Radio link check

• US 20070004442A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Pensjo, Tomas, Lindell, Bo
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/304 due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a method, a link check device, and a portable communication device for communication link check. The link check device (102) comprises a receiver unit (104) for receiving and monitoring information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link (109). A first and second signal generating unit (110, 112) connected to said receiver unit (104) provide a first and second noise signal (R₁, R₂), which are transmitted to a combining unit (114) to provide a third signal representing signal (R₃) strength for communication links.

Claims

1. A method for communication link check in a portable communication device, said method comprising:

receiving information including power control commands from a base station on a first link (202);

monitoring said first link for base station signal strength and power control commands (204);

providing a first signal strength representation signal based on base station signal strength (206);

providing a second signal strength representation signal based on the power control commands (208); and

combining (210) said first and second signal strength representation signals (R₁, R₂) to provide a third signal strength representation signal (R₃) which is transmitted to a user presentation unit for communication link check (212).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second signal strength representation signals (R₁, R₂) are noise signals.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the step of combining (210) said first and second signal strength representation signals (R1, R2) includes adding said noise signals.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said third signal (R₃) is transmitted as audible noise to a user audio output (120).

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein said third signal (R₃) is presented visually.

6. Communication link check device for a portable electronic device, said communication link check device (102) comprising:

a receiver unit (104) provided for receiving information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link;

a monitoring unit (108) connected to said receiver unit (104) for monitoring said first link (109) for base station signal strength and power control;

a first signal generating unit (110) connected to said receiver unit (104), said first signal generating unit being arranged to provide a first signal strength representation signal (R₁) based on the base station signal strength;

a second signal generating unit (112) connected to said receiver unit (104), said second signal generating unit (112) being arranged to provide a second signal strength representation signal (R₂) based on the power control signal;

a combining unit (114) connected to said first and second signal generating units (110, 112) arranged to combine the first and second signal strength representation signals (R₁, R₂) to form a third signal strength representation signal (R₃); and

a control unit (103) connected to the receiver unit (104), first and second signal generating units (110, 112) and combining unit (114) for control thereof and being arranged to provide the third signal strength representation signal (R₃) to a user presentation unit (120) for communication link check.

7. Communication link check device according to claim 6, wherein said first and second signal generating units (110, 112) are noise generating units.

8. Communication link check device according to claim 6, wherein the user presentation unit (120) includes at least one of an audio user output or a visual presentation unit.

9. Portable communication device comprising:

a communication link check device for a portable electronic device, said communication link check device (102) comprising;

a receiver unit (104) provided for receiving information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link;

a monitoring unit (108) connected to said receiver unit (104) for monitoring said first link (109) for base station signal strength and power control;

a first signal generating unit (110) connected to said receiver unit (104), said first signal generating unit being arranged to provide a first signal strength representation signal (R₁) based on the base station signal strength;

a second signal generating unit (112) connected to said receiver unit (104), said second signal generating unit (112) being arranged to provide a second signal strength representation signal (R₂) based on the power control signal;

a combining unit (114) connected to said first and second signal generating units (110, 112) arranged to combine the first and second signal strength representation signals (R₁, R₂) to provide a third signal strength representation signal (R₃); and

a control unit (103) connected to the receiver unit (104), first and second signal generating units (110, 112) and combining unit (114) for control thereof and being arranged to provide the third signal strength representation signal (R₃) to a user presentation unit (120) for communication link check.

10. Portable communication device according to claim 9, wherein the portable communication device (102) is a cellular telephone.