Method and system for achieving enhanced quality and higher throughput for collocated IEEE 802.11b/g and bluetooth devices in coexistent operation

Method and system for wireless communication

The present invention relates to a communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for obtaining higher quality and higher throughput when a device with IEEE802.11b/g and Bluetooth wireless transceiving devices is collocated when IEEE802.11b/g and Bluetooth work at the same time.

The wireless personal area network (WPAN) is becoming increasingly popular in many applications because it can provide flexible and convenient connections. WPAN systems, such as those based on Bluetooth technology, replace the messy wiring and/or wiring used to connect peripheral devices and/or mobile terminals by providing short-range wireless connections that can maintain connectivity within a range of 10 meters. Compared with the WPAN system, a wireless local area network (WLAN) provides connectivity for devices located in a slightly larger geographic area, such as a building or a campus. According to the IEEE 802.11 standard, the WLAN system generally operates within a range of 100 meters, and is usually used to supplement the communication capabilities of the traditional wired local area network (LAN) installed in the same geographic area as the WLAN system.

In some cases, the WLAN system can work in conjunction with the WPAN system to provide users with enhanced comprehensive functions. For example, when a laptop or a handheld wireless terminal device is connected to a WLAN network within the campus through an access point (AP) located in a building, Bluetooth technology can also be used to connect the laptop Or hand-held wireless terminal equipment is connected with peripheral devices (such as keyboard, mouse, headset, and/or printer).

Bluetooth technology and WLAN wireless transceiver devices, such as those used in handheld wireless terminal equipment, usually work in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) unlicensed frequency band of 2.4GHZ (2.4000-2.4835GHZ). Other wireless transceivers, such as those used in cordless phones, can also operate in the ISM unlicensed frequency band. While the ISM frequency band provides appropriate low-cost solutions for many short-range wireless applications, there are also some disadvantages when multiple users are operating at the same time. For example, due to the limited bandwidth, it is necessary to share the spectrum in order to accommodate multiple users. Multiple active users may also cause serious interference between operating devices. In addition, in some cases, microwave ovens may also work in this frequency band, which can cause serious interference or blocking signals that affect Bluetooth and/or WLAN transmission.

For example, when operating a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and a WLAN wireless transceiver in a wireless device, at least two different types of interference effects will occur. First, when the interference signal and the main signal exist in the transmission medium at the same time, a low signal-to-noise and interference ratio (SINR) can be produced. In this case, for example, the Bluetooth signal will interfere with the WLAN signal, or the WLAN signal will interfere with the Bluetooth signal. When the Bluetooth and WLAN wireless transceivers are collocated, that is, their positions are very close to each other so that there is a small RF channel loss between the front-end receivers of their corresponding wireless transceivers, the second interference effect occurs. In this case, the isolation between the front end of the Bluetooth wireless transceiver and the front end of the WLAN wireless transceiver can be as low as 10 dB. As a result, one wireless transceiver may make the front end of another wireless transceiver insensitive to transmission. In addition, because Bluetooth uses transmission power control, when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the Bluetooth connection is low, the collocated Bluetooth wireless transceiver will increase its power level, which will further adversely affect the front-end isolation between the wireless transceiver devices. Influence. The low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) at the front end of the wireless transceiver do not follow the channel selection filter and can easily be saturated with signals in the ISM band, such as those from coexisting transmissions. This saturation can lead to a decrease in the sensitivity of the receiver at the front end of the wireless transceiver, which in turn reduces the ability of the front end of the wireless transceiver to detect and demodulate the required signals.

In order for communication to continue, packet data communication in the WLAN system requires confirmation from the receiver. When the isolation between collocated wireless transceivers is low, since the degree of mutual interference is greater than when the isolation is high, when the access point does not confirm the packet data, the conflict between WLAN communication and Bluetooth communication will lead to The speed of WLAN communication is reduced. This decrease in communication speed can continue until the access point disconnects from the WLAN workstation. In order to avoid this situation, if in a device equipped with coexisting wireless transceivers, priority is given to WLAN communication so that it has priority over all Bluetooth communications, and then isochronous Bluetooth packet data communications without retransmission capabilities will be synchronized. Lead to a lack of communication bandwidth. In addition, this method will also cause the lack of other Bluetooth packet data in any communication access. Therefore, the collocated WLAN/Bluetooth wireless transceiver should operate while maintaining a high WLAN communication rate and at the same time being able to access Bluetooth communication when necessary.

Various technologies have been developed to solve the low isolation problem that occurs between the collocated Bluetooth and WLAN wireless transceivers during coexistence operation. These technologies can take advantage of the frequency and/or time orthogonal mechanism to reduce interference between coexisting wireless transceivers. In addition, these technologies can be generated by so-called cooperative or non-cooperative mechanisms in Bluetooth and WLAN wireless transceivers, where cooperation refers to any direct communication between agreements. For example, Bluetooth technology uses adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) as a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) technology to reduce channel interference. In AFH, the physical channel appears as a feature of virtual random frequency hopping at a frequency of 1600 times per second among 79 1MHz channels in the Bluetooth piconet. AFH provides a non-cooperative mechanism that can be used by Bluetooth devices to avoid frequency being occupied by spread spectrum systems (such as WLAN systems). In some cases, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver device can adaptively modify its frequency hopping mode according to the frequencies in the ISM band that are not occupied by other users.

