Dual-Function Wireless Data Terminal

Abstract

Apparatus for communication includes at least one RF receiver circuit, which is coupled to receive and downconvert first and second RF signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks in accordance with different, first and second network protocols, so as to output first and second downconverted signals. A baseband processing circuit includes processing components that are coupled to receive and process the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract first and second data from the signals. The processing components have a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus for communication, comprising:
 a single synthesizer, which is configured to generate a frequency input;   at least one radio frequency (RF) receiver circuit, which is coupled to receive first and second RF signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks and respectively carry first and second data modulated in accordance with different, respective first and second network protocols, and which is arranged to downconvert the first and second RF signals using the frequency input provided by the single synthesizer so as to output first and second downconverted signals; and   a baseband processing circuit, comprising processing components that are coupled to receive and process the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract the first and second data from the signals.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the first wireless network is a short-range wireless network, and the second wireless network is a long-range wireless network. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the short-range wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), and the long-range wireless network is a long-range wireless data network. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the long-range wireless data network is a WiMAX network. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the WLAN operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard, and the WiMAX network operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.16 standard. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the processing components of the baseband processing circuit have a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one RF receiver circuit comprises a single RF receiver circuit that is coupled to downconvert alternately both of the first and second RF signals. 
     
     
         32 . A method for communication, comprising:
 generating a frequency input using a single synthesizer;   receiving first and second radio frequency (RF) signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks and respectively carry first and second data modulated in accordance with different, respective first and second network protocols;   downconverting the first and second RF signals using the frequency input provided by the single synthesizer so as to generate first and second downconverted signals; and   processing the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract the first and second data from the signals.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the first wireless network is a short-range wireless network, and the second wireless network is a long-range wireless network. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the short-range wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), and the long-range wireless network is a long-range wireless data network. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the long-range wireless data network is a WiMAX network. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the WLAN operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard, and the WiMAX network operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.16 standard. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein processing the first and second downconverted signals comprises processing the first and second downconverted signals using a baseband processing circuit, which comprises processing components having a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein downconverting the first and second RF signals comprises downconverting both of the first and second RF signals alternately using a single RF receiver circuit. 
     
     
         39 . Apparatus for communication, including:
 first and second antennas, for receiving respective first and second radio frequency (RF) signals carrying data;   first and second RF receiver circuits, which are respectively coupled to receive the first and second RF signals from the first and second antennas and to downconvert the first and second RF signals so as to output first and second downconverted signals; and   a baseband processing circuit, which is coupled to receive and process the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract the data from the signals, the baseband processing circuit having a first configuration for processing the first and second downconverted signals together so as to extract a single stream of the data carried by both of the first and second RF signals, and a second configuration for processing the first and second down-converted signals separately, so as to extract different, first and second streams of the data carried respectively by the first and second RF signals.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 39 , and comprising first and second frequency synthesizers, coupled to provide respective first and second frequency inputs to the first and second RF receiver circuits, wherein in the second configuration, the first and second frequency inputs are tuned to different frequencies so as to permit the first and second RF receiver circuits to receive the first and second RF signals on different, first and second channels. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , where the first and second channels belong respectively to different, first and second wireless networks. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein in the second configuration, the baseband processing circuit is arranged to scan the second channel so as to establish a connection with the second wireless network while communicating with the first wireless network on the first channel. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein in the first configuration, the baseband processing circuit applies multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processing to the first and second downconverted signals. 
     
     
         44 . A method for communication, comprising:
 receiving, via first and second antennas, respective first and second radio frequency (RF) signals carrying data;   downconverting the first and second RF signals using first and second RF receiver circuits, which are respectively coupled to the first and second antennas, so as to output first and second downconverted signals;   processing the first and second downconverted signals together in a first configuration of a baseband processing circuit so as to extract the data from the signals so as to extract a single stream of the data carried by both of the first and second RF signals; and   processing the first and second downconverted signals separately in a second configuration of the baseband processing circuit so as to extract different, first and second streams of the data carried respectively by the first and second RF signals.   
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein downconverting the first and second RF signals comprises using first and second frequency synthesizers to provide respective first and second frequency inputs to the first and second RF receiver circuits, wherein in the second configuration, the first and second frequency inputs are tuned to different frequencies so as to permit the first and second RF receiver circuits to receive the first and second RF signals on different, first and second channels. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , where the first and second channels belong respectively to different, first and second wireless networks. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein processing the first and second downcoverted signals separately in the second configuration comprises scanning the second channel so as to establish a connection with the second wireless network while communicating with the first wireless network on the first channel. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein processing the first and second downconverted signals together in the first configuration comprises applying multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processing to the first and second downconverted signals.