METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LOCATION-BASED PARAMETRIC CONTROL

• US 20130303232A1
• Filed: 04/05/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, Tito, Chhabra, Kapil, Pallen, Vinesh
• Granted Patent: US 9,204,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for location-based control of parameters such as radio frequency (RF) transmission characteristics of a wireless device. In one embodiment, a determination of a maximum allowable level for a given characteristic associated with the location of the wireless device is made, and the transmission characteristic of the wireless device is adjusted based at least in part on this maximum allowable level. The location may correspond to a regulatory domain with specific requirements for wireless transmitters. A database is referenced to retrieve these requirements. The maximum allowable levels are derived from the requirements. Thus, exemplary wireless devices are capable of universal regulatory compliance.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an operational parameter of a wireless device, the method comprising:

determining a location of the wireless device using a location apparatus;

determining a maximum allowed transmit power associated with the location of the wireless device; and

adjusting the transmit power of the wireless device based at least in part the determined maximum allowed power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the location comprises using a wireless receiver indigenous to the wireless device to determine the location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a WLAN-enabled receiver, and the determining the location comprises determining based on association of the wireless device with a known location of an access point or hotspot.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a satellite receiver.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the maximum allowed transmit power comprises accessing a data structure of the wireless device containing information on maximum allowed transmit powers.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the maximum allowed transmit power comprises accessing a network server in data communication with the wireless device via a long term evolution (LTE)-compliant air interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed automatically by the wireless device upon handover from one base station of a wireless network with which the device is in communication to another base station.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the handover to another base station comprises a handover to a base station of a network operated by a different network operator.

9. A wireless device comprising:

a processor;

a wireless interface in data communication with the processor;

a storage apparatus in data communication with the processor and configured to store a data library comprising a plurality of spectral masks;

a location apparatus in data communication with the processor and configured to determine a location of the wireless device; and

logic in communication with the interface and configured to adjust at least one transmit characteristic of the wireless interface based at least in part on a spectral mask associated with the location of the wireless device.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the at least one transmit characteristic comprises one or more frequency bands of transmission.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the at least one transmit characteristic further comprises transmission power.

12. The wireless device of claim 9, further comprising event detection logic, the event detection logic configured to:

dynamically identify an occurrence of one or more events which are prospectively associated with a change in the location of the wireless device;

determine a current location of the wireless device;

determine based on the current location whether the wireless device should implement a new spectral mask; and

when it is determined that a new spectral mask is required, invoke the logic in communication with the interface and configured to adjust at least one transmit characteristic in accordance with the new spectral mask.

13. A wireless device comprising:

a processor;

a wireless interface in data communication with the processor;

a storage apparatus in data communication with the processor and configured to store a data library comprising a plurality of data elements indicative of geographic location;

apparatus in data communication with the processor and configured to determine a location-related data element; and

logic in communication with the interface and configured to adjust at least one transmit characteristic of the wireless interface based at least in part on the location-related data element.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the location-related data element is obtained from a transmission received from a base station of a wireless network with which the wireless device is in data communication, and the location-related data element comprises a mobile network code (MNC).

15. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the location-related data element comprises a mobile country code (MCC).

16. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the location-related data element comprises a current location of the wireless device that has been determined by an entity other than the wireless device.

17. A computer-readable storage apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium having at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one program being configured to, when executed, cause a processor to:

adjust at least one transmit characteristic of a wireless interface of a wireless mobile device based at least in part on a spectral mask associated with a location of the wireless mobile device.

18. The computer-readable storage apparatus of claim 17, where the at least one transmit characteristic comprises a transmit power.

19. The computer-readable storage apparatus of claim 17, where the location of the wireless mobile device is obtained from a transmission received from a base station of a wireless network with which the wireless mobile device is in data communication.

20. The computer-readable storage apparatus of claim 17, where the location of the wireless mobile device is obtained from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver of the wireless mobile device.