresponding to the frequency allocated to the next following time slot; detecting the strength of signals received and retuning said master unit to send or receive signals corresponding to the frequency allocated to the current time slot.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein said protocol is Bluetooth.  
   
   
       39 . (canceled)  
   
   
       40 . (canceled)  
   
   
       41 . (canceled)  
   
   
       42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . (canceled)  
   
   
       44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . A method for operating a mobile unit arranged to communicate using first and second data communication protocols operating in the same frequency band wherein said mobile unit associates with an access point and receives therefrom beacon signals demarcating time intervals according to said first communications protocol, comprising: 
 receiving signals from said access point designating a portion of one of said time intervals during which mobile units associated with said access point refrain from transmissions using said first data communications protocol, and    operating said mobile unit as a master unit using said second data communications protocol to communicate with slave units during said designated portion of said time interval.    
   
   
       46 . A method as specified in  claim 45  wherein said first protocol is the IEEE 802.11 protocol.  
   
   
       47 . A method as specified in  claim 46  wherein said signals comprise CTS signals.  
   
   
       48 . A method as specified in  claim 47  wherein said second protocol is Bluetooth.  
   
   
       49 . A method for operating a wireless data communications network having at least one access point and at least one mobile unit, including a mobile unit arranged to communicate with said access point using a first wireless data communication protocol in a first frequency band and to communicate with other devices using a second wireless data communication protocol in said first frequency band, comprising: 
 transmitting signals from said access point in said first communications protocol, said signals designating a time period wherein mobile units associated with said access point refrain from transmitting using said first data communications protocol; and    operating said mobile units as a master unit to conduct wireless data communications with said other devices operating as slave units using said second data communications protocol during said designated time period.    
   
   
       50 . A method as specified in  claim 49  wherein said first communications protocol is the IEEE 802.11 protocol.  
   
   
       51 . A method as specified in  claim 49  wherein said signals comprise CTS signals.  
   
   
       52 . A method for operating a mobile unit arranged to communicate using first and second data communications protocols operating in the same frequency band, wherein said mobile unit associates with an access point, comprising: 
 receiving in said mobile unit first and second control signals using said first data communications protocol;    operating said mobile unit in response to said first control signals to act as a master unit and conduct data communications with slave units using said second data communications protocol; and    discontinuing communications by said mobile unit using said second data communications protocol in response to said second control signal.    
   
   
       53 . (canceled)  
   
   
       54 . (canceled)