# US 9,521,703 B2 · Multiple abstraction layers within a communication device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,703 B2 - Document ID: US9521703B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/916,196 - Filed: 2013-06-12 - Published: 2013-12-12 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-12 - Assignees: Marvell World Trade Ltd. - Applicants: Marvell World Trade Ltd. - Inventors: John Egan; Abdelrazak Younes; Marcos Martinez-Vazquez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521703B2 ## CPC - H04L 69/18: Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols - H04L 69/321: Interlayer communication protocols or service data unit [SDU] definitions; Interfaces between layers - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract In a method of processing data in a communication device operating in a heterogeneous communication network, data is transferred between a first communication interface within the communication device and an upper protocol layer via a first abstraction layer (AL) processing unit. The first AL processing unit is dedicated to the first communication interface. Additionally, data is transferred between the first AL processing unit and a second AL processing unit within the communication device via an interface between the first AL processing unit and the second AL processing unit. The first AL processing unit is dedicated to a second communication interface within the communication device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication device, comprising: a plurality of communication interfaces, each communication interface configured to operate according to a respective communication protocol; and a plurality of abstraction layer (AL) processing units, each AL processing unit coupled to a respective communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces, wherein each AL processing unit is configured to abstract the corresponding communication protocol from an upper layer processing unit, and wherein each AL processing unit includes i) a respective first interface for communicating with the respective communication interface and ii) a respective second interface for communicating with other AL processing units within the communication device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein each AL processing unit of the plurality of AL processing units is configurable to operate either (i) in master mode or (ii) in slave mode with respect to the other AL processing units within the communication device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The communication device of claim 2, wherein a first AL processing unit of the plurality of processing units is configured to operate in master mode and a second AL processing unit of the plurality of processing units is configured to operate in slave mode, wherein the first AL processing unit supports a set of control messages and the second AL processing unit supports a subset of the set of control messages supported by the first AL processing unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The communication device of claim 3, further comprising a central database accessible by each AL processing unit of the plurality of AL processing units, wherein the database stores at least (i) forwarding data and (ii) link data describing quality of active links associated with the communication device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The communication device of claim 4, wherein the first AL processing unit includes the database. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The communication device of claim 3, further comprising an arbitration unit configured to (i) select, from the plurality of communication interfaces, a communication interface via which to transmit data received from the higher level processing unit and (i) cause the data to be forwarded to the AL processing unit associated with the selected communication interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The communication device of claim 6, wherein the first AL processing unit includes the arbitration module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the upper protocol layer is a logical data link layer. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for communication in a heterogeneous network, the heterogeneous network including a plurality of disparate communication media types, the apparatus comprising: a communication interface configured for communication over one of the communication media types; and an abstraction layer (AL) processing unit coupled to the communication interface, the AL processing unit configured to abstract the communication interface from an upper layer processing unit in a communication device, wherein the AL processing unit includes i) a first interface for communicating with the communication interface and ii) a second interface for communicating with other AL processing units within the communication device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the AL processing unit is configurable to operate in a master mode or in a slave mode within the communication device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein when the AL processing unit is configured to operate in a master mode, the AL processing unit supports a set of control messages, and when the AL processing unit is configured to operate in the slave mode, the AL processing unit supports a subset of the set of control messages. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the AL processing unit further comprises an arbitration module configured to arbitrate operation of a plurality of AL processing units within the communication device, wherein the arbitration module is (i) enabled when the AL processing unit is configured to operate in the master mode and (ii) disabled when the AL processing unit is configured to operate in the slave mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper protocol layer is a logical data link layer. ### Claim 14 A communication device, comprising: a plurality of communication interfaces, each communication interface configured to operate according to a respective communication protocol; a plurality of abstraction layer (AL) processing units, each AL processing unit coupled to a respective communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces, wherein each AL processing unit is configured to abstract the corresponding communication protocol from an upper layer processing unit, and wherein each AL processing unit includes a respective interface for communicating with other AL processing units within the communication device; and a central database accessible by each AL processing unit of the plurality of AL processing units, wherein the database stores at least (i) forwarding data and (ii) link data describing quality of active links associated with the communication device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The communication device of claim 14, wherein a first AL processing unit among the plurality of AL processing units includes the database. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for communication in a heterogeneous network, the heterogeneous network including a plurality of disparate communication media types, the apparatus comprising: a communication interface configured for communication over one of the communication media types; and an abstraction layer (AL) processing unit coupled to the communication interface, the AL processing unit configured to abstract the communication interface from an upper layer processing unit in a communication device, wherein the AL processing unit includes i) an interface for communicating with other AL processing units within the communication device, and ii) a central database accessible by other AL processing units within the communication device, the central database configured to store at least (a) forwarding data and (b) link data describing quality of active links associated with the communication device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the AL processing unit is configurable to operate in a master mode or in a slave mode within the communication device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the central database is (i) enabled when the AL processing unit is configured to operate in the master mode and (ii) disabled when the AL processing unit is configured to operate in the slave mode.