Even if frequency division multiplexing technology is applied, significant interference will still occur, because the strong signal in the separated channel can still become a blocking signal, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the front-end receiver of the wireless transceiver, which is the noise floor of the receiver. floor) is increased to a level where the received signal cannot be clearly detected. For example, when the isolation between wireless transceivers is only 10dB, the front-end transmitter of the co-located WLAN wireless transceiver generates a 15dBm signal which becomes a strong interference signal or jam signal for the receiver of the co-located Bluetooth wireless transceiver. Similarly, when the Bluetooth wireless transceiver is transmitting and the WLAN wireless transceiver is receiving, especially when the front-end transmitter of the Bluetooth wireless transceiver is operating at 20dBm category 1, due to the reduced isolation between the wireless transceivers, the WLAN wireless transceiver The receiver is affected by the Bluetooth transmission will reduce the priority status and types of sensitive WLAN and Bluetooth packet data to determine the appropriate communication schedule requires considerable processing time.

By comparing conventional or conventional systems with aspects of the present invention which will be introduced below with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can find other limitations or deficiencies of the conventional systems.

A method and system that enables a device equipped with IEEE802.11b/g and Bluetooth wireless transceivers to obtain higher quality and higher throughput when IEEE802.11b/g and Bluetooth work at the same time. The method and system are fully illustrated in the drawings and/or descriptions made in conjunction with at least one drawing, and are more fully described in the claims.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for wireless communication, the method comprising: in a workstation using at least a Bluetooth communication protocol and a wireless local area network communication protocol: asserting a Bluetooth priority signal to send HV3 data; The Bluetooth priority signal prohibits WLAN transmission capability; and when the WLAN transmission capability is prohibited, the HV3 data is sent.

Preferably, the method for wireless communication of the present invention further includes: when the transmission of the HV3 data is completed, asserting that the Bluetooth priority signal is stopped.

Preferably, the method for wireless communication of the present invention further includes: when the Bluetooth priority signal is asserted to stop, activating the WLAN transmission capability.

Preferably, the method for wireless communication of the present invention further includes: generating the Bluetooth priority signal for at least a predetermined guard time before sending the HV3 data.

Preferably, the method for wireless communication of the present invention further includes: turning off the power amplifier when the WLAN transmission capability is disabled.

Preferably, the method for wireless communication of the present invention further includes: when the Bluetooth priority signal is asserted, prohibiting an exponentially increasing retransmission delay in the WLAN communication protocol.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for wireless communication, the method comprising: starting a Bluetooth communication protocol and a wireless local area network communication protocol in a workstation; Time, modify the WLAN segmentation threshold adopted by the WLAN communication protocol.

Preferably, the above-mentioned method for wireless communication of the present invention further includes: generating a coexistence signal to activate the Bluetooth communication protocol and the WLAN communication protocol.

Preferably, the above-mentioned method for wireless communication of the present invention further includes: modifying the WLAN modulation rate.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for wireless communication, the system comprising: a workstation including a Bluetooth wireless transceiver device using the Bluetooth communication protocol and a wireless local area network wireless transceiver device using the wireless local area network communication protocol; The Bluetooth wireless transceiver device asserts the Bluetooth priority signal to send HV3 data; according to the asserted Bluetooth priority signal, the WLAN wireless transceiver device prohibits WLAN transmission capability; when the WLAN transmission capability is prohibited, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver device Send the HV3 data.

Preferably, in the wireless communication system of the present invention, when the transmission of the HV3 data is completed, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver device asserts that the Bluetooth priority signal is stopped.

Preferably, in the wireless communication system of the present invention, when the Bluetooth priority signal is asserted to stop, the WLAN wireless transceiver device activates the WLAN transmission capability.

Preferably, in the wireless communication system of the present invention, the Bluetooth priority signal is generated for at least a predetermined guard time before sending the HV3 data.

Preferably, in the wireless communication system of the present invention, when the WLAN transmission capability is disabled, the power amplifier is turned off.

Preferably, in the wireless communication system of the present invention, when the Bluetooth priority signal is asserted, the exponentially increasing retransmission delay in the WLAN communication protocol is prohibited.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for wireless communication, the system comprising: a workstation including a Bluetooth wireless transceiver device using the Bluetooth communication protocol and a wireless local area network wireless transceiver device using the wireless local area network communication protocol; and at least one A processor that modifies the WLAN segment threshold value adopted by the WLAN communication protocol according to the WLAN modulation rate and the duration of the HV3 frame adopted by the Bluetooth communication protocol.

Preferably, in the wireless communication system of the present invention, the at least one processor generates a coexistence signal to activate the Bluetooth wireless transceiver device and the WLAN wireless transceiver device.

Preferably, in the wireless communication system of the present invention, the workstation modifies the modulation rate of the WLAN.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a machine-readable memory in which a computer program is stored, the computer program has at least one code segment for wireless communication, and the at least one code segment is machine executable, In order to make the machine perform the following steps: in a workstation using at least the Bluetooth communication protocol and the wireless local area network communication protocol: assert the Bluetooth priority signal to send HV3 data; according to the asserted Bluetooth priority signal, prohibit the WLAN transmission capability; and When the WLAN transmission capability is prohibited, the HV3 data is sent.

