Apple patents method for sharing antennas between two wireless radios
Apple describes a way for a device to manage two different wireless connections that need to use the same antenna. The system decides which connection gets priority and then schedules the radios to take turns using the hardware at specific times.
In the filing’s own words
Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable media to perform operations in a wireless device that includes a first radio that operates according to a wireless peer to peer (P2P) protocol and a second radio that operates according to a second wireless protocol. The operations can include determining to grant the second wireless protocol a priority over the wireless P2P protocol, and in response, determining to sequentially receive data according to the wireless P2P protocol and the second wireless protocol. The operations can include determining to receive data according to the wireless P2P protocol and the second wireless protocol in at the same time when the second wireless protocol is granted priority. The operations can include instructing the first and second radios to perform first and second actions at different times.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. One or more processors of a wireless device that supports a wireless peer to peer (P2P) protocol and a second wireless protocol, the one or more processors configured to cause the wireless device to perform operations comprising: determining whether to grant the second wireless protocol a priority over the wireless P2P protocol; and in response to determining to grant the second wireless protocol the priority, determining to sequentially receive data according to the wireless P2P protocol and the second wireless protocol, by: instructing a first radio of the wireless device to perform a first action using at least one antenna at a first time according to the wireless P2P protocol; and instructing a second radio of the wireless device to perform a second action using the at least one antenna at a second time according to the second wireless protocol.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- TIME-SHARING COEXISTENCE WITH A PEER TO PEER COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL
- Publication number
- US20260333342A1
- Application number
- 19113225
- Filed
- Sep 20, 2023
- Published
- Oct 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04W 72/1215 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.