Assessing Interference Environment for Wireless Communication Devices

• US 20120315860A1
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Prather, Scott D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,718,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover

Abstract

Disclosed is a device and method to automate the process of measuring RF noise, correlating measured noise with known sources, and making adjustments to the noise-measuring and reporting process. A wireless communication device is coupled to equipment at a fixed location, and transmits data about the operation of the equipment back to an operator, via a provider'"'"'s network. Examples include fixed wireless terminals. A management entity aboard the wireless communication device performs the measurements via a transceiver, and performs remedial actions when required, without requiring an onsite technician or remote assistance. The management entity may include a spectrum analyzer.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing logical instructions that are executed by the processor to perform operations including;

measuring a radio-frequency (RF) spectrum within a range of an antenna coupled to the processor, and

comparing the measured RF spectrum with a known ambient RF spectrum to determine a noise level.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the known ambient RF spectrum is obtained at a time that the device is known to be operating properly.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the ambient RF spectrum includes a composite of ambient RF spectrums measured at different times.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the measured RF spectrum includes a network signal and an interference measurement from an RF source.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the RF source is one of a GSM, UMTS, LTE, CDMA, WiFi, and WiMax network.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the noise level includes any combination of:

an error rate, an interference level, and an interference mask.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the interference mask represents a known source of noise.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the known source of noise is a signal from a third-party network.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further performs operations including adjusting a frequency of measurement, adjusting a type of measurement, reporting the determined noise level, generating an alarm, and changing an operating band to avoid interference.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further performs operations including de-registering from a network prior to measuring the RF spectrum.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further performs operations including presenting a user interface via a display in communication with the processor, the user interface displaying the measured noise level.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the user interface enables an adjustment of a frequency and a type of noise signature measurement.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the display is coupled to a remote device across a network in communication with the processor.

14. A method, comprising:

utilizing a device including a processor for measuring a radiofrequency (RF) signal around an antenna coupled to the device, the RF signal including an interference level;

comparing the noise signature with an ambient RF signal, the ambient RF signal representative of an environment where the device is known to be operating properly; and

determining that a noise threshold is exceeded, the noise threshold including one of a signal strength of a provider'"'"'s network, an error rate, an interference level, or an interference mask.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising performing a remedial action

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of:

adjusting a frequency of measurement, adjusting a type of measurement, generating an alert, and changing an operating band to avoid interference.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

de-registering from a network prior to measuring the RF signal.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying the RF measurement along with a plurality of user options on a user interface on a display coupled to the device.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that are executed by a processor to perform operations comprising:

measuring an ambient signature of a radio-frequency (RF) environment around an antenna coupled to the processor, the ambient signature including an interference signature for a known third-party network;

storing the ambient signature;

measuring a noise level;

comparing the noise level with the ambient signature; and

determining that a threshold is exceeded.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the noise level is representative of another RF source, and wherein measuring the noise level includes comparing a measured interference level with the interference signature for the known third-party network.