Using multiple radios to provide service on the same channel to support a new standard while maintaining compatibility with legacy devices

摘要

In an example embodiment, a wireless device, such as an access point, employs multiple radios that operate on the same or overlapping channels. For example, the wireless device can be upgraded with a new radio that is compatible with a newer protocol to provide service to newer clients that are capable of employing the new protocol, while also providing backwards compatibility to legacy clients.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first radio operable to communicate on a first channel employing a first protocol; a second radio operable to communicate on a second channel employing a second protocol, wherein at least a portion of the first and second channels overlap; and a transmit interlock coupled with the first radio and the second radio; wherein the transmit interlock includes an input operable to receive a first transmit request signal from the first radio and to receive a second transmit request signal from the second radio; wherein the transmit interlock is operable to prevent the first and second radios from transmitting over a medium concurrently by selectively enabling or disabling the radios responsive to receiving the first and second transmit request signals; wherein the transmit interlock is operable, when receiving both the first transmit request from the first radio and the second transmit request from the second radio, to enable the first radio to transmit over the medium and to wait until after the first and second transmit requests from the first and second radios have both been de-asserted before selectively enabling the second radio to transmit responsive to a receiving the second transmit request from the second radio.