DETECTION AND FILTERING OF AN UNDESIRED NARROWBAND SIGNAL CONTRIBUTION IN A WIRELESS SIGNAL RECEIVER

• US 20130208838A1
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Jie, Simic, Emilija M., Pals, Timothy Paul, Hoang, Duong A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/350
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/21 Interference related issues ; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1036 with automatic suppression of narrow band noise or interference, e.g. by using tuneable notch filters H04B1/123 takes precedence; filter circuits H03H

Abstract

Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a device comprising a receiver to scan a spectral band of a received signal comprising a desired signal contribution to determine whether signal data associated with at least a sub-band of the spectral band further comprises at least one undesired signal contribution. In response to determining that the signal data comprises at least one undesired signal contribution, the mobile station may initiate at least one notch filter to affect the undesired signal contribution in subsequent signal data associated with the received signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising, at a device comprising a receiver:

scanning at least one sub-band of a plurality of sub-bands within a spectral band of a received signal comprising a desired signal contribution to determine whether signal data associated with said at least one sub-band further comprises at least one undesired signal contribution; and

in response to determining that said signal data in said at least one sub-band comprises said at least one undesired signal contribution, initiating at least one notch filter within a receiver to affect said at least one undesired signal contribution in subsequent signal data associated with said received signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said scanning further comprises setting at least one of:

a bandwidth of one or more of said plurality of sub-bands;

a center frequency of one or more of said plurality of sub-bands;

or

an integration time for one or more of said plurality of sub-bands.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said scanning further comprises:

selecting said at least one sub-band; and

estimating a center frequency associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said scanning further comprises:

selecting said at least one sub-band;

collecting signal samples in said selected sub-band;

applying Fourier analysis to said signal samples to generate a power spectrum for said selected sub-band; and

applying peak processing to said power spectrum to estimate one or more parameters associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution in said selected sub-band.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said estimating said center frequency further comprises:

non-coherently combining one or more power spectra for said at least one sub-band; and

applying a threshold to said combined power spectra.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said scanning further comprises:

performing said scanning for one or more of said plurality of sub-bands based on a defined order.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said defined order is based, at least in part, on a difference of respective center frequencies of each of said plurality of sub-bands from a center frequency of said spectral band.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein two of said plurality of sub-bands are at least partially overlapping.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two of said plurality of sub-bands have different center frequencies and equal bandwidth sizes.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said spectral band is consumed by said plurality of sub-bands.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

selectively obtaining said signal data from at least one of a plurality of different processing stages in said receiver.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said signal data is obtained either before or after a filtering stage comprising said at least one notch filter.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said desired signal contribution comprises a SPS signal.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one undesired signal contribution is associated with a continuous wave signal that interferes with said desired signal.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said scanning is initiated in response to one or more triggering events.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said one or more triggering events comprises at least one of:

a device or session initiation event;

an new channel initiation event;

a time-based event;

a frequency drift event;

an initiated scan event;

or a signal data threshold event.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

determining at least one parameter associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said at least one parameter is indicative of at least one of:

an estimated power, an estimated bandwidth, or an estimated center frequency associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, and further comprising, at said device:

storing said at least one parameter in memory; and

subsequently programming said at least one notch filter based, at least in part, on said stored parameter.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, and further comprising, at said device:

transmitting said at least one parameter to at least one other device.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, and further comprising, at said device:

transmitting a current estimated position of said device to said at least one other device.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

means for performing said means for scanning for one or more of said plurality of sub-bands based on a defined order.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein said defined order is based, at least in part, on a difference of respective center frequencies of each of said plurality of sub-bands from a center frequency of said spectral band.

56. The device as recited in claim 15, wherein said one or more triggering events comprises at least one of:

a device or session initiation event;

an new channel initiation event;

a time-based event;

a frequency drift event;

an initiated scan event;

or a signal data threshold event.