Preferably, the machine-readable memory of the present invention further includes: a code for asserting that the Bluetooth priority signal is stopped when the HV3 data is sent.

Preferably, the machine-readable memory of the present invention further includes: a code for activating the WLAN transmission capability when the Bluetooth priority signal is asserted to stop.

Preferably, the machine-readable memory of the present invention further includes: a code for generating the Bluetooth priority signal for at least a predetermined guard time before sending the HV3 data.

Preferably, the machine-readable memory of the present invention further includes: a code for turning off the power amplifier when the WLAN transmission capability is disabled.

Preferably, the machine-readable memory of the present invention further includes: when the Bluetooth priority signal is asserted, a code for prohibiting the exponentially increasing retransmission delay in the WLAN communication protocol.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a machine-readable memory has a computer program stored therein, the computer program has at least one code segment for wireless communication, and the at least one code segment is machine executable to Make the machine perform the following steps: start the Bluetooth communication protocol and the wireless local area network communication protocol in the workstation; and modify the WLAN segment threshold used by the WLAN communication protocol according to the WLAN modulation rate and the duration of the HV3 frame used by the Bluetooth communication protocol value.

Preferably, the above-mentioned machine-readable memory of the present invention further includes: a code for generating a coexistence signal to activate the Bluetooth wireless transceiver device and the WLAN wireless transceiver device.

Preferably, the above-mentioned machine-readable memory of the present invention further includes: a code for modifying the modulation rate of the WLAN.

The details of these and other advantages, features, novelties and embodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood in the following description and drawings.

The invention relates to a method and a system for making a device with IEEE802.11b/g and Bluetooth coexistent and running in the coexistence of IEEE802.11b/g and Bluetooth to obtain higher quality and higher transmission rate. When the Bluetooth HV3 frame is being transmitted, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver in the coexistence workstation generates a priority signal to prohibit the WLAN transmission. When the priority signal is asserted, an exponentially increasing retransmission delay (backoff) mechanism in the WLAN wireless transceiver is disabled. In addition, when the Bluetooth wireless transceiver device and the WLAN wireless transceiver device are activated and both coexist and run, the WLAN fragmentation threshold in the WLAN wireless transceiver device can be determined according to the WLAN modulation rate and the Bluetooth HV3 frame duration. Revise. The method and system of the present invention can improve the performance of equipment with WLAN and Bluetooth wireless transceiver devices when IEEE802.11b/g and Bluetooth coexist.

Figure 1A is a typical WLAN basic network (infrastructure network) block diagram, where the WLAN basic network includes a basic service set (BSS) combined through a public distribution system (DS). As shown in FIG. 1A, the typical WLAN basic network 100 includes a first basic service set 102a, a second basic service set 102b, a distribution system 104, a wired network 106, an entrance 108, and a first access point (AP) 112a. , The second access point 112b, and multiple WLAN workstations (STA). The basic service sets 102a and 102b represent the basic networking architecture of the IEEE802.11 (WLAN) architecture, and can be defined as a group of workstations or devices (STA) under the direct control of a single agreement (coordination) function. The geographic area covered by the basic service set is called the basic service area (BSA). The distribution system 104 is used to connect the basic service sets 102a and 102b, which includes appropriate hardware, logic, circuits, and/or codes, and can be used as the backbone network responsible for medium access control (MAC) layer transmission in the WLAN basic network 100 road. The distribution system 104, as specified in the IEEE 802.11 standard, operates independently. For example, the distribution system 104 may use IEEE802.3 Ethernet LAN, IEEE802.4 token bus LAN, IEEE802.5 token ring LAN, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) metropolitan area network (MAN), or other IEEE802. 11 wireless media to achieve. The distribution system 104 can be implemented by using the same physical medium as the first basic service set 102a or the second basic service set 102b. However, the distribution system 104 is logically different from the basic service set, and can only be used to transmit grouped data between the basic service set and/or between the basic service set and the wired network 106.

The wired network 106 includes suitable hardware, logic, circuits, and/or codes that can be used to perform wired network operations. The wired network 106 can access the WLAN basic network through the entrance 108. The portal 108 includes appropriate hardware, logic, circuitry, and/or code that can be used to connect the WLAN basic network 100 to a non-IEEE 802.11 network. In addition, the portal 108 can also be used to perform functional operations of the network bridge, such as extending the network range and/or converting between different frame formats, so as to connect the WLAN basic network 100 with a network based on the IEEE802.11 standard. .

