Abstract:
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus that includes a first radio to communicate with a first wireless network and a second radio to communicate with a second wireless network. A controller is used to estimate signal to noise and interference ratio (SINR) for signal being received by the first radio when the second radio is transmitting. The controller is also to determine if the estimate meets a threshold. Transmissions are permitted from the second radio while the first radio is receiving if the threshold is met.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The desire for wireless communications continues to increase and accordingly the number and type of wireless networks (e.g., wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN), wireless personal area networks (WPAN)) available for wireless communications continues to increase. In order for mobile devices (e.g., laptop computers, handheld devices) to provide wireless communications there is a need for the devices to accommodate several different wireless network types (network models). In order to support multiple wireless networks, the mobile devices may include a cluster of different radios for communicating over the various network types (referred to as the Multi-Radio coexistence Platforms (MRP)). 
         [0002]    The various radios may operate in overlapping or adjacent frequency bands and possibly suffer from interference when they operate at overlapping time instants due to, for example, physical proximity and radio power leakage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The features and advantages of the various embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example high level system diagram for concurrent operations of a Multi-Radio coexistence Platform (MRP), according to one embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example message exchange between radios and controller on the MRP in an estimation phase, according to one embodiment; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example message exchange between radios and controller on the MRP in a power control phase, according to one embodiment; and 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example flow control diagram for determining when a MRP can enter concurrent multiplex (CM) mode, according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    A Multi-Radio coexistence Platform (MRP) mobile device, such as a cellular phone, may include multiple wireless interfaces for communicating with multiple different wireless networks. For example, the MRP may include some combination of wireless local area network (WLAN) radio, wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) radio, and wireless personal area network (WPAN) radio. The close proximity of the different radios may result in cross radio interference between them when one is transmitting and the other is receiving. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example high level system diagram for concurrent operations of a MRP. The system includes three nodes (N 1 , N 2 , N 3 ) where N 1  and N 2  are different wireless networks and N 3  is the MRP. The MRP includes two radios (R 1 , R 2 ) where R 1  is for communicating with N 1  and R 2  is for communicating with N 2 . The concurrent operations illustrated at the MRP are the receipt of data from N 1  at R 1  and the transmission of data from R 2  to N 2 . The close proximity of R 1  and R 2  may result in cross-radio interference on the reception at R 1  due to transmission from R 2 . The outcome is the decrease of received signal to noise and interference ratio of R 1  (SINR R1 ). 
         [0010]    The SINR R1  is determined as the received signal strength (S R1 ) divided by the sum of the received cross-radio interference (I R1 ) and background noise power (N), such that SINR R1 =S R1 /(I R1 +No). The S R1  is a function of the transmission power of N 1  (P N1 ) and I R1  is a function of the transmission power of R 2  (P R2 ), while No can be regarded as constant. 
         [0011]    The SINR R1  may be maintained at an acceptable level by avoiding R 2  transmitting data while R 1  is receiving data (operating in a time division multiplex (TDM) mode) so as to avoid I R1 . Another way to maintain the SINR R1  when R 1  is receiving and R 2  is transmitting at the same time (operating in a concurrent multiplex (CM) mode) is to utilize a controller to modify the transmission power control (TPC) to increase S R1  and/or decrease I R1 . S R1  may be increased by increasing P N1  and I R1  may be decreased by decreasing P R2 . 
         [0012]    The TPC (strength of the signals being received by (transmitted to) and transmitted from the MRP) may be based on link budget considering path loss, multi-path fading, and background noise. Accordingly, the change in strength of the signals to accommodate the CM mode may be limited. 
         [0013]    The MRP may typically operate in TDM mode. In order to determine if the MRP can enter a CM mode the controller may estimate the S R1  and I R1  to determine if the SINR R1  is at or above a target SINR (So). If the SINR R1  is less than So the controller may increase P N1  and/or decrease P R2  (modify the TPC). The change in P N1  and/or P R2  may be based on any number of parameters (e.g., wireless standard associated with the radio, link budget). Once the TPC is modified another estimation of S R1  and I R1  may be made. The process may continue until a determination is made that the SINR R1  is at or above So at which point the MRP can enter SM mode, or until a determination is made that no more TPC changes can be made. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example message exchange between radios and controller on the MRP in an estimation phase. When R 2  starts transmitting data the controller receives a transmission started message from R 2  at which point the controller sends a message to R 1  to begin estimating interference. When R 2  stops transmitting data the controller receives a transmission end message from R 2  at which point the controller sends a message to R 1  to stop estimating interference. R 1  then sends the estimated interference (interference level report) to the controller. 
         [0015]    When R 1  starts receiving data the controller receives a receiving started message from R 1 . The controller then sends a message to R 2  to instruct R 2  to stop transmitting data, as well as a message to R 1  to start estimating the signal When R 1  stops receiving data it sends the signal estimation (signal level report) to the controller. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example message exchange between radios and controller on the MRP in a power control phase. When the controller determines that the So has not been met it can send an request to increase P N1  to R 1  and/or a request to decrease P R2  to R 2 . Once P N1  has been increased R 1  sends a message to the controller that the power was increased. Once P R2  has been decreased R 2  sends a message to the controller that the power was decreased. As illustrated the increase message from R 1  is received after the decrease message from R 2  because in order to increase P N1  R 1  needs to send a request to N 1  and then N 1  needs to increase the power before R 1  can notify the controller that the increase has occurred. The increase and decrease messages to the controller may simply be a confirmation message that an increase/decrease occurred or may include the new power levels. 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example flow control diagram for determining when a MRP can enter CM mode. The process begins with the MRP in TDM mode  400 . The MRP enters an estimation phase  410  to estimate the interference and signal strength at R 1 . The MRP may be in estimation mode  410  all the time, or may enter at certain intervals, based upon certain parameters, or when directed to. A comparison of the estimated SINR R1  to So is made  420 . The comparison may be performed each time an estimate is made, at certain intervals, based upon certain parameters, or when directed to. If the determination is that SINR R1  is less than So ( 420  No) the MRP enters the power control phase  430  to request modifications to TPC (increase P N1  and/or decrease P R2 ). Once the adjustments are made (or a determination that the modifications can&#39;t be made) the process returns to the estimation phase  410 . If the determination is that SINR R1  is greater than So ( 420  Yes) the MRP may enter CM mode  440  and allow transmissions from R 2  at the same time that R 1  is receiving. In order to ensure the SINR R1  remains at an acceptable level the MRP may only remain in the CM mode  440  for a certain period of time at which point it will return to the TDM mode  410 . 
         [0018]    Although the disclosure has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent that the disclosure is not limited thereto as various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope. Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described therein is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0019]    The various embodiments are intended to be protected broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.