Mobile communication terminal, communication method and program

• US 7,107,085 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hera Wireless S.A. (Fineur International S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Doi, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Angelica
• Application Number:
  US09/905,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20020028694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/25, 455/9, 455/11.1, 455/11.3, 455/5, 455/8, 455/17, 455/279.1, 455/575.7, 455/427, 455/428, 455/526, 455/272, 455/101, 455/129, 455132-138, 455/522
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/061 using feedback from receiving side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0814 based on current reception conditions, e.g. switching to different antenna when signal level is below threshold

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal having adaptive array antennas is provided that is capable of transmitting signals to an intended base station without interfering other devices, even when a reception error occurs. The mobile communication terminal basically performs array transmission/reception using weight vectors produced in reception to weight and combine signals received via antennas, and thereby receives a desired signal. In transmission, the mobile communication terminal uses the weight vectors used in reception to weight and combine transmission signals and transmits them. However, when an error detection circuit detects a reception error in the desired signal, a transmission control unit turns off a switch for the antenna and transmits the transmission signals in a non-directional pattern via the antenna, so that the transmission signal reaches the intended base station.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal for performing reception and transmission using an adaptive array method, the mobile communication terminal being provided with (a) a plurality of antennas, (b) reception means for forming a directivity pattern for receiving a desired reception signal from a base station and receiving the reception signal from the base station using the formed directivity pattern, and (c) transmission means for transmitting at least one of a transmission signal using the directivity pattern formed in reception and an omnidirectional transmission signal, the mobile communication terminal comprising:

detection means for detecting a reception error in the reception signal; and

transmission control means for controlling the transmission means, wherein when the detection means detects the reception error in the reception signal the transmitted transmission signal is the omnidirectional transmission signal and when the detection means does not detect the reception error, the transmission signal is transmitted in the directivity pattern formed in reception.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1,

wherein when the detection means detects the reception error, the transmission control means controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas, and the transmission signal is transmitted in an omnidirectional pattern.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2,

wherein when the detection means detects the reception error, the transmission control means controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas that has the largest antenna gain, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2 further comprising:

selection means for measuring a quality of the reception signal for each of the plurality of antennas and selecting an antenna with the highest reception quality,

wherein when the detection means detects the reception error, the transmission control means controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional pattern is formed using the antenna selected by the selection means, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

5. A mobile communication method for performing reception and transmission using an adaptive array method, the mobile communication terminal being provided with (a) a plurality of antennas, (b) reception means for forming a directivity pattern for receiving a desired reception signal from a base station and receiving the reception signal from the base station using the formed directivity pattern, and (c) transmission means for transmitting at least one of a transmission signal using the directivity pattern formed in reception and an omnidirectional transmission signal, the mobile communication method comprising:

detection step for detecting a reception error in the reception signal; and

transmission control step for controlling the transmission means, wherein when the detection step detects the reception error in the reception signal the transmitted transmission signal is the omnidirectional transmission signal and when the detection step does not detect the reception error, the transmission signal is transmitted in the directivity pattern formed in reception.

6. The communication method of claim 5,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas, and the transmission signal is transmitted in an omnidirectional pattern.

7. The communication method of claim 6,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas that has the largest antenna gain, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

8. The communication method of claim 6 further comprising:

selection step for measuring a quality of the reception signal for each of the plurality of antennas and selecting an antenna with the highest reception quality,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional pattern is formed using the antenna selected by the selection means, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

9. A program to be executed by a computer in a mobile communication terminal for performing reception and transmission using an adaptive array method, the program being stored on a computer-readable recording medium, the mobile communication terminal being provided with (a) a plurality of antennas, (b) reception means for forming a directivity pattern for receiving a desired reception signal from a base station and receiving the reception signal from the base station using the formed directivity pattern, and (c) transmission means for transmitting at least one of a transmission signal using the directivity pattern formed in reception and an omnidirectional transmission signal, the program comprising:

detection step for detecting a reception error in the reception signal; and

transmission control step for controlling the transmission means, wherein when the detection step detects the reception error in the reception signal the transmitted transmission signal is the omnidirectional transmission signal and when the detection step does not detect the reception error, the transmission signal is transmitted in the directivity pattern formed in reception.

10. The program of claim 9,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas, and the transmission signal is transmitted in an omnidirectional pattern.

11. The program of claim 10,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas that has the largest antenna gain, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

12. The program of claim 10 further comprising:

selection step for measuring a quality of the reception signal for each of the plurality of antennas and selecting an antenna with the highest reception quality,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional pattern is formed using the antenna selected by the selection means, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

13. A mobile communication terminal for performing reception and transmission using an adaptive array method, the mobile communication terminal being provided with (a) a plurality of antennas, (b) a reception circuit which multiplies a signal received using each of the plurality of antennas by a weight vector, and (c) a transmission circuit which transmits the multiplied signal using each of the plurality of antennas, the reception circuit forming a directivity pattern for receiving a desired reception signal from a base station and receiving the reception signal from the base station using the formed directivity pattern, and the transmission circuit transmitting at least one of a transmission signal using the directivity pattern formed in reception and an omnidirectional transmission signal, the mobile communication terminal comprising:

detection means for detecting a reception error in the reception signal; and

transmission control means for controlling the transmission circuit, wherein when the detection means detects the reception error in the reception signal the transmitted transmission signal is the omnidirectional transmission signal and when the detection means does not detect the reception error the transmission signal is transmitted in the directivity pattern formed in reception.

