MOBILE AWARE BEACON

• US 20100329132A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Airvana Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ravikanth, Rayadurgam, Raghothaman, Balaji
• Granted Patent: US 7,907,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/244 Interferences in heterogeneous networks, e.g. among macro and femto or pico cells or other sector / system interference [OSI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/325 Power control of control or pilot channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Techniques for reducing beacon interference include identifying a mobile device located within a coverage area serviced by a first access point, determining a power of a signal transmitted by a mobile device to a second access point; and modifying the beacon to reduce interference.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed at a first access point for reducing beacon interference, the method comprising:

estimating whether a mobile device is located within a coverage area serviced by the first access point, the mobile device communicating with a second access point, the first access point configured to transmit a beacon for attracting mobile devices;

determining a reverse link signal strength of a signal transmitted by the mobile device to the second access point;

using the signal strength as a measure of received signal strength from the mobile device;

using the measure to estimate the amount of interference caused by the beacon to the mobile;

varying a threshold based on a transmit power of the second access point, the threshold indicating a power level that causes the beacon to interfere with communications between the mobile device and the second access point

determining the power exceeds the threshold; and

modifying the beacon to reduce the beacon interference with the communications.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising listening for signals transmitted by nearby mobiles at different frequencies used for communicating with other access points, including the second access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a power comprises temporarily using a data-only receiver to detect the signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the beacon comprises shutting off the beacon or reducing a coverage area of the beacon.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a path gain between the first and second access points; and

determining the threshold based on the path gain.

6. An access point configured to transmit a beacon for attracting idle mobile devices, the access point comprising:

a receiver for transmitting and receiving voice and data; and

a processor configured to;

cause the receiver to periodically listen for mobile devices located within a coverage area serviced by the access point that are communicating with an other access point;

determine a power of a signal transmitted by a mobile device to the other access point;

vary a threshold based on a transmit power of the second access point, the threshold indicating a power level that causes the beacon to interfere with communications between the mobile device and the second access point

determining the power exceeds the threshold; and

modify the beacon to reduce interference of the beacon with the communications.

7. The access point of claim 6, wherein the receiver comprises a first component for transmitting and receiving voice and a second component for transmitting and receiving data only;

and wherein the second component periodically suspends normal transmitting and receiving function to listens for the mobile devices.

8. The access point of claim 6, wherein the processor modifyes the beacon by shutting off the beacon or reducing a coverage area of the beacon.

9. The access point of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

measure a path gain between the first and second access points; and

determine the threshold based on the path gain.

10. The access point of claim 6, wherein the receiver is a first receiver and further comprising a second receiver transmitting and receiving voice and data.

11. A computer program product, tangibly stored on a computer-readable device of a first access point, the computer program product comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

estimate whether a mobile device is located within a coverage area serviced by the first access point, the mobile device communicating with a second access point, the first access point configured to transmit a beacon for attracting mobile devices;

determine a reverse link signal strength of a signal transmitted by the mobile device to the second access point;

use the signal strength as a measure of received signal strength from the mobile device;

use the measure to estimate the amount of interference caused by the beacon to the mobile;

vary a threshold based on a transmit power of the second access point, the threshold indicating a power level that causes the beacon to interfere with communications between the mobile device and the second access point

determine that the power exceeds the threshold; and

modify the beacon to reduce the beacon interference with the communications.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, comprising further instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to listen for signals transmitted by nearby mobiles at different frequencies used for communicating with other access points, including the second access point.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, comprising further instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to temporarily use a data-only receiver to detect the signal.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, comprising further instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to shut off the beacon or reducing a coverage area of the beacon.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, comprising further instructions operable to cause the programmable processor to:

measure a path gain between the first and second access points; and

determine the threshold based on the path gain.