Patent Description:
A Wireless Local-Area Network (WLAN) typically comprises one or more Access Points (APs) that communicate with stations (STAs). WLAN communication protocols are specified, for example, in the IEEE <NUM> family of standards, such as in the <NUM>. 11n-<NUM> standard entitled "<NPL>; and in the <NUM>. 11ac-<NUM> standard entitled "<NPL>; WLANs are also commonly referred to as Wi-Fi networks.

<CIT> describes a strong anti-interference wide band switch radio frequency module with a channel blocking self-detection function, the radio frequency module comprising a baseband processing unit, a number of radio frequency units and a number of antenna units which are one-to-one corresponding to the radio frequency units. <CIT> describes a method and apparatus for transmitting information in massive MIMO system, the apparatus comprising a plurality of antenna elements; a baseband processor; a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) chains coupled to the baseband processor; a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of RF chains, wherein positions of switches in the plurality of switches being determined by instantaneous channel state information; a radio-frequency (RF) preprocessor coupled between the plurality of switches and the plurality of antenna elements, the RF preprocessor to apply a preprocessing matrix to signals, elements of the preprocessing matrix being adjusted as a function of average channel state information, and wherein the positions of the switches and elements of the preprocessing matrix are jointly chosen, and wherein the preprocessing matrix is chosen based on a metric related to expected performance obtained from at least one channel realization.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless device as set out in the first of the appending independent claims. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for communication as set out in the second of the appending independent claims. Features of various different embodiments are set out in the appending dependent claims.

There is also disclosed herein examples of a wireless device that includes multiple Radio Frequency (RF) chains, one or more processing modules, a switching circuit and a processor. The multiple RF chains operate in multiple respective predefined RF bands, wherein at least one RF chain is configurable to operate at a RF band selected from among the multiple predefined RF bands. The one or more processing modules are configurable to process baseband signals communicated with the multiple RF chains. The switching circuit is configured to route baseband signals between the RF chains and the processing modules, in accordance with a switch routing plan. The processor is configured to, in response to an event that warrants an operational reconfiguration of the wireless device, re-allocate resources of the wireless device including (i) allocating one or more of the RF chains to operate at one or more respective RF bands, (ii) allocating one or more of the processing modules to process baseband signals associated respectively with the one or more RF bands, and (iii) setting the switch routing plan to route baseband signals between pairs of RF chains and processing modules that were allocated to a common RF band, and to communicate wirelessly with one or more remote devices in accordance with the operational reconfiguration.

In some examples, the processor is configured to re-allocate the resources of the wireless device during field operation of the wireless device. In other examples, the processor is configured to re-allocate the resources by modifying a number of RF chains allocated to a given RF band. In yet other examples, the processor is configured to re-allocate the resources by re-allocating a given RF chain from a first RF band to a second different RF band.

In an example, the one or more processing modules share a pool of multiple processing units, and the processor is configured to re-allocate a given processing unit from a first processing module to a second different processing module. In another example, the wireless device communicates with the one or more remote devices in a beamforming mode, and the processor is configured to re-allocate the resources, by modifying a number of RF chains allocated to a given RF band for producing a desired beamformed transmission pattern. In yet another example, the event includes identifying degradation in a quality of service level provided while communicating with one or more of the remote devices.

In some examples, the event includes establishing or terminating a communication link with a remote device over one of the RF bands. In other examples, the event includes a requirement for searching for interfering radar transmissions in a given RF band, and the processor is configured to allocate one or more of the RF chains for detecting radar transmissions in the given RF band. In yet other examples, the processor is configured to re-allocate the resources by allocating one or more of the RF chains for performing spectrum sensing for detecting occupied channels in a given RF band.

There is also disclosed herein examples of a method for communication, including, in a wireless device including multiple Radio Frequency (RF) chains operating in multiple respective predefined RF bands and at least one RF chain is configurable to operate at a RF band selected from among the multiple predefined RF bands, multiple processing modules that process baseband signals communicated with the multiple RF chains, and a switching circuit that routes baseband signals between the RF chains and the processing modules, in accordance with a switch routing plan, in response to an event that warrants an operational reconfiguration of the wireless device, re-allocating resources of the wireless device including (i) allocating one or more of the RF chains to operate at one or more respective RF bands, (ii) allocating one or more of the processing modules to process baseband signals associated respectively with the one or more RF bands, and (iii) setting the switch routing plan to route baseband signals between pairs of RF chains and processing modules that were allocated to a common RF band. One or more remote devices are communicated with wirelessly, in accordance with the operational reconfiguration.

These and other embodiments will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings in which:.

Embodiments that are described herein provide systems and methods for dynamic reconfiguration of a wireless device operating concurrently over multiple frequency bands.