The access points 112a and 112b include appropriate hardware, logic, circuits, and/or codes, and support the WLAN basic network 100 to expand the network range by providing connection points necessary for network connections between basic service sets. The workstation 110a and the workstation 110b are equivalent to terminal devices that can be connected to the WLAN. The terminal devices include appropriate hardware, logic, circuits, and/or codes, and can be connected to the WLAN basic network 100 through an access point. The workstation 110a is a laptop computer, which is equivalent to a mobile workstation or terminal device in the basic business set, and the workstation 110b is a desktop computer, which is equivalent to a fixed terminal device in the basic business set. Each basic service set includes multiple mobile or fixed workstations, the number of which is not limited by the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1B is a typical WLAN basic network block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the WLAN basic network includes a basic service set (BSS) with a workstation supporting WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence. The typical WLAN basic network 120 shown in FIG. 1B is different from the WLAN basic network 100 in FIG. 1A in that at least one basic service set includes at least one workstation or terminal supporting Bluetooth technology. In this regard, when the laptop 110a is currently BT-enabled, the second basic service set 102b includes other mobile terminal devices or workstations, such as a PDA 110c and a mobile phone 110d. The peripheral device 114 shown is part of a wireless personal area network (WPAN) supported by a Bluetooth-enabled laptop computer. For example, the laptop computer 110a can be connected to a keyboard, a mouse, a printer, a mobile phone, a PDA, and/or a set of earphones or microphones through Bluetooth technology, wherein these peripheral devices and the laptop computer 110a form an ad-hoc Bluetooth piconet. Generally, a Bluetooth piconet can include one main device or terminal, and up to seven accessory devices or terminals. In this embodiment, the laptop computer 110a is equivalent to the main Bluetooth terminal device, and the peripheral device 114 is equivalent to the auxiliary Bluetooth terminal device.

The Bluetooth-enabled laptop 110a shown in FIG. 1B includes a WLAN wireless transceiver and a Bluetooth wireless transceiver, so that the laptop can communicate with the WLAN basic network and the Bluetooth piconet through the access point 112b, respectively . Due to the size of the laptop computer 110a, placing the WLAN and the Bluetooth wireless transceiver in the same terminal device will cause signal interference between the WLAN and Bluetooth communication. When the PDA 110c and/or the mobile phone 110d are Bluetooth activated, the miniaturization of these coexisting terminals will cause a small amount of radio frequency (RF) channel loss between the WLAN and the Bluetooth wireless transceiver, and it is likely to be between the WLAN and Bluetooth. There is interference between communications.

Fig. 1C is a block diagram of a typical use mode of a coexisting terminal in which a WLAN and a Bluetooth wireless transceiver device are juxtaposed according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1C, the mobile phone 110d includes a WLAN wireless transceiver device for communicating with the access point 112c. The RF channel loss between the access point 112c and the mobile phone 110d can be, for example, 65dB for 10 meters (65dB for 10 meters). For example, the IEEE802.15.2 draft provides a formula for calculating RF channel loss. The mobile phone 110d may also be Bluetooth-enabled, and includes a Bluetooth wireless transceiver device for communicating with a Bluetooth headset 122 and/or a home gateway 124 with a Bluetooth cordless phone function. Due to the miniaturized size of the mobile phone 110d, the WLAN and Bluetooth wireless transceivers are so close to each other in the same coexisting terminal that they are not well isolated, making one wireless transceiver affected by the other wireless transceiver And the sensitivity is reduced.

The Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone 110d includes two transmission power levels. For example, the mobile phone 110d can operate as a Class 1 power level terminal device, communicating with the home gateway 124 with a maximum transmission power of 20 dBm. In another example, the mobile phone 110d can operate as a type 2 power level terminal device, communicating with the Bluetooth headset 122 with a maximum transmission power of 4 dBm. The Bluetooth headset 122 includes appropriate hardware, logic, circuitry, and/or code that can be used to receive and/or transmit audio signals. For example, the Bluetooth headset 122 may be used to receive and/or transmit continuously variable slope increment (CVSD) modulated sound from the mobile phone 110d, or receive A2DP, such as MP3, from the mobile phone 110d. The home gateway 124 includes suitable hardware, logic, circuitry, and/or code that can be used to receive and/or transmit data and/or audio signals. For example, the home gateway 124 may receive and/or transmit 64 kb/s continuously variable slope increment (CVSD) modulated sound.

In operation, the mobile phone 110d can receive sound or audio content from the WLAN basic network through the access point 112c, and can transmit the sound or audio content to the Bluetooth headset 122 or deliver the sound content to the home gateway 124. Similarly, the Bluetooth headset 122 and the home gateway 124 can deliver the sound content to the Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone 110d, which in turn can deliver the sound content to other users via the WLAN basic network.

2A is a structural block diagram of a typical WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative (coexistence) wireless transceiver device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the WLAN device configures the antenna system, and the Bluetooth device is equipped with a single TX/RX port. As shown in FIG. 2A, the WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure 200 includes a WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202, a WLAN wireless transceiver device 204, and a Bluetooth wireless transceiver device 206. The WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 includes appropriate hardware, logic and/or circuitry, which can be used to provide WLAN and Bluetooth communication between an external device and a coexisting terminal device. The WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 includes at least one antenna for transmitting and receiving WLAN and Bluetooth packet data processes. In this regard, the antenna used in the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 should be designed to meet the shape requirements of the coexistence terminal device.

