Performance of a receiver in interfering conditions

• US 7,796,560 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Rousu, Seppo, Leinonen, Marko
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TIMOTHY X
• Application Number:
  US10/559,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,653 Days
• Field of Search: 370/333, 370/343, 370/480, 342/357.1, 375/346
• US Class Current: 370/333
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/21 Interference related issues ; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service

Abstract

A device 22 includes a communication system transceiver 40 for exchanging signals in a first frequency band and a receiver 30 for receiving signals in a second frequency band. In order to improve the performance of the receiver. A processing portion 34 of the devices detects the presence of signals interfering with the signals in the second frequency band and also determines a timing pattern for interfering signals based on a timing information which is indicative of the timing for transmissions employed by the transceiver 40. A manipulation of signals reaching the receiver 30 during intervals defined by the determined timing pattern is then done, in order to reduce a performance degradation due to interfering signals originating from a transmitter 21 employing the same timing for transmissions as the transceiver 40. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to detect presence of interfering signals in a second frequency band, wherein said second frequency band is used by a receiver to receive signals via a radio interface, and wherein said receiver is combined in a single device with a communication system transceiver exchanging signals via a radio interface in a first frequency band, and to determine a timing pattern for detected interfering signals based on a timing information provided by said communication system transceiver, which timing information is indicative of timing for transmissions employed by said communication system transceiver; and

a processor configured to cause a manipulation of signals reaching said receiver during time intervals defined by a determined timing pattern, in order to reduce a performance degradation due to interfering signals originating from a transmitter external to said device, which transmitter employs a same timing for transmissions as said communication system transceiver of said device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said communication system transceiver; and

said receiver.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said processor configured to detect the presence of interfering signals in said second frequency band forms a part of said communication system transceiver.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said processor configured to detect the presence of interfering signals in said second frequency band forms a part of said receiver.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said receiver includes an attenuator, and wherein said processor configured to cause a manipulation of signals reaching said receiver is configured to cause said manipulation by varying an attenuation applied by said attenuator based on said timing pattern for attenuating signals received by said receiver.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said processor configured to cause a manipulation of signals reaching said receiver is configured to set said attenuation higher as an intensity of detected interfering signals becomes higher.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said receiver is one of a satellite positioning system receiver and a digital video broadcast-terrestrial receiver.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor configured to cause a manipulation of signals reaching said receiver is configured to cause said manipulation by causing a blocking of a reception of said signals based on said timing pattern.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor configured to cause a manipulation of signals reaching said receiver is configured to cause said manipulation by causing a disregarding of said signals in an evaluation of said signals based on said timing pattern.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor configured to cause a manipulation of signals reaching said receiver is configured to cause said manipulation by detuning said second frequency range.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processor configured to cause a manipulation of signals reaching said receiver is configured to cause a manipulation of signals reaching said receiver in time intervals during which said communication system transceiver of said device transmits signals at least with a certain power level, in order to reduce a performance degradation due to interfering signals originating from said communication system transceiver of said device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a mobile phone or a laptop.

13. A method comprising:

detecting presence of interfering signals in a second frequency band, wherein said second frequency band is used by a receiver to receive signals via a radio interface, and wherein said receiver is combined in a single device with a communication system transceiver exchanging signals via a radio interface in a first frequency band;

determining a timing pattern for detected interfering signals based on a timing information which is indicative of timing for transmissions employed by said communication system transceiver; and

manipulating signals reaching said receiver during time intervals defined by said timing pattern, in order to reduce a performance degradation due to interfering signals originating from a transmitter external to said device, which transmitter employs a same timing for transmissions as said communication system transceiver of said device.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising manipulating signals reaching said receiver during time intervals in which said communication system transceiver of said device transmits signals at least with a certain power level, in order to reduce a performance degradation due to interfering signals originating from said communication system transceiver of said device.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein signals reaching said receiver are manipulated by applying an attenuation to signals received by said receiver.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said attenuation applied to signals reaching said receiver is made higher in correspondence to higher intensity of detected interfering signals.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein signals reaching said receiver are manipulated by being blocked from reception by said receiver.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein signals reaching said receiver are manipulated by being disregarded in an evaluation of signals in said receiver.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein signals reaching said receiver are manipulated by detuning said second frequency range.

20. An apparatus comprising:

means for detecting presence of interfering signals in a second frequency band, wherein said second frequency band is used by a receiver to receive signals via a radio interface, and wherein said receiver is combined in a single device with a communication system transceiver exchanging signals via a radio interface in a first frequency band;

means for determining a timing pattern for detected interfering signals based on a timing information which is indicative of timing for transmissions employed by said communication system transceiver; and

means for manipulating signals reaching said receiver during time intervals defined by said timing pattern, in order to reduce a performance degradation due to interfering signals originating from a transmitter external to said device, which transmitter employs a same timing for transmissions as said communication system transceiver of said device.