Abstract:
A network device including a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The first transceiver is configured to receive, in accordance with a first wireless protocol, first data during a first time period, and transmit, in accordance with the first wireless protocol, second data during a second time period. The second transceiver is configured to receive, in accordance with a second wireless protocol, a block of packets during the first time period in which the first transceiver receives the first data. The second wireless protocol is different from the first wireless protocol. Subsequent to receiving all packets in the block of packets, the second transceiver is configured to transmit, in accordance with the second wireless protocol, a single acknowledgement during the second time period in which the first transceiver transmits the second data. The single acknowledgement is configured to indicate receipt of all the packets in the block of packets.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/418,029, (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,638,770) filed Mar. 12, 2012 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 12/388,831, (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,134,988) filed on Feb. 19, 2009. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/039,931, filed on Mar. 27, 2008. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to wireless network devices, and more particularly to devices that communicate using multiple communication standards. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a handheld wireless network device (device)  100  may comprise an antenna  102 , an antenna sharing module  103 , a first communication module  104 , and a second communication module  106 . The first and second communication modules  104 ,  106  may communicate using different wireless communication standards (standards). Accordingly, the device  100  is said to communicate using collocated communication modules that use different communication standards. 
     For example only, the first communication module  104  may communicate using a Fourth Generation (4G) standard or a Bluetooth® (BT) standard. The 4G standard may include Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), or Ultra Mobile Band (UMB) standard. Throughout the disclosure, the WiMAX standard is used as an example only. However, the discussion is applicable to other 4G standards and the BT standard. 
     The second communication module  106  may communicate using one of the I.E.E.E. 802.11 communication standards. For example only, the second communication module  106  may communicate using a wireless fidelity (WiFi) standard that uses the I.E.E.E. 802.11 specification. Alternatively, the second communication module  106  may communicate using BT with an Alternative Medium access controller (MAC) and Physical layer (PHY) (i.e., BT-AMP) technology. The BT-AMP technology enables BT to support data rates of up to 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) and increases range by using other wireless radio technologies, such as the I.E.E.E. 802.11, as transport medium. 
     The first communication module  104  using one of the 4G standards (e.g., the WiMAX standard) typically communicates via 2.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz frequency bands. The second communication module  106  typically communicates via the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band of 2.4 GHz. The first and second communication modules  104 ,  106  may share the antenna  102  via the antenna sharing module  103 . Although the antenna  102  is shown as a single antenna, the device  100  may comprise multiple antennas that may be shared by the first and second communication modules  104 ,  106 . Accordingly, data received by the first communication module  104  may occasionally interfere with the data transmitted by the second communication module  106 , and vice versa. 
     For example, data received by the first communication module  104  from a WiMAX base station (BS) (not shown) may interfere with data transmitted by the second communication module  106  to a remote WiFi device (not shown). The remote WiFi device may include an access point (AP) or a client station. The interference may cause the WiMAX BS to drop the data rate of transmission. Dropping the data rate may increase the duration of the transmitted packets. Increasing the duration of the transmitted packets may, in turn, increase the interference. If the interference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the device  100  may be disconnected from the WiMAX BS. 
     Additionally, data received by the second communication module  106  from the remote WiFi device may interfere with data transmitted by the first communication module  104  to the WiMAX BS. The interference may cause the remote WiFi device to drop the data rate of transmission. Dropping the data rate may increase the duration of the transmitted packets. Increasing the duration of the transmitted packets may, in turn, increase the interference. If the interference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the device  100  may be disconnected from the remote WiFi device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , for example only, the interference between WiMAX and WiFi communications of the device  100  is discussed in detail. The device  100  transmits and receives WiMAX frames using the first communication module  104 . Each WiMAX frame comprises a downlink (DL) sub-frame that the device  100  receives and an uplink (UL) sub-frame that the device  100  transmits. Typically, the duration of the WiMAX frame is approximately 5 ms, where the duration of the DL sub-frame is approximately 3.5 ms, and the duration of the UL sub-frame is approximately 1.5 ms. 
     Additionally, the device  100  also receives and transmits 802.11 packets using the second communication module  106 . Typically, when the device  100  receives an 802.11 packet, the second communication module  106  transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) to the remote WiFi device indicating that the 802.11 packet is received by the device  100 . If the 802.11 packet is not received by the device  100 , the second communication module  106  does not transmit the ACK to the remote WiFi device. When the remote WiFi device does not receive the ACK, the remote WiFi device lowers the data rate and retransmits the 802.11 packet. 
     If the remote WiFi device again does not receive the ACK from the device  100 , the remote WiFi device again lowers the data rate and retransmits the 802.11 packet. The remote WiFi device continues to lower the data rate until the device  100  receives the 802.11 packet as indicated by the ACK received from the device  100 . If the ACK is not received after lowering the data rate below a predetermined threshold, the remote WiFi device drops the link to the device. 
