Systems and methods for controlling a level of interference to a wireless receiver responsive to an activity factor associated with a wireless transmitter

• US 7,751,823 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hai V
• Application Number:
  US11/679,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20080032671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system

Abstract

A level of interference to a wireless receiver may be controlled by determining a set of frequencies to be assigned to a wireless transmitter, responsive to an activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter, other than a transmission power level of the wireless transmitter. The set of frequencies is then assigned to the wireless transmitter. Related systems, methods and devices are also described.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a level of interference to a wireless receiver, the method comprising:

determining a set of frequencies to be assigned to a wireless transmitter responsive to an activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than a transmission power level of the wireless transmitter; and

assigning the set of frequencies to the wireless transmitter,

wherein determining a set of frequencies comprises establishing a frequency distance between the set of frequencies and a band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver responsive to the activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter,

wherein establishing a frequency distance comprises constraining the set of frequencies at a frequency distance from the band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver responsive to the activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter, and

wherein the wireless receiver is a wireless transceiver that is operative in a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) mode using a downlink band of frequencies and an uplink band of frequencies and wherein constraining the set of frequencies further comprises constraining the set of frequencies to be proximate to the uplink band of frequencies and distant from the downlink band of frequencies.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein establishing a frequency distance comprises constraining the set of frequencies at a frequency distance from an edge of a carrier used by the wireless transmitter responsive to the activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is a wireless transceiver that is operative in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining comprises increasing a frequency distance between the set of frequencies and a band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver as the activity factor increases.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining comprises decreasing a frequency distance between the set of frequencies and a band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver as the activity factor decreases.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining is further responsive to the wireless transmitter operating indoors or outdoors.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the set of frequencies is included in a satellite frequency band.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the satellite frequency band is an L-band, S-band, big/little LEO/MEO-band and/or any other band used to provide space-based communications.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver is included in a satellite frequency band.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the satellite frequency band is an L-band, S-band, big/little LEO/MEO-band and/or any other band used to provide space-based communications.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining further comprises determining the activity factor.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the activity factor comprises a bandwidth.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the activity factor comprises a duty factor.

14. A method according to Claim 1 wherein determining is further responsive to detecting a signal from the wireless transceiver.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the detecting is performed by a base station serving the wireless transmitter.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining is further responsive to a geographic location of the wireless transmitter.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the geographic location comprises an identification of a base station that is serving the wireless transmitter.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the geographic location comprises a distance of the wireless transmitter relative to a geographic feature.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the geographic feature comprises a body of water, an airport and/or an area that is designated as a helicopter landing pad.

20. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining is performed repeatedly.

21. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining is further responsive to establishing that the wireless receiver is proximate to the wireless transmitter.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the wireless receiver is a wireless transceiver and wherein establishing comprises detecting a transmission by the wireless transceiver at a base station that serves the wireless transmitter.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein establishing comprises comparing geographic coordinates associated with the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver.

24. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining is performed independent of whether the wireless receiver is operating.

25. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining is performed in response to an instruction that is received from a space-based component, an ancillary terrestrial component and/or any other infrastructure component.

26. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining is performed for each one of a plurality of wireless transmitters.

27. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining is performed for a subset of a plurality of wireless transmitters.

28. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining comprises determining a set of frequencies to be assigned to a wireless transmitter responsive to an activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter, and further responsive to the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter.

29. A system for controlling a level of interference to a wireless receiver, the system comprising:

a controller that is configured to determine a set of frequencies to be assigned to a wireless transmitter responsive to an activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than a transmission power level of the wireless transmitter,

wherein the controller is configured to establish a frequency distance between the set of frequencies and a band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver responsive to the activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter,

wherein the controller is configured to constrain the set of frequencies at a frequency distance from the band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver responsive to the activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter, and

wherein the wireless receiver is a wireless transceiver that is operative in a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) mode using a downlink band of frequencies and an uplink band of frequencies and wherein the controller is further configured to constrain the set of frequencies to be proximate to the uplink band of frequencies and distant from the downlink of frequencies.

30. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to constrain the set of frequencies at a frequency distance from an edge of a carrier used by the wireless transmitter responsive to the activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein the controller is configured to decrease a frequency distance between the set of frequencies and a band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver as the activity factor decreases.

32. A system according to claim 29 wherein the wireless transmitter is a wireless transceiver that is operative in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode.

33. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to increase a frequency distance between the set of frequencies and a band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver as the activity factor increases.

34. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is further configured to determine the set of frequencies responsive to the wireless transmitter operating indoors or outdoors.

35. A system according to claim 29 wherein the set of frequencies is included in a satellite frequency band.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein the satellite frequency band is an L-band, S-band, big/little LEO/MEO-band and/or any other band used to provide space-based communications.

37. A system according to claim 29 wherein the band of frequencies used for reception by the wireless receiver is included in a satellite frequency band.

38. A system according to claim 37 wherein the satellite frequency band is an L-band, S-band, big/little LEO/MEO-band and/or any other band used to provide space-based communications.

39. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is further configured to determine the activity factor.

40. A system according to claim 39 wherein the activity factor comprises a bandwidth.

41. A system according to claim 39 wherein the activity factor comprises a duty factor.

42. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is further configured to determine the set of frequencies responsive to a detection of a signal from the wireless transceiver.

43. A system according to claim 42 wherein the detection is performed by a base station serving the wireless transmitter.

44. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is further configured to determine the set of frequencies responsive to a geographic location of the wireless transmitter.

45. A system according to claim 44 wherein the geographic location comprises an identification of a base station that is serving the wireless transmitter.

46. A system according to claim 44 wherein the geographic location comprises a distance of the wireless transmitter relative to a geographic feature.

47. A system according to claim 46 wherein the geographic feature comprises a body of water, an airport and/or an area that is designated as a helicopter landing pad.

48. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to determine a set of frequencies repeatedly.

49. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is further configured to determine the set of frequencies responsive to the wireless receiver being proximate to the wireless transmitter.

50. A system according to claim 49 wherein the wireless receiver is a wireless transceiver and wherein the wireless receiver being proximate to the wireless transmitter is determined by detecting a transmission by the wireless transceiver at a base station that serves the wireless transmitter.

51. A system according to claim 49 wherein the wireless receiver being proximate to the wireless transmitter is determined by comparing geographic coordinates associated with the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver.

52. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to determine the set of frequencies independent of whether the wireless receiver is operating.

53. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is located at a space-based component, an ancillary terrestrial component and/or any other infrastructure component.

54. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to determine a set of frequencies for each one of a plurality of wireless transmitters.

55. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to determine a set of frequencies for each one of a subset of wireless transmitters;

wherein the subset of wireless transmitters is included in a plurality of wireless transmitters.

56. A system according to claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to determine the set of frequencies to be assigned to the wireless transmitter responsive to the activity factor associated with the wireless transmitter other than the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter and further responsive to the transmission power level of the wireless transmitter.