Granted Patent B2

US 7,990,902 · App. 11/871,515 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A method for sending data in an environment with a plurality of protocols, comprising:

receiving, at a communications device, an indication to send first data to an access point in a first communications protocol;

determining that second data is being communicated in a second communications protocol;

determining a period of silence from data communication in the second communications protocol, wherein determining a period of silence comprises:

attempting to send the first data in the first communications protocol;

determining that the second data in the second communications protocol is currently being transmitted;

determining a time when the transmission of the second data will end;

entering a sleep mode until the determined time; and

sending the first data in the first communications protocol during the period of silence.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications device is configured to enter a full power mode, a sleep mode, and a reduced power mode, wherein the reduced power mode is configured to power off at least one component of the communications device and wherein the sleep mode is configured to power off at least two components of the communications device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising entering the reduced power mode during communication of the second data in the second communications protocol.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein sending the first data in the first communications protocol includes entering the full power mode from at least one of the following: the sleep mode and the reduced power mode.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communications protocol includes an 802.11b/g communications protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second communications protocol includes a Bluetooth Protocol.

7. A communications device for receiving data in an environment with a plurality of protocols, comprising:

first determining logic configured to determine that an access point will send first data to the communications device in a first protocol;

second determining logic configured to determine that a Bluetooth device is transmitting second data in a second protocol;

third determining logic configured to determine a transmission schedule for the Bluetooth device for transmitting the second data in the second protocol; and

first sending logic configured to send, to the access point, an indication of the determined transmission schedule for transmitting the second data in the second protocol.

8. The communications device of claim 7 , wherein the first sending logic is configured to send the indication as at least one of the following: a frame addressed to the access point and a frame not addressed to the access point.

9. The communications device of claim 7 , further comprising:

first creating logic configured to create a network allocation vector (NAV) and utilize the NAV as the indication of the determined transmission schedule for transmitting the second data in the second protocol; and

receiving logic configured to receive the first data during a period of communicative silence of the Bluetooth device.

10. The communications device of claim 9 , further comprising:

second creating logic configured to create a second network allocation vector (NAV); and

second sending logic configured to send the second NAV to the access point with Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) data, wherein receiving the first data during the period of communicative silence of the Bluetooth device includes receiving an acknowledgement of receiving the TCP data.

11. The communications device of claim 10 , wherein the second NAV is set via a clear to send (CTS) frame.

12. The communications device of claim 7 , wherein sending the indication includes sending a first power management bit configured to indicate a start of transmission of the second data.

13. The communications device of claim 12 , wherein sending the indication further includes sending a second power management bit configured to indicate an end of transmission of the second data.

14. A system for sending data in an environment with a plurality of protocols, comprising:

a receiving component configured to receive an indication to transmit first data to an access point in a first communications protocol, the first protocol operating at a first frequency;

a first determining component configured to determine that second data is being communicated in a second communications protocol, wherein the second communications protocol operates at a second frequency, the second frequency configured to interfere with the first frequency, the second data being communicated at regular intervals;

a second determining component configured to determine a period of silence from data communication in the second protocol, wherein the second determining component is further configured to attempt to send the first data in the first communications protocol, determine that the second data in the second communications protocol is currently being transmitted, determine a time when the transmission of the second data will end, and enter a sleep mode until the determined time; and

a sending component configured to send the first data in the first communications protocol during the period of silence.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system is configured to enter a full power mode, a sleep mode, and a reduced power mode, wherein the reduced power mode is configured to power off at least one component of a communications device and wherein the sleep mode is configured to power off at least two components of the communications device.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising an entering component configured to enter the reduced power mode during communication of the second data in the second communications protocol.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein sending the first data in the first communications protocol includes entering the full power mode from at least one of the following: the sleep mode and the reduced power mode.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first communications protocol includes an 802.11b/g communications protocol.

19. A system for sending data in an environment with a plurality of protocols, comprising:

means for receiving an indication to send first data to an access point in a first communications protocol;

means for determining that second data is being communicated in a second communications protocol;

means for determining a period of silence from data communication in the second communications protocol, wherein means for determining a period of silence from data communication further comprises:

means for attempting to send data in the first communications protocol;

means for determining that the second data in the second communications protocol is currently being transmitted;

means for determining a time when the transmission of the second data will end;

means for entering a sleep mode until the determined time; and

means for sending the first data in the first communications protocol during the period of silence.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein means for receiving an indication is configured to receive the indication at a communications device configured to enter a full power mode, a sleep mode, and a reduced power mode, wherein the reduced power mode is configured to power off at least one component of the communications device and wherein the sleep mode is configured to power off at least two components of the communications device, and wherein means for sending the first data in the first communications protocol includes means for entering the full power mode from at least one of the following: the sleep mode and the reduced power mode.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising means for entering the reduced power mode during communication of the second data in the second communications protocol.

Assignments (10)