System and method for a flexible MAC layer interface in a wireless local area network
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsDennis Lee, Matthew Fischer
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Abstract
A system and method for providing a flexible medium access control device. The medium access control (MAC) device includes four configurable transmit and receive modes for communicating with a physical layer signaling control device. The four modes are controlled by a processor and a transceiver interface. In operation, the modes enable the MAC device to transmit and receive MAC data to and from the physical layer signaling control device, and to optionally transmit and receive PHY data to and from the physical layer signaling control device, thereby providing compatibility between a MAC device and a radio, regardless of the physical layer functionality of the radio.
Claims13
A medium access control device comprising:
- an interface for communicating with a physical layer signaling control device;
- and a processor for controlling the transceiver interface, such that MAC data is transmitted and received to and from the physical layer signaling control device, and PHY data is optionally transmitted and received to and from the physical layer signaling control device, wherein the interface and the processor provide:
- a first mode for transmitting PHY and MAC data, and for receiving PHY and MAC data;
- a second mode for transmitting PHY and MAC data, and for receiving MAC data only;
- a third mode for transmitting MAC data only, and for receiving PHY and MAC data;
- and
- a fourth mode for transmitting MAC data only, and for receiving MAC data only.
A method for providing a flexible interface between a medium access control (MAC) device and a physical layer signaling control (PHY) device in a wireless local area network, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) transmitting both PHY data and MAC data from the MAC device to the PHY device when the PHY device does not include the functionality to generate PHY data;
- and
- (b) transmitting MAC data only from the MAC device to the PHY device when the PHY device includes the functionality to generate PHY data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.