Protocol adaptation layer for wireless communications

Abstract

Protocol adaptation layer for wireless communications. Communication devices that include one or more radio modules operable in accordance with multiple communication protocols establish communications using one communication protocol and then switch to another communication protocol. This switching to another communication protocol may be performed based on a variety of factors including effectuating communications of higher throughput, supporting uni-directional communications vs. bi-directional communications, or any other desired factor. In some embodiments, various communication devices include two radio modules that are each implemented to operate in accordance with one particular communication protocol. Alternatively, a multi-protocol capable radio module may support and operate in accordance with more than one communication protocol. Examples of possible communication protocols include those compliant with Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, and/or 802.15.3c.

1 . A communication device comprising:
 a first radio configured to support first communications with another communication device;   a second radio configured to support second communications with the another communication device; and   a processing circuitry configured to:
 direct the first radio to support the first communications with the another communication device using a first communication channel within a first frequency band during a first time; and 
 switch from the first communications supported by the first radio to the second communications supported by the second radio and direct the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using a second communication channel within the first frequency band or a second frequency band during a second time that is subsequent to the first time. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 direct the first radio to support the first communications with the another communication device using the first communication channel within the first frequency band based on a first communication protocol during the first time; and   switch from the first communications supported by the first radio to the second communications supported by the second radio and direct the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using the second communication channel within the second frequency band based on a second communication protocol during the second time.   
     
     
         3 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 switch from the first communications supported by the first radio to the second communications supported by the second radio based on at least one of communication channel noise associated with the first communication channel within the first frequency band, a reduction in signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the first communication channel within the first frequency band, or a communication link interruption of the first communication channel within the first frequency band.   
     
     
         4 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 direct the first radio to support the first communications with the another communication device using the first communication channel within the first frequency band while also directing the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using the second communication channel within the second frequency band during a third time that is different than the first time and the second time.   
     
     
         5 . The communication device of  claim 4 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 terminate the first communications with the another communication device supported by the first radio and direct the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using the second communication channel within the first frequency band or the second frequency band during a fourth time that is subsequent to the third time.   
     
     
         6 . The communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the first radio configured to operate based on a Bluetooth communication protocol; and 
 the second radio configured to operate based on a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         7 . The communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the first radio configured to operate based on a first IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol; and 
 the second radio configured to operate based on a second IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol that is different than the first IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         8 . The communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a wireless communication device, a personal wireless communication device, a cellular telephone, a two-way radio, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a home entertainment equipment, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, a RFID tag, a media server, or a media playback device. 
 
     
     
         9 . A communication device comprising:
 a first radio configured to support first communications with another communication device;   a second radio configured to support second communications with the another communication device; and   a processing circuitry configured to:
 direct the first radio to support the first communications with the another communication device using a first communication channel within a first frequency band while also directing the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using a second communication channel within the first frequency band or a second frequency band during a first time; and 
 terminate the first communications with the another communication device supported by the first radio and direct the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using the second communication channel within the first frequency band or the second frequency band during a second time that is subsequent to the first time. 
   
     
     
         10 . The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 directing the first radio to support the first communications with the another communication device using the first communication channel within the first frequency band during another time prior to the first time.   
     
     
         11 . The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 terminate the first communications with the another communication device supported by the first radio based on at least one of communication channel noise associated with the first communication channel within the first frequency band, a reduction in signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the first communication channel within the first frequency band, or a communication link interruption of the first communication channel within the first frequency band.   
     
     
         12 . The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 the first radio configured to operate based on a first IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol; and   the second radio configured to operate based on a Bluetooth communication protocol or a second IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol that is different than the first IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol.   
     
     
         13 . The communication device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a wireless communication device, a personal wireless communication device, a cellular telephone, a two-way radio, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a home entertainment equipment, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, a RFID tag, a media server, or a media playback device. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for execution by a communication device, the method comprising:
 directing a first radio of the communication device to support first communications with another communication device using a first communication channel within a first frequency band during a first time; and   switching from the first communications supported by the first radio to second communications supported by a second radio of the communication device and directing the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using a second communication channel within the first frequency band or a second frequency band during a second time that is subsequent to the first time.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 directing the first radio to support the first communications with the another communication device using the first communication channel within the first frequency band based on a first communication protocol during the first time; and 
 switching from the first communications supported by the first radio to the second communications supported by the second radio and directing the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using the second communication channel within the second frequency band based on a second communication protocol during the second time. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 switching from the first communications supported by the first radio to the second communications supported by the second radio based on at least one of communication channel noise associated with the first communication channel within the first frequency band, a reduction in signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the first communication channel within the first frequency band, or a communication link interruption of the first communication channel within the first frequency band. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 directing the first radio to support the first communications with the another communication device using the first communication channel within the first frequency band while also directing the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using the second communication channel within the second frequency band during a third time that is different than the first time and the second time. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 terminating the first communications with the another communication device supported by the first radio and directing the second radio to support the second communications with the another communication device using the second communication channel within the first frequency band or the second frequency band during a fourth time that is subsequent to the third time. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 operating the first radio of the communication device based on a first IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol; and 
 operating the second radio of the communication device based on a Bluetooth communication protocol or a second IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol that is different than the first IEEE 802.11 compliant communication protocol. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the communication device includes a wireless communication device, a personal wireless communication device, a cellular telephone, a two-way radio, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a home entertainment equipment, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, a RFID tag, a media server, or a media playback device. 
     
     
         21 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 selectively maintain or terminate at least one of the first communications supported by the first radio or the second communications supported by the second radio based on power saving techniques associated with at least one operating mode of the communication device.   
     
     
         22 . The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 selectively maintain or terminate at least one of the first communications supported by the first radio or the second communications supported by the second radio based on power saving techniques associated with at least one operating mode of the communication device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 selectively maintaining or terminating at least one of the first communications supported by the first radio or the second communications supported by the second radio based on power saving techniques associated with at least one operating mode of the communication device.