     Occasionally, although the device  100  receives the packet while the device  100  is receiving the WiMAX DL sub-frame, the device  100  may not transmit the ACK to the remote WiFi device for various reasons. For example, the device  100  may not transmit the ACK because the device  100  is configured (e.g., by an arbiter) to not transmit data using the second communication module  106  when the device  100  is receiving WiMAX data. When the remote WiFi device does not receive the ACK, however, the remote WiFi device presumes that the device  100  did not receive the 802.11 packet. Accordingly, the remote WiFi device lowers the data rate, increases the packet duration, and retransmits the 802.11 packet. 
     If the device  100  is still receiving WiMAX data, the device  100  again may not transmit the ACK to the remote WiFi device. The remote WiFi device again lowers the data rate and retransmits the 802.11 packet. By now, the device  100  may be transmitting the WiMAX UL sub-frame instead of receiving the WiMAX DL sub-frame. Depending on the design of a radio-frequency (RF) front-end of the device  100  (not shown), the second communication module  106  may not receive the 802.11 packet when the first communication module  104  is transmitting data. Accordingly, the remote WiFi device may drop the link to the device  100  instead of lowering the data rate and retransmitting the 802.11 packet. Thus, the interference between the WiMAX and WiFi communications may adversely affect the performance of the device  100 . 
     SUMMARY 
     A network device comprises a first communication module and a second communication module. The first communication module communicates with a first device using a first wireless communication standard. The first communication module receives data from the first device during a first time period and transmits data to the first device during a second time period. The second communication module communicates with a second device using a second wireless communication standard. The second communication module receives a block of packets from the second device during the first time period. The second communication module transmits an acknowledgement to the second device during the second time period when the block of the packets is received. 
     In other features, a method comprises communicating with a first device using a first wireless communication standard, receiving data from the first device during a first time period, and transmitting data to the first device during a second time period. The method further comprises communicating with a second device using a second wireless communication standard and receiving a block of packets from the second device during the first time period. The method further comprises transmitting an acknowledgement to the second device during the second time period when the block of the packets is received. 
     In still other features, a network device comprises a first communication means for communicating with a first device using a first wireless communication standard and a second communication means for communicating with a second device using a second wireless communication standard. The first communication means receives data from the first device during a first time period and transmits data to the first device during a second time period. The second communication means receives a block of packets from the second device during the first time period. The second communication means transmits an acknowledgement to the second device during the second time period when the block of the packets is received. 
     In other features, the first wireless communication standard includes one of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), or Ultra Mobile Band (UMB), and Bluetooth® standards. The second wireless communication standard includes one of I.E.E.E. 802.11 standards. 
     In other features, the second communication means transmits lengths of the first and second time periods to the second device. The second device transmits a request for the acknowledgment to the network device before the first time period ends. The second communication means transmits data during the second time period. The network device further comprises an antenna that the first and second communication means share when communicating with the first and second devices, respectively. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a wireless network device according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a timing diagram of signals exchanged by the wireless network device of  FIG. 1 , a WiMAX base station, and a remote WiFi device according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of an exemplary wireless network device according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a timing diagram of signals exchanged by the wireless network device of  FIG. 3 , a WiMAX base station, and a remote WiFi device according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an exemplary method for reducing interference when the wireless network device of  FIG. 3  communicates using multiple communication standards according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present disclosure. 
     As used herein, the term module may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. 
     The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for reducing the interference that may occur when the handheld wireless network device (device) communicates using collocated communication modules that use different communication standards (standards). Throughout the disclosure, the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standard is used as an example only. The teachings of the present disclosure are applicable to other Fourth Generation (4G) standards and the Bluetooth® (BT) standard. 
     For example only, the device may communicate with the WiMAX base station (BS) and the remote wireless fidelity (WiFi) device using the WiMAX and WiFi standards, respectively. The device may transmit to the remote WiFi device a first time period during which the device receives the WiMAX downlink (DL) sub-frame and a second time period during which the device transmits the WiMAX uplink (UL) frame. Accordingly, the remote WiFi device may transmit 802.11 packets to the device during the first time period while the device receives the WiMAX DL sub-frame. The remote WiFi device may not transmit the 802.11 packets during the second time period when the device transmits the WiMAX UL sub-frame. 
     Specifically, the remote WiFi device may transmit a block or a burst of 802.11 packets to the device during the first time period without requiring the device to transmit the acknowledgement (ACK) for every 802.11 packet received. Instead, the remote WiFi device transmits the block of 802.11 packets using a block ACK, where the remote WiFi device expects to receive a block ACK from the device when the device receives the block of 802.11 packets. 
     The device may receive the block of the 802.11 packets while receiving the WiMAX DL sub-frame. The device does not transmit ACKs to the remote WiFi device for each 802.11 packet received in the block by the device. Instead, the device may transmit the block ACK to the remote WiFi device when the device receives the block of the 802.11 packets. 
     Before the end of the first time period or before the beginning of the second time period, the remote WiFi device may transmit a block ACK request (BAR) to the device. Subsequently, the device may transmit the block ACK to the remote WiFi device when the device transmits the WiMAX UL frame during the second time period. The device transmits the block ACK to the remote WiFi device if the device received the 802.11 packets transmitted by the remote WiFi device. When the remote WiFi device receives the block ACK, the remote WiFi device determines that the device received the block of the 802.11 packets transmitted by the remote WiFi device. 