A wireless device such as a Multiple-In Multiple-Out (MIMO) Access Point (AP) typically comprises multiple antennas for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from wireless stations (STAs) in its vicinity. The AP comprises a transceiver comprising a transmission (TX) chain that up-converts baseband signals to a desired Radio Frequency (RF) band for transmission via the antennas, and a reception (RX chain) that down-converts to baseband RF signals received from the STAs via the antennas. In some embodiments, an antenna and an analog circuit associated with that antenna are referred to collectively as an "RF chain.

Some AP devices support a multi-band configuration over multiple separate RF bands. For example, a dual-band Wi-Fi AP may support two frequency bands specified in the <NUM> family of standards, e.g., the <NUM> and <NUM> frequency bands. In a concurrent mode of operation, a multi-band wireless device supports two-way communication over multiple frequency bands, simultaneously. A dual-band AP, for example, provides two separate and independent wireless networks, each of which operating over its own dedicated RF band.

A multi-band AP provides a total bandwidth that is typically much larger than the bandwidth available in a single-band configuration. Moreover, since the multiple RF bands occupy separate frequency ranges, concurrent communication over these RF bands typically cause little or no mutual interference among the RF bands.

In principle, a non-modifiable operational configuration may be determined, at design or manufacture time, for allocating each of the RF chains to one of the available RF bands. Such a rigid configuration, however, cannot adapt to varying conditions such as varying channel capacity, a varying number of STAs served by the AP in each of the RF bands, the quality of service required in serving each STA and the like. Rigid configuration therefore utilizes hardware and computational resources of the AP inefficiently, which may result in degraded performance and coverage.

In some embodiments, a wireless device comprises multiple RF chains operating in multiple respective predefined RF bands, wherein at least one RF chain is configurable to operate at a RF band selected from among the multiple predefined RF bands, and one or more processing modules configurable to process baseband signals communicated with the multiple RF chains. The wireless device further comprises a switching circuit that routes baseband signals between the RF chains and the one or more processing modules, in accordance with a switch routing plan.

The wireless device comprises a processor, which in response to an event that warrants an operational reconfiguration of the wireless device, re-allocates resources of the wireless device including (i) allocating one or more of the RF chains to operate at one or more respective RF bands, (ii) allocating one or more of the processing modules to process baseband signals associated respectively with the one or more RF bands, and (iii) setting the switch routing plan to route baseband signals between pairs of RF chains and processing modules that were allocated to a common RF band. Following reconfiguration, the wireless device communicates wirelessly with one or more remote devices in accordance with the updated operational reconfiguration.

Re-allocation of resources may be carried out in various ways. In an example embodiment, the processor may modify the number of RF chains allocated to a given RF band, e.g., by assigning an additional RF chain to the given RF band. In another embodiment, the processor re-allocates the resources by re-allocating a given RF chain from a first RF band to a second different RF band. In some embodiments, for efficient utilization of computational resources, the one or more processing modules share a pool of processing units, and the processor distributes computational load among the processing units. For example, the processor may re-allocate a given processing unit currently assigned to a processing module allocated to a given RF band, to another processing module allocated to a different RF band.

In some embodiments, the wireless device communicates with one or more remote devices over a given RF band in a beamforming mode. In such embodiments, the processor may modify the number of RF chains allocated to the given RF band for producing a desired transmission pattern.

As noted above, the processor modifies the operational configuration in response to a suitable event. The event may comprise, for example, identifying degradation in the quality of service level provided while communicating with one or more of the remote devices. As another example, the event comprises establishing or terminating a communication link with a remote device over one of the RF bands.

In some embodiments, the event comprises a requirement for executing some management operation in a given RF band. For example, in some embodiments, the wireless device operates in the given RF band, which may contain radar transmissions that may interfere with the wireless communication between the wireless device and the remote devices. In such embodiments, the management operation comprises searching for interfering radar transmissions in the given RF band, in which case the processor allocates one or more of the RF chains for detecting radar transmissions in the given RF band. As another example, in an embodiment, the given RF band is divided into multiple predefined channels, and the management operation comprises performing spectrum sensing for detecting one or more channels in the given RF band that are occupied by other wireless devices. In this embodiment, the processor may re-allocate one or more of the RF chains for performing the spectrum sensing operation in the given RF band.

In the disclosed techniques, hardware and computational resources of a wireless device are re-allocated, on the fly, during field operation of the wireless device. This approach allows flexible adaptation of the wireless device resources to varying conditions and operational requirements. Moreover, superior quality of service and superior coverage can be achieved with limited resources, compared to wireless devices having a non-modifiable configuration. Alternatively, flexible configuration may achieve a desired performance level using less hardware and computational resources compared to a rigid configuration.

