ADVANCE
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10.1.5 IFS
The IFS module contains the timers required to determine interframe space timing including RIFS timing. It also contains multiple
backoff engines required to support prioritized access to the medium as specified by WMM.
The interframe spacing timers are triggered by the cessation of channel activity on the medium, as indicated by the PHY. These timers
provide precise timing to the TXE to begin frame transmission. The TXE uses this information to send response frames or perform
transmit frame-bursting (RIFS or SIFS separated, as within a TXOP).
The backoff engines (for each access category) monitor channel activity, in each slot duration, to determine whether to continue or
pause the backoff counters. When the backoff counters reach 0, the TXE gets notified, so that it may commence frame transmission.
In the event of multiple backoff counters decrementing to 0 at the same time, the hardware resolves the conflict based on policies
provided by the PSM.
The IFS module also incorporates hardware that allows the MAC to enter a low-power state when operating under the IEEE power
save mode. In this mode, the MAC is in a suspended state with its clock turned off. A sleep timer, whose count value is initialized by
the PSM, runs on a slow clock and determines the duration over which the MAC remains in this suspended state. Once the timer
expires the MAC is restored to its functional state. The PSM updates the TSF timer based on the sleep duration ensuring that the TSF
is synchronized to the network. The IFS module also contains the PTA hardware that assists the PSM in Bluetooth coexistence
functions.
10.1.6 TSF
The timing synchronization function (TSF) module maintains the TSF timer of the MAC. It also maintains the target beacon trans-
mission time (TBTT). The TSF timer hardware, under the control of the PSM, is capable of adopting timestamps received from beacon
and probe response frames in order to maintain synchronization with the network.
The TSF module also generates trigger signals for events that are specified as offsets from the TSF timer, such as uplink and downlink
transmission times used in PSMP.
10.1.7 NAV
The network allocation vector (NAV) timer module is responsible for maintaining the NAV information conveyed through the duration
field of MAC frames. This ensures that the MAC complies with the protection mechanisms specified in the standard.
The hardware, under the control of the PSM, maintains the NAV timer and updates the timer appropriately based on received frames.
This timing information is provided to the IFS module, which uses it as a virtual carrier-sense indication.
10.1.8 MAC-PHY Interface
The MAC-PHY interface consists of a data path interface to exchange RX/TX data from/to the PHY. In addition, there is an
programming interface, which can be controlled either by the host or the PSM to configure and control the PHY.
Document Number: 002-15054 Rev. *I
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