Patent ID: 8072912
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a network adapter configured for wireless communication using at least a primary wireless technology and a secondary wireless technology; and wherein said network adapter is configured to share a plurality of shared hardware components by limiting access to a wireless medium to a first wireless technology only at given time by designating the first wireless technology that owns the shared hardware components as the primary wireless technology and all other wireless technologies are the secondary wireless technologies, wherein said primary wireless technology allows said secondary wireless technologies to use said shared hardware components when the primary wireless technology is in an idle-state but when said primary wireless technology returns from said idle state, the primary wireless technology claims ownership of said shared resources and said secondary wireless technologies release said shared resources, wherein the secondary wireless technologies are arranged to scan for available networks operating using the secondary wireless technologies during the idle state of the primary wireless technology, wherein said primary wireless technology includes a WiMAX wireless technology and said secondary wireless technology includes a WiFi wireless technology, and wherein said WiFi wireless technology uses WiMAX idle time for said WiFi wireless technology to scan for available networks, and thereafter provide an application layer with the available scan list and allows applications to apply a WiFi profile to thereby create a WiFi connection without causing said WiMAX wireless technology to break a connection thereof.