APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SETTING THE OPERATION OF AN ANTENNA

• US 20130078926A1
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Bouillet, Aaron Reel
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/17 Detection of non-compliance or faulty performance, e.g. response deviations H04B17/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/29 Performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas

Abstract

A method and apparatus for allowing a configuration of the operation of one or more antennas in a device, such as a gateway device or other network device, is provided. The method and apparatus operate in a manner such that the configuration allows a static configuration of a specific antenna in a multiple antenna device or system. In some cases the accompanying transmission and reception circuit are configured to operate or transact specifically with another device (e.g., network client device).

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a communication transaction between a first device and a second device, the transaction established under an automatic configuration control mode of the first device;

identifying a desired configuration for the first device during the established communication transaction; and

using at the first device, the desired configuration in place of a configuration provided under the automatic configuration control mode for the established communication transaction between the first device and the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprised of using the desired configuration in place of the configuration provided under the automatic configuration control mode at the first device for communication transactions between the first device and the second device that occur after the established communication transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired configuration includes an antenna configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a gateway device and the second device is client device in a local area network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a plurality of antennas and the identification of the desired configuration includes selecting one of the antennas.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprises providing a user interface that allows a user to identify the desired configuration by selecting the second device from a plurality of different devices and by selecting one of a plurality of different antennas of the first device for use in conjunction with the second device.

7. A device, comprising:

a transceiver operative to establish a communication transaction between the device and a second device, the transaction established under an automatic configuration control mode of the device; and

a processor operative to enable a user to identify a desired configuration for the device during the established communication transaction and further operative to cause the device to use the desired configuration in place of a configuration provided under the automatic configuration control mode for the established communication transaction between the device and the second device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operative to cause the device to use the desired configuration in place of the configuration provided under the automatic configuration control mode at the device for communication transactions between the device and the second device that occur after the established communication transaction.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the desired configuration includes an antenna configuration.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a gateway device and the second device is client device in a local area network.

11. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas; and

wherein the identification of the desired configuration includes selecting one of the antennas.

12. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas; and

wherein the processor is further operative to provide a user interface that allows the user to identify the desired configuration by selecting the second device from a plurality of different devices and by selecting one of the plurality of antennas for use in conjunction with the second device.

13. A device, comprising:

first means for establishing a communication transaction between the device and a second device, the transaction established under an automatic configuration control mode of the device; and

second means for enabling a user to identify a desired configuration for the device during the established communication transaction and for causing the device to use the desired configuration in place of a configuration provided under the automatic configuration control mode for the established communication transaction between the device and the second device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the second means further causes the device to use the desired configuration in place of the configuration provided under the automatic configuration control mode at the device for communication transactions between the device and the second device that occur after the established communication transaction.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the desired configuration includes an antenna configuration.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is a gateway device and the second device is client device in a local area network.

17. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas; and

wherein the identification of the desired configuration includes selecting one of the antennas.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas; and

wherein the second means further provides a user interface that allows the user to identify the desired configuration by selecting the second device from a plurality of different devices and by selecting one of the plurality of antennas for use in conjunction with the second device.