The WLAN wireless transceiver 204 includes appropriate logic, circuits, and/or codes for processing WLAN protocol packet data in communication. The WLAN wireless transceiver 204 includes an antenna controller 208 that includes appropriate logic, circuits, and/or codes, which are used to generate at least one control signal 210 to set the operation of the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202. At this point, the control signal 210 is used to set whether the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 performs WLAN communication or Bluetooth communication. As shown in the figure, the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 includes separate ports for transmitting (TX) and receiving (RX) WLAN packet data processes. Of course, a single TX/RX port can also be used for WLAN communication.

The WLAN wireless transceiver 204 is used to generate a WLAN transmission (TX_WLAN) signal, and assert the TX_WLAN signal during the WLAN communication process. The WLAN wireless transceiver 204 can also be used to receive the Bluetooth priority (TX_BT) signal from the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206. When the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 asserts the TX_BT signal, the WLAN data flow sent from the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 is prohibited. There is no need to use alternate detection or interrupt drive mechanisms. In this regard, for example, a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pin can be used to prohibit the transmission path of the WLAN wireless transceiver 204. This method is similar to prohibiting the use of WLAN devices on airplanes, so passengers must ensure that the wireless transceivers of their portable devices are turned off and will not interfere with the aircraft system. When the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 deasserts the TX_BT signal, the WLAN data flow sent from the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 is started. The firmware running in the WLAN wireless transceiver device 204 can track the data flow status during the WLAN transmission prohibition period, and once the WLAN communication is activated, the data flow status can be used to resume communication.

The Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 includes appropriate logic, circuits and/or codes for processing Bluetooth protocol packet data in communication. As shown in the figure, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 includes a single port for sending and receiving (TX/RX) Bluetooth packet data processes. The Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is used to generate a TX_BT signal, and assert the signal when there is a Bluetooth frame transmission in the communication. The TX_BT signal is transmitted to the WLAN wireless transceiver through the GPIO pin in the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206. When the transmission of the Bluetooth frame has been completed, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is also used to assert that the TX_BT signal is stopped.

In some cases, either the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 is disabled or the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is disabled, and the wireless terminal device does not operate in the coexistence mode. When the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 is disabled, the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 uses the default settings to support Bluetooth communication. When the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is disabled, the antenna controller 208 sets the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 to support WLAN communication.

2B is a block diagram of a typical WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the WLAN device is configured with an antenna system, and the Bluetooth device is equipped with separate TX and RX ports. As shown in FIG. 2B, the WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure 220 includes a WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202, a WLAN wireless transceiver device 204, and a Bluetooth wireless transceiver device 206. In this regard, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 in FIG. 2B includes separate transmit (TX) and receive (RX) ports for Bluetooth communication. The antenna controller 208 and the control signal 210 are used to set the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 to adapt to the separate TX and RX ports of the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206.

In some cases, either the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 or the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is disabled, and the wireless terminal device is not operating in the coexistence mode. When the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 is disabled, the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 uses the default settings to support Bluetooth communication. When the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is disabled, the antenna controller 208 sets the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 to support WLAN communication.

2C is a block diagram of a typical WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which both wireless transceiver devices are configured with an antenna system, and the Bluetooth device is equipped with a single TX/RX port. As shown in FIG. 2C, the WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure 230 includes a WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202, a WLAN wireless transceiver device 204, and a Bluetooth wireless transceiver device 206. The Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 can be used to generate a setting signal 212 to indicate different priority conditions related to different types of Bluetooth packet data. The setting signal 212 is transmitted to the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 through the GPIO pins of the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206. In this regard, the setting signal 212 is at least 1 bit wide, so as to provide a larger interval size or preferential selection in the coexistence operation state. The TX_BT and/or setting signal 212 can be used with the control signal 210 or instead of the control signal 210 to set the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202.

In some cases, either the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 or the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is disabled, and the wireless terminal device does not operate in the coexistence mode. When the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 is disabled, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 uses the setting signal 212 to set the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 to support Bluetooth communication. When the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is disabled, the antenna controller 208 sets the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 to support WLAN communication.

2D is a block diagram of a typical WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which two wireless transceiver devices are configured with antenna systems, and the Bluetooth device is equipped with separate TX and RX ports. As shown in FIG. 2D, the WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver structure 240 includes a WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202, a WLAN wireless transceiver 204, and a Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206. The Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 includes separate transmit (TX) and receive (RX) ports for performing Bluetooth communication. At this point, the setting signal 212 is used to set the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 to support separate TX and RX ports for Bluetooth communication. The TX_BT and the setting signal 212 can be used with the control signal 210 or instead of the control signal 210 to set the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 to adapt to the separate TX and RX ports of the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206.

In some cases, either the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 or the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is disabled, and the wireless terminal device does not operate in the coexistence mode. When the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 is disabled, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 can set the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 through the setting signal 212 to support Bluetooth communication. When the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 is disabled, the antenna controller 208 can configure the WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system 202 to support WLAN communication.

