Multi-mode handheld apparatus
AssigneeMarvell World Trade Ltd.
InventorsRobert B. Ganton, Paramesh Gopi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-mode handheld apparatus may incorporate a radio element that is operative in accordance with a plurality of communication standards. A coexistence engine may arbitrate access to resources of the radio element by media access controllers and baseband components.
Claims17
An apparatus comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) component;
- a first media access controller (MAC) and a first baseband (BB) configured to allow the radio frequency (RF) component to communicate in accordance with a first wireless communication standard, wherein the first media access controller is further configured to generate predictive data that predicts when transmission is expected by the first MAC as required by the first baseband;
- a second media access controller (MAC) and a second baseband (BB) configured to allow the radio frequency (RF) component to communicate in accordance with a second wireless communication standard, wherein the second wireless communication standard is different from the first wireless communication standard;
- a lookup table configured to generate a baseband control signal to regulate access to the RF component by using at least the predictive data as an input into the lookup table;
- and
- a coexistence engine configured to arbitrate, based at least in part on the baseband control signal from the lookup table, access of the radio frequency (RF) component to (i) the first media access controller (MAC) and the first baseband (BB) or (ii) the second media access controller (MAC) and the second baseband (BB), wherein the first MAC is configured to provide the predictive data to the coexistence engine.
A method for arbitrating access of a radio frequency (RF) component to (i) a first media access controller (MAC) and a first baseband (BB) or (ii) a second media access controller (MAC) and a second baseband (BB), wherein the first media access controller (MAC) and the first baseband (BB) are configured to allow the radio frequency (RF) component to communicate in accordance with a first wireless communication standard, wherein the second media access controller (MAC) and the second baseband (BB) are configured to allow the radio frequency (RF) component to communicate in accordance with a second wireless communication standard different from the first wireless communication standard, the method comprising:
- generating predictive data, by the first MAC, that predicts when transmission by the first MAC is expected as required by the first baseband;
- generating, according to a lookup table, a baseband control signal to regulate access to the RF component by using at least the predictive data as an input to the lookup table into the lookup table;
- and
- arbitrating, based, at least in part, on the baseband control signal from the lookup table, access of the radio frequency (RF) component to (i) the first media access controller (MAC) and the first baseband (BB) or (ii) the second media access controller (MAC) and the second baseband (BB).
A computer program, tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, for arbitrating access of a radio frequency (RF) component to (i) a first media access controller (MAC) and a first baseband (BB) or (ii) a second media access controller (MAC) and a second baseband (BB), wherein the first media access controller (MAC) and the first baseband (BB) are configured to allow the radio frequency (RF) component to communicate in accordance with a first wireless communication standard, wherein the second media access controller (MAC) and the second baseband (BB) are configured to allow the radio frequency (RF) component to communicate in accordance with a second wireless communication standard different from the first wireless communication standard, the computer program comprising instructions, executable by a processor, to:
- generate predictive data, by the first MAC, that predicts when transmission by the first MAC is expected as required by the first baseband;
- generate, according to a lookup table, a baseband control signal to regulate access to the RF component by using at least the predictive data as an input to the lookup table into the lookup table;
- and
- arbitrate, based, at least in part, on the baseband control signal from the lookup table, access of the radio frequency (RF) component to (i) the first media access controller (MAC) and the first baseband (BB) or (ii) the second media access controller (MAC) and the second baseband (BB).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.