Transmit request signaling between transceivers

Abstract

A technique is disclosed that enables both an IEEE 802.11 transceiver and a Bluetooth transceiver to be employed in a single wireless telecommunication station (e.g., a device supporting a wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, etc.) without interfering on each other. In particular, the illustrative embodiment enables standard “off-the-shelf” IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth transceivers to work in a coordinated fashion in a single telecommunications terminal. In the illustrative embodiment, a Bluetooth transceiver gains access to a shared-communications channel from an IEEE 802.11 transceiver by requesting access, even if the access is not immediate. The technique disclosed is also applicable to communications protocols other than IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth.

1. A method comprising:
 asserting a polite request signal that requests that a first transceiver relinquish transmitting via a shared-communications channel, wherein said first transceiver communicates in accordance with a first communications protocol; 
 indicating via said shared-communications channel that a second transceiver hold subsequent transmissions to said first transceiver; 
 asserting a first signal that indicates that said first transceiver has relinquished transmitting via said shared-communications channel; and 
 transmitting at least one frame from a third transceiver via said shared-communications channel after said asserting of said first signal, wherein said third transceiver communicates in accordance with a second communications protocol. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said first transceiver is IEEE 802.11 compliant, said second transceiver constitutes an access point, and said third transceiver is Bluetooth compliant. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 un-asserting said polite request signal; 
 detecting said un-asserting of said polite request signal; and 
 indicating via said shared-communications channel and based on said detecting that said second transceiver send said subsequent transmissions to said first transceiver. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 :
 wherein said asserting of said polite request signal also requests that said first transceiver enter a power save state; 
 wherein said asserting of said first signal also informs said second transceiver that said first transceiver has entered said power save state; and 
 wherein said un-asserting of said polite request signal also requests that said first transceiver exit said power save state. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 asserting a transmitting indication signal when said third transceiver is transmitting via said shared communications channel; 
 un-asserting said polite request signal after said asserting of said transmitting indication signal; 
 un-asserting of said transmitting indication signal after said un-asserting of said polite request signal; 
 detecting said un-asserting of said transmitting indication signal; and 
 indicating via said shared-communications channel and based on said detecting that said second transceiver send said subsequent transmissions to said first transceiver. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising transmitting at least one frame via said shared-communications channel from said third transceiver after said un-asserting of said polite request signal and before said un-asserting of said transmitting indication signal. 
     
     
       7. A method comprising:
 notifying a first transceiver to exit a power save state, wherein said first transceiver communicates in accordance with a first communications protocol via a shared-communications channel; 
 asserting a transmitting indication signal that indicates that a second transceiver is transmitting via said shared communications channel in accordance with a second communications protocol; and 
 transmitting at least one frame from said second transceiver after said notifying and before said first transceiver has recovered from said power save state. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 un-asserting said transmitting indication signal; and 
 transmitting at least one frame from said first transceiver via said shared communications channel after said first transceiver recovers from said power save state and after said un-asserting of said transmitting indication signal. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 asserting a polite request signal that requests that said first transceiver enter said power save state; and 
 asserting a first signal that indicates that said first transceiver has entered said power save state. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein said notifying comprises un-asserting said polite request signal. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus comprising:
 a first air interface subsystem for configured to:
 (1) indicatingindicate via said shared-communications channel in accordance with a first communications protocol that a coordinating station hold subsequent transmissions to said first air interface subsystem; and 
 (2) assertingassert a first signal that indicates that said first air interface subsystem has relinquished transmitting via said shared-communications channel; and 
 
 a second air interface subsystem for configured to:
 (1) assertingassert a polite request signal that requests that said first air interface subsystem relinquish transmitting via a shared-communications channel; and 
 (2) transmittingtransmit at least one frame via said shared-communications channel after said asserting of said first signal, in accordance with a second communications protocol; 
 
 wherein said first air interface subsystem and said second air interface subsystem are associated with the same host computer. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said first air interface subsystem is IEEE 802.11 compliant, said coordinating station is an access point, and said second air interface subsystem is Bluetooth compliant. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein:
 said second air interface subsystem is also for un-asserting further configured to un-assert said polite request signal; and 
 said first air interface subsystem is also for further configured to:
 (1) detectingdetect said un-asserting of said polite request signal; and 
 (2) indicatingindicate via said shared-communications channel and based on said detecting that said coordinating station send said subsequent transmissions to said first air interface subsystem. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 :
 wherein said asserting of said polite request signal also requests that the transceiver of said first air interface subsystem enter a power save state; 
 wherein said asserting of said first signal also informs said second air interface subsystem that said the transceiver of said first air interface subsystem has entered said power save state; and 
 wherein said un-asserting of said polite request signal also requests that the transceiver of said first air interface subsystem exit said power save state. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein:
 said second air interface subsystem is also for configured to:
 (1) assertingassert a transmitting indication signal when said second air interface subsystem is transmitting via said shared communications channel; 
 (2) un-assertingun-assert said polite request signal after said asserting of said transmitting indication signal; and 
 (3) un-asserting ofun-assert said transmitting indication signal after said un-asserting of said polite request signal; and 
 