<FIG> is a block diagram that schematically illustrates a dual-band Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) device <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment that is described herein. WLAN device <NUM> may operate as a WLAN Access Point (AP), a WLAN station (STA) or any other suitable type of WLAN device. In the present example, although not necessary, WLAN device <NUM> is configured to communicate with remote WLAN devices in accordance with a WLAN standard such as the family of the IEEE <NUM> standards, cited above.

In the present example, WLAN device <NUM> comprises a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) <NUM>, which is coupled to multiple Front End (FE) modules <NUM>, e.g., four FE modules denoted FE0. Each FE module <NUM> is coupled to a respective antenna <NUM>, for transmitting and receiving WLAN signals. The multiple antennas can be used, for example, for communicating with other wireless devices in a Multiple-In Multiple-Out (MIMO) configuration. As will be described below, in the present example, the WLAN device supports flexible allocation of antennas <NUM> (and other physical and computational resources) between the two RF bands supported by the dual-band WLAN device. In general, the WLAN device may support flexible allocation of hardware and computational resources among a number of RF bands larger than two, e.g., among <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> RF bands.

Each of FE modules <NUM> is coupled to a respective reception (RX) chain <NUM> and to a respective transmission (TX) chain <NUM>. The FE module switches its antenna between the respective RX and TX chains. In <FIG>, FE0 connects to reception chain RX0 (34A) and to transmission chain TX0 (36A), FE1 connects to reception chain RX1 (34B) and to transmission chain TX1 (36B) and so on. Example detailed block diagrams of FE <NUM>, RX chain <NUM> and TX chain <NUM> will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

In the context of the present disclosure and in the claims, the term "RF chain" refers to an antenna and an analog circuit associated with that antenna. In <FIG>, for example, WLAN device <NUM> comprises four RF chains <NUM>, each of which comprising an antenna <NUM>, a FE module <NUM>, a reception chain <NUM> and a transmission chain <NUM> that are associated with that antenna. In some embodiments, one or more elements, may be excluded from a given RF chain, e.g., a RF chain that requires functionality of reception only may be implemented without including a TX chain. In <FIG>, RF chains 38A. 38D are depicted using dotted lines. The term "RF chain" may refer to various combinations of elements such as an antenna <NUM> plus FE <NUM>, an antenna <NUM> plus a RX chain <NUM> and a TX chain <NUM>, or an antenna <NUM> plus a FE <NUM>, a RX chain <NUM> and a TX chain <NUM>. In some embodiments, one or more elements of a RF chain are dynamically configurable to operate in one of multiple predefined RF bands. Alternatively, a RF chain may comprise elements that support only a single RF band.

Consider transmit and receive paths in the analog domain related to the FE modules and the RX and TX chains, as described, for example, with reference to FE0, RX0 and TX0 in <FIG>. In the receive direction, FE0 <NUM> receives a RF signal via its antenna <NUM> and delivers a filtered version of that RF signal, denote RxRF0, to reception chain RX0 34A. In RX0, the RF signal is down-converted to baseband using a Local Oscillator (LO) signal <NUM> denoted LOX_0, to produce In-phase and Quadrature (I/Q) baseband signals denoted RxBB_I0 and RxBB_Q0, respectively. Each of the In-phase and Quadrature signals is sampled and converted to a digital form using a respective Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) <NUM>.

In the transmit direction, In-phase and Quadrature baseband signals denoted TxBB_I0 and TxBB_Q0, respectively, each of which is produced using a respective Analog to Digital Converter (DAC) <NUM>, are up-converted in transmission chain TX0 36A using LOX_0 signal <NUM>, and combined to produce a transmission RF signal denoted TxRF0. Front end module FE0 filters the TxRF0 signal and transmits it via its antenna <NUM>.

Similar reception paths and transmission paths apply to FE1, FE2 and FE3 plus their respective pairs of RX and TX chains RX1/TX1, RX2/TX2 and RX3/TX3.

In the present example, in RF chains 38C and 38D, the LO signal for performing down-conversion and up-conversion operations is selectable between LOX_0 (<NUM>) and another LO signal <NUM> denoted LOX_1. The frequencies of LO signals LOX_0 (<NUM>) and LOX_1 (<NUM>) are tuned for operating respectively in each of the RF bands supported by the dual-band device. An example circuit implementing LO selection will be described in <FIG> below.

RFIC <NUM> comprises a crystal oscillator <NUM> that produces a reference LO signal <NUM>. A synthesizer module <NUM>, denoted SXO, uses reference LO signal <NUM> for generating LOX_0 signal <NUM>. Similarly, a synthesizer module <NUM>, denoted SX1, uses reference LO signal <NUM> for generating LOX_1 signal <NUM>. In some embodiments, synthesizer modules <NUM> and <NUM> are implemented using Phase Locked Loop (PLL) techniques.

