Granted Patent B2

US 7,295,528 · App. 10/770,185 · Granted Nov 13, 2007

Abstract

Claims (130)

1. A method for use by one peer of peer wireless interfaces devices of a wireless communication device to cooperatively provide wireless communications in a multiple wireless communication environment with other peers of the peer wireless interface devices, the method comprises:

initiating an atomic sequence of a plurality of atomic sequences;

setting a priority level corresponding to the atomic sequence to produce a corresponding priority level;

sensing priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce a sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level; and

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level is favorable, performing at least a portion of the atomic sequence.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing the at least a portion of the atomic sequence comprises:

determining whether all of fragments of the atomic sequence have been performed, wherein the atomic sequence includes a plurality of fragments;

when not all of the fragments have not been performed, repeating the sensing the priority level of the at least one of the other peers, comparing the sensed priority with the corresponding priority level, and performing a next fragment of the atomic sequence when the comparing is favorable; and

when all of the fragments have been performed:

initiating another atomic sequence of the plurality of atomic sequences;

setting another priority level corresponding to the another atomic sequence to produce another corresponding priority level;

sensing priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce the sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the another corresponding priority level;

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the another corresponding priority level is favorable, performing at least a portion of the another atomic sequence.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

when the sensed priority level compares equally with the corresponding priority level, performing the at least a portion of the atomic sequence;

determining whether an acknowledgement is received within a given period of time for the at least a portion of the atomic sequence;

when the acknowledgement is received within the given period of time for the at least a portion of the atomic sequence, determining whether all of fragments of the atomic sequence have been performed, wherein the atomic sequence includes a plurality of fragments;

when not all of the fragments have not been performed, repeating the sensing the priority level of the at least one of the other peers, comparing the sensed priority with the corresponding priority level, and performing a next fragment of the atomic sequence when the comparing is favorable; and

when all of the fragments have been performed:

initiating another atomic sequence of the plurality of atomic sequences;

setting another priority level corresponding to the another atomic sequence to produce another corresponding priority level;

sensing priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce the sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the another corresponding priority level;

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the another corresponding priority level is favorable, performing at least a portion of the another atomic sequence.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprises:

when the acknowledgement is not received within the given period of time for the at least a portion of the atomic sequence, determining whether priority level of the atomic sequence is to be changed;

when the priority level is not to be changed, sensing the priority level of the at least one of the other peers, comparing the sensed priority with the corresponding priority level, and re-performing the fragment of the atomic sequence when the comparing is favorable; and

when the priority level is to be changed:

changing the priority level of the atomic sequence to produce a changed priority level;

sensing the priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce the sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the changed priority level; and

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the changed priority level is favorable, re-performing the fragment of the atomic sequence.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level is unfavorable, determining whether to terminate the atomic sequence or continue the atomic sequence;

when the atomic sequence is to be continued, waiting for expiration of a time out period;

when the time out period expires, determining whether to change priority level of the atomic sequence;

when the priority level is not to be changed, repeating the sensing the priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce a sensed priority level, comparing the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level, and, when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level is favorable, performing the at least a portion of the atomic sequence;

when the priority is to be changed:

changing the priority level of the atomic sequence to produce a changed priority level;

sensing the priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce the sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the changed priority level; and

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the changed priority level is favorable, performing the at least a portion of the atomic sequence.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining whether to change priority level of the atomic sequence comprises at least one of:

determining information of the atomic sequence is time sensitive; and

determining type of the atomic sequence to be time sensitive.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the setting a priority level corresponding to the atomic sequence comprises at least one of:

setting a lowest priority when the atomic sequence relates to a pre-communication state;

setting a second lowest priority when the atomic sequence relates to initiating a communication;

setting a second highest priority when the atomic sequence relates to communication set up; and

setting a highest priority when the atomic sequence relates to an ongoing communication.

8. A wireless communication device comprises:

a first wireless interface device operably coupled to provide a first type of wireless communication;

a second wireless interface device operably coupled to provide a second type of wireless communication;

an antenna section operably coupled to the first and second wireless interface devices; and

an interface coupling the first wireless interface device to the second interface device, wherein each of the first and second wireless interface devices assert a priority level of an atomic function to produce a corresponding priority level, wherein the first and second wireless interface devices resolve a conflict by:

sensing priority level of the other wireless interface device on the interface to produce a sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level; and