 said first air interface subsystem is also for further configured to:
 (1) detectingdetect said un-asserting of said transmitting indication signal; and 
 (2) indicatingindicate via said shared-communications channel and based on said detecting that said coordinating station send said subsequent transmissions to said first air interface subsystem. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said second air interface subsystem is also for transmitting further configured to transmit at least one frame via said shared-communications channel after said un-asserting of said polite request signal and before said un-asserting of said transmitting indication signal. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus comprising:
 a station for configured to:
 (1) assertingassert a polite request signal that requests that a first air interface subsystem relinquish transmitting via a shared-communications channel; 
 (2) indicatingindicate via said shared-communications channel in accordance with a first communications protocol that a coordinating station hold subsequent transmissions to said first air interface subsystem; 
 (3) assertingassert a first signal that indicates that said first air interface subsystem has relinquished transmitting via said shared-communications channel; and 
 (4) transmittingtransmit from a second air interface subsystem at least one frame via said shared-communications channel after said asserting of said first signal, in accordance with a second communications protocol; and 
 
 a host computer for providing configured to provide a data block to said second air interface subsystem wherein said data block constitutes said at least one frame. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said first air interface subsystem is IEEE 802.11 compliant, said coordinating station is an access point, and said second air interface subsystem is Bluetooth compliant. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said station is also for further configured to:
 un-assertingun-assert said polite request signal at said second air interface subsystem; 
 detectingdetect said un-asserting of said polite request signal at said first air interface subsystem; and 
 indicatingindicate via said shared-communications channel and based on said detecting that said coordinating station send said subsequent transmissions to said first air interface subsystem. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 :
 wherein said asserting of said polite request signal also requests that the transceiver of said first air interface subsystem enter a power save state; 
 wherein said asserting of said first signal also informs said second air interface subsystem that said the transceiver of said first air interface subsystem has entered said power save state; and 
 wherein said un-asserting of said polite request signal also requests that the transceiver of said first air interface subsystem exit said power save state. 
 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said station is also for further configured to:
 assertingassert a transmitting indication signal at said second air interface subsystem when said second air interface subsystem is transmitting via said shared communications channel; 
 un-assertingun-assert said polite request signal after said asserting of said transmitting indication signal; 
 un-asserting ofun-assert said transmitting indication signal after said un-asserting of said polite request signal; 
 detectingdetect said un-asserting of said transmitting indication signal at said first air interface subsystem; and 
 indicatingindicate via said shared-communications channel and based on said detecting that said coordinating station send said subsequent transmissions to said first air interface subsystem. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said station is also for transmitting further configured to transmit at least one frame via said shared-communications channel using said second communications protocol after said un-asserting of said polite request signal and before said un-asserting of said transmitting indication signal. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus comprising:
 a processor for notifying configured to notify a first transceiver to exit a power save state, wherein said first transceiver communicates in accordance with a first communications protocol via a shared-communications channel; and 
 a first transmitter for configured to:
 (1) assertingassert a transmitting indication signal that indicates that said first transmitter is transmitting via said shared communications channel in accordance with a second communications protocol; and 
 (2) transmittingtransmit at least one frame after said notifying and before said first transceiver has recovered from said power save state; wherein said first transmitter constitutes a second transceiver and said first transceiver and said second transceiver are associated with the same host computer. 
 
 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising a second transmitter for transmitting configured to transmit at least one frame from said first transceiver via said shared communications channel after said first transceiver recovers from said power save state, wherein said second transmitter constitutes said first transceiver. 
     
     
       25. A method comprising:
 at a first air interface, sending a polite request signal that requests a second air interface relinquish transmitting via a shared-communications channel, wherein the first air interface communicates in accordance with a first communications protocol, and wherein the second air interface communicates in accordance with a second communication protocol;   receiving a first signal that indicates that the second air interface has relinquished transmitting via the shared-communications channel; and   responsive to receiving the first signal, transmitting at least one frame via the first shared communications channel.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first air interface is Bluetooth compliant and the second transceiver is IEEE 802.11 compliant. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
 at the first air interface, un-asserting the polite request signal; and   at the second air interface, detecting the un-asserting of the polite request signal.   
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, wherein the polite request signal also requests that the second air interface enter a power save state,
 wherein the first signal also indicates that the second air interface has entered the power save state, and   wherein the un-asserting of the polite request signal also requests that the second air interface exit the power save state.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
 at the first air interface, asserting a transmit indication signal before transmitting the at least one frame un-asserting of the transmit indication signal after the un-asserting of the polite request signal; and   at the second air interface, detecting the un-asserting of the transmitting indication signal, and indicating via the shared-communications channel that subsequent transmissions are to be directed to the second air interface.   
     