22. An apparatus comprising:

means for scanning at least one sub-band of a plurality of sub-bands within a spectral band of a received signal comprising a desired signal contribution to determine whether signal data associated with said at least one sub-band further comprises at least one undesired signal contribution; and

means for initiating at least one notch filter within a receiver to affect said at least one undesired signal contribution in subsequent signal data associated with said received signal, in response to determining that said signal data in said at least one sub-band comprises said at least one undesired signal contribution.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, and further comprising at least one of:

means for setting a bandwidth of one or more of said plurality of sub-bands;

means for setting a center frequency of one or more of said plurality of sub-bands;

or

means for setting an integration time for one or more of said plurality of sub-bands.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said means for scanning further comprises:

means for selecting said at least one sub-band; and

means for estimating a center frequency associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said scanning further comprises:

means for selecting said at least one sub-band;

means for collecting signal samples in said selected sub-band;

means for applying Fourier analysis to said signal samples to generate a power spectrum for said selected sub-band; and

means for applying peak processing to said power spectrum to estimate one or more parameters associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution in said selected sub-band.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein said estimating said center frequency further comprises:

non-coherently combining one or more power spectra for said at least one sub-band; and

applying a threshold to said combined power spectra.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein two of said plurality of sub-bands are at least partially overlapping.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein at least two of said plurality of sub-bands have different center frequencies and equal bandwidth sizes.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said spectral band is consumed by said plurality of sub-bands.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, and further comprising:

means for selectively obtaining said signal data from at least one of a plurality of different processing stages in said receiver.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said desired signal contribution comprises a SPS signal.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said at least one undesired signal contribution is associated with a continuous wave signal that interferes with said desired signal.

35. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said scanning is initiated in response to one or more triggering events.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein said one or more triggering events comprises at least one of:

a device or session initiation event;

an new channel initiation event;

a time-based event;

a frequency drift event;

an initiated scan event;

or a signal data threshold event.

37. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, and further comprising:

means for determining at least one parameter associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

38. The apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said at least one parameter is indicative of at least one of:

an estimated power, an estimated bandwidth, or an estimated center frequency associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

39. The apparatus as recited in claim 37, and further comprising:

means for storing said at least one parameter in memory; and

means for subsequently programming said at least one notch filter based, at least in part, on said stored parameter.

40. The apparatus as recited in claim 37, and further comprising:

means for transmitting said at least one parameter to at least one other device.

41. A device comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) front-end to receive a signal;

a baseband processor to establish signal data associated with said received signal; and

at least one processing unit to;

scan at least one sub-band of a plurality of sub-bands within a spectral band of a received signal comprising a desired signal contribution to determine whether signal data associated with said at least one sub-band further comprises at least one undesired signal contribution; and

in response to determining that said signal data in said at least one sub-band comprises said at least one undesired signal contribution, initiate at least one notch filter within a receiver to affect said at least one undesired signal contribution in subsequent signal data associated with said received signal.

42. The device as recited in claim 41, said at least one processing unit to further said at least one of:

a bandwidth of one or more of said plurality of sub-bands;

a center frequency of one or more of said plurality of sub-bands;

or

an integration time for one or more of said plurality of sub-bands.

43. The device as recited in claim 41, said at least one processing unit to further:

select said at least one sub-band; and

estimate a center frequency associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

44. The device as recited in claim 43, said at least one processing unit to further:

select said at least one sub-band;

collect signal samples in said selected sub-band;

apply Fourier analysis to said signal samples to generate a power spectrum for said selected sub-band; and

apply peak processing to said power spectrum to estimate one or more parameters associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution in said selected sub-band.

45. The device as recited in claim 43, said at least one processing unit to further:

non-coherently combine one or more power spectra for said at least one sub-band; and

apply a threshold to said combined power spectra.

46. The device as recited in claim 41, said at least one processing unit to further:

perform a scan for one or more of said plurality of sub-bands based on a defined order.

47. The device as recited in claim 46, wherein said defined order is based, at least in part, on a difference of respective center frequencies of each of said plurality of sub-bands from a center frequency of said spectral band.

48. The device as recited in claim 41, wherein two of said plurality of sub-bands are at least partially overlapping.

49. The device as recited in claim 41, wherein at least two of said plurality of sub-bands have different center frequencies and equal bandwidth sizes.

50. The device as recited in claim 41, wherein said spectral band is consumed by said plurality of sub-bands.

51. The device as recited in claim 41, said at least one processing unit to further:

selectively obtain said signal data from at least one of a plurality of different processing stages in said receiver.