In the example of <FIG>, WLAN device <NUM> comprises multiple Medium Access Control (MAC) modules <NUM>, multiple baseband (BB) modules <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>. A BB module is also referred to as a Physical-Layer (PHY) module. In the dual-band configuration of <FIG>, MAC module 70A denoted MACA0 is coupled to BB module 74A denoted BB0, and MAC module 70B denoted MAC1 is coupled to BB module 74B denoted BB1. A pair of modules comprising a BB module and a MAC module, which are assigned together to a common RF band is also referred to herein as a "processing module. " In <FIG>, processing module 75A comprising BB0 and MACO, and processing module 75B comprising BB1 and MACT are depicted using dotted lines.

In some embodiments, the BB module and the MAC module of a given processing module are allocated together to a given RF band.

MAC modules <NUM> are coupled to processor <NUM> via a bus or link <NUM>. In the present example, link <NUM> comprises a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus. Alternatively, link <NUM> may comprise other suitable types of links.

In some embodiments, processor <NUM> carries out various tasks of the MAC modules such as controlling and scheduling the transmissions and receptions via the BB modules. Processing in MAC modules <NUM> may include, for example, estimation of a channel between antennas <NUM> of the WLAN device and antennas of a wireless remote device. Based on the estimated channel, the MAC module may apply a steering matrix to spatial streams to be transmitted via respective antennas. Processor <NUM> further carries out control tasks of the WLAN device such as dynamically configuring the WLAN device, e.g., by setting various configurable elements in the RF chains for achieving best performance in concurrent dual-band communication.

In some embodiments, each BB module <NUM> carries out baseband processing tasks such as mapping between bits carried in spatial streams and a suitable Quadrature-Amplitude Modulation (QAM) symbols, and modulation/demodulation of the QAM symbols over multiple sub-carriers using, for example, an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme.

Each MAC module <NUM> and each BB module <NUM> supports handling up to a predefined maximal number of RF chains. In the example of <FIG>, BB0 and MAC0 can handle concurrently up to four baseband signals received via RX chains RX0. RX3 and up to four baseband signals transmitted via TX chains TX0. This means that BB0 can handle a full MIMO configuration of four antennas in the RF band associated with the LO signal LOX_0. In the present example, BB1 and MAC1 are required to handle concurrently up to two baseband signals received via RX chains RX2 and RX3 and up to two baseband signals transmitted via TX chains TX2 and TX3.

In the transmit direction, a BB module <NUM> processes spatial streams for transmission via selected TX chains and respective antennas. In some embodiments, the BB module applies beamforming to the spatial streams, by setting certain gains and phases to the signals transmitted via the TX chains, to spatially control the transmission. In the receive direction, the BB module processes signals received via one or more antennas <NUM> and respective RF chains, and extracts from the received signals information, such as data and sounding feedback information.

In the example of <FIG>, each MAC module <NUM> comprises one or more MAC Processing Units (PUs) <NUM> and each BB module <NUM> comprises one or more BB PUs <NUM>. In some embodiments, one or more MAC PUs can be dynamically allocated by processor <NUM> to either MAC0 or MAC1. Similarly, one or more BB PUs can be dynamically allocated to either BB0 or BB1. In these embodiments, at least some of the MAC PUs are not tied to a specific MAC module but serve as a pool of MAC PUs for both MAC0 and MAC1. Similarly, at least some of the BB PUs are not tied to a specific BB module but serve as a pool of BB PUs for both BB0 and BB1.

WLAN device comprises switching circuit <NUM> that mediates between the RX and TX chains and the BB modules. Switching circuit <NUM> is also referred to herein as a "switch" for brevity. The switching circuit comprises ports 88A. 88D for connecting to the RF chains via ADCs <NUM> and DACs <NUM>. The switching circuit further comprises ports 90A. 90D for connecting to BB modules 74A and 74B. In the example of <FIG>, ports 88A. 88D are connected to RF chains 38A. 38D, respectively, ports 90A. 90D are connected to BB0, and ports 90E and 90F are connected to BB1.

The switching circuit handles data signals belonging to a data plane, wherein the data signals comprising data samples of the In-phase and Quadrature BB signals. In some embodiments, a control plane in WLAN device <NUM> comprises control signals that control the operation of switching circuit <NUM>, ADCs <NUM>, DACs <NUM>, FEs <NUM> and RFIC <NUM>. The switching circuit routes at least some of the control signals of the control plane to the relevant elements, such as RFIC <NUM>, FEs <NUM>, DACs <NUM> and ADCs <NUM>. In <FIG>, the control signals of the switch, RFIC (including the RX and TX chains) and FEs are collectively denoted "dual-band control.

In some embodiments, the RFIC measures the power of the received signals and provides Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) measurements to the switching circuit, which routes the RSSI measurements to the relevant BBs.