Fig. 3 is a typical communication sequence diagram of Bluetooth HV3 frame and WLAN transmission based on TX_BT signal according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 can be used to transmit Bluetooth packet data supported by synchronous connection-oriented (SCO) logical transmission. At this point, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver 206 can be used to transmit Bluetooth HV3 packet data. Bluetooth HV3 packet data is usually used for 64kb/s voice transmission, but it is not limited to this. The Bluetooth HV3 packet data can include 30 information bytes with a payload length of 240 bits, and there is no payload header. These bytes are not protected by forward error correction (FEC), and there is no loop redundancy check (CRC). Since the retransmission of Bluetooth HV3 packet data is not supported, when a Bluetooth HV3 packet data is not received, the overall transmission quality will decrease, because the information contained in the lost Bluetooth HV3 packet data will not be retransmitted. send. As a result, Bluetooth HV3 packet data will require higher transmission priority to avoid interference with WLAN transmission.

Still referring to FIG. 3, a typical sequence diagram of a coexisting terminal device performing Bluetooth HV3 communication is shown. A pair of Bluetooth HV3 packet data transmitted between a workstation or terminal device and a peripheral device is called a Bluetooth HV3 frame. The packet data 302 is transmitted from the workstation to the peripheral device in the time slot f(k), and the packet data 304 is transmitted from the peripheral device to the workstation in the time slot f(k+1). A time slot in Bluetooth communication has a duration of 625 μs, and each time slot corresponds to a different frequency in an adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) sequence. The duration of a Bluetooth HV3 frame is 1.25 ms. The coexistence terminal device sends Bluetooth HV3 packet data every six time slots or every three Bluetooth HV3 frames. For example, the first packet data can be sent from the workstation in the time slot f(k), and the next packet data can be sent from the workstation in the time slot f(k+6). Similarly, the workstation receives the first packet data in time slot f(k+1) and the next packet data in time slot f(k+7). In this way, there will be no Bluetooth transmission in the time period between two Bluetooth HV3 frames, thereby providing a WLAN transmission window of 2.5 ms duration.

As shown in the figure, the TX_BT signal 306 is asserted during the time slots f(k) and f(k+1), and during the time slots f(k+6) and f(k+7), Bluetooth HV3 packet data has priority over WLAN transmission. For example, asserting the TX_BT signal 306 can disable WLAN transmission in the WLAN wireless transceiver. The WLAN transmission window 308 shows a time period between asserting the TX_BT signal 306, during which time the WLAN wireless transceiver device can send WLAN packet data. In this example, the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 can transmit WLAN packet data in time slots f(k+2) to f(k+5) and time slots f(k+8) to f(k+11).

Fig. 4 is a typical assertion timing diagram of the TX_BT signal according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, a Bluetooth HV3 frame 402, a first TX_BT signal 404, and a second TX_BT signal 406 are shown. Before the Bluetooth HV3 frame 402 starts, the first TX_BT signal 404 is asserted to provide a period of time for the firmware and/or hardware in the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 to complete or terminate the current WLAN packet data transmission. The first TX_BT signal 404 can be asserted within the guard time. The guard time can range from the start of the Bluetooth HV3 frame 402 to 200 μs to 250 μs before the start of the Bluetooth HV3 frame 402. In this regard, the firmware and/or hardware in the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 can generate and/or store information about the completion or termination of the current WLAN packet data transmission. After the first TX_BT signal 404 is deasserted, the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 can use the generated and/or stored information to resume the communication of the WLAN packet data.

In another embodiment of the assertion operation, the second TX_BT signal 406 is asserted just before the start of the Bluetooth HV3 frame 402 to terminate the current WLAN packet data transmitted by the WLAN wireless transceiver 204. For example, this method can be used when the second TX_BT signal 406 is asserted at the pin for turning OFF the power amplifier, where the power amplifier is used to support the transmission of WLAN packet data in the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 . In this regard, the firmware and/or hardware in the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 can generate and/or store information about the termination of the current WLAN packet data transmission. After the second TX_BT signal 406 is asserted to stop, the WLAN wireless transceiver 204 can use the generated and/or stored information to resume WLAN packet data communication.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart of typical steps in the process of preferentially transmitting Bluetooth HV3 data when a predetermined guard time is used according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5A, after the initial step 502, in step 504, the WLAN wireless transceiver device (as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D) is sending WLAN packet data to the access point. When the sent WLAN packet data is not confirmed to have been received, the packet data will be retransmitted, but the retransmission attempt will be delayed (back off) for an exponentially increasing time. For example, when the received WLAN packet data fails due to interference caused by the collocated Bluetooth wireless transceivers, the exponentially increasing delay in the next transmission attempt will result in a decrease in the transmission rate, which will result in more wireless transmission from Bluetooth. Interception of the transceiver device. The Bluetooth wireless transceiver device is shown in Figures 2A to 2D. In addition, due to the periodicity of the Bluetooth HV3 frame, a new transmission attempt may occur when the TX_BT signal is asserted, which further delays the retransmission of the WLAN packet data. These effects will lead to a spiraling situation, and when the retransmission delay of unconfirmed WLAN packet data is too large to a certain extent, the access point will think that the workstation is out of its service range. At this point, for the coexistence operation of collocated WLAN and Bluetooth wireless transceivers, the exponentially increasing data retransmission delay in the WLAN wireless transceiver will be disabled.

