Communication Apparatus and ID Packet Recognition Method Thereof

Abstract

A communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes an RF module and a scan module coupled to the RF module. The RF module receives an RF signal and generates an intermediary signal corresponding to the RF signal. The scan module recognizes a time-domain pattern corresponding to the intermediary signal, and determines whether the RF signal comprises an ID packet according to the recognized time-domain pattern.

1 . A communication apparatus, comprising:
 an RF module, for receiving an RF signal and generating an intermediary signal corresponding to the RF signal; and   a scan module, coupled to the RF module, for recognizing a time-domain pattern corresponding to the intermediary signal, and determining whether the RF signal comprises an ID packet according to the recognized time-domain pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the scan module compares the recognized time-domain pattern with a predefined ID pattern, and determines that the RF signal comprises the ID packet when the comparison result indicates that the recognized time-domain pattern matches the predefined ID pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the time-domain pattern comprises a power distribution pattern of the intermediary signal, and the scan module comprises:
 a power detection unit, coupled to the RF module, for detecting power level of the intermediary signal during a specific time period to generate the power distribution pattern of the intermediary signal; and   a packet recognition unit, coupled to the power detection unit, for determining whether the RF signal comprises the ID packet according to the power distribution pattern.   
     
     
         4 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the power distribution pattern comprises N bits, the specific time period comprises N sub-periods, and each of the N bits indicates the power level of the intermediary signal during a corresponding sub-period within the specific time period. 
     
     
         5 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each bit with a first logic level is used to indicate that the power level of the intermediary signal during the corresponding sub-period has exceeded a threshold value, and each bit with a second logic level different to the first logic level is used to indicate that the power level of the intermediary signal during the corresponding sub-period has not exceeded the threshold value. 
     
     
         6 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the power distribution pattern matches a predefined Bluetooth ID pattern when two bits with the first logic level of the power distribution pattern are separated by a time interval close to 312.5 μs or 937.5 μs. 
     
     
         7 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the power distribution pattern does not match a predefined Bluetooth ID pattern when the number of continuous bits with the first logic level of the power distribution pattern is larger than or equal to a specific value. 
     
     
         8 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the power distribution pattern does not match a predefined Bluetooth ID pattern when the number of continuous separation groups of the power distribution pattern is larger than or equal to a specific value, wherein each of the separation groups is composed of a first bit with the first logic level and one or more second bits with the second logic level which is/are subsequent to the first bit. 
     
     
         9 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an analog-to-digital converter, coupled between the power detection unit and the packet recognition unit, for sampling the power distribution pattern of the intermediary signal to generate a plurality of sampling results;   wherein the packet recognition unit determines whether the RF signal comprises the ID packet according to the plurality of sampling results.   
     
     
         10 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an analog-to-digital converter, coupled between the RF module and the scan module, for sampling the intermediary signal to generate a plurality of sampling results;   wherein the scan module recognizes the time-domain pattern corresponding to the intermediary signal based on the plurality of sampling results.   
     
     
         11 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , implemented to recognize a Bluetooth ID packet, and when the scan module determines that the RF signal comprises an ID packet sent by a peer Bluetooth apparatus, the communication apparatus is configured to establish a link with the peer Bluetooth apparatus based on the ID packet. 
     
     
         12 . A communication apparatus, comprising:
 an RF module, for receiving an RF signal; and   a scan module, coupled to the RF module and having at least two scan modes comprising a fast scan mode and a normal scan mode, wherein when operating in the fast scan mode, the scan module recognizes a time-domain pattern corresponding to the RF signal and determines whether the RF signal comprises an ID packet according to the recognized time-domain pattern.   
     
     
         13 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the scan module compares the recognized time-domain pattern with a predefined ID pattern, and determines that the RF signal comprises the ID packet when the comparison result indicates that the recognized time-domain pattern matches the predefined ID pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the scan module switches from the fast scan mode to the normal scan mode when the time-domain pattern corresponding to the RF signal indicates that no power or low power level has been detected for a given time period. 
     
     
         15 . The communication apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the scan module switches from the fast scan mode to the normal scan mode when the time-domain pattern corresponding to the RF signal indicates that high power level or interference has been detected for a given time period. 
     
     
         16 . A method for recognizing an ID packet comprised in an RF signal, comprising:
 receiving an RF signal and generating an intermediary signal corresponding to the RF signal; and   performing a fast scan procedure, comprising:
 recognizing a time-domain pattern corresponding to the intermediary signal; and 
 determining whether the RF signal comprises an ID packet according to the recognized time-domain pattern. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the determining step comprises:
 comparing the recognized time-domain pattern with a predefined ID pattern; and   determining that the RF signal comprises the ID packet when the comparison result indicates that the recognized time-domain pattern matches the predefined ID pattern.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the time-domain pattern comprises a power distribution pattern of the intermediary signal, the step of recognizing the time-domain pattern corresponding to the intermediary signal comprises:
 detecting the power level of the intermediary signal during a specific time period to generate the power distribution pattern of the intermediary signal;   
       and the step of determining whether the RF signal comprises the ID packet comprises:
 determining whether the RF signal comprises the ID packet according to the power distribution pattern. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the power distribution pattern comprises N bits, the specific time period comprises N sub-periods, and each of the N bits indicates the power level of the intermediary signal during a corresponding sub-period within the specific time period. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 performing a normal scan procedure when the recognized time-domain pattern corresponding to the intermediary signal indicates that no power or low power level has been detected for a given time period.   
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 performing a normal scan procedure when the recognized time-domain pattern corresponding to the intermediary signal indicates that high power level or interference has been detected for a given time period.