Electronic apparatus and method for dynamically selecting a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth coexistence mode based on packet statistics, signal condition, and application characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11477661-B2
Application number	US-202017136392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2020
Priority date	Dec 31, 2019
Publication date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 18, 2022

Abstract

An electronic apparatus and a method for determining which of a plurality of coexistence modes to execute with a processor. The processor selectively runs one or more applications. Each coexistence mode when executed enables coexistence of wireless communication according to first and second wireless communication protocols. The processor executes a program so as to: measure wireless signal conditions of signals received with the first and second wireless communication protocols, respectively; determine packet statistics of communication packets received with the first and second wireless communication protocols, respectively; obtain, for each application being run by the processor, an application performance indication, an application first communication protocol setting; and an application second communication protocol setting; determine which one of the coexistence modes to execute based on the wireless signal conditions, the packet statistics, the application performance indication, application first communication protocol setting; and the application second communication protocol setting.

First claim

We claim:

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:
one or more antennas;
a first wireless communication circuit that effects wireless communication according to a first communication protocol over one of the one or more antennas;
a second wireless communication circuit that effects wireless communication according to a second communication protocol over one of the one or more antennas;
a memory having a program, and coding for plural coexistence modes stored therein, each coexistence mode when executed enabling coexistence of wireless communication according to the first and second wireless communication protocols by the first and second wireless communication circuits; and
a processor that runs one or more applications, and executes the program so as to:
collect wireless signal conditions of signals received with the first and second wireless communication circuits, respectively;
determine packet statistics of communication packets received with the first and second wireless communication circuits;
obtain, for each application being run by the processor, an application performance indication, an application first communication protocol setting and an application second communication protocol setting; and
determine which one of the coexistence modes to execute based on the wireless signal conditions, the packet statistics, the application performance indication, application first communication protocol setting, and the application second communication protocol setting.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor executes the program so as to:
compile a first list, from the one or more applications run by the processor, of applications that use the first wireless communication protocol and a corresponding priority indicator Wp, as the application first communication protocol setting, for each application on the list, wherein Wp=1 to m, with 1 representing a highest priority and m representing a lowest priority;
compile a second list, from the one or more applications run by the processor, of applications that use the second wireless communication protocol and a corresponding priority indicator Bp, as the application second communication protocol setting, for each application on the list, wherein Bp=1 to m, with 1 representing a highest priority and n representing a lowest priority;
sequentially, for each of X=1 to m:
determine, based on the application performance condition, whether all applications with a Wp value less than or equal to X are performing correctly, and if not, execute a first protocol performance increase process to increase performance of the first wireless communication protocol, and if so:
determine, based on the application performance condition, whether all applications with a Bp value less than or equal to X are performing correctly and if not, execute a second protocol performance increase process to increase performance of the second wireless communication protocol.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processor performs time division multiplexing between the first and second wireless communication protocols, and in executing the first protocol performance increase process, the processor:
determines, based on the packet statistics, whether performance of the first wireless communication protocol is below a first predetermined level, and if so, increases an amount of time to the first wireless communication protocol in the time division multiplexing.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein, if the processor determines that performance of the first wireless communication protocol is not below the first predetermined level, the processor:
determines whether the electronic apparatus has a shared antenna architecture wherein the first and second wireless communication circuits share an antenna, and if so, increases an amount of time to the first wireless communication protocol in the time division multiplexing.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
if the processor determines that performance of the first wireless communication protocol is not below the first predetermined level, the processor determines whether the electronic apparatus has a shared antenna architecture wherein the first and second wireless communication circuits share an antenna, and if not, determines whether a currently executed coexistence mode is a parallel transmission coexistence mode;
if the processor determines that the currently executed coexistence mode is the parallel transmission coexistence mode, the processor changes the coexistence mode to a hybrid coexistence mode;
if the processor determines that the currently executed coexistence mode is not the parallel transmission coexistence mode, the processor determines whether the currently executed coexistence mode is the hybrid coexistence mode;
if the currently executed coexistence mode is determined to be the hybrid coexistence mode, the processer executes the time division multiplexing with current time sharing settings, or preset default time sharing settings if the time division multiplexing is being executed for a first time; and
if the currently executed coexistence mode is determined to not be the hybrid coexistence mode, the processor increases an amount of time to the first wireless communication protocol in the time division multiplexing.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processor performs time division multiplexing between the first and second wireless communication protocols, and in executing the second protocol performance increase process, the processor:
determines, based on the packet statistics, whether performance of the second wireless communication protocol is below a first predetermined level, and if so, increases an amount of time to the second wireless communication protocol in the time division multiplexing.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein, if the processor determines that performance of the second wireless communication protocol is not below the first predetermined level, the processor:
determines whether the electronic apparatus has a shared antenna architecture wherein the first and second wireless communication circuits share an antenna, and if so, increases an amount of time to the second wireless communication protocol in the time division multiplexing.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
if the processor determines that performance of the second wireless communication protocol is not below the first predetermined level, the processor determines whether the electronic apparatus has a shared antenna architecture wherein the first and second wireless communication circuits share an antenna, and if not, determines whether a currently executed coexistence mode is a hybrid coexistence mode;
if the processor determines that the currently executed coexistence mode is the hybrid coexistence mode, the processor changes the coexistence mode to a parallel transmission coexistence mode;
if the processor determines that the currently executed coexistence mode is not the hybrid coexistence mode, the processor determines whether the currently executed coexistence mode is the parallel transmission coexistence mode;
if the currently executed coexistence mode is determined to be the parallel transmission coexistence mode, the processer executes the time division multiplexing with current time sharing settings, or preset default time sharing settings if the time division multiplexing is being executed for a first time; and
if the currently executed coexistence mode is determined to not be the parallel transmission coexistence mode, the processor increases an amount of time to the second wireless commu

Assignees

• Arris Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Nagarathnam Yuvaraj
• Kumar Senthil

Classifications

• H04W72/56

  based on priority criteria · CPC title

• H04W72/542

  using measured or perceived quality · CPC title

• H04B1/58

  Hybrid arrangements, i.e. arrangements for transition from single-path two-direction transmission to single-direction transmission on each of two paths or vice versa · CPC title

• H04W16/14 Primary

  Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title