METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING A WIRELESS DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE RADIOS
A method and apparatus for operating a dual-modem wireless device is provided herein. During operation, a mobile unit is allowed to operate in both a single-radio and a dual-radio mode. The mobile unit is allowed to dynamically switch between a single-radio and a dual-radio mode depending on environmental parameters.
1 . A method for operating a dual-modem wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:
operating the dual-modem wireless device in a first mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation comprises either a dual-radio mode of operation or a single-radio mode of operation;
determining if a condition has been met; and
operating the dual-modem wireless device in a second mode of operation differing from the first mode of operation when the condition has been met, wherein the second mode of operation comprises either a dual-radio mode of operation or a single-radio mode of operation.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises a power cutback.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the power cutback comprises how much a transmit power is reduced relative to a maximum rated transmit power for a modem when the transmitter for the modem is activated.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises wireless device environmental parameters.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises if a battery voltage has decreased below a predefined threshold, or if the battery voltage has increased above a predefined threshold.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in the first mode comprises the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in a dual-radio mode and switching to a single-radio mode when the radio battery voltage has decreased below the predefined threshold.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises whether or not the wireless device is plugged into a charger.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in the first mode comprises the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in a dual-radio mode and switching to a single-radio mode when the dual-modem wireless device is unplugged from the charger.
9 . The method of claim 7 wherein the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in the first mode comprises the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in a single-radio mode and switching to a dual-radio mode when the dual-modem wireless device is plugged into the charger.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises if a current application being utilized belongs to a predefined set of applications.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the condition comprises if the current application being utilized is a file transfer application, and wherein the dual-mode radio switches from a dual-radio mode of operation to a single-radio mode of operation when the current application comprises a file transfer operation.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the dual-radio mode of operation comprises a mode of operation where two transmitters and two receivers are utilized simultaneously and the single-radio mode of operation comprises a mode of operation where only one transmitter is utilized at a time while two receivers are utilized simultaneously.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the condition comprises a power cutback.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the power cutback comprises how much a transmit power is reduced relative to a maximum rated transmit power for a modem when the transmitter for the modem is activated.
15 . The method of claim 12 wherein the condition comprises environmental parameters.
16 . The method of claim 12 wherein the condition comprises if a radio battery voltage has decreased below a predefined threshold.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in the first mode comprises the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in a dual-radio mode and switching to a single-radio mode when the radio battery voltage has decreased below the predefined threshold.
18 . The method of claim 12 wherein the condition comprises whether or not the wireless device is plugged into a charger.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in the first mode comprises the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in a dual-radio mode and switching to a single-radio mode when the dual-modem wireless device is unplugged from the charger.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in the first mode comprises the step of operating the dual-modem wireless device in a single-radio mode and switching to a dual-radio mode when the dual-modem wireless device is plugged into the charger.
21 . The method of claim 12 wherein the condition comprises if a current application being utilized belongs to a predefined set of applications.
22 . The method of claim 21 wherein the condition comprises if the current application being utilized is a file transfer application, and wherein the dual-mode radio switches from a dual-radio mode of operation to a single-radio mode of operation when the current application comprises a file transfer operation.
23 . An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of modems operating in a first mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation comprises either a dual-radio mode of operation or a single-radio mode of operation;
logic circuitry or software determining if a condition has been met; and
the plurality of modems operating in a second mode of operation differing from the first mode of operation when the condition has been met, wherein the second mode of operation comprises either a dual-radio mode of operation or a single-radio mode of operation.