In step 506, the WLAN wireless transceiver determines whether the Bluetooth wireless transceiver has asserted the TX_BT signal. When the TX_BT signal is not asserted, return to step 504, and the WLAN wireless transceiver device continues to send WLAN packet data. When the TX_BT signal has been asserted, the WLAN wireless transceiver device proceeds to step 508. In step 508, the WLAN wireless transceiver device will complete the transmission of the current WLAN packet data within the guard time, where the guard time is provided by the TX_BT signal immediately before the Bluetooth HV3 frame transmission occurs. If the current WLAN packet data fails to be sent within the protection time provided by the TX_BT signal, the WLAN wireless transceiver device terminates the current WLAN packet data transmission, and retransmits the current WLAN packet data in the next available WLAN transmission window. In step 510, the WLAN wireless transceiver device stores information related to the transmission status of the WLAN packet data. For example, the WLAN wireless transceiver device can store information about whether the current WLAN packet data has been sent or terminated, and whether further sending attempts are required.

In step 512, the WLAN wireless transceiver determines whether the Bluetooth wireless transceiver has asserted to stop the XT_BT signal. When the TX_BT signal is not stopped by the assertion, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver device will continue to send the Bluetooth HV3 data process, and the WLAN transmission is still prohibited. When the TX_BT signal has been asserted to stop, the WLAN wireless transceiver device will continue to step 514 to resume the transmission of the WLAN packet data. In step 514, the WLAN wireless transceiver device resumes sending the terminated current WLAN packet data. If the current WLAN packet data transmission has been completed within the protection time provided by the TX_BT signal, the WLAN wireless transceiver device sends the next WLAN packet data. After step 514, the process 500 continues to end step 516.

5B is a flowchart of typical steps for prioritizing Bluetooth HV3 data stream communication when the TX_BT signal is used to turn off the power amplifier of the WLAN wireless transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in step 524 after the initial step 522, the WLAN wireless transceiver (as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D) is sending WLAN packet data to the access point. The exponentially increasing retransmission delay in the WLAN wireless transceiver may be prohibited. In step 526, the WLAN wireless transceiver determines whether the collocated Bluetooth wireless transceiver (as shown in Figures 2A-2D) has asserted the TX_BT signal. When the TX_BT signal is not asserted, return to step 524, and the WLAN wireless transceiver device continues to send WLAN packet data. When the TX_Bluetooth signal has been asserted, the WLAN wireless transceiver device proceeds to step 528. In step 528, the asserted TX_BT signal immediately turns off the power amplifier in the transmitting part of the WLAN wireless transceiver, and terminates the current transmission of the WLAN packet data. In step 530, the WLAN wireless transceiving device stores relevant information, for example, determining the timing information for the next transmission attempt of the current WLAN packet data in the next available WLAN transmission window.

In step 532, the WLAN wireless transceiver determines whether the Bluetooth wireless transceiver has asserted to stop the TX_BT signal. When the TX_BT signal is not stopped by the assertion, the Bluetooth wireless transceiver device will continue to send the Bluetooth HV3 data process, and the WLAN transmission is still prohibited. When the TX_BT signal has been asserted to stop, the WLAN wireless transceiver device proceeds to step 534 to resume the transmission of WLAN packet data. In step 534, the WLAN wireless transceiver device will resume the transmission of the current WLAN packet data that has been terminated. After step 534, the process 520 continues to end step 536.

Regarding the prohibition of exponentially increasing retransmission delay, when a TX_BT signal is asserted during the workstation sending data to the access point, and the WLAN packet data transmission is interrupted by the WLAN wireless transceiver amplifier being turned off, the WLAN wireless transceiver firmware can be used to detect this TX_BT signal to update the state machine, for example, no longer waiting for an acknowledgement (ACK) from the access point. Otherwise, the WLAN wireless transceiver will not have information indicating that the ACK will not be received in this case, and, according to IEEE 802.11/b/g, the WLAN wireless transceiver will exponentially delay each retransmission attempt. .

Fig. 5C is a flowchart of typical steps for modifying the WLAN fragmentation threshold based on the WLAN modulation rate according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5C, in step 544 after the initial step 542, the WLAN wireless transceiver device determines the segmentation threshold of the packet data, so as to realize the data transmission during the WLAN transmission window. For example, a transmission control protocol (TCP) packet data is about 1500 bytes. As shown in Figure 3, the duration of the WLAN transmission window is approximately 2.5 ms. When the segmentation threshold of WLAN transmission is high, for example, higher than 1500 bytes, all bytes of the TCP packet data payload are used for the WLAN packet data payload. The more bytes the packet data has, the higher the transmission efficiency. When the segmentation threshold of the WLAN transmission is low, for example, 256 bytes or less, several WLAN packet data will be needed to transmit the TCP payload. If there are fewer bytes in a WLAN packet, it will be more effective to retransmit the shorter WLAN packet data when a conflict occurs.

In order to ensure that the WLAN packet data can be sent during the 2.5ms window, the WLAN wireless transceiver device (as shown in Figures 2A-2D) can select the segmentation threshold according to the modulation rate of the WLAN link. For example, when the segmentation threshold is 256 bytes, a modulation rate of 2Mbps will generate about 1ms WLAN packet data, which can pass through the WLAN transmission window between the Bluetooth HV3 packet data flow. On the other hand, when the segmentation threshold is 1500 bytes, a modulation rate of 2Mbps will generate about 6ms WLAN packet data, which cannot be completely transmitted in the WLAN transmission window.

