Method and system for adjusting WLAN radio receiver gain in a wireless device

1. A method for adjusting a gain level for a receiver of a first radio simultaneously operational with a transmitter of a second radio, comprising:

determining a signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) value for signals received by the receiver from an access point (“AP”); and

when the first radio is associated with the AP and the transmitter is not transmitting,

when the SNR value exceeds a SNR threshold, reducing the gain level for the receiver from an initial level;

when the SNR value is below the SNR threshold, maintaining the gain level for the receiver at the initial level; and

initiating transmission from the transmitter,

wherein the SNR threshold is a SNR value above which beacon signals from the AP can be successfully received by the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

when the first radio is not associated with the AP and the transmitter is transmitting

reducing the gain level for the receiver from the initial level;

scanning for the beacon signals from the AP; and

when the scanning is not successful,

increasing the gain level to the initial level;

suspending transmission from the transmitter;

re-scanning for the beacon signals from the AP; and

resuming transmission from the transmitter.

3. The method of claim 2 and further comprising:

when the first radio is associated with the AP and the transmitter is transmitting

determining a number of missed beacon signals; and

when the number of missed beacon signals exceeds a missed beacon signals threshold

suspending transmission from the transmitter;

scanning for the beacon signals from the AP;

receiving a beacon signal from the AP; and

resuming transmission from the transmitter.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the transmission from the transmitter is suspended for one scan period.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the re-scanning is for one scan period.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the gain level is an automatic gain control (“AGC”) level.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first radio and the second radio are deployed in a single wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the signals are beacon signals.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the beacon signals include probe response signals.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the SNR threshold is −65 dBm and the missed beacon signals threshold is 10.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first radio is a wireless local area network (“WLAN”) radio, wherein the second radio is a Bluetooth radio, wherein the signals are WLAN signals, and wherein the beacon signals are WLAN beacon signals.

12. A system for adjusting a gain level for a receiver of a first radio simultaneously operational with a transmitter of a second radio, comprising:

a processor coupled to memory; and

at least one of hardware and software modules within the memory and controlled or executed by the processor, the modules including:

a module for determining a signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) value for signals received by the receiver from an access point (“AP”); and

a module for controlling initiation of the transmitter when the first radio is associated with the AP and the transmitter is not transmitting, by

when the SNR value exceeds a SNR threshold, reducing the gain level for the receiver from an initial level;

when the SNR value is below the SNR threshold, maintaining the gain level for the receiver at the initial level; and

initiating transmission from the transmitter,

wherein the SNR threshold is a SNR value above which beacon signals from the AP can be successfully received by the receiver.

13. The system of claim 12 and further comprising:

a module for controlling the transmitter when the first radio is not associated with the AP and the transmitter is transmitting by

reducing the gain level for the receiver from the initial level;

scanning for the beacon signals from the AP; and

when the scanning is not successful,

increasing the gain level to the initial level;

suspending transmission from the transmitter;

re-scanning for the beacon signals from the AP; and

resuming transmission from the transmitter.

14. The system of claim 13 and further comprising:

a module for controlling the transmitter when the first radio is associated with the AP and the transmitter is transmitting by

determining a number of missed beacon signals; and

when the number of missed beacon signals exceeds a missed beacon signals threshold

suspending transmission from the transmitter;

scanning for the beacon signals from the AP;

receiving a beacon signal from the AP; and

resuming transmission from the transmitter.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the transmission from the transmitter is suspended for one scan period.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the re-scanning is for one scan period.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the gain level is an automatic gain control (“AGC”) level.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the first radio and the second radio are deployed in a single wireless device.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the signals are beacon signals.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the beacon signals include probe response signals.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the SNR threshold is −65 dBm and the missed beacon signals threshold is 10.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein the first radio is a wireless local area network (“WLAN”) radio, wherein the second radio is a Bluetooth radio, wherein the signals are WLAN signals, and wherein the beacon signals are WLAN beacon signals.