Utilizing speed and position information to select an operational mode in a wireless communication system

• US 20040082311A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shiu, Da-Shan, Terasawa, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0613 using simultaneous transmission H04B7/0686 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0619 using feedback from receiving side feedback signaling for adaptive modulation/coding H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0669 using different channel coding between antennas space-time coding H04L1/0618
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining an operational mode for use in a wireless communication system based on a location, a velocity, or both, of a wireless communication device (WCD) in relation to a wireless network infrastructure is described. The selected mode can be used by various devices within the communication system. Modes that are selected include transmit diversity and site selection diversity.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a desired transmit mode in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

determining a location of a mobile wireless communication device (WCD) in relation to a wireless network infrastructure;

estimating a predictability of a wireless environment; and

selecting a desired operational mode based on the estimated predictability.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected operational mode is a transmit diversity mode.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the transmit diversity mode is an open-loop diversity mode.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the open-loop diversity mode is space time transmit diversity mode.

5. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the open-loop diversity mode further comprises use of a beam forming antenna.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the beam forming antenna is a smart antenna.

7. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the beam forming antenna is in the WCD.

8. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the beam forming antenna is in the wireless network infrastructure.

9. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the transmit diversity mode is closed loop diversity mode.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected operational mode is site selection diversity mode.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the location of the mobile WCD is determined in the WCD.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the location of the mobile WCD is determined in the wireless network infrastructure.

13. A method of selecting a desired transmit diversity mode in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

determining a velocity of a mobile wireless communication device (WCD) in relation to a wireless network infrastructure;

estimating a predictability of a wireless environment; and

selecting a desired diversity operational mode based on the estimated predictability.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a transmit diversity mode.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the transmit diversity mode is an open-loop diversity mode.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the open-loop diversity mode is space time transmit diversity mode.

17. A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the open-loop diversity mode further comprises use of a beam forming antenna.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the beam forming antenna is a smart antenna.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the beam forming antenna is in the WCD.

20. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the beam forming antenna is in the wireless network infrastructure.

21. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the transmit diversity mode is closed loop diversity mode.

22. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein the selected operational mode is site selection diversity mode.

23. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the location of the mobile WCD is determined in the WCD.

24. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein the location of the mobile WCD is determined in the wireless network infrastructure.

25. A method of selecting a desired transmit diversity mode in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting at least two beacon signals;

receiving the at least two beacon signals and determining the phase relation between the received signals;

estimating a predictability of a wireless environment; and

adjusting an antenna beam pattern based on the phase relation between the received signals.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the antenna is in a WCD.

27. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the antenna is in a wireless network infrastructure.

28. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the beacon signals are transmitted by a WCD.

29. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the beacon signals are received by a wireless network infrastructure.

30. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the beacon signals are transmitted by a wireless network infrastructure.

31. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the beacon signals are received by a WCD.

32. A wireless communication device (WCD) comprising:

a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with a wireless network infrastructure; and

a controller configured to estimate a predictability of a wireless environment based on a location of the WCD in relation to a wireless network infrastructure, and based on the estimate to select a desired diversity operational mode for use in communicating signals between the WCD and the infrastructure.

33. A WCD as defined in claim 32, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a transmit diversity mode.

34. A WCD as defined in claim 32, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a site selection diversity mode.

35. A wireless communication device (WCD) comprising:

a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with a wireless network infrastructure; and

a controller configured to estimate a predictability of a wireless environment based on a velocity of the WCD in relation to a wireless network infrastructure, and based on the estimate to select a desired diversity operational mode for use in communicating signals between the WCD and the infrastructure.

36. A WCD as defined in claim 35, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a transmit diversity mode.

37. A WCD as defined in claim 35, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a site selection diversity mode.

38. A wireless network infrastructure comprising:

a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with a wireless communication device (WCD); and

a controller configured to estimate a predictability of a wireless environment based on a location of the WCD in relation to the wireless network infrastructure and, and based on the estimate to select a desired diversity operational mode for use in communicating signals between the WCD and the infrastructure.

39. A wireless network infrastructure as defined in claim 38, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a transmit diversity mode.

40. A wireless network infrastructure as defined in claim 38, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a site selection diversity mode.

41. A wireless network infrastructure comprising:

a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with a wireless communication device (WCD); and

a controller configured to estimate a predictability of a wireless environment based on a velocity of the WCD in relation to the wireless network infrastructure, and based on the estimate to select a desired diversity operational mode for use in communicating signals between the WCD and the infrastructure.

42. A wireless network infrastructure as defined in claim 41, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a transmit diversity mode.

43. A wireless network infrastructure as defined in claim 41, wherein the selected diversity operational mode is a site selection diversity mode.

44. A wireless communication system comprising:

means for determining a location of a mobile wireless communication device (WCD) in relation to the wireless network infrastructure;

means for estimating a predictability of a wireless environment based on the location; and

means for selecting a desired diversity operational mode based on the location of the WCD relative to the infrastructure.

45. A wireless communication system comprising:

means for determining a velocity of a mobile wireless communication device (WCD) in relation to the wireless network infrastructure;

means for estimating a predictability of a wireless environment based on the velocity; and

means for selecting a desired diversity operational mode based on the location of the WCD relative to the infrastructure.

46. A wireless communication system comprising:

means for transmitting at least two beacon signals between a wireless network infrastructure to a wireless communication device;

means for receiving the at least two beacon signals and determining the phase relation between the received signals;

means for estimating the predictability of a wireless environment; and

means for adjusting an antenna beam pattern based on the phase relation between the received signals.

47. A wireless communication device (WCD) comprising:

means for transmitting and receiving communication signals with a wireless network infrastructure; and

means for estimating a predictability of a wireless environment based on a location of the WCD in relation to a wireless network infrastructure, and based on the estimate selecting a desired diversity operational mode for use in communicating signals between the WCD and the infrastructure.

48. A wireless communication device (WCD) comprising:

means for transmitting and receiving communication signals with a wireless network infrastructure; and

means for estimating a predictability of a wireless environment based on a velocity of the WCD in relation to a wireless network infrastructure and, and based on the estimate selecting a desired diversity operational mode for use in communicating signals between the WCD and the infrastructure.

49. A wireless network infrastructure comprising:

means for transmitting and receiving communication signals with a wireless communication device (WCD); and

means for estimating a predictability of a wireless environment based on a location of the WCD in relation to the wireless network infrastructure and, and based on the estimate selecting a desired diversity operational mode for use in communicating signals between the WCD and the infrastructure.

50. A wireless network infrastructure comprising:

means for transmitting and a receiving communication signals with a wireless communication device (WCD); and

means for estimating a predictability of a wireless environment based on a velocity of the WCD in relation to the wireless network infrastructure and, and based on the estimate selecting a desired diversity operational mode for use in communicating signals between the WCD and the infrastructure.