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IntelÕs wireless, multi-core patent applications for June 2006

by Jack Purcher (Neo)

The following report covers patent applications that were filed by the Intel Corporation in June 2006. Specifically, this report focuses on those patent applications which relate to wireless and multi-core processor technologies. These are exactly the types of technologies which could very likely work their way into future Apple hardware – such as cellular network communication systems and methods for processing traffic at a wireless mesh node.

This is a raw patent report for the sake of news and therefore carries no opinion or analysis.

Relating to wireless technologies

Patent 20060125703: Slot antenna having a MEMS varactor for resonance frequency tuning

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a slot antenna may include a primary slot and one or more secondary slots. The size of the antenna may be reduced by adding one or more of the secondary slots that may add additional inductance to the antenna. Furthermore, the size of the antenna may be reduced by increasing the inductance of the secondary slots via increasing the length of the slots or by changing the shape of the slots. The antenna may include one or more MEMS varactors coupled to one or more of the secondary slots. The resonant frequency of the slot antenna may be tuned to a desired frequency by changing the capacitance value of one or more of the MEMS varactors to a desired capacitance value.

Patent FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless local area or cellular network communication system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

IntelÕs Background: Miniaturized antennas are effective for utilization in mobile wireless communication applications, particularly for handheld devices such as cell phones and personal digital assistants that may incorporate a radio-frequency communication system. Miniaturized slot antennas have been described and designed. When the size of an antenna size is reduced, its bandwidth is also reduced accordingly. As a result, miniaturized antennas having a size suitable for handheld devices may have a bandwidth that is too narrow to cover the pass band of a communication standard that is desired for the handheld devices to utilize.

Patent 20060128350: Methods and apparatus for operating transceiver systems of a wireless platform

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for operating transceiver systems of a wireless platform.

Patent FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram representation of an example wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the methods and apparatus disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus to operate transceiver systems of a wireless platform are generally described herein.

Detail excerpts pertaining to Patent FIG.1: In general, methods and apparatus for operating transceiver systems of a wireless platform are described herein. According to one example embodiment, a wireless platform having a plurality of transceiver systems may be configured to manage power consumption of the plurality of transceiver systems. In particular, the plurality of transceiver systems may include a host transceiver system and one or more client transceiver systems. To reduce power consumption, the client transceiver system(s) may be disabled from receiving incoming communication (e.g., shut off or operating in a sleep mode). While the client transceiver system(s) are disabled, the host transceiver system may be active to receive a notification indicative of an incoming communication associated with a particular client transceiver system. In response to receipt of the notification, the host transceiver system may transmit an alert to that particular client transceiver system. Accordingly, the client transceiver system may be enabled to receive the incoming communication. The methods and apparatus described herein are not limited in this regard.

In the example of FIG. 1, an example wireless communication system 100 including a wireless electronic device 110 is described herein. For example, the wireless electronic device 110 may be a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a television, a cellular telephone (e.g., a smart phone), a pager, an audio and/or video player (e.g., an MP3 player or a DVD player), a game device, a digital camera, a navigation device (e.g., a GPS device), a wireless peripheral (e.g., a keyboard, a printer, etc.), a remote control, and/or other suitable wireless electronic devices.

The wireless electronic device may include a wireless platform configured to operate in accordance with a plurality of wireless communication protocols to communicate with other wired and/or wireless platforms, devices, nodes, etc. For example, these wireless communication protocols may be based on analog, digital, and/or dual-mode communication system standards such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, the Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) standard, the Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) standard, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standard, the Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) standard, the General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) standard, the Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) standard, the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard, variations and evolutions of these standards, and/or other suitable wireless communication standards.

Patent 20060129710: Programmable transaction initiator architecture for systems with secure and non-secure modes

The proliferation of mobile devices has evolved into mobile computing platforms, complete with needs for trusted services. Operators, manufacturers and wireless users need confidence in the integrity and security of the wireless network, as well as the wireless device in the distribution of digital media. Mobile devices have access to sensitive personal data for online payment and other private information, and therefore, enable secure transactions to deliver protected and secure services.

Abstract: A wireless device dynamically programs a control register for a command-chain driven DMA device. The control register stores a beginning address of the linked list of commands and a secure bit. The secure bit is set if the transaction writing register is secure and a bit in the data being written into the register is set. DMA devices and other bus-mastering peripherals perform tasks described via a command chain that has access to secure resources when the processor is operating in the secure mode and the secure bit is set.

Patent FIG. 1 illustrates features of the present invention that may be incorporated in a device 10. Device 10 may have applications in laptops, MP3 players, cameras, medical or biotech equipment, automotive safety and protective equipment, and automotive infotainment products. However, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples. Additional examples of applications, some including wireless devices operating in networks such as mobile phones, communicators and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) may incorporate the present invention.

As an example of device 10 operating in a wireless communications embodiment, a transceiver 14 both receives and transmits a modulated signal from one or more antennas. The analog front end transceiver may be a stand-alone Radio Frequency (RF) integrated analog circuit, or alternatively, be embedded with a processor 12 as a mixed-mode integrated circuit. The received modulated signal may be frequency down-converted, filtered, then converted to a baseband, digital signal.
Patent 20060120387: Methods and apparatus for processing traffic at a wireless mesh node

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for processing traffic at a wireless mesh node.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for processing traffic at a wireless mesh node are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. 
Patent 20060143693: System, method and device for secure wireless communication

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system for selecting a wireless communication device for establishing a connection. The method according to some exemplary embodiments of the invention may include selecting a communication device for establishing a connection by determining whether one or more security-related characteristics of the communication device satisfy a security policy corresponding to a selected security class. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Relating to multi-core processors

Patent 20060117199: Method, system, and apparatus for improving multi-core processor performance

The present disclosure pertains to the field of power management. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to a new method and apparatus for improving multi-core processor performance despite power constraints.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for a core rationing logic to enable cores of a multi-core processor to adhere to various power and thermal constraints.

Patent 20060117200: Method, system, and apparatus for improving multi-core processor performance

The present disclosure pertains to the field of power management. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to a new method and apparatus for improving multi-core processor performance despite power constraints.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for a core rationing logic to enable cores of a multi-core processor to adhere to various power and thermal constraints.
Patents 20060123263 and 20060123264: Method, system, and apparatus for improving multi-core processor performance 
The present disclosure pertains to the field of power management. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to a new method and apparatus for improving multi-core processor performance despite power constraints.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for a core rationing logic to enable cores of a multi-core processor to adhere to various power and thermal constraints. This application is a division of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/621,228 filed Jul. 15, 2003.

Patent 20060129795: Interleaved boot block to support multiple processor architectures and method of use

Abstract: A flash memory has an interleaved boot block compatible with multiple processor architectures. The interleaved boot block may include one boot block compatible with a first CPU architecture and another boot block compatible with a second CPU architecture. These two boot blocks may be combined in an interleaved manner in the flash memory so that during a boot process only one of the two boot blocks executes, although both are stored in the flash memory. By interleaving different boot blocks, a common socket computer system capable of supporting multiple processor architectures may be achieved without fully replacing an incompatible basic input/output system (BIOS). Further, the flash memory may contain an updatable portion in which any BIOS segments incompatible with a processor architecture may be updated via a recovery, or update, process.

Notice

Macsimum News presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

Note that all the hyperlinks in this report were current as of 8PM yesterday. Government URLs are not always stable, so some may redirect you to the wrong patent. In such cases, simply enter the publication number into the USPTOÕs search engine here.

Neo at macsimumnews.com