     
       30. A method, comprising:
 at a first air interface, establishing a shared-communication channel, wherein the first air interface communicates using a first communications protocol;   receiving a polite request signal requesting access to the shared-communications channel;   responsive to receiving the polite request signal, sending a request granted signal granting access to the shared-communications channel;   receiving an un-asserted polite request signal; and   responsive to receiving the un-asserted polite request signal, receiving at least one frame via the shared-communications channel.   
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first air interface is IEEE 802.11 compliant. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 30, wherein the polite request signal and the unasserted polite request signal are received from a second air interface. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 30, wherein the second air interface is Bluetooth compliant. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 30, wherein the polite request signal also requests that the first air interface enter a power save state,
 wherein the request granted signal also indicates that the first air interface has entered the power save state, and   wherein the un-asserted polite request signal also requests that the first air interface exit the power save state.   
     
     
       35. The method of claim 30, wherein the first air interface communicates with an access point via the shared-communication channel and wherein receiving at least one frame from the first air interface comprises receiving at least one frame from the access point via the shared-communications channel. 
     
     
       36. A station, comprising:
 a first air interface, comprising:
 a first transceiver, 
 a first memory, and 
 a first processor, configured to:
 generate a polite request signal to request a second air interface relinquish transmitting via a shared-communications channel, 
 send the first polite request signal via the first transceiver, 
 receive a first signal indicating the second air interface has relinquished the shared-communication channel, and responsive to receiving the first signal, transmit at least one frame via the first shared-communication channel. 
 
   
     
     
       37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising the second air interface, the second air interface comprising:
 a second transceiver,   a second memory, and   a second processor.   
     
     
       38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the second processor is configured to:
 receive the polite request signal via the second transceiver;   responsive to receiving the polite request signal, send the first signal via the second transceiver;   receive an un-asserted polite request signal via the second transceiver; and   responsive to receiving the un-asserted   polite request signal, receive at least one frame from the second transceiver via the shared-communications channel.   
     
     
       39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the first air interface enables communication in accordance with a first communications protocol, and wherein the second air interface enables communication over the shared-communication channel in accordance with a second communication protocol. 
     
     
       40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first au interface IS Bluetooth compliant and the second air interface is IEEE 802.11 compliant. 
     
     
       41. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a third air interface that enables communication in accordance with a third communications protocol. 
     
     
       42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the third air interface comprises:
 a third transceiver,   a third memory, and   a third processor.   
     
     
       43. An article of manufacture including a tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 at a first interface, sending a polite request signal that requests a second air interface relinquish transmitting via a shared-communications channel, wherein the first air interface communicates in accordance with a first communications protocol, and wherein the second air interface communicates in accordance with a second communication protocol;   receiving a first signal that indicates that the second air interface has relinquished transmitting via the shared-communications channel; and   responsive to receiving the first signal, transmitting at least one frame via the first shared communications channel.   
     
     
       44. The article of manufacture of claim 43, wherein the first air interface is Bluetooth compliant and the second transceiver is IEEE 802.11 compliant. 
     
     
       45. The article of manufacture of claim 43, wherein the instructions, if executed by the computing device, further cause the computing device to perform operations comprising un-asserting the polite request signal. 
     
     
       46. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein the polite request signal also requests that the second air interface enter a power save state,
 wherein the first signal also indicates that the second air interface has entered the power save state, and   wherein the un-asserting of the polite request signal also requests that the second air interface exit the power save state.   
     
     
       47. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein the instructions, if executed by the computing device, further cause the computing device to perform operations comprising asserting a transmit indication signal before transmitting the at least one frame un-asserting of the transmit indication signal after the un-asserting of the polite request signal. 
     
     
       48. An article of manufacture including a tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 at a first air interface, establishing a shared-communication channel, wherein the first air interface communicates using a first communications protocol;   receiving a polite request signal requesting access to the shared-communications channel;   responsive to receiving the polite request signal, sending a request granted signal granting access to the shared-communications channel;   receiving an un-asserted polite request signal; and   responsive to receiving the un-asserted polite request signal, receiving at least one frame via the shared-communications channel.   
     
     
       49. The article of manufacture of claim 48, wherein the polite request signal and the un-asserted polite request signal are received from a second air interface. 
     
     
       50. The article of manufacture of claim 48, wherein the polite request signal also requests that the first air interface enter a power save state,
 wherein the request granted signal also indicates that the first air interface has entered the power save state, and   wherein the un-asserted polite request signal also requests that the first air interface exit the power save state.   
     
     
       51. The article of manufacture of claim 48, wherein the first air interface communicates with an access point via the shared-communication channel and wherein receiving at least one frame from the first air interface comprises receiving at least one frame from the access point via the shared-communications channel.