Marvell International Limited

Bing Zhao

Frank Huang

Robert Lee, Jr

Yao Chen

Sandesh Goel

James Jan

James Kang-Wuu Jan

Chen Fan

A host assembly of a wireless device enters into a handshaking procedure with firmware of the wireless device to initiate entry into or exit from a host sleep mode. Before such entry or exit, the handshaking procedure may require the host assembly to send an initiation handshake signal to the firmware, and require the firmware to send a confirmation handshake signal back to the host assembly. Entry or exit may be delayed until after the confirmation signal is received. The confirmation signal may vary depending on the handshaking configuration and activation data, and the confirmation signal may vary depending on whether the wireless device is in a power save mode or not.

Enhanced host sleep for WLAN devices

An interface system includes a secure digital (SD) driver module to communicate with an SD card over a bus, a secure digital input/output (SDIO) driver module to communicate with an SDIO card over the bus, and an input/output port. A method of operating a host in the interface system includes coupling the bus to the SD card while a first mode is enabled, coupling the bus to the SDIO card while a second mode is enabled, and enabling the first mode in response to a request for access to the SD card. The method includes, while the first mode is enabled, (i) listening for a notification signal arriving from the SDIO card via the input/output port, indicating that an interrupt is pending at the SDIO card, and (ii) in response to the notification signal, enabling the second mode to allow the SDIO card to transmit the interrupt to the host.

Secure digital input/output interface system

A host assembly is communicatively coupled to a wireless device assembly via a first interface and via a second interface. A first signal is received at the wireless device assembly from the host assembly. The first signal indicates a request for the wireless device assembly to enter a host sleep mode of operation. In response to receiving the first signal, the wireless device assembly transmits a third signal to the host assembly, wherein the third signal indicates entry into the host sleep mode of operation. Subsequent to transmitting the third signal to the host assembly via the first interface, the wireless device assembly enters into the host sleep mode of operation. While in the host sleep mode of operation, the wireless device assembly transmits, via the second interface, the second signal, and, after transmitting the second signal to the host assembly, exits the host sleep mode of operation.

An interface system includes a first driver module that communicates through a bus with a first peripheral card when the bus is in a first mode. A second driver module communicates through the bus with a second peripheral card when the bus is in a second mode. A bus control module receives a communication notification signal from the second peripheral card when the first peripheral card is communicating with the first driver module. The communication notification signal does not interfere with the communication of the first peripheral card and the first driver module. The bus control module switches the bus between first and second modes in response to the communication notification signal.

In a method and apparatus for controlling operation of a wireless device, a host assembly of the wireless device enters into a handshaking procedure with firmware of the wireless device to initiate entry into or exit from a host sleep mode. Before such entry or exit, the handshaking procedure may require the host assembly to send an initiation handshake signal to the firmware, and require the firmware to send a confirmation handshake signal back to the host assembly. Entry or exit may be delayed until after the confirmation signal is received. The confirmation signal may vary depending on the handshaking configuration and activation data, and the confirmation signal may vary depending on whether the wireless device is in a power save mode or not.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Bing Zhao