14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13,

wherein when the detection means detects the reception error, the transmission control means controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas, and the transmission signal is transmitted in an omnidirectional pattern.

15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 14,

wherein when the detection means detects the reception error the transmission control means controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas that has the largest antenna gain, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 14 further comprising:

selection means for measuring a quality of the reception signal for each of the plurality of antennas and selecting an antenna with the highest reception quality,

wherein when the detection means detects the reception error, the transmission control means controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional pattern is formed using the antenna selected by the selection means, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

17. A communication method used for a mobile communication terminal for performing reception and transmission using an adaptive array method, the mobile communication terminal being provided with (a) a plurality of antennas, (b) a reception circuit which multiplies a signal received using each of the plurality of antennas by a weight vector, and (c) a transmission circuit which transmits the multiplied signal using each of the plurality of antennas, the reception circuit forming a directivity pattern for receiving a desired reception signal from a base station and receiving the reception signal from the base station using the formed directivity pattern, and the transmission circuit transmitting at least one of a transmission signal using the directivity pattern formed in reception and an omnidirectional transmission signal, the mobile communication method comprising:

detection step for detecting a reception error in the reception signal; and

transmission control step for controlling the transmission means, wherein when the detection step detects the reception error in the reception signal the transmitted transmission signal is the omnidirectional transmission signal and when the detection step does not detect the reception error, the transmission signal is transmitted in the directivity pattern formed in reception.

18. The communication method of claim 17,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas, and the transmission signal is transmitted in an omnidirectional pattern.

19. The communication method of claim 18,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas that has the largest antenna gain, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

20. The communication method of claim 18 further comprising:

selection step for measuring a quality of the reception signal for each of the plurality of antennas and selecting an antenna with the highest reception quality

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional pattern is formed using the antenna selected by the selection means, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

21. A program to be executed by a computer in a mobile communication terminal for performing reception and transmission using an adaptive array method, the program being stored on a computer-readable recording medium, the mobile communication terminal being provided with (a) a plurality of antennas, (b) a reception circuit which multiplies a signal received using each of the plurality of antennas by a weight vector, and (c) a transmission circuit which transmits the multiplied signal using each of the plurality of antennas, the reception circuit forming a directivity pattern for receiving a desired reception signal from a base station and receiving the reception signal from the base station using the formed directivity pattern, and the transmission circuit transmitting at least one of a transmission signal using the directivity pattern formed in reception and an omnidirectional transmission signal, the program comprising:

detection step for detecting a reception error in the reception signal; and

transmission control step for controlling the transmission means, wherein when the detection step detects the reception error in the reception signal the transmitted transmission signal is the omnidirectional transmission signal and when the detection step does not detect the reception error, the transmission signal is transmitted in the directivity pattern formed in reception.

22. The program of claim 21,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas, and the transmission signal is transmitted in an omnidirectional pattern.

23. The program of claim 22,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional transmission signal is formed using one of the plurality of antennas that has the largest antenna gain, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omnidirectional pattern.

24. The program of claim 22 further comprising:

selection step for measuring a quality of the reception signal for each of the plurality of antennas and selecting an antenna with the highest reception quality,

wherein when the detection step detects the reception error, the transmission control step controls the transmission means so that the omnidirectional pattern is formed using the antenna selected by the selection means, and the transmission signal is transmitted in the omni directional pattern.

25. A method for ensuring a signal is transmitted to a proper destination, comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a base station, a first signal at a mobile communication device, the first signal comprising a first directivity pattern;

determining, by the mobile communication device, wherein the first signal includes a reception error; and

transmitting, by the mobile communication device, one of a second signal to the base station when the first signal does not include the reception error, the second signal comprising a second directivity pattern corresponding to the first directivity pattern, and a third signal comprising an omnidirectional pattern when the first signal includes the reception error.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first signal includes the reception error, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the base station, a fourth signal at the mobile communication device, the fourth signal comprising a third directivity pattern;

determining, by the mobile communication device, that the fourth signal does not include the reception error; and

transmitting, by the mobile communication device, a fifth signal to the base station, the fifth signal comprising a fourth directivity pattern corresponding to the third directivity pattern.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by the mobile communication device, a sixth signal comprising the omnidirectional pattern prior to the step of the mobile communication device determining the fourth signal does not include the reception error.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

continuing, by the mobile communication device, to transmit signals comprising the omnidirectional pattern after the step of the mobile communication device transmitting the sixth signal until the step of the mobile communication device determining the fourth signal does not include the reception error.