After step 544, the WLAN radio transceiver determines whether the modulation rate in the WLAN connection has changed. When the modulation rate has not changed, the WLAN packet data sent during the WLAN transmission window still adopts the current segmentation threshold. When the modulation rate in the WLAN connection has changed, the WLAN wireless transceiver device proceeds to step 548. In step 548, if necessary, the WLAN wireless transceiver device modifies the segmentation threshold to ensure that the WLAN packet data is completely transmitted during the WLAN transmission window. After step 548, the process 540 continues to end step 550.

The present invention provides a simple cooperation method between collocated WLAN and Bluetooth wireless transceivers in coexisting terminal equipment, which can enable IEEE 802.11b/g and Bluetooth communication to have enhanced quality and higher transmission rate. The method can be applied to mobile workstations that use at least a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, where the first communication protocol can assert a priority signal so that the capability of the second communication protocol is prohibited. The capabilities of the second communication protocol include, for example, sending and receiving information. At this point, when the capability of the second communication protocol is disabled, the data of the first communication protocol can be sent. The ability to prohibit the second communication protocol includes, for example, turning off the transceiver or power amplifier.

The present invention can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware. The present invention can be implemented in a centralized manner in at least one computer system, or implemented in a decentralized manner by different parts distributed in several interconnected computer systems. Any computer system or other equipment that can implement the method is applicable. The combination of commonly used software and hardware can be a general computer system with a computer program installed, and the computer system is controlled by installing and executing the program to make it run according to the method.

The present invention can also be implemented through a computer program product. The package program contains all the features capable of realizing the method of the present invention. When it is installed in a computer system, the method of the present invention can be realized by running. The computer program in this document refers to any expression that can use a set of instructions written in any programming language, code, or symbol. After the above one or two steps, a) convert to other languages, codes or symbols; b) reproduce in different formats to achieve specific functions.

The present invention is described through several specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art should understand that various changes and equivalent substitutions can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, various modifications can be made to the present invention for specific situations or specific situations without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed specific embodiments, but should include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

<p>WLAN basic network. . . 100</p><p>The first basic business set. . . 102a</p><p>The second basic business set. . . 102b</p><p>Distribution system. . . 104</p><p>Wired network. . . 106</p><p>Entrance. . . 108</p><p>Laptop computer. . . 110a</p><p>Desktop PC. . . 110b</p><p>Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). . . 110c</p><p>mobile phone. . . 110d</p><p>The first access point (AP). . . 112a</p><p>The second access point. . . 112b</p><p>Access Point. . . 112c</p><p>Peripherals. . . 114</p><p>WLAN basic network. . . 120</p><p>Bluetooth headset (headset). . . 122</p><p>Home gateway. . . 124</p><p>WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure. . . 200</p><p>WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence antenna system. . . 202</p><p>WLAN wireless transceiver. . . 204</p><p>Bluetooth wireless transceiver device. . . 206</p><p>Antenna controller. . . 208</p><p>control signal. . . 210</p><p>Set the signal. . . 212</p><p>WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure. . . 220</p><p>WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure. . . 230</p><p>WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure. . . 240</p><p>Grouping information. . . 302</p><p>Grouping information. . . 304</p><p>TX_BT signal. . . 306</p><p>WLAN transmission window. . . 308</p><p>Bluetooth HV3 frame. . . 402</p><p>The first TX_BT signal. . . 404</p><p>The second TX_BT signal. . . 406</p>

Fig. 1A is a typical WLAN basic network block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. The WLAN basic network includes a basic service set (BSS) combined through a public distribution system (DS).

Figure 1B is a typical WLAN basic network block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. The WLAN basic structure includes a basic service set (BSS) with a workstation supporting WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence.

Fig. 1C is a block diagram of a typical use model of a coexisting terminal in which a WLAN and a Bluetooth wireless transceiver device are juxtaposed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a block diagram of a typical WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the WLAN device is configured with the antenna system, and the Bluetooth device is equipped with a single TX/RX port.

2B is a block diagram of a typical WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the WLAN device is configured with an antenna system, and the Bluetooth device is equipped with separate TX and RX ports.

2C is a block diagram of a typical WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which both wireless transceiver devices are configured with an antenna system, and the Bluetooth device is equipped with a single TX/RX port.

Figure 2D is a block diagram of a typical WLAN/Bluetooth cooperative wireless transceiver device structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which both wireless transceiver devices are configured with antenna systems, and the Bluetooth device is equipped with separate TX and RX ports.

Fig. 3 is a typical communication sequence diagram of Bluetooth HV3 frame and WLAN transmission based on TX_BT signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a typical assertion timing diagram of the TX_BT signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5A is a flowchart of typical steps in the process of preferentially transmitting Bluetooth HV3 data when a predetermined guard time is used according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a flowchart of typical steps for prioritizing Bluetooth HV3 data stream communication when the TX_BT signal is used to turn off the power amplifier of the WLAN wireless transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5C is a flowchart of typical steps for modifying the WLAN fragmentation threshold based on the WLAN modulation rate according to an embodiment of the present invention.