Configurable wireless interface

Abstract

A multistandard RF transceiver is disclosed that may optionally include selectable mixers; selectable amplifiers; a configurable analog filter; and a configurable analog to digital converter. The multistandard RF transceiver may also include a data interface for sending data to a host controller and a control interface for receiving configuration commands from the host controller. The configuration commands identify a wireless standard that is to be implemented by the RF receiver. An RF processor processes an RF signal wherein the processed RF signal is output to the host controller on the data interface.

1 . In a wireless device having configurable components for operating a plurality of wireless applications in accordance with a corresponding set of configuration parameters, a method comprising:
 retrieving a set of configuration parameters associated with a wireless application; and   configuring the configurable components using the retrieved set to enable operation of the wireless application.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving configuration commands identifying the wireless application. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration parameters are stored in an application table. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising updating the application table to support a new wireless application. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is a modular radio frequency (RF) interface, and the configurable components include at least one of receive and transmit components arranged so as to be programmably configurable to operate in the plurality of wireless applications without a hardware change. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless device is a modular RF interface, and the configurable components are programmably configurable to support new wireless applications. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is a modular RF interface and includes a data interface and a control interface for communicating with an external host. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the communicating includes receiving configuration commands identifying the wireless operation to be supported. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device includes a feature register for storing codes indicating features that have been programmed in the wireless device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuring includes reusing digital-to-analog converter and filter components in a new configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a timing signal for a legacy or digital interface. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said timing signal for a legacy or digital interface is generated using a phased lock loop. 
   
   
       13 . A device having configurable components for operating a plurality of wireless applications in accordance with a corresponding set of configuration parameters, comprising:
 means for retrieving a set of configuration parameters associated with a wireless application; and   means for configuring the configurable components using the retrieved set to enable operation of the wireless application.   
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising means for receiving configuration commands identifying the wireless application. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration parameters are stored in an application table. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising means for updating the application table to support a new wireless application. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the device is a modular RF interface, and the configurable components include at least one of receive and transmit components arranged so as to be programmably configurable to operate in the plurality of wireless applications without a hardware change. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the device is a modular RF interface, and the configurable components are programmably configurable to support new wireless applications. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the device is a modular RF interface and includes a data interface and a control interface for communicating with an external host. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising means for receiving configuration commands identifying the wireless operation to be supported. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the device includes a feature register for storing codes indicating features that have been programmed in the device. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the means for configuring includes means for reusing digital-to-analog converter and filter components in a new configuration. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising means for generating a timing signal for a legacy or digital interface. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the means for generating a timing signal for a legacy or digital interface includes a phased lock loop. 
   
   
       25 . A host device configured for use with a wireless device having configurable components for operating a plurality of wireless applications in accordance with a corresponding set of configuration parameters, comprising:
 means for identifying a set of configuration parameters associated with a wireless application; and   means for transmitting, to the wireless device, the set of configuration parameters for the wireless device to configure the configurable components to enable operation of the wireless application.   
   
   
       26 . The host device of  claim 25 , further comprising means for generating configuration commands identifying the wireless application. 
   
   
       27 . The host device of  claim 25 , wherein the wireless device is a modular RF interface, and the configurable components include at least one of receive and transmit components arranged so as to be programmably configurable to operate in the plurality of wireless applications without a hardware change. 
   
   
       28 . The host device of  claim 25 , wherein the device is a modular RF interface, and the configurable components are programmably configurable to support new wireless applications. 
   
   
       29 . The host device of  claim 25 , wherein the device is a modular RF interface and includes a data interface and a control interface for communicating with an external host. 
   
   
       30 . The host device of  claim 25 , further comprising means for generating configuration commands to the wireless device identifying the wireless operation to be supported. 
   
   
       31 . The host device of  claim 25 , further comprising means for retrieving codes stored in a feature register in the wireless device indicating features that have been programmed in the wireless device. 
   
   
       32 . The host device of  claim 25 , wherein the means for transmitting includes means for causing the wireless device to reuse digital-to-analog converter and filter components in a new configuration. 
   
   
       33 . The host device of  claim 25 , further comprising means for receiving a timing signal for a legacy or digital interface. 
   
   
       34 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for causing a wireless device having configurable components for operating a plurality of wireless applications in accordance with a corresponding set of configuration parameters, to:
 retrieve a set of configuration parameters associated with a wireless application; and   configure the configurable components using the retrieved set to enable operation of the wireless application.