# US 10,484,980 B1 · Link layer service platform > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,980 B1 - Document ID: US10484980B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/488,281 - Filed: 2017-04-14 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-14 - Assignees: Marvell International Ltd. - Applicants: Marvell International Ltd. - Inventors: Jinjing Jiang; Liwen Chu; Lei Wang; Yakun Sun; Hongyuan Zhang; Hui-Ling Lou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484980B1 ## CPC - H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal - H04W 56/001: {Synchronization between nodes} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Systems, devices, and techniques relating to a link layer service platform (LSP) that provides, among other things, assisted multi-band wireless communications are described. A described device includes a first radio to transmit and receive based on a first wireless protocol; a second radio to transmit and receive based on a second wireless protocol, the second wireless protocol being different from the first wireless protocol; and a controller to use the first radio to assist communications via the second radio. The controller can be configured to cause the first radio to transmit, receive, or both one or more control frames associated with the second wireless protocol using the first wireless protocol, and cause the second radio to transmit or receive one or more data frames using the second wireless protocol in accordance with the one or more control frames. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a first radio to transmit and receive based on a first wireless protocol; a second radio to transmit and receive based on a second wireless protocol, wherein the second wireless protocol is different than the first wireless protocol; and a controller to use the first radio to assist communications via the second radio including causing the first radio to at least one of transmit or receive one or more control frames associated with the second wireless protocol using the first wireless protocol, use information received via the first radio using the first wireless protocol to control a beamforming training process carried out via the second radio using the second wireless protocol, use the information to reduce a number of antenna sectors to sweep during the beamforming training process, and cause the second radio to transmit or receive one or more data frames using the second wireless protocol in accordance with the one or more control frames. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the one or more control frames comprise network announcement information associated with the second wireless protocol; and the controller is configured to use the first radio and the first wireless protocol to perform an association exchange to enable communications via the second radio and the second wireless protocol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the one or more control frames comprise an encapsulated control frame; and the controller is configured to pass, via a link layer service component, at least a portion of the encapsulated control frame to a medium access control entity associated with the second wireless protocol. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to maintain a clock synchronization between the first wireless protocol and the second wireless protocol. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first wireless protocol is associated with a 2.4 GHz frequency band or a 5 GHz frequency band; and the second wireless protocol is associated with a 60 GHz frequency band. ### Claim 6 An apparatus comprising: a first radio to transmit and receive based on a first wireless protocol; a second radio to transmit and receive based on a second wireless protocol, wherein the second wireless protocol is different than the first wireless protocol; and a controller to use the first radio to assist communications via the second radio, cause the second radio to receive a request-to-send signal, cause the first radio to transmit a first clear-to-send signal in response to the request-to-send signal received via the second radio, cause the second radio to transmit a second clear-to-send signal in response to a request-to-send signal received via the first radio, and cause the second radio to receive one or more data frames via the second radio after transmitting the first clear-to-send signal and the second clear-to-send signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to maintain a clock synchronization between the first wireless protocol and the second wireless protocol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second clear-to-send signal has a bandwidth that is narrower than the first clear-to-send signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second wireless protocol is not backwards compatible with the first wireless protocol. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first clear-to-send signal prevents devices that do not support the second wireless protocol from transmitting during a transmission of the one or more data frames. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the first wireless protocol is associated with a 2.4 GHz frequency band or a 5 GHz frequency band; and the second wireless protocol is associated with a long range low power protocol. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: controlling a first radio of a device to transmit and receive based on a first wireless protocol; controlling a second radio of the device to transmit and receive based on a second wireless protocol, wherein the second wireless protocol is different than the first wireless protocol; controlling the first radio to at least one of transmit or receive one or more control frames associated with the second wireless protocol using the first wireless protocol; using information received via the first radio using the first wireless protocol to control a beamforming training process carried out via the second radio using the second wireless protocol; using the information to reduce a number of antenna sectors to sweep during the beamforming training process; and controlling the second radio to transmit or receive one or more data frames using the second wireless protocol in accordance with the one or more control frames. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising using the first radio and the first wireless protocol to perform an association exchange to enable communications via the second radio and the second wireless protocol, wherein the one or more control frames comprise network announcement information associated with the second wireless protocol. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising passing, via a link layer service component, at least a portion of an encapsulated control frame to a medium access control entity associated with the second wireless protocol, wherein the one or more control frames comprise the encapsulated control frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising maintaining a clock synchronization between the first wireless protocol and the second wireless protocol. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein: the first wireless protocol is associated with a 2.4 GHz frequency band or a 5 GHz frequency band; and the second wireless protocol is associated with a 60 GHz frequency band. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the one or more control frames indicate a capability to communicate via the second wireless protocol; and the first radio, when assisting in the communications of the second radio, transmits the one or more control frames to offload the second radio from transmitting the one or more control frames.