Method for switching between predefined transmit power classes on a mobile telecommunications device

• US 20070149237A1
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gitzinger, Thomas, Russell, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,635,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/16 Deriving transmission power values from another channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/28 using user profile, e.g. mobile speed, priority or network state, e.g. standby, idle or non transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

In a method of controlling power level of transmit signals from a wireless communication device that is communicating with a plurality of wireless ad-hoc network nodes as part of an ad-hoc network, a value of a usage parameter of a communication between the wireless device and a first wireless ad-hoc network node of the plurality of nodes is detected. A power level of a transmit signal from the wireless device to the first wireless ad-hoc network node is set to a level corresponding to the value of the usage parameter. A device for adjusting a power level in a wireless device includes a parameter detection circuit, that detects a parameter indicative of a relationship between the wireless device and a wireless ad-hoc network node, and a power selection circuit that sets a transmit signal power level from the wireless device to a level corresponding to the parameter detected by the parameter detection circuit.

Claims

1. A method of controlling power level of transmit signals from a wireless device that is communicating with one or more other wireless communication apparatus, which together with the wireless device form an ad-hoc network, comprising the steps of:

a. detecting a value of a usage parameter indicative of communication integrity of a communication between the wireless device and the one or more other wireless communication apparatus; and

b. setting a power level of a transmit signal from the wireless device to the one or more other wireless communication apparatus to a level, which is one of a set of predetermined power levels, which minimally meets a predetermined threshold corresponding to the value of the usage parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage parameter corresponds to a power level of a signal received from the one or more other wireless communication apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage parameter corresponds to a detected range between the wireless device and the one or more other wireless communication apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein power level setting step includes:

a. setting the power level of the transmit signal to a first power level when the value of the usage parameter indicates that the first power level is minimally sufficient; and

b. setting the power level of the transmit signal to a second power level, different from the first power level, when the value of the usage parameter indicates that the second power level is minimally sufficient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage parameter comprises a security condition.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein power level setting step includes reducing a power level of the transmit signal when a higher security level is desired, thereby reducing the power level of the transmit signal to a level that minimally maintains a signal quality level between the wireless device and the one or more other wireless communication apparatus.

7. A method of controlling power level of the transmit signals from a wireless device that is communicating with one or more other wireless communication apparatus as part of an ad-hoc network, comprising the steps of:

a. detecting a first value of a usage parameter of a communication between the wireless device and a first one of the one or more other wireless communication apparatus;

b. setting a power level of a transmit signal from the wireless device to the first one of the one or more other wireless communication apparatus to a first power level corresponding to the first value;

c. detecting a second value of a usage parameter of a communication between the wireless device and a second one of the one or more other wireless communication apparatus;

d. setting a power level of a transmit signal from the wireless device to the second one of the one or more other wireless communication apparatus to a second power level corresponding to the second value, different from the first power level.

8. A method of applying a power level of the transmit signal in a wireless communication device that communicates with a wireless ad-hoc network node, comprising the steps of:

a. detecting a value of a parameter corresponding to a range from the wireless device to the wireless ad-hoc network node;

b. generating a transmit signal from the wireless device that has a first predetermined power level when the value of the parameter indicates that the wireless device is within a first predetermined range of the wireless ad-hoc network node and that has a second predetermined power level, higher than the first predetermined power level, when the value of the parameter indicates that the wireless device is outside the first predetermined range and within a second predetermined range of the wireless ad-hoc network node.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the parameter is a detected power level of a signal received from the wireless ad-hoc network node.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless device is capable of communicating simultaneously with a plurality of wireless ad-hoc network nodes.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first power level comprises a maximum output power of 1 mW and wherein the second power level comprises a maximum output power of 2.5 mW.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first power level corresponds to BlueTooth®

standard power Class 3 and wherein the second power level corresponds to BlueTooth®

standard power Class 2.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of generating a signal from the wireless device that has a third predetermined power level, higher than the second predetermined power level, when the value of the parameter indicates that the wireless device is outside the second predetermined range and within a third predetermined range of the wireless ad-hoc network node.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the third power level comprises a maximum output power of 100 mW.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the third power level corresponds to BlueTooth®

standard power Class 1.

16. A power adjustment module for adjusting a communication power level in a wireless device, comprising:

a. a signal detection circuit that detects a signal and identifies a value of a parameter indicative of a relationship between the wireless device and a wireless ad-hoc network node;

b. a power selection circuit that causes the wireless device to generate a transmit signal so as to have a first power level when the signal detection circuit indicates that the parameter has a first value and that causes the wireless device to generate the transmit signal so as to have a second power level, higher than the first power level, when the signal detection circuit indicates that the parameter has a second value, different from the first value.

17. The module of claim 16, wherein the power selection circuit causes the wireless device to generate the transmit signal so as to have a third power level, higher than the second power level, when the signal detection circuit indicates that the parameter has a third value, different from the first value and the second value.

18. The module of claim 17, wherein the relationship corresponds to a range between the wireless device and the wireless ad-hoc network node.

19. The module of claim 17, wherein the relationship corresponds to a received signal power level of a signal received from the wireless ad-hoc network node.

20. The module of claim 17, wherein the power selection circuit comprises:

a. a first signal amplification circuit that causes the wireless device to generate the transmit signal so as to have the second power level;

b. a second signal amplification circuit, that is responsive to the transmit signal from the first signal amplification circuit, that amplifies the transmit signal so as to cause the wireless device to generate the transmit signal having the third power level;

c. a bypass circuit, responsive to the parameter detection circuit, that bypasses the first signal amplification circuit when the wireless device is inside the second relationship.

21. The module of claim 20, wherein the power Class 2 circuit includes a circuit that causes the wireless device to generate the transmit signal so as to have the first power level when the parameter detection circuit indicates that the wireless device is within a first relationship to the wireless ad-hoc network node.