Message-based coexistence interface between wireless devices

A wireless local area network (WLAN) device comprising:

• a transceiver unit operable to perform WLAN data operations;
• and
• an arbitration unit operable to determine a start time of a scheduled data operation associated with a Bluetooth® device coupled to the WLAN device based, at least in part, on an activity report message received from the Bluetooth® device;
• wherein the arbitration unit is operable to determine whether a scheduled WLAN data operation can be performed prior to the start time of the scheduled data operation associated with the Bluetooth® device based, at least in part, on a transaction time associated with the scheduled WLAN data operation;
• wherein the transceiver unit is operable to perform the scheduled WLAN data operation if the scheduled WLAN data operation can be performed prior to the start time of the scheduled data operation associated with the Bluetooth® device;
• wherein the arbitration unit is further operable to,
• determine a quality of service (QoS) allocation percentage value associated with the WLAN device based on the transceiver unit performing one or more scheduled WLAN data operations during a predetermined time period;
• provide a QoS allocation report message from the WLAN device to the Bluetooth® device indicating the QoS allocation percentage value associated with the WLAN device;
• and
• receive a QoS allocation report message from the Bluetooth® device indicating a QoS allocation percentage value associated with the Bluetooth® device based on the Bluetooth® device performing one or more scheduled Bluetooth® operations during the predetermined time period.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first network device comprising an arbitration unit, a transceiver unit, a legacy arbitration unit, and a multiplexer;
• and
• a second network device coupled to the first network device, wherein the second network device comprises an arbitration unit;
• wherein the multiplexer is coupled between the first network device arbitration unit and the second network device, and between the legacy arbitration unit and the second network device, wherein the multiplexer is operable to switch in the first network device arbitration unit or the legacy arbitration unit for communications with the second network device;
• wherein the second network device arbitration unit is operable to provide an activity report message to the first network device, wherein the activity report message includes start time data associated with a scheduled second network device data transmission operation;
• wherein the first network device arbitration unit is operable to determine a start time of the scheduled second network device data transmission operation based, at least in part, on the activity report message;
• wherein, if a scheduled first network device data transmission operation can be performed prior to the start time of the scheduled second network device data transmission operation, the first network device transceiver unit is operable to perform the scheduled first network device data transmission operation.

One or more machine-readable storage media having instructions stored therein a program product, which when executed by a set of one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

• determining a start time of a scheduled operation associated with a second network device based, at least in part, on an activity report message received at a first network device from the second network device;
• determining whether a scheduled operation associated with the first network device can be performed prior to the start time of the scheduled operation associated with the second network device based, at least in part, on a transaction time associated with the scheduled operation associated with the first network device;
• performing the scheduled operation associated with the first network device if the scheduled operation associated with the first network device can be performed prior to the start time of the scheduled operation associated with the second network device;
• determining a quality of service (QoS) allocation percentage value associated with the first network device based on performing one or more scheduled operations during a predetermined time period;
• providing a QoS allocation report message from the first network device to the second network device indicating the QoS allocation percentage value associated with the first network device;
• and
• receiving, at the first network device, a QoS allocation report message from the second network device indicating a QoS allocation percentage value associated with the second network device based on performing one or more scheduled operations during the predetermined time period.