     Alternatively, the remote WiFi device may not transmit the BAR. Instead, the remote WiFi device and the device may be preconfigured such that the device transmits the block ACK to the remote WiFi device during the second time period without requiring the remote WiFi device to transmit the BAR. 
     Thus, the interference is reduced by scheduling and receiving blocks of 802.11 packets while receiving WiMAX UL sub-frames, not transmitting ACKs for every 802.11 packet received, and transmitting block ACKs while transmitting WiMAX UL sub-frames. The interference decreases since the device transmits data concurrently using the WiMAX and WiFi standards during the first time period and receives data concurrently using the WiMAX and WiFi standards during the second time period. 
     Additionally, the system throughput increases. This is because the device receives the 802.11 packets in blocks during the first time period, and the device may transmit other 802.11 data packets in addition to transmitting the block ACK during the second time period. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , for example only, an exemplary device  150  that communicates using WiMAX and WiFi standards according to the present disclosure is shown.  FIG. 3  shows the exemplary device  150 .  FIG. 4  shows a timing diagram of signals communicated by the exemplary device  150 , the WiMAX BS, and the remote WiFi device. 
     The exemplary device  150  comprises the antenna  102 , the antenna sharing module  103 , the first communication module  104 , a second communication module  152 , and a control module  154 . For example only, the first communication module  104  communicates using the WiMAX standard. The second communication module communicates using one of the WiFi standards (e.g., I.E.E.E. 802.11n). Accordingly, the exemplary device  150  is said to communicate using collocated communication modules that use different communication standards. Although the antenna  102  is shown as a single antenna, the exemplary device  150  may comprise multiple antennas that may be shared by the first and second communication modules  104 ,  152 . 
     The control module  154  comprises a scheduling module  156  and a block acknowledgement module  158 . The scheduling module  156  determines the first time period during which the second communication module  152  may receive the block of the 802.11 packets from the remote WiFi device. Additionally, the scheduling module  156  determines the second time period during which the second communication module  152  may transmit the block ACK to the remote WiFi device. 
     The scheduling module  156  determines the first and second time periods based on the communication standard used by the first communication module  104 . For example, when the first communication module  104  uses the WiMAX communication standard, the first time period may be approximately equal to the time during which the first communication module  104  receives the WiMAX DL sub-frame (e.g., 3.5 ms). Additionally, the second time period may be approximately equal to the time during which the first communication module  104  transmits the WiMAX UL sub-frame (e.g., 1.5 ms). 
     The second communication module  152  transmits the first and second time periods to the remote WiFi device. Accordingly, the remote WiFi device determines when the exemplary device  150  is available to receive the block of the 802.11 packets transmitted by the remote WiFi device and when the remote WiFi device may receive the block ACK from the exemplary device  150 . 
     For example, the remote WiFi device determines that the exemplary device  150  is available to receive the block of the 802.11 packets during the first time period and that the exemplary device  150  may transmit the block ACK during the second time period. Accordingly, the remote WiFi device schedules the transmission of the block of the 802.11 packets to the exemplary device  150  based on the first and second time periods. 
     Specifically, the remote WiFi device transmits the block of the 802.11 packets to the exemplary device  150  during the first time period. The 802.11 packets may conform to the I.E.E.E. 802.11 standard format used by the exemplary device  150  and the remote WiFi device. For example, the 802.11 packets may include medium access controller (MAC) service data unit (MSDU) packets, MAC protocol data unit (MPDU) packets, and so on. The 802.11 packets may be separated by a short inter-frame space (SIFS). 
     The block ACK module  158  generates a control signal when the second communication module  152  receives the block of the 802.11 packets from the remote WiFi device during the first time period. The block ACK module  158  inputs the control signal to the second communication module  152 . The second communication module  152 , in turn, transmits the block ACK to the remote WiFi device when the first communication module  104  transmits the WiMAX UL sub-frame during the second time period. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , steps of a method  200  for reducing interference while communicating using multiple communication standards are shown. Control begins at step  202 . Control determines the first time period of the WiMAX DL sub-frame in step  204 . Control determines the second time period of the WiMAX UL sub-frame in step  206 . Control transmits the first and second time periods to the remote WiFi device in step  208 . 
     In step  210 , control receives the block of the 802.11 packets from the remote WiFi device while receiving the WiMAX DL sub-frame from the WiMAX BS. Control does not transmit ACKs to the remote WiFi device for each of the 802.11 packets received in the block in step  210 . Control determines in step  212  whether the block of the 802.11 packets were received. If the result of step  212  is true, control transmits the block ACK to the remote WiFi device while transmitting the WiMAX UL sub-frame in step  214 . 
     Thereafter, or if the result of step  212  is false, control determines in step  216  whether any 802.11 packets are to be transmitted. If the result of step  216  is true, control transmits 802.11 packets while transmitting the WiMAX UL sub-frame in step  218 . Thereafter, or if the result of step  216  is false, control determines in step  220  whether the transmission of the WiMAX UL sub-frame is complete. If the result of step  220  is false, control returns to step  216 . If the result of step  220  is true, control stops the 802.11 transmission in step  222 , and control returns to step  210 . 
     Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims.