Radio link check

• US 7,305,215 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Pensjö, Tomas, Lindell, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rego; Dominic E.
• Application Number:
  US10/572,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20070004442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/67.12, 455/67.14, 455/115.1, 455/115.2, 455/226.1, 455/67.7, 455/63.1, 455/70, 455/522
• US Class Current: 455/67.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/304 due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a method, a link check device, and a portable communication device for communication link check. The link check device (102) comprises a receiver unit (104) for receiving and monitoring information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link (109). A first and second signal generating unit (110, 112) connected to said receiver unit (104) provide a first and second noise signal (R₁, R₂), which are transmitted to a combining unit (114) to provide a third signal representing signal (R₃) strength for communication links.

Claims

1. A method for communication link check in a portable communication device, said method comprising:

receiving information including power control commands from a base station on a first link;

monitoring said first link for base station signal strength and power control commands;

providing a first signal strength representation signal based on base station signal strength;

providing a second signal strength representation signal based on a power control command;

combining said first and second signal strength representation signals to generate a third signal strength representation signal; and

transmitting the third signal strength representation signal to an output unit for communication link check.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second signal strength representation signals are noise signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of combining said first and second signal strength representation signals includes adding said noise signals.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

outputting, by the output unit, audible output corresponding to the third signal strength representation signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said third signal is audibly provided via an audio output of the output unit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said third signal is presented visually.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, by the output unit, audible output corresponding to the third signal strength representation signal.

8. A communication link check device for a portable electronic device, said communication link check device comprising:

a receiver unit configured to receive information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link;

a monitoring unit connected to said receiver unit for monitoring said first link for base station signal strength and power control;

a first signal generating unit connected to said receiver unit, said first signal generating unit being configured to provide a first signal strength representation signal based on the base station signal strength;

a second signal generating unit connected to said receiver unit, said second signal generating unit being configured to provide a second signal strength representation signal based on the power control signal;

a combining unit connected to said first and second signal generating units and configured to combine the first and second signal strength representation signals to form a third signal strength representation signal; and

a control unit connected to the receiver unit, first and second signal generating units and combining unit and being configured to provide the third signal strength representation signal to a presentation unit for communication link check.

9. The communication link check device according to claim 8, wherein said first and second signal generating units are noise generating units.

10. The communication link check device according to claim 9, further comprising the presentation unit, the presentation unit being configured to provide the third signal strength representation signal via an audio output or a visual output.

11. The communication link check device according to claim 8, further comprising the presentation unit, the presentation unit being configured to provide the third signal strength representation signal via at least one of an audio output or a visual output.

12. The communication link check device according to claim 11, wherein the presentation unit is configured to provide the third signal strength representation signal via the audio output.

13. The communication link check device of claim 8, wherein when combining the first and second signal strength representation signals, the combining unit is configured to add the first and second signal strength representation signals.

14. A portable communication device comprising:

a communication link check device for a portable electronic device, said communication link check device comprising;

a receiver unit provided for receiving configured to receive information including a power control signal from a base station on a first link;

a monitoring unit connected to said receiver unit and configured to monitor said first link for base station signal strength and power control;

a first signal generating unit connected to said receiver unit, said first signal generating unit being configured to provide a first signal strength representation signal based on the base station signal strength;

a second signal generating unit connected to said receiver unit, said second signal generating unit being configured to provide a second signal strength representation signal based on the power control signal;

a combining unit connected to said first and second signal generating units and configured to combine the first and second signal strength representation signals to provide a third signal strength representation signal; and

a control unit connected to the receiver unit, first and second signal generating units and combining unit and being configured to provide the third signal strength representation signal to a user presentation an output unit for communication link check.

15. The portable communication device according to claim 14, wherein the portable communication device is a cellular telephone.

16. The portable communication device of claim 14, further comprising the output unit, the output unit being configured to receive the third signal strength representation signal and output an audible sound based on the third signal strength representation signal.

17. The portable communication device of claim 16, wherein the output unit is further configured to output a visual signal corresponding to the third signal strength representation signal.

18. The portable communication device of claim 14, wherein when combining the first and second signal strength representation signals, the combining unit is configured to add the first and second signal strength representation signals.