In some embodiments, the switching circuit routes data signals between ports <NUM> and ports <NUM> in groups of four signals, wherein each such group of four signals corresponds to a respective RF chain. Specifically, each port <NUM> receives an In-phase signal and a Quadrature signal from a respective RX chain <NUM> via ADCs <NUM>, and routes an In-phase signal and a Quadrature signal to a TX chain <NUM> (of the same RF chain) via DACs <NUM>.

In a given routing configuration of the switching circuit, the switching circuit interconnects four data signals between each port <NUM> and a selected port <NUM>. interconnections between ports <NUM> and ports <NUM> within the switching circuit are depicted as dotted lines.

Switching circuit <NUM> comprises a routing plan <NUM> that specifies modifiable interconnections between ports <NUM> and ports <NUM>. In some embodiments, routing plan <NUM> may specify both fixed and modifiable interconnections. In <FIG>, the routing plan may specify interconnecting between port 88C and one of ports 90C and 90E, and interconnecting between port 88D and one of ports 90D and 90F. Further in <FIG>, the interconnections between port 88A and port 90A, and between port 88B and port 90B are fixed.

Let BAND0 and BAND1 denote the two RF bands supported by the dual-band WLAN device of the present example. In some embodiments, BB0 and BB1 are configured to process baseband signals associated with BANDO and BAND1, respectively. In accordance with the routing plan supported by switching circuit <NUM>, RF chains (or their FEs) may be allocated to the RF bands in various configurations as follows:.

In the example of <FIG>, the RF chains of FE0 and FE1 support only one RF band. On the other hand, the RF chains of FE2 and of FE3 support both RF bands.

In general, the WLAN device may be implemented using FEs that support a single RF band, FEs that support multiple RF bands, or a combination of FEs of both types. For example, when using FEs that each supports a single RF band, multiple FEs for each RF band may be required. In such cases, RX and TX chains tuned to the relevant RF bands are connected dynamically to the FEs. In this configuration, RX chains and TX chains are flexibly connected to the FEs (not shown) rather than using a rigid connection between FEs and RX/TX chains as in the WLAN device of <FIG>. In an example embodiment, in a dual-band WLAN device supporting the <NUM> and <NUM> RF bands, the TX chain has switchable RF outputs for the two RF bands and the RF chain has switchable RF inputs for the two RF band. When the WLAN device is implemented using FEs that support a single RF band, the <NUM> output of the TX chain is connected to a FE that supports the <NUM> band, and the <NUM> output of the TX chain is connected to a FE that supports the <NUM> band. When the WLAN device is implemented using FEs that support multiple RF bands, both the <NUM> and the <NUM> outputs of the TX chain are connected to a common FE that supports both RF bands. Similar schemes apply to connecting FEs to RF chains.

In some embodiments, at least some of the RF chains, including FEs <NUM> and their Rx and TX chains, are configurable to operate at a selected RF band BANDO or BAND1. To this end, the FE module comprises a FE configuration module <NUM>, and RFIC <NUM> comprises a RF configuration module <NUM>, which are controlled by processor <NUM>, and may be implemented using any suitable type of storage element such as a register or a nonvolatile memory. Example controllable RF chains will be described with reference <FIG> below.

In some embodiments, each BB module <NUM> comprises a BB configuration module <NUM>, and each MAC module <NUM> comprises a MAC configuration module <NUM>. BB configuration modules <NUM> and MAC configuration modules <NUM>, are controlled by processor <NUM> and may be implemented using any a storage element of any suitable type such as a register or a nonvolatile memory. In some embodiments, a BB configuration allocates each of BB0 and BB1 to a respective RF band. Similarly, a MAC configuration module allocates each of MAC0 and MAC1 to a respective RF band.

In some embodiments, at least one BB PU can be shared among multiple BB modules. For example, BB0 and BB1 may share a pool of four BB PUs that may be allocated to the BB modules as required, e.g., based on the number of the RF chains respectively routed to the BB modules. Similarly, at least one MAC PU may be shared among multiple MAC modules. For example, MAC0 and MAC1 may share a pool of four MAC PUs that may be allocated to the MAC modules as required, e.g., based on the processing load assigned to each of the MAC modules.

<FIG> is a block diagram that schematically illustrates a configurable RF chain in a dual-band WLAN device, in accordance with an embodiment that is described herein. <FIG> depicts elements of configurable RF chain 38D in detail, and only main elements, e.g., FE <NUM>, RX chain <NUM> and TX chain <NUM> of the other RF chains (38A. 38C) of <FIG>.

