Patent ID: 8195225

Claim:
A multimode communication terminal, comprising: a first channel module; a second channel module, wherein said multimode communication terminal can be configured to communicate by using said first channel module and/or said second channel module, said first and second channel modules communicating according to different communication protocols respectively; a channel switch layer means for switching said first channel module to have parameter characteristics consistent with those of said second channel module, such that said multimode communication terminal enables a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) operation mode by using said first channel module and said second channel module at the same time, wherein said MIMO operation mode uses multiple antennas both at a transmitter and a receiver; a channel module switching means for extracting corresponding parameters from said second channel module, and for configuring at least said first channel module to be switched with said extracted parameters, such that said first channel module and said second channel module enable said multimode communication terminal to perform MIMO communication; a switch notifying unit for issuing, upon determination of a switch, notification instructions to means in said channel switch layer means; and a data channel switching means for changing a data channel associated with said first channel module so that said first channel module and said second channel module can be adapted to said MIMO operation mode; wherein said data channel switching means operates according to the notification instructions of said switch notifying unit; wherein said channel module switching means operates according to the notification instructions of said switch notifying unit; and wherein said parameters from said second channel module include specific operating state parameters of the channel modules and/or signals controlling operating states of the channel modules.