TRANSMITTER QUIETING AND NULL DATA ENCODING

• US 20110002377A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Raveendran, Vijayalakshmi R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,958,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices

Abstract

In one example, a method comprises encoding a set of frames of multimedia data, encoding null data for a period following the set of frames of multimedia data, modulating the encoded set of frames and the null data, wherein modulating the null data creates a null interval over the period, transmitting the encoded set of frames via a transmitter, and blanking the transmitter during the null interval.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

encoding a set of frames of multimedia data;

encoding null data for a period following the set of frames of multimedia data;

modulating the encoded set of frames and the null data, wherein modulating the null data creates a null interval over the period;

transmitting the encoded set of frames via a transmitter; and

blanking the transmitter during the null interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the null data causes blanking of the transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of frames comprise one of:

a set of audio frames,

a set of video frames, and

a combined set of audio frames and video frames.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the null data comprises a set of packets having all zeros within packet payloads of the set of packets.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a sensing operation while blanking the transmitter during the null interval.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein performing the sensing operation includes sensing for other wireless signals at one or more particular frequencies.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein sensing for other wireless signals comprises sensing for a licensed signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising switching the transmitter to a different frequency upon sensing another wireless signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising periodically repeating the method in compliance with a wireless communication standard that requires periodic sensing with unlicensed use of the one or more particular frequencies.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the method is repeated periodically for periodic sensing operations.

11. A device comprising:

a multimedia encoding unit that encodes a set of frames of multimedia data and encodes null data for a period following the set of frames of multimedia data;

a modulator unit that modulates the encoded set of frames and the null data, wherein modulating the null data creates a null interval over the period; and

a transmitter that transmits the encoded set of frames and blanks during the null interval.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the presence of the null data causes the blanking of the transmitter.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the set of frames comprise one of:

a set of audio frames,

a set of video frames, and

a combined set of audio frames and video frames.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the null data comprises a set of packets having all zeros within packet payloads of the set of packets.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a sensor unit that performs a sensing operation while the transmitter blanks during the null interval.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein in performing the sensing operation, the sensor unit senses for other wireless signals at one or more particular frequencies.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the sensor unit senses for a licensed signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the transmitter switches to a different frequency when the sensor unit senses another wireless signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

19. The device of claim 16, the sensor unit periodically repeats the sensing operation and the transmitter unit periodically repeats blanking in compliance with a wireless communication standard that requires periodic sensing with unlicensed use of the one or more particular frequencies.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the sensor unit periodically repeats the sensing operation.

21. A device comprising:

means for encoding a set of frames of multimedia data;

means for encoding null data for a period following the set of frames of multimedia data;

means for modulating the encoded set of frames and the null data, wherein modulating the null data creates a null interval over the period;

means for transmitting the encoded set of frames via a transmitter; and

means for blanking the means for transmitting during the null interval.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the null data causes blanking of the means for transmitting.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the set of frames comprise one of:

a set of audio frames,

a set of video frames, and

a combined set of audio frames and video frames.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the null data comprises a set of packets having all zeros within packet payloads of the set of packets.

25. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

means for performing a sensing operation while blanking the transmitter during the null interval.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the means for performing the sensing operation includes means for sensing for other wireless signals at one or more particular frequencies.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the means for sensing for other wireless signals comprises means for sensing for a licensed signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

28. The device of claim 26, further comprising switching the transmitter to a different frequency upon sensing another wireless signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

29. The device of claim 26, further comprising periodically repeating the method in compliance with a wireless communication standard that requires periodic sensing with unlicensed use of the one or more particular frequencies.

30. The device of claim 25, wherein the method is repeated periodically for periodic sensing operations.

31. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that upon execution in a processor cause the processor to:

encode a set of frames of multimedia data;

encode null data for a period following the set of frames of multimedia data;

modulate the encoded set of frames and the null data, wherein modulating the null data creates a null interval over the period;

transmit the encoded set of frames via a transmitter; and

blank the transmitter during the null interval.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the null data causes blanking of the transmitter.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the set of frames comprise one of:

a set of audio frames,

a set of video frames, and

a combined set of audio frames and video frames.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the null data comprises a set of packets having all zeros within packet payloads of the set of packets.

35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions that cause a sensor unit to:

perform a sensing operation while the transmitter blanks during the null interval.

36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein the instructions cause the sensor unit to sense for other wireless signals at one or more particular frequencies.

37. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions cause the sensor unit to sense for a licensed signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions cause the transmitter to switch to a different frequency upon the sensor unit sensing another wireless signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions cause the sensor unit periodically repeat sensing operations during periodically repeating null intervals.