In the transmit direction, TX1 (36D) receives from a BB module <NUM> an I/Q baseband signal for transmission, which was converted into an analog signal using DACs <NUM>. In TX3, Band-Pass Filters (BPFs) <NUM> filter the analog signal, a mixer <NUM> up-converts the signal to RF (and combines the I and Q components of the signal), and an amplifier <NUM> amplifies the RF signal. In the respective front-end module FE3, the RF signal is amplified with a Power Amplifier (PA) <NUM>, filtered with a Low-Pass Filter (LPF) <NUM>, and provided via a TX/RX switch <NUM> to antenna <NUM>.

In the receive direction, antenna <NUM> receives a RF signal, and the signal passes through the TX/RF switch and is filtered by a filter <NUM>. A Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) <NUM>, referred to as an external LNA, amplifies the signal before providing it to the corresponding RX3 chain (34D) in RFIC <NUM>. In RX3, the signal is amplified by an additional LNA <NUM>, referred to as an internal LNA. A mixer <NUM> down-converts the RF signal to baseband and splits it to I and Q components, bandpass filters <NUM> filter the down-converted I/Q signal, and the I/Q signal is then amplified by a Variable-Gain Amplifier (VGA) <NUM>. The I/Q baseband signal is then provided to a relevant BB module <NUM> after conversion to a digital signal using ADCs <NUM>.

As noted above RF chains 38C and 38D are configurable. In FE3, for example, filters <NUM> and <NUM> have respective frequency responses that can be modified on the fly by processor <NUM> modifying the setting of FE configuration module <NUM>. In some embodiments, processor <NUM> controls the respective frequency responses of filters <NUM> and <NUM> based on the RF band selected for the RF chain in question. In some embodiments, each of filters <NUM> and <NUM> comprises multiple filters corresponding to the multiple RF bands, and FE configuration module <NUM> holds information for selecting a filter <NUM> and a filter <NUM> depending on the relevant RF band.

In RF chain 38D (and 38C), the RX chain and the TX chain support both RF bands of the dual-band device. In <FIG>, RFIC <NUM> comprises a LO multiplexer <NUM> that is controlled by RF configuration module <NUM>. The LO multiplexer selects one of LO signals LOX_0 (<NUM>) and LOX_1 (<NUM>), by setting RF configuration module <NUM> in accordance with the RF band selected. In some embodiments, the RFIC comprises multiple LO multiplexers <NUM>, each associated with a respective RF chain.

The RF chain configuration in <FIG> is given by way of example, and other suitable RF chain configurations can be used. For example, other suitable combinations of filters and amplifiers can also be used.

The configurations of WLAN device <NUM> shown in <FIG> and of the configurable RF chain shown in <FIG> are example configurations, which is chosen purely for the sake of conceptual clarity. In alternative embodiments, any other suitable WLAN device configuration and RF chain configuration can be used. For example, WLAN device <NUM> may comprise any suitable number of RF chains, each comprising a FE, a Rx chain and possibly a TX chain. The various reception and transmission paths in WLAN device <NUM> of <FIG> are implemented in an In-Phase/Quadrature (I/Q) configuration. Alternatively, some or all of the reception and/or transmission paths may be implemented using low IF configuration with a single real BB signal.

In some embodiments, the functionalities of ADCs <NUM> DACs <NUM>, switching circuit <NUM> and BB modules <NUM> are implemented in a common IC referred to as a Baseband Integrated Circuit (BBIC).

The division of functions among the FE modules, RFIC, BBIC and/or MAC may differ from the division shown in <FIG>. The RFIC and BBIC may be integrated in a single device (e.g., on a single silicon die) or implemented in separate devices (e.g., separate silicon dies). Further alternatively, the entire functionality of the FE modules may be implemented in the RFIC, or WLAN device <NUM> may be implemented without a RFIC. In the FE modules, filter <NUM> may be inserted after LNA <NUM> rather than before the LNA. In other configurations, filter <NUM> and/or LNA <NUM> may be omitted.

The different elements of WLAN device <NUM> may be implemented using suitable hardware, such as in one or more RFICs, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). In some embodiments, some elements of WLAN device <NUM>, e.g., processor <NUM>, can be implemented using software, or using a combination of hardware and software elements. Elements of WLAN device <NUM> that are not mandatory for understanding of the disclosed techniques have been omitted from the figure for the sake of clarity.

In some embodiments, processor <NUM> is programmed in software to carry out the functions described herein. The software may be downloaded to the computer in electronic form, over a network, for example, or it may, alternatively or additionally, be provided and/or stored on non-transitory tangible media, such as magnetic, optical, or electronic memory. This processor may be internal or external to the BBIC.

<FIG> is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a method for dynamic reconfiguration of a dual-band WLAN device, in accordance with an embodiment that is described herein. The method will be described as executed by WLAN device <NUM> of <FIG>, including processor <NUM>.

