Systems and Methods for Dampening TDMA Interference

• US 20100120382A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coursey, Cameron Kelly, Prather, Scott Dale, Chien, Herman
• Granted Patent: US 8,913,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/114.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/109 by improving strong signal performance of the receiver when strong unwanted signals are present at the receiver input
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed which relate to mitigating the detrimental effects of interference to electronic devices from mobile telephones utilizing any form of time-domain multiplexing technology. A wireless transmitter inside the mobile telephone broadcasts a warning transmission which can be received by affected devices. Once the warning transmission is received by an affected device, the device activates a blanking circuit comprising an actuator and a switch or switches. The switches open for the duration of the interference so that the user does not receive undesired output such as: noise through a speaker, noise through a microphone, or other interference with electrical signals.

Claims

1. A system for mitigating the detrimental effects of interference to an affected device from a mobile telephone utilizing time-domain multiplexing comprising:

a transmitter in communication with the mobile telephone which sends warning transmissions;

a receiver in communication with the affected device which receives warning transmissions; and

a blanking circuit in communication with the receiver which compensates for the interference upon reception of the warning transmission.

2. The system in claim 1, wherein the blanking circuit compensates for the interference by disabling a signal.

3. The system in claim 2, wherein the signal is interfered with by an RF burst.

4. The system in claim 2, wherein the signal is a primary audio signal.

5. The system in claim 4, wherein the disabling is accomplished by muting the primary audio signal.

6. The system in claim 4, wherein an alternate audio signal is enabled while the primary audio signal is disabled.

7. The system in claim 6, wherein the alternate audio signal is one of a comfort noise and a prerecording of the primary audio signal.

8. The system in claim 1, wherein the affected device is one of a speakerphone, television, hearing aid, and medical device.

9. The system in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is one of an NFC, infrared, and BLUETOOTH transmitter.

10. The system in claim 1, wherein the receiver is one of an NFC, infrared, and BLUETOOTH receiver.

11. The system in claim 1, wherein the warning transmission includes information concerning the timing and duration of an impending blanking event.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the blanking event has a duration which spans the entire of an RF burst.

13. the system of claim 11, wherein the blanking event occurs at a leading edge and a trailing edge of an RF burst.

14. A system for mitigating the detrimental effects of interference to an affected device from a mobile telephone utilizing time-domain multiplexing comprising:

a transmitter onboard the mobile telephone which sends warning transmissions;

a receiver onboard the affected device which receives warning transmissions; and

a circuit in communication with the receiver which compensates for the interference upon reception of the warning transmission.

15. The system in claim 14, wherein the circuit comprises an actuator and at least one switch.

16. The system in claim 15, wherein the circuit compensates for the interference by disabling a signal.

17. The system in claim 16, wherein the signal is interfered with by an RF burst.

18. A method of mitigating the detrimental effects of interference to an affected device from a mobile telephone utilizing time-domain multiplexing comprising:

broadcasting a warning of impending interference;

receiving the warning by an affected device; and

disabling a signal for a duration corresponding to an interference.

19. The method in claim 18, wherein the warning is broadcast through one of an NFC, infrared, and BLUETOOTH protocol.

20. The method in claim 18, wherein the warning is received through one of an NFC, infrared, and BLUETOOTH protocol.