Coexistence interface for multiple radio modules using a reduced number of connections

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first radio;
• a second radio;
• a third radio;
• and
• a coexistence controller coupled to the first radio and the second radio, the coexistence controller comprising a coexistence interface to coordinate operation between the first radio and a second radio in a first coexistence mode, and to coordinate operation between the first radio and the third radio in a second coexistence mode, the coexistence interface comprising first, second and third lines,
• in the first coexistence mode,
• the first line of the coexistence interface being capable of carrying a first signal from the coexistence interface to the first radio indicating which channel of the second radio is being used by the second radio or that the second radio is active and should be given priority, and being capable of carrying a third signal from the coexistence interface to the first radio to determine at the first radio if the third radio is active, the third signal being different from the first signal, and
• the second line of the coexistence interface being capable of carrying a second signal from the first radio to the coexistence interface to synchronize the second radio with the first radio or to indicate the first radio is active and priority should be given to the first radio,
• the coexistence controller being capable of switching the first radio to a second coexistence mode between the first radio and the third radio and operating the first radio in the second coexistence mode if the third radio is active,
• in the second coexistence mode, the third line of the coexistence interface being capable of carrying a fourth signal from the coexistence interface to the first radio indicating that activity of the third radio is occurring and that first radio can be synchronized to start and stop first radio communications to accommodate third radio activity.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first radio coupled to an antenna for communicating over a radio-frequency communication network;
• and
• a controller for controlling the first radio, the controller comprising an interface comprising first, second and third lines;
• wherein:
• the first radio is arranged to operate in a first coexistence mode between the first radio and a second radio;
• the first radio is arranged to receive on the first line from the interface of the controller a first signal on the first line to determine which channel of the second radio is being used by the second radio or that the second radio is active and should be given priority, is arranged to send on the second line to the interface of the controller a second signal (CH_CLK or BT_PRI) on a second line to synchronize the second radio with the first radio or to indicate the first radio is active and priority should be given to the first radio, and is arranged to monitor a third signal received on the first line from the interface of the controller to determine if a third radio is active, the third signal being different from the first signal;
• and
• the first radio is arranged to switch to a second coexistence mode between the first radio and the third radio and to operate the in the second coexistence mode in response to the third radio being active,
• in the second coexistence mode, the third line of the interface of coexistence controller being capable of carrying a fourth signal from the interface of the coexistence controller to the first radio indicating that activity of the third radio is occurring and that first radio can be synchronized to start and stop first radio communications to accommodate third radio activity.

An information-handling system, comprising:

• a processor and a memory coupled to the processor;
• and
• a radio module coupled to the processor, wherein the radio module comprises:
• a first radio coupled to an antenna for communicating over a radio-frequency communication network;
• and
• a controller for controlling the first radio, the controller comprising an interface comprising first, second and third lines;
• wherein:
• the first radio is arranged to operate in a first coexistence mode between the first radio and a second radio;
• the first radio is arranged to receive on the first line from the interface of the controller a first signal on the first line to determine which channel of the second radio is being used by the second radio or that the second radio is active and should be given priority, is arranged to send on the second line to the interface of the controller a second signal on a second line to synchronize the second radio with the first radio or to indicate the first radio is active and priority should be given to the first radio, and is arranged to monitor a third signal received on the first line from the interface of the controller to determine if a third radio is active, the third signal being different from the first signal;
• and
• the first radio is arranged to switch to a second coexistence mode between the first radio and the third radio and to operate the in the second coexistence mode in response to the third radio being active,
• in the second coexistence mode, the third line of the interface of coexistence controller being capable of carrying a fourth signal from the interface of the coexistence controller to the first radio indicating that activity of the third radio is occurring and that first radio can be synchronized to start and stop first radio communications to accommodate third radio activity.