Dual-function wireless data terminal

Abstract

Apparatus for communication includes at least one RF receiver circuit, which is coupled to receive and downconvert first and second RF signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks in accordance with different, first and second network protocols, so as to output first and second downconverted signals. A baseband processing circuit includes processing components that are coupled to receive and process the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract first and second data from the signals. The processing components have a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, pictorial illustration showing a multi-network system for wireless data communications, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram that schematically illustrates movement of a mobile terminal through coverage areas of WiMAX and WLAN networks, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that schematically shows elements of a dual-function mobile terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that schematically shows details of baseband processing components in a dual-function mobile terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a state diagram that schematically illustrates a method for dual-function operation of a mobile terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a signal timing diagram that schematically illustrates methods for controlling timing of WiMAX and WLAN transmissions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a method for controlling scanning for WLAN availability by a dual-function mobile terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a signal timing diagram that schematically illustrates a method for detecting WLAN availability, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8B is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a method for detecting and connecting to a WLAN, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for communication, comprising: at least one radio frequency (RF) receiver circuit, which is coupled to receive first and second RF signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks and carry first and second data modulated in accordance with different, first and second network protocols, and which is arranged to downconvert the first and second RF signals so as to output first and second downconverted signals;a baseband processing circuit, comprising processing components that are coupled to receive and process the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract the first and second data from the signals, the processing components having a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), and the second wireless network is a long-range wireless data network.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the long-range wireless data network is a WiMAX network.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the WLAN operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard, and the WiMAX network operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.16 standard.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baseband processing circuit comprises a memory for holding both the first and the second data simultaneously.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and second data respectively comprise first and second data frames, and wherein the baseband processing circuit is arranged to tag the first and second data frames in the memory with different, respective first and second identifying tags.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing components comprise at least one programmable component, and wherein the baseband processing circuit comprises a memory for holding program code to drive the at least one programmable component, the program code comprising first code for driving the at least one programmable component in the first configuration and second code for driving the at least one programmable component in the second configuration.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and second network protocols comprise first and second medium access control (MAC) protocols, respectively, and wherein the at least one programmable component comprises a MAC controller, which is driven by the program code to operate in accordance with either of the first and second MAC protocols.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the MAC controller is driven by the first code in the first configuration to scan for a second connection to the second wireless network while receiving the first data over a first connection to the first wireless network, and after finding the second connection, to receive the second data over the second connection in the second configuration while maintaining the first connection at a reduced level of functionality relative to the first configuration.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the baseband processing circuit is arranged to unload the first code and load the second code into the memory upon finding the second connection, and to unload the second code and load the first code into the memory when the second connection is lost and the baseband processing circuit resumes the first configuration.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the baseband processing circuit is arranged, while receiving the first data over a first connection to the first wireless network in the first configuration, to scan for a second connection to the second wireless network, and upon finding the second connection, to begin receiving the second data over the second connection in the second configuration.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the baseband processing circuit is arranged, while receiving the second data over the second connection in the second configuration, to maintain the first connection at a reduced level of functionality relative to the first configuration and to return to the first configuration when the second connection is lost.

13. A method for communication, comprising: receiving first and second radio frequency (RF) signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks and carry first and second data modulated in accordance with different, first and second network protocols;downconverting the first and second RF signals so as to generate first and second downconverted signals;processing the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract the first and second data from the signals using a baseband processing circuit, which comprises processing components having a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), and the second wireless network is a long-range wireless data network.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the long-range wireless data network is a WiMAX network.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the WLAN operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard, and the WiMAX network operates in accordance with an IEEE 802.16 standard.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the baseband processing circuit comprises a memory for holding both the first and the second data simultaneously.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first and second data respectively comprise first and second data frames, and wherein processing the first and second downconverted signals comprises tagging the first and second data frames in the memory with different, respective first and second identifying tags.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the processing components comprise at least one programmable component, and wherein the baseband processing circuit comprises a memory for holding program code to drive the at least one programmable component, the program code comprising first code for driving the at least one programmable component in the first configuration and second code for driving the at least one programmable component in the second configuration.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first and second network protocols comprise first and second medium access control (MAC) protocols, respectively, and wherein the at least one programmable component comprises a MAC controller, which is driven by the program code to operate in accordance with either of the first and second MAC protocols.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein processing the first and second downconverted signals comprises driving the MAC controller using the first code in the first configuration to scan for a second connection to the second wireless network while receiving the first data over a first connection to the first wireless network, and after finding the second connection, to receive the second data over the second connection in the second configuration while maintaining the first connection at a reduced level of functionality relative to the first configuration.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein driving the MAC controller comprises unloading the first code and loading the second code into the memory upon finding the second connection, and unloading the second code and loading the first code into the memory when the second connection is lost and the baseband processing circuit resumes the first configuration.

23. The method according to claim 13, wherein processing the first and second downconverted signals comprises scanning for a second connection to the second wireless network while receiving the first data over a first connection to the first wireless network in the first configuration, and upon finding the second connection, receiving the second data over the second connection in the second configuration.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein processing the first and second downconverted signals comprises maintaining the first connection at a reduced level of functionality relative to the first configuration while receiving the second data over the second connection in the second configuration, and returning to the first configuration when the second connection is lost.