Single transceiver for wireless peer-to-peer connections
View Patent ↗Data transfer in a communications network includes a first communication device including a transceiver; and an interface operatively connected to the first communication device, wherein the interface provides multiple operative connections for data transfer, wherein the multiple operative connections include a WLAN connection adapted for communication with an access point that generates data exchange signals; and a P2P connection adapted for communication with a second communication device, wherein the transceiver is shared between the multiple operative connections. The first and second communication devices may include a WiFi device. The first communication device may further include a pair of data registers and state machines; a MAC layer controller that receives input from the pair of data registers and state machines; and a PHY layer controller that receives input from the pair of data registers and state machines and the MAC layer controller, and sends instructions to the transceiver.
1. A system for performing data transfer in a communications network, said system comprising:
a first communication device comprising:
a transceiver;
a pair of data registers and state machines;
a media access control (MAC) layer controller that receives input from said pair of data registers and state machines; and
a physical (PHY) layer controller that receives input from said pair of data registers and state machines and said MAC layer controller, and sends instructions to said transceiver; and
an interface operatively connected to said first communication device, wherein said interface provides multiple operative connections for data transfer, wherein said multiple operative connections comprise:
a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection adapted for communication with an access point that generates data exchange signals; and
a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection adapted for communication with a second communication device,
wherein said transceiver is shared between said multiple operative connections.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first communication device comprises a WiFi device, and wherein said second communication device comprises a WiFi device.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that generates carrier frequencies, selectively switches between a WLAN carrier frequency and a P2P carrier frequency, and inputs the selected carrier frequency to said transceiver.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCOs) that provide for switching of selected carrier frequencies to said transceiver, wherein said pair of VCOs comprises:
a first VCO that generates a WLAN carrier frequency; and
a second VCO that generates a P2P carrier frequency,
wherein said WLAN carrier frequency and said P2P carrier frequency are selectively input into said transceiver based on a switching criteria.
5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a fairness algorithm unit that defines said switching criteria between the WLAN and P2P connections.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said switching criteria comprises instructions for prioritizing multiplexed traffic between said WLAN and P2P connections.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said pair of data registers and state machines comprises:
a first data register bank associated with said WLAN connection; and
a second data register bank associated with said P2P connection,
wherein said first data register bank and said second data register bank store control registers.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said pair of data registers and state machines comprises:
a first state machine associated with said WLAN connection; and
a second state machine associated with said P2P connection,
wherein said first state machine and said second state machine share a MAC layer and a PHY layer in said communications network.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said access point comprises a WiFi access point.
10. A method of performing data transfer in a communications network, said method comprising:
providing a first communication device comprising:
a transceiver;
a pair of data registers and state machines;
a media access control (MAC) layer controller that receives input from said pair of data registers and state machines; and
a physical (PHY) layer controller that receives input from said pair of data registers and state machines and said MAC layer controller, and sends instructions to said transceiver;
providing multiple operative connections for data transfer with said first communication device;
associating a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection for communication with an access point that generates data exchange signals;
associating a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection for communication with a second communication device; and
sharing said transceiver between said multiple operative connections.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said first communication device comprises a WiFi device, and wherein said second communication device comprises a WiFi device.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
generating carrier frequencies using a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO);
selectively switching between a WLAN carrier frequency and a P2P carrier frequency using said VCO; and
inputting the selected carrier frequency to said transceiver.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
switching of selected carrier frequencies to said transceiver using a pair of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCOs), wherein said pair of VCOs comprises a first VCO that generates a WLAN carrier frequency, and a second VCO that generates a P2P carrier frequency; and
selectively inputting said WLAN carrier frequency and said P2P carrier frequency input into said transceiver based on a switching criteria.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising using a fairness algorithm unit that defines said switching criteria between the WLAN and P2P connections.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said switching criteria comprises instructions for prioritizing multiplexed traffic between said WLAN and P2P connections.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said pair of data registers and state machines comprises:
a first data register bank associated with said WLAN connection; and
a second data register bank associated with said P2P connection,
wherein said first data register bank and said second data register bank store control registers.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein said pair of data registers and state machines comprises:
a first state machine associated with said WLAN connection; and
a second state machine associated with said P2P connection,
wherein said first state machine and said second state machine share a MAC layer and a PHY layer in said communications network.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein said access point comprises a WiFi access point.
19. A system for performing data transfer comprising:
an interface that provides multiple operative connections for data transfer, wherein said multiple operative connections comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection adapted for communication with an access point that generates data exchange signals, and a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection adapted for communication with a communication device,
a transceiver that is shared between said multiple operative connections; and
a plurality of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCOs) that provide for switching of selected carrier frequencies to said transceiver, wherein said plurality of VCOs comprises a first VCO that generates a WLAN carrier frequency, and a second VCO that generates a P2P carrier frequency, wherein said WLAN carrier frequency and said P2P carrier frequency are selectively input into said transceiver based on a switching criteria.
20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a fairness algorithm unit that defines said switching criteria between the WLAN and P2P connections, wherein said switching criteria comprises instructions for prioritizing multiplexed traffic between said WLAN and P2P connections.