The method begins with processor <NUM> defining two RF bands for concurrent dual-band operation, at a RF bands definition step <NUM>. The two RF bands supported by the dual-band device are denoted BAND0 and BAND1. For example, in a Wi-Fi device, the available RF bands may comprise the <NUM> band and the <NUM> band specified in the IEEE <NUM> family of standards. Alternatively, other RF bands of the IEEE <NUM> standards such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> can also be used.

In the present example, the processor holds a chain-configuration scheme that defines which RF chain <NUM> is allocated to each RF band, and a processing-configuration scheme that defines which processing module <NUM> is allocated to each RF band. In some embodiments, to apply a chain-configuration scheme, the processor sets FE configuration module <NUM> and RF configuration module <NUM>, in each configurable RF chain, in order to configure the RF chain to operate in the relevant RF band. The overall configuration of the RF chains <NUM>, switching circuit <NUM> and processing modules <NUM>, is also referred to herein as an "operational configuration.

At a default chain allocation step <NUM>, the processor defines a default chain-allocation scheme. For example, the default chain-allocation scheme allocates RF chains 38A and 38B to BANDO and allocates RF chains 38C and 38D to BAND1. In the example of WLAN device <NUM>, RF chain 38A comprising FE0 and RF chain 38B comprising FE1 support up-conversion and down-conversion using a single LO signal - LOX_0, and therefore the chain-allocation scheme may assign each of RF chains 38A and 38B only to BANDO.

Note that in some cases, one or more RF chains may remain unused. For example, when the WLAN device communicates with a single remote device over one of the RF bands, it may be sufficient to allocate for this RF band only three RF chains, in which case the fourth RF chain may remain unused.

At a default processing allocation step <NUM>, the processor defines a default processing-allocation scheme. For example, the default processing-allocation scheme allocates processing module 75A (BB0 and MAC0) to BAND0, and allocates processing module 75B (BB1 and MAC1) to BAND1.

At a chain configuration application step <NUM>, the processor applies the current chain-allocation scheme to RF chains <NUM>, by configuring FEs <NUM>, RX chains <NUM> and TX chains <NUM>, in accordance with the RF bands allocated. Specifically, in FEs <NUM>, the processor sets FE configuration module <NUM> to configure filters <NUM> and <NUM> to respective frequency responses that match the RF bands to which the RF chains were respectively allocated. In RX chains <NUM> and in TX chains <NUM>, the processor configures RF configuration module <NUM> to select. LOX_0 or LOX_1, for the respective RF bands BANDO or BAND1.

At a processing configuration application step <NUM>, the processor configures each of processing modules 75A (BB0, M,AC0) and 75B (BB1, MAC1) to process baseband signals and manage communication related to one of BANDO and BAND1. As will be described below, the processor may configure processing modules <NUM> to share computational resources between BB0 and BB1 and between MAC0 and MAC1.

At a switching circuit configuration step <NUM>, the processor configures routing plan <NUM> so that the switching circuit routes baseband signals between RF chains <NUM> and processing modules <NUM> that were allocated to a common RF band. For example, assuming that RF chain 38C and processing module <NUM> were allocated to BAND0 and that RF chain 38D and processing module 75B were allocated to BAND1, the processor configures the switching circuit with a routing plan that routes between port 88A and 90A, port 88B and 90B, port 88C and 90C and between port 88D and port 90F of the switching circuit.

At a wireless communication step <NUM>, the WLAN device communicates with one or more remote devices using the operational configuration set by the processor at steps <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> above. In an embodiment, the WLAN device communicates with multiple remote devices, wherein at least two of these remote devices operate over different RF bands. In such embodiments, the WLAN device communicates with the multiple remote devices over both BAND0 and BAND1, concurrently.

At a modification checking step <NUM>, the processor checks whether the currently used operational configuration needs to be modified, and if not, loops back to step <NUM> to continue communicating using the current operational configuration. Otherwise, the processor modifies the chain-allocation scheme, the processing-allocation scheme, or both, as required, at a reconfiguration step <NUM>. The processor may also modify the routing plan of switching circuit <NUM>, as required. The processor then loops back to step <NUM> to apply the updated chain-configuration scheme, processing-allocation scheme and switching circuit, by executing steps <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, as described above.

The processor may modify the chain-allocation scheme at step <NUM> in various ways. In an example embodiment, the processor may modify the number of RF chains allocated to a given RF band. In another example embodiment, the processor may re-allocate a given RF chain from one RF band to a different RF band.

At step <NUM> above, various types of events may require a modification to the currently used operational configuration. The processor may be informed of the event, e.g., by an element coupled to link <NUM>, e.g., a MAC module or an external host (not shown). Alternatively, the processor itself identifies an event that requires configuration modification and responses accordingly. Example events are listed below:.

