Granted Patent B2

US 7,058,040 · App. 09/962,718 · Granted Jun 6, 2006

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A method for data transmission over first and second media that overlap in frequency, comprising:

computing one or more time division multiple access (TDMA) time-slot channels to be shared between the first and second media for data transmission;

allocating one or more time-slot channels to the first medium for data transmission;

allocating one or more of the remaining time-slot channels to the second medium for data transmission; and

dynamically adjusting a number of time-slot channels assigned to one of the first and second media during the data transmission to remain within limits of a desired level of service.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second media conforms to an 802.11 specification.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second media conforms to a Bluetooth specification.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the desired level of service for one of the first and second media during the data transmission.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic adjusting comprises:

determining available time-slot resources;

detecting the medium that fails to meet said desired level of service;

allocating the medium to a configuration having additional time slots; and

transmitting a channel assignment message including information on the allocated configuration with the additional time slots.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising instructing transceivers for the first and second media to communicate only in their previously presentedly allocated time-slots.

7. A method for data transmission over first and second media that overlap in frequency, comprising:

selecting one of the first and second media as a common medium;

instructing transceivers for the first and second media to communicate only through the common medium; and

retrying a packet transmitted through the common medium at a lower rate if the packet is not acknowledged after transmission at a first rate.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second media conforms to an 802.11 specification.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second media conforms to a Bluetooth specification.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the packet is initially transmitted at the highest rate supported by both media.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a first transceiver coupled to the processor to communicate via a first medium;

a second transceiver coupled to the processor to communicate via a second medium, wherein at least one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver is to retry transmission of a packet at a lower rate if a prior transmission of the packet is not acknowledged; and

a circuit to dynamically allocate time-slot channels to one of the first medium and the second medium based upon a desired level of service.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor comprises an integrated circuit having a reconfigurable processor core that includes a plurality of digital signal processors (DSPs).

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the integrated circuit further comprises a router coupled to the reconfigurable processor core.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the router is configured to bond a plurality of cellular frequency channels and at least one short-range wireless channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the circuit is to select one of the first medium and the second medium as a common medium for data transmission.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising instructing transceivers for the first and second media to communicate only in their allocated time-slot channels.

Assignments (8)