Systems and methods for enabling coexistence of multiple wireless components operating in the same frequency band
Methods and systems for enabling coexistence of multiple potentially interfering wireless components in a device are provided. A device may include a wireless module using a proprietary protocol and one or more modules using standardized protocols. The device further includes a coexistence arbitration module configured to arbitrate access to a shared communication medium among the wireless modules based on assertion of medium access requests by the modules and the associated priority of the asserted medium access requests. When multiple medium access requests have the same priority, precedence for access to the shared medium is determined based on additional criteria. The coexistence arbitration module may be a separate module or may be integrated into another module or distributed among the modules. The device may include a host processor for altering transmission characteristics of a module to increase the likelihood that another module can receive data within a reasonable time period.
1. An apparatus for arbitrating access in a communication device, the apparatus comprising:
a memory;
a wireless module communicating at a frequency;
a status determinator communicatively coupled to and separate from the wireless module;
an arbiter configured to:
receive an access request from the wireless module,
determine a precedence for access between the wireless module and another wireless module based on a comparison between a priority associated with the access request and priority of a second access request from the another wireless module; and
grant access to the wireless module when the precedence for access corresponds to the access request of the wireless module, the grant of access based, in part, on a duration of access request of the wireless module.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:
a host module configured to:
synchronize the wireless module with an external device by limiting data associated with transmission characteristics of additional wireless modules.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the external device is a sensor configured to periodically transmit data to the wireless module.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the host is further configured to modify the transmission characteristics of the additional wireless modules.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the host module monitors and measures data provided by the external device via a user application.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the arbiter is further configured to:
modify the precedence of access based on a failure of the external device to provide data to the host module.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the host is further configured to:
receive data from the external device; and
transmit the data to the wireless module while blocking access to the additional wireless modules.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arbiter is further configured to arbitrate among the additional wireless modules and the wireless module for access to a shared station medium by using historical data related to recent use of the shared medium.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arbiter is further configured to:
modify the precedence of access based on a duration of time.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the arbiter is further configured to:
modify the precedence of the wireless module based on a change in priority of the wireless module.
11. A method of arbitrating access in a communications device, the method comprising:
receiving an access request from a wireless module,
determining a precedence for access for the wireless module based on a comparison of a priority associated with the access request and priorities of additional access requests; and
granting access to the wireless module when the precedence for access corresponds to the access request of the wireless module, the granting of access based, in part, on a duration of access request of the wireless module.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
synchronizing the first wireless module with an external device, the synchronizing comprising limiting data associated with transmission characteristics of additional wireless modules.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
modifying the transmission characteristics of the additional wireless modules.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
monitoring and measuring data provided by the external device via a user application.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
modifying the precedence of access based on a failure of the external device to provide data.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving data from the external device; and
transmitting the data to the wireless module while blocking access to the additional wireless modules.
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
periodically transmitting data to the wireless module.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
arbitrating between the other wireless modules and the wireless module to determine access to a shared station medium by using historical data related to recent use of the shared medium.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
modifying the precedence of access based on a duration of time.
20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
modifying the precedence of the wireless module based on a change in priority of the wireless module.