In some embodiments, the processor transmits a sounding packet, e.g., a Non Data Packet (NDP) over one or more of the RF bands to be used. Using the NDP, a beamformer (e.g., the AP) may acquire channel state information from each Tx chain of the Beamformer to each Rx chain of the beamformee (e.g., remote STA). The remote devices typically respond to the sounding packet by transmitting back to the WLAN device information regarding the underlying communication channel. The processor typically transmits the sounding packet periodically, as well as shortly after configuring the various hardware elements as described at steps <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> above, before starting the communication at step <NUM> using the updated operational configuration. This allows smooth transition to a different operational configuration.

In some embodiments, computational resources of the WLAN device may be managed efficiently by sharing processing units such as BB PUs <NUM> and MAC PUs <NUM> between processing modules 75A and 75B.

As noted above, in some embodiments, each BB module comprises one or more BB PUs <NUM>. In some embodiments, a single BB PU can handle BB processing of the entire RF chains, in which case, each BB module may comprise a single BB PU. In other embodiments, a single BB PU cannot handle all the RF chains, in which case two or more BB PUs are required for handling all the RF chains in both RF bands.

Consider an example in which each BB PU can handle one RF chain, and therefore using four BB PUs is sufficient for handling four RF chains <NUM>. In a naïve approach, using a fixed configuration of the BB PUs, processing modules 75A and 75B would comprise four BB PUs, and two BB PUs, respectively. This approach utilizes computational resources inefficiently. For example, when the four RF chains are allocated to processing module 75A, the two BB PUs in processing module 75B remain unused.

In some embodiments, one or more BB PUs may belong to a pool of BB PUs that can shared by processing modules <NUM>. In the example above, a total number of four BB PUs can be used, wherein two BB PUs are used only by BB0 and each of the other two BB PUs can be used by each of BB0 and BB1, in accordance with the allocation of the processing modules to the RF bands. In this example, by sharing BB PUs, the total number of BB PUs reduces from six BB PUs to four BB PUs.

In some embodiments, MAC PUs <NUM> can be shared between processing modules <NUM>, in a similar manner to sharing BB PUs as described above.

In some embodiments, the processing-allocation scheme of the method of <FIG>, specifies the distribution of sharable BB PUs and sharable MAC PUs between the processing modules, depending on the number of RF chains to be handled in the respective processing modules.

The embodiments described above are given by way of example, and other suitable embodiments can also be used. For example, although the embodiments described above refer mainly to a dual-band device, the disclosed embodiments are also applicable to a multi-band device operating concurrently over a number of RF bands higher than two.

In the embodiments described above separate BB modules and MAC modules are allocated to the different RF bands. In alternative embodiments, a single BB module and a single MAC module handle the multiple RF bands, e.g., by logically assigning processing resources to the RF bands.

The embodiments described above refer mainly to a configuration in which, multiple processing modules (e.g., 75A and 75B) are allocated for processing multiple RF bands. This is not mandatory, and in alternative embodiments, a single processing module may process multiple selected RF bands. In an example embodiment, WLAN device comprises a single MAC/PHY module that handles multiple selectable RF bands allocated to respective RF chains.

Claim 1:
A wireless device (<NUM>), comprising:
multiple Radio Frequency (RF) chains (<NUM>) configured to operate in multiple respective RF bands comprising at least a first RF band and a second RF band;
a pool of processing modules (<NUM>) configurable to process baseband signals communicated with the multiple RF chains (<NUM>);
a switching circuit (<NUM>), configured to route baseband signals between the RF chains (<NUM>) and the processing modules (<NUM>), in accordance with a switch routing plan; and
a processor (<NUM>), which is configured to allocate a first group of two or more of the RF chains (<NUM>) to communicate with a remote device in the first RF band in a first beamforming mode and to allocate at least one of the processing modules (<NUM>) to apply respective baseband signals to the RF chains (<NUM>) in the first group while setting respective gains and phases of the respective baseband signals so as to generate a first transmission pattern toward the remote device, while allocating a second group of one or more of the RF chains (<NUM>) to communicate in the second RF band;
characterized in that the processor (<NUM>) is configured, in response to an event that warrants an operational reconfiguration of the wireless device (<NUM>), the event comprising a change in a quality of service in communication with the remote device, to re-allocate resources of the wireless device (<NUM>), including:
(i) re-allocating at least one of the RF chains (<NUM>) from the second group to the first group;
(ii) causing one or more of the processing modules (<NUM>) to modify the respective gains and phases of the respective baseband signals that are applied to the RF chains (<NUM>) in the first group so as to generate a second transmission pattern, different from the first transmission pattern, toward the remote device; and
(iii) setting the switch routing plan to route the baseband signals between the RF chains (<NUM>) in the first group and the at least one of the processing modules (<NUM>) that were allocated to the first RF band; and
communicate wirelessly with the remote device in accordance with the re-allocated resources.