METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IN-DEVICE COEXISTENCE DETECTION AND MITIGATION

• US 20130303214A1
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ahmadi, Sassan
• Granted Patent: US 9,504,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/501
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting and mitigating interface conditions at a multi-radio device. In one embodiment, a multi-radio device monitors and detects an in device-coexistence (IDC) interference condition which is, for example, caused by concurrent operation of radios. In response, the device notifies a network entity (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE) eNodeB) of the detected IDC condition. Upon receiving the notification of the IDC condition, the network entity may implement or invoke a mitigation scheme in order to reduce the amount of IDC experienced at the client device.

Claims

1. A method for mitigating multi-radio interference at a wireless device operating within a cellular network, comprising:

monitoring for at least one indication of an interference condition between at least two radio interfaces of the wireless device at a scheduled time;

upon detection of the at least one indication, transmitting an in device-coexistence (IDC) Activity message to the cellular network in discontinuous reception (DRX) ON mode;

upon receiving an IDC Activity Acknowledge message indicating successful receipt of the IDC Activity message, the first radio interface of the at least two radio interfaces operating in DRX OFF mode at the scheduled time to mitigate the interference condition; and

subsequent to the scheduled time, operating the first radio interface in DRX ON mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring is performed using a radio interface of a second wireless device that is proximate to the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring is performed using at least one of the at least two radio interfaces of the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first radio interface comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) compliant cellular interface, and the second radio interface operates in the Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) frequency bands.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second radio interface comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) compliant interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring is based on an inter-chip signaling between the first and second radio interfaces.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a message to the cellular network in discontinuous reception (DRX) ON mode indicating that normal Long Term Evolution (LTE) operation may resume.

8. A wireless device, comprising:

a processor;

coordination logic; and

first and second wireless interfaces each in data communication with the processor and the coordination logic;

wherein the coordination logic is configured to;

obtain first and second information from the first and second interfaces as to future operation of the respective interfaces;

forward at least portions of the first and second information to a network entity; and

receive from the network entity at least one action, the at least one action intended to mitigate radio interference between the first and second interfaces at the future operation.

9. A method for mitigating radio interference for at least one of a plurality of wireless devices, the method comprising:

receiving a first indication of an interference condition from a first of the plurality of wireless devices;

receiving a second indication of an interference condition from a second of the plurality of wireless devices, the interference condition of the second of the plurality of wireless devices occurring substantially contemporaneous with that of the first wireless device;

evaluating the first and second indications to determine one common feature of the interference conditions of the first and second wireless devices; and

based on at least the evaluating, causing at least one of the first and second wireless devices to implement a corrective action to mitigate at least one of the interference conditions.

10. A wireless device, comprising:

a processor;

a first wireless interface in data communication with the processor; and

computerized logic configured to;

monitor for at least one indication of an interference condition affecting the first wireless interface; and

based at least in part on the monitoring, signal a network entity to cause implementation of an action to compensate for the interference condition.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the computerized logic configured to monitor is configured to perform the monitoring using the first wireless interface, the monitoring comprising monitoring at least one radio frequency parameter.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein:

the wireless device comprises a second wireless interface, and the interference condition is created by simultaneous operation of the first interface and the second interface; and

the action comprises an adjustment in the operation of at least one of the first and second interfaces by the wireless device.

13. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein:

the interference condition is created by simultaneous operation of the first interface and a radio interface of a second wireless device that is proximate to the wireless device; and

the action comprises an adjustment in the operation of the radio interface by the second wireless device.

14. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device comprises a second wireless interface, and the logic configured to monitor for at least one indication of an interference condition comprises logic configured to detect an operational state which is indirectly indicative of interference between the first and second wireless interfaces.

15. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device comprises a second wireless interface, and the signaling is performed using a one of the wireless interfaces that is least impacted by the interference condition.

16. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device comprises a second wireless interface, and the computerized logic is configured to perform the signaling of the network entity by at least:

temporarily suspending using at least one of the wireless interfaces; and

during the temporary suspension, using another of the wireless interfaces to perform the signaling.

17. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device comprises a second wireless interface, a first wireless interface comprises a long term evolution (LTE)-compliant interface, the network entity comprises an evolved Node B (eNB), the second interface comprises a WLAN interface, and the logic is further configured to:

receive from the eNB at least one instruction to reduce scheduled transmission or reception times for the LTE interface; and

implement at the wireless device the at least one instruction, thereby mitigating interference with the WLAN interface.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the scheduled transmission or reception time comprises increasing the period of one or more discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles.

19. A network apparatus configured to mitigate radio interference for at least one wireless device in communication therewith, the apparatus comprising:

a cellular interface configured for communication with at least the at least one wireless device;

computerized logic in communication with the interface and configured to;

receive a first indication of an interference condition relating to the at least one wireless device;

evaluate the first indication to identify at least one corrective action for the interference condition; and

based on at least the evaluation, cause the at least one wireless device to implement the identified corrective action to attempt to mitigate the interference condition.

20. The network apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first indication comprises a channel quality index (CQI) obtained by the at least one wireless device, and the corrective action comprises a change to a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of a cellular interface of the at least one wireless device.