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level is favorable, performing at least a portion of the atomic sequence.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the first type of wireless communication includes Bluetooth and the second type of wireless communication includes IEEE 802.11.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the interface comprises:

a four wire interface, wherein two wires of the four wire interface carries the priority level of the first wireless interface device asserts and another two wires of the four wire interface carries the priority level of the second wireless interface device.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the interface comprises:

a first resistor;

a second resistor;

a first transceive driver/buffer pair in the first wireless interface device, wherein the first transceive driver/buffer pair is coupled to a first node of the first resistor;

a second transceive driver/buffer pair in the first wireless interface device, wherein the second transceive driver/buffer pair is coupled to a first node of the second resistor;

a third transceive driver/buffer pair in the second wireless interface device, wherein the third transceive driver/buffer pair is coupled to a second node of the first resistor;

a fourth transceive driver/buffer pair in the second wireless interface device, wherein the fourth transceive driver/buffer pair is coupled to a second node of the second resistor; and

a plurality of pull up resistors operably coupled to the first, second, third, and fourth transceive driver/buffer pairs, wherein coupling via the first resistor provides a first line of a two-wire interface and coupling via the second resistor provides a second line of the two-wire interface.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11 , wherein the first and second wireless interface devices assert the priority level of the atomic function by:

driving the first and second lines to a logic zero state for a highest priority level;

driving the first line to a logic zero state and passively pulling up the second line to a logic one state for a second highest priority;

passively pulling up the first line to a logic one state and driving the second line to a logic zero state for a third highest priority; and

passively pulling up the first and second lines to a logic one state for a fourth highest priority.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the performing the at least a portion of the atomic sequence comprises:

determining whether all of fragments of the atomic sequence have been performed, wherein the atomic sequence includes a plurality of fragments;

when not all of the fragments have not been performed, repeating the sensing the priority level of the at least one of the other peers, comparing the sensed priority with the corresponding priority level, and performing a next fragment of the atomic sequence when the comparing is favorable; and

when all of the fragments have been performed:

initiating another atomic sequence of the plurality of atomic sequences;

setting another priority level corresponding to the another atomic sequence to produce another corresponding priority level;

sensing priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce the sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the another corresponding priority level;

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the another corresponding priority level is favorable, performing at least a portion of the another atomic sequence.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the resolving the conflict further comprises:

when the sensed priority level compares equally with the corresponding priority level, performing the at least a portion of the atomic sequence;

determining whether an acknowledgement is received within a given period of time for the at least a portion of the atomic sequence;

when the acknowledgement is received within the given period of time for the at least a portion of the atomic sequence, determining whether all of fragments of the atomic sequence have been performed, wherein the atomic sequence includes a plurality of fragments;

when not all of the fragments have not been performed, repeating the sensing the priority level of the at least one of the other peers, comparing the sensed priority with the corresponding priority level, and performing a next fragment of the atomic sequence when the comparing is favorable; and

when all of the fragments have been performed:

initiating another atomic sequence of the plurality of atomic sequences;

setting another priority level corresponding to the another atomic sequence to produce another corresponding priority level;

sensing priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce the sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the another corresponding priority level;

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the another corresponding priority level is favorable, performing at least a portion of the another atomic sequence.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the resolving the conflict further comprises:

when the acknowledgement is not received within the given period of time for the at least a portion of the atomic sequence, determining whether priority level of the atomic sequence is to be changed;

when the priority level is not to be changed, sensing the priority level of the at least one of the other peers, comparing the sensed priority with the corresponding priority level, and re-performing the fragment of the atomic sequence when the comparing is favorable; and

when the priority level is to be changed:

changing the priority level of the atomic sequence to produce a changed priority level;

sensing the priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce the sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the changed priority level; and

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the changed priority level is favorable, re-performing the fragment of the atomic sequence.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the resolving the conflict further comprises:

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level is unfavorable, determining whether to terminate the atomic sequence or continue the atomic sequence;

when the atomic sequence is to be continued, waiting for expiration of a time out period;

when the time out period expires, determining whether to change priority level of the atomic sequence;

when the priority level is not to be changed, repeating the sensing the priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce a sensed priority level, comparing the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level, and, when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the corresponding priority level is favorable, performing the at least a portion of the atomic sequence;

when the priority is to be changed:

changing the priority level of the atomic sequence to produce a changed priority level;

sensing the priority level of at least one of the other peers to produce the sensed priority level;

comparing the sensed priority level with the changed priority level; and

when the comparing of the sensed priority level with the changed priority level is favorable, performing the at least a portion of the atomic sequence.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16 , wherein the determining whether to change priority level of the atomic sequence comprises at least one of:

determining information of the atomic sequence is time sensitive; and

determining type of the atomic sequence to be time sensitive.

18. A two-wire interface comprises:

a first resistor;

a second resistor;

a first transceive driver/buffer pair coupled to a first node of the first resistor;

a second transceive driver/buffer pair coupled to a first node of the second resistor;

a third transceive driver/buffer pair coupled to a second node of the first resistor;

a fourth transceive driver/buffer pair coupled to a second node of the second resistor; and

a plurality of pull up resistors operably coupled to the first, second, third, and fourth transceive driver/buffer pairs, wherein coupling via the first resistor provides a first line of the two-wire interface and coupling via the second resistor provides a second line of the two-wire interface.

19. The two-wire interface of claim 18 , wherein priority levels are asserted on the two-wire interface by:

driving the first and second lines to a logic zero state for a highest priority level;

driving the first line to a logic zero state and passively pulling up the second line to a logic one state for a second highest priority;

passively pulling up the first line to a logic one state and driving the second line to a logic zero state for a third highest priority; and

passively pulling up the first and second lines to a logic one state for a fourth highest priority.

Assignments (6)