52. The device as recited in claim 41, wherein said signal data is obtained either before or after a filtering stage comprising said at least one notch filter.

53. The device as recited in claim 41, wherein said desired signal contribution comprises a SPS signal.

54. The device as recited in claim 41, wherein said at least one undesired signal contribution is associated with a continuous wave signal that interferes with said desired signal.

55. The device as recited in claim 41, said at least one processing unit to further:

initiate said scan in response to one or more triggering events.

57. The device as recited in claim 41, said at least one processing unit to further:

determine at least one parameter associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

58. The device as recited in claim 57, wherein said at least one parameter is indicative of at least one of:

an estimated power, an estimated bandwidth, or an estimated center frequency associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

59. The device as recited in claim 57, and further comprising:

memory; and

wherein said at least one processing unit to further;

initiate storage of said at least one parameter in said memory; and

subsequently program said at least one notch filter based, at least in part, on said stored parameter.

60. The device as recited in claim 57, and further comprising:

a communication interface; and

wherein said at least one processing unit to further;

initiate transmission of said at least one parameter to at least one other device via said communication interface.

61. The device as recited in claim 60, said at least one processing unit to further:

initiate transmission of a current estimated position of said device to said at least one other device via said communication interface.

78. The article as recited in claim 60, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

determine at least one parameter associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

79. The article as recited in claim 78, wherein said at least one parameter is indicative of at least one of:

an estimated power, an estimated bandwidth, or an estimated center frequency associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

80. The article as recited in claim 78, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

store said at least one parameter in memory; and

subsequently program said at least one notch filter based, at least in part, on said stored parameter.

62. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer-implementable instructions executable by one or more processing units of a device to;

scan at least one sub-band of a plurality of sub-bands within a spectral band of a received signal comprising a desired signal contribution to determine whether signal data associated with said at least one sub-band further comprises at least one undesired signal contribution; and

in response to determining that said signal data in said at least one sub-band comprises said at least one undesired signal contribution, initiate at least one notch filter within a receiver to affect said at least one undesired signal contribution in subsequent signal data associated with said received signal.

63. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to said at least one of:

a bandwidth of one or more of said plurality of sub-bands;

a center frequency of one or more of said plurality of sub-bands;

or

an integration time for one or more of said plurality of sub-bands.

64. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

select said at least one sub-band; and

estimate a center frequency associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution.

65. The article as recited in claim 64, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

select said at least one sub-band;

collect signal samples in said selected sub-band;

apply Fourier analysis to said signal samples to generate a power spectrum for said selected sub-band; and

apply peak processing to said power spectrum to estimate one or more parameters associated with said at least one undesired signal contribution in said selected sub-band.

66. The article as recited in claim 64, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

non-coherently combining one or more power spectra for said at least one sub-band; and

applying a threshold to said combined power spectra.

67. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

perform said scan for one or more of said plurality of sub-bands based on a defined order.

68. The article as recited in claim 67, wherein said defined order is based, at least in part, on a difference of respective center frequencies of each of said plurality of sub-bands from a center frequency of said spectral band.

69. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein two of said plurality of sub-bands are at least partially overlapping.

70. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein at least two of said plurality of sub-bands have different center frequencies and equal bandwidth sizes.

71. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said spectral band is consumed by said plurality of sub-bands.

72. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

selectively obtaining said signal data from at least one of a plurality of different processing stages in said receiver.

73. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said signal data is obtained either before or after a filtering stage comprising said at least one notch filter.

74. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said desired signal contribution comprises a SPS signal.

75. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said at least one undesired signal contribution is associated with a continuous wave signal that interferes with said desired signal.

76. The article as recited in claim 62, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to initiate said scan in response to one or more triggering events.

77. The article as recited in claim 76, wherein said one or more triggering events comprises at least one of:

a device or session initiation event;

an new channel initiation event;

a time-based event;

a frequency drift event;

an initiated scan event;

or a signal data threshold event.

81. The article as recited in claim 70, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

initiate transmission of said at least one parameter to at least one other device.

82. The article as recited in claim 81, wherein said computer-implementable instructions are further executable by said one or more processing units to:

initiate transmission of a current estimated position of said device to said at least one other device.