Re-configurable communication device and managing method thereof

Abstract

A communication apparatus including a physical information recognizing module, an MAC information recognizing module, a coordinating module, and a re-configurable transmitting/receiving module is provided. The physical information recognizing module recognizes a set of physical information relative to at least one communication network. The MAC information recognizing module recognizes a set of MAC information relative to the at least one communication network. The coordinating module generates a set of control signals selectively based on the set of physical information and the set of MAC information. The re-configurable transmitting/receiving module is configured according to the set of control signals and is used for transmitting/receiving data via the at least one communication network.

1 . A communication device, comprising:
 a physical information recognizing module for recognizing a set of physical information relative to at least one communication network;   an MAC information recognizing module for recognizing a set of MAC information relative to the at least one communication network;   a coordinating module, coupled to the physical information recognizing module and the MAC information recognizing module, for generating a set of control signals selectively based on the set of physical information and the set of MAC information; and   a re-configurable transmitting/receiving module, coupled to the coordinating module and configured according to the set of control signals, for transmitting/receiving data via the at least one communication network.   
   
   
       2 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the physical information recognizing module comprises:
 an RF unit for receiving RF signals from the at least one communication network, the set of physical information being derived from the RF signals.   
   
   
       3 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a frequency detector for detecting a carrier frequency of the RF signals, and the set of physical information comprises the carrier frequency. 
   
   
       4 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a bandwidth detector for detecting a band utility rate of the at least one communication network based on the RF signals, and the set of physical information comprises the band utility rate. 
   
   
       5 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a received signal strength indication (RSSI) detector for detecting an RSSI of the RF signals, and the set of physical information comprises the RSSI. 
   
   
       6 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR) estimator for estimating an SINR of the RF signals, and the set of physical information comprises the SINR. 
   
   
       7 . The communication device of  claim 2 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises:
 a converting unit, coupled to the RF unit, for converting the RF signals into digital baseband signals.   
   
   
       8 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a symbol rate detector for detecting a symbol rate of the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the symbol rate. 
   
   
       9 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a carrier/timing detector for detecting a carrier/timing characteristic of the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the carrier/timing characteristic. 
   
   
       10 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a pilot signal detector for detecting a pilot signal in the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the pilot signal. 
   
   
       11 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a channel fading detector for detecting a channel fading characteristic relative to the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the channel fading characteristic. 
   
   
       12 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a system/user identification detector for detecting a system/user identification of the at least one communication network based on the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the system/user identification. 
   
   
       13 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a modulation detector for detecting a modulation parameter of the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the modulation parameter. 
   
   
       14 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a forward error correction (FEC) detector for detecting an FEC type/rate of the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the FEC type/rate. 
   
   
       15 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detector for detecting an MIMO parameter associated with the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the MIMO parameter. 
   
   
       16 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the physical information recognizing module further comprises a power detector for detecting a power control characteristic associated with the digital baseband signals, and the set of physical information comprises the power control characteristic. 
   
   
       17 . The communication device of  claim 7 , wherein the MAC information recognizing module is also coupled to the converting unit; the MAC information recognizing module receives the digital baseband signals and derives the set of MAC information from the digital baseband signals. 
   
   
       18 . The communication device of  claim 17 , wherein the MAC information recognizing module comprises a protocol detector for detecting, based on the digital baseband signals, a multiple access protocol associated with the RF signals, and the set of MAC information comprises the multiple access protocol. 
   
   
       19 . The communication device of  claim 17 , wherein the MAC information recognizing module comprises a resource detector for detecting a radio resource allocation of the at least one communication network based on the digital baseband signals, and the set of MAC information comprises the radio resource allocation. 
   
   
       20 . The communication device of  claim 17 , wherein the MAC information recognizing module comprises a pattern detector for detecting an automatic repeat request (ARQ) pattern and/or a traffic pattern of the digital baseband signals, and the set of MAC information comprises the ARQ pattern and/or the traffic pattern. 
   
   
       21 . The communication device of  claim 17 , wherein the MAC information recognizing module comprises a routing/mobility detector for deriving a routing/mobility characteristic associated with the at least one communication network from the digital baseband signals, and the set of MAC information comprises the routing/mobility characteristic. 
   
   
       22 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinating module generates the set of control signals further based on data to be transmitted by the re-configurable transmitting/receiving module. 
   
   
       23 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinating module generates the set of control signals further based on a first location of the communication device and/or a second location of a transceiver in the at least one communication network. 
   
   
       24 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the re-configurable transmitting/receiving module comprises:
 a re-configurable physical unit, configured according to the set of control signals, for transmitting/receiving physical signals for the communication device; and   a re-configurable MAC unit, configured according to the set of control signals, for managing MAC functions for the communication device.   
   
   
       25 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the re-configurable transmitting/receiving module comprises:
 a re-configurable network unit, configured according to the set of control signals, for managing network functions for the communication device;   
     wherein the set of control signals is relative to at least one selected from the group consisting of a decision about inter-system handoff, a decision of cooperative systems/networks, a decision about switching among systems, and a decision of self-organizing routing. 
   
   
       26 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the set of control signals is relative to settings at a transport-layer unit, a session-layer unit, a presentation-layer unit, or an application-layer unit of the communication device. 
   
   
       27 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication network comprises a wired network and/or a wireless network. 
   
   
       28 . A method for managing a communication device, comprising the steps of:
 recognizing a set of physical information relative to at least one communication network;   recognizing a set of MAC information relative to the at least one communication network;   generating a set of control signals selectively based on the set of physical information and the set of MAC information; and   based on the set of control signals, configuring a re-configurable transmitting/receiving module in the communication device, the re-configurable transmitting/receiving module being used for transmitting/receiving data via the at least one communication network.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the set of physical information comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a carrier frequency of an RF signal in the at least one communication network, a bandwidth utility rate of the at least one communication network, a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of tie RF signals, and a signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR) of the RF signals. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of:
 converting an RF signal in the at least one communication network into digital baseband signals;   
     wherein the set of physical information comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a symbol rate of the digital baseband signals, a carrier/timing characteristic of the digital baseband signals, a pilot signal in the digital baseband signals, a channel fading characteristic relative to the digital baseband signals, a system/user identification of the at least one communication network, a modulation parameter of the digital baseband signals, a forward error correction (FEC) type/rate of the digital baseband signals, a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) parameter associated with the digital baseband signals, and a power control characteristic associated with the digital baseband signals. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the set of MAC information is derived from the digital baseband signals, and the set of MAC information comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a multiple access protocol associated with the RF signals, a radio resource allocation of the at least one communication network, an automatic repeat request (ARQ) pattern and/or a traffic pattern of the digital baseband signals, and a routing/mobility characteristic associated with the at least one communication network. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the set of control signals is generated further based on data to be transmitted by the re-configurable transmitting/receiving module. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the set of control signals is generated further based on a first location of the communication device and/or a second location of a transceiver in the at least one communication network. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the set of control signals is relative to at least one selected from the group consisting of a decision about inter-system handoff, a decision of cooperative systems/networks, a decision about switching among systems, and a decision of self-organizing routing. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one communication network comprises a wired network and/or a wireless network. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the set of control signals is relative to settings at a transport-layer unit, a session-layer unit, a presentation-layer unit, or an application-layer unit of the communication device.