Multimode background scans of different communication systems on similar frequencies

• US 6,993,296 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cramer, Joseph III, Kurby, Christopher, Leyh, Arthur C., Storm, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US10/368,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 455/78, 455/73, 455/550.1, 455/83, 455/69, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/296, 455/311, 455/254.3, 455/232.1, 455/240.1, 370/332
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/344 Muting responsive to the amount of noise (noise squelch) H03G3/345 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1027 assessing signal quality or detecting noise/interference for the received signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• 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

A method for increase receiver efficiency in a multimode communication device includes a first step of monitoring a received signal strength of a neighboring cell on a receiver channel. A next step includes determining a noise on the receiver channel from a transmitter power amplifier of the communication device. A next step includes comparing the level of interference with a predetermined threshold and with respect to the signal strength. A next step includes blanking the receiver when the transmitter power amplifier of the communication device is on and if the predetermined threshold is not exceeded indicating excessive self-interference.

Claims

1. A method for increasing receiver efficiency in a multimode communication device, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a received signal strength of a neighboring cell on a receiver channel;

determining an interference on the receiver channel from a transmitter power amplifier of the communication device;

comparing the level of interference with a predetermined threshold and with respect to the signal strength; and

blanking the receiver when tho transmitter power amplifier of the communication device is on and if the predetermined threshold is not exceeded indicating excessive self-interference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the blanking step also includes putting an AGC loop of the receiver in a hold mode when the transmitter power amplifier is on.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the blanking step also includes extending a receiver correlator timeout period corresponding to the time that the transmitter power amplifier is on.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the blanking step also includes increasing the correlation gain during the entire correlation time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the blanking step also includes dynamically increasing correlation gain dependant on the signal and interference levels.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device operates in a WCDMA and GSM/DCS system.

7. A method for increasing receiver efficiency in a WCDMA communication system for a communication device with a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver for monitoring neighboring control channels operable on a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

placing an operating frequency of the monitoring receiver to a neighboring cell channel;

monitoring a received signal strength of a neighboring cell on a receiver channel;

determining a desense of the receiver channel from a transmitter power amplifier of the communication device;

comparing the signal strength with a predetermined threshold and with respect to the desense; and

blanking the receiver when the transmitter power amplifier of the communication device is on and if the predetermined threshold is not exceeded indicating excessive self-interference.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the blanking step also includes putting an AGC loop of the receiver in a hold mode when the transmitter power amplifier is on.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the blanking step also includes one or more of the group consisting of extending a receiver correlator timeout period corresponding to the time that the transmitter power amplifier is on, and increasing the correlation gain during the entire correlation time.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the blanking step also includes dynamically increasing correlation gain dependant on the signal and interference levels.

11. A multimode communication device with a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver for monitoring neighboring control channels operable on a communication system, the communication device comprising:

a transmitter with a power amplifier;

a front end portion for receiving a communication signal from a neighboring channel;

a back end portion coupled to the front end portion for correlating and converting the signal in preparation for digital signal processing;

a detector coupled to the hack end portion, the detector measuring a signal strength; and

determining means for determining if a signal from the transmitter power amplifier of the communication device is interfering with the received communication signal, wherein if significant interference is determined the determining means blanks the receiver of the communication device when the transmitter power amplifier is on.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the determining means utilizes the measured signal strength from the detector, and a power of the transmitter power amplifier of the communication device in determining whether there is high enough interference to blank the front end portion of the receiver.

13. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the determining means estimates a carrier-to-noise ratio of the receiver and compares this to a predetermined threshold, wherein if the carrier-to-noise ratio is less than the threshold the determining means directs the communication device to blank the front end portion of the receiver when the transmitter power amplifier is on.

14. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the detector includes an AGC circuit and the determining means place the AGC circuit in a hold mode when the transmitter power amplifier is on.

15. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the determining means extends the receiver back end portion correlator timeout period corresponding to the time that the transmitter power amplifier is on.

16. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the determining means controls a correlation gain of tile receiver back end portion and increases the correlation gain during the entire correlation time.

17. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the determining means controls a correlation gain of the receiver back end portion and dynamically increases the correlation gain dependant on the signal and interference levels.

18. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the communication device operates in a WCDMA and GSM/DCS system.