Wireless transmitter control lockout

Modification of transmission control parameters is prevented during data transmission in a wireless transmitter. A lockout unit is used to prevent modification of the transmission control parameters during data transmission and allow modification of the transmission control parameters when data is not being transmitted. When the wireless transmitter is included in a computing system a software driver for the wireless transmitter does not need to include a software lockout mechanism. Furthermore, the wireless transmitter including the lockout unit may be tested as a standalone device, facilitating regulatory agency certification as a modular transmitter.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

One or more aspects of the invention generally relate to wireless transmitters.

BACKGROUND

Current wireless transmitters are exemplified by systems and methods developed to transmit data at least partially responsive to transmission control parameters. The transmission control parameters should not be modified during data transmission. Conventional wireless transmitters, included within a computing system, employ a software lockout mechanism within a software driver to prevent modification of the transmission control parameters during data transmission. Testing of the wireless transmitter during a regulatory agency certification process requires the software driver to verify that the transmission control parameters are not modified during data transmission, necessitating testing of at least a portion of the computing system including a host processor, software driver, and the wireless transmitter. It is desirable to complete the regulatory agency certification process testing the wireless transmitter as a modular transmitter, i.e., without other portions of the computing system. A certified modular transmitter may be included in computing systems without further certification of the modular transmitter.

For the foregoing reasons, it is desirable to prevent modification of the transmission control parameters used by a wireless transmitter during data transmission, permitting testing of the wireless transmitter as a modular transmitter.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the invention include a wireless transmitter for data transmission. The wireless transmitter includes a storage element and a lockout unit coupled to the storage element. The storage element is configured to store a transmission control parameter. The lockout unit is configured to prevent a modification of one or more transmission control parameters stored in the storage element during the data transmission.

Various embodiments of the invention include a computing system configured to transmit data using a wireless transmitter. The computing system includes a host processor, a host memory, the host memory storing at least one program for the host processor, and a system interface coupled to the host processor and a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter includes a storage element configured to store at least one transmission control parameter and a lockout unit coupled to the storage element. The lockout unit is configured to prevent a modification of the at least one transmission control parameter during data transmission.

Various embodiments of a method of the invention include a method of preventing modifications to at least one transmission control parameter in a wireless transmitter. Data is received for transmission and a lockout unit is configured to prevent modification of the at least one transmission control parameter.

Further various embodiments of a method of the invention include a method of enabling modifications of at least one transmission control parameter in a wireless transmitter following a data transmission. The data transmission ending is detected and a lockout unit is configured to enable modification of the at least one transmission control parameter.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The current invention involves new systems and methods for controlling the modification of at least one transmission parameter in a wireless transmitter.FIG. 1is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a respective computer system, Computing System100in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention including a Host Computer175coupled to a Wireless Subsystem105via Interface175. Computing System100may be a desktop computer, server, laptop computer, palm-sized computer, tablet computer, game console, cellular telephone, computer based simulator, or the like. Host Computer175includes a Host Processor180that may include a system memory controller to interface directly to a Host Memory195or may communicate with Host Memory195through a System Interface185. System Interface185may be an I/O (input/output) interface or a bridge device including the system memory controller to interface directly to Host Memory195. Examples of System Interface185known in the art include Intel® Northbridge and Intel® Southbridge.

In this embodiment Wireless Subsystem105is a plug-in card such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interface) card, a daughter card, or the like. Interface175is an industry standard interface such as PCI, a proprietary interface, or the like. In an alternate embodiment Wireless Subsystem105is integrated onto a substrate including System Interface185and Interface175is a local interconnect. Host Memory195includes a Driver190which translates commands from a software program or an application executing on Host Processor180into commands for Wireless Subsystem105. Conventionally, each embodiment of Wireless Subsystem105is associated with a specific Driver190.

Wireless Subsystem105includes a MAC (Media Access Control)110and BBP (Baseband Processor)120, each familiar to those skilled in the art. BBP120is coupled to a Transmitter150. In an alternate embodiment Transmitter150is replaced with a transceiver. Transmitter150includes TIU (Transmit Interface Unit)156, IFU (Intermediate Frequency Unit)152, and RFU (Radio Frequency Unit)154. The output of Transmitter150is coupled to Amplifier160which is coupled to Antenna170. Transmitter150may include additional units to receive and transmit data from BBP120to Amplifier160or from Antenna170to BBP120. Likewise, Transmitter150may include TIU156and either IFU152or RFU154. Conventionally, Antenna170is positioned at a distance (as great as 50 cm) away from BBP120and MAC110to minimize electrical interference between those units and Antenna170.

Wireless Subsystem105may be submitted for certification as a modular transmitter to a regulatory agency such as the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). The certification testing verifies that transmission control parameters, e.g., transmit output center frequency, transmit power level, and the like, used by Transmitter150are not be modified during data transmission. Conventionally, Driver190is designed to prevent the transmission control parameters from being modified during data transmission. However, contrary to that approach, in this design TIU156within Transmitter150prevents the transmission control parameters from being modified during data transmission, as described further herein, enabling Wireless Subsystem105to be submitted for certification as a standalone (modular) transmitter independent of Host Computer175. Furthermore, Wireless Subsystem105will operate properly whether or not Driver190is designed to prevent the transmission control parameters from being modified during data transmission. Therefore, Wireless Subsystem105may be used with a conventional driver or with a specific driver that is not designed to prevent the transmission control parameters from being modified during data transmission.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of portions of TIU156ofFIG. 1in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. TIU156includes a Control Unit220, LU (Lockout Unit)205, TSE (Transmit Storage Element)210, SE (Storage Element)215, and Amplifier230. Control Unit220receives transmission control data from BBP120, such as commands to modify the transmission control parameters. LU205receives the commands to modify the transmission control parameters and is configured by Control Unit220to pass the commands to TSE210or to block the commands from entering TSE210, thereby either preventing or allowing modification of the transmission control parameters stored in TSE210. TSE210includes one or more storage elements such as registers or the like, for storing transmission control parameters. In an alternate embodiment LU205is configured by Control220to pass or block a portion of the commands received from BBP120. For example, LU205is configured to block commands to modify the transmit power level. SE215includes one or more storage elements for storing control parameters that may be modified during data transmission.

Control Unit220also receives data for transmission from BBP120which is output to Amplifier230. Amplifier230also receives one or more transmission control parameters, e.g., transmit output center frequency, transmit power level, and the like, from TSE210and produces optionally modified data for transmission. Amplifier230outputs the optionally modified data for transmission to IFU152or RFU154. In an alternate embodiment Amplifier230outputs the optionally modified data for transmission to another unit. SE215outputs one or more control parameters to IFU152or RFU154.

FIG. 3Aillustrates an embodiment of a method for enabling and disabling modifications of the transmission control parameters in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. In step300Control Unit220determines if the data received for transmission from BBP220is valid. For example a signal (data valid) may be received indicating whether or not transmitted data is valid for each clock cycle. If, in step300Control Unit220determines the data received for transmission is valid, in step305Control Unit220activates LU205, i.e., configures LU205to block commands to modify one or more transmission control parameters stored in TSE210.

In step310Transmitter150is setup for data transmission. Transmitter150is setup for transmission by enabling a power sequencer which turns on the transmitter subblocks. In step315Control Unit220passes data for transmission from BBP120to Amplifier230. Amplifier230outputs the data for transmission to one or more units within Transmitter150, such as IFU152and RFU154. Steps300,305,310, and315are repeated whenever valid data is received.

If, in step300Control Unit220determines the data received for transmission from BBP220is not valid, in step320data transmission is disabled and Control Unit220deactivates LU205, i.e., configures LU205to pass commands to modify one or more transmission control parameters stored in TSE210. Steps300and320are repeated whenever data is received that is not valid.

FIG. 3Billustrates an embodiment of a method or enabling and disabling modifications of the transmission control parameters in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention including the steps shown inFIG. 3A. In this embodiment steps305and310are not repeated when a continuous stream of valid data is received by TIU156for transmission. Specifically, after completing step310, in step325Control Unit220determines if data received for transmission from BBP220is valid, and, if so, step315is repeated. If, in step325Control Unit220determines data received for transmission from BBP220is not valid, in step320data transmission is disabled and Control Unit220deactivates LU205, i.e., configures LU205to pass commands to modify one or more transmission control parameters stored in TSE210.

FIG. 4is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of Computing System100in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. In this embodiment of Computing System100MAC110and BBP120(not shown) may each be included within Host Computer175as discrete components, integrated within System Interface485, included on a daughter card interfacing with System Interface485, or the like. Furthermore, MAC110and BBP120may each be embodied as one or more software programs, e.g. Soft Wi-Fi, stored in Host Memory195and executed by Host Processor180.

An Interface400may be a digital interface such as a JEDEC JC-61 compliant interface, a proprietary interface, or the like. In this embodiment of Computing System100, Transmitter150(including IFU152, RFU154, and TIU156), Amplifier160, and Antenna170are included in a Backend Module460located within a Display450, such as a display on a laptop, portable computing device, or the like. Locating Transmitter150, Amplifier160, and Antenna170away from Host Computer175reduces the effects of electrical interference introduced by units within Host Computer175. In an alternate embodiment Backend Module460may be located in another area within Computing System100.

Backend Module460is configured for submission to a regulatory agency for certification as a modular transmitter (stand-alone radio module), for example under FCC rule DA 00-1407. Once certified, Backend Module460may be integrated into a variety of Computing System100without further certification of Backend Module460. Furthermore, Backend Module460may be integrated into a Computing System100including either a Driver190which prevents modification of the transmission parameters during data transmission or with a Driver190which does not prevent modification of the transmission parameters during data transmission.

The invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing description and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The listing of steps in method claims do not imply performing the steps in any particular order, unless explicitly stated in the claim. Within the claims, element lettering (e.g., “a)”, “b)”, “i)”, “ii)”, etc.) does not indicate any specific order for carrying out steps or other operations; the lettering is included to simplify referring to those elements.