System and method for operational parameter selection to avoid interference in a wireless communication system

• US 8,160,508 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Prise, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US12/191,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/69, 455/414.1, 455/41.2, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/63.1, 455/436, 455/77, 455/78, 455/563, 455/88, 370/280, 370/337
• US Class Current: 455/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/50 using different frequencies for the two directions of communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/02 Reducing interference from electric apparatus by means located at or near the interfering apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2215/062 by inhibiting burst transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference

Abstract

A wireless communication device uses operational parameters stored in a capabilities list to control operation of the device. The device may also provide auxiliary services, such as reception of broadcast television signals and location detection using network assisted GPS. When auxiliary services are selected, the cellular operation may cause interference with the auxiliary services. The wireless communication device includes a reduced set of capabilities to control operation of the wireless communication device when an auxiliary service is requested. The particular set of reduced capabilities may depend on the specific type of auxiliary service that has been requested. Upon termination of the auxiliary services, the full capabilities list may be restored and the operation of the wireless communication device is thereafter controlled by the full set of operational capabilities.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communication apparatus for use in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a first receiver configured to receive communication signals on a selected one of a plurality of communication bands;

a first transmitter configured to transmit communication signals on a selected one of the plurality of communication bands;

a second receiver selectively activated and configured to receive communication signals on a selected one of the plurality of communication bands;

a data storage structure configured to store data related to the operational capabilities of the first receiver and the first transmitter, the operational capabilities including an indication of selected ones of the plurality of communication bands on which the first receiver and the first transmitter can operate, the data storage structure storing data related to a limited set of operational capabilities for the first receiver and the first transmitter, including an indication of a limited number of the selected ones of the plurality of communication bands on which the first receiver and the first transmitter can operate when the second receiver is selectively activated; and

a controller configured to control operation of the first receiver and first transmitter by selecting a communication band for operation based on the data in the data structure, the controller selecting a communication band from the limited number of communication bands if the second receiver is selectively activated;

wherein the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating on an initial one of the plurality of communication bands at a time when the second receiver is not selectively activated and, when the second receiver is selectively activated, the controller is further configured to alter the communication band on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating if the initial one of the plurality of communication bands is not one of the limited number of communication bands on which the first receiver and the first transmitter can operate when the second receiver is selectively activated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to check the communication band on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating if the second receiver is selectively activated.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller causes the apparatus to undergo a re-registration process if the controller alters the communication band on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller causes the apparatus to transmit data to the wireless communication network to indicate current operational capabilities of the apparatus, including the altered band on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller senses activation of the second receiver and causes the apparatus to transmit data to the wireless communication network to indicate current operational capabilities of the apparatus, including data indicative of the limited number of bands on which the first receiver and the first transmitter can operate when the second receiver is selectively activated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller detects cessation of activation of the second receiver and controls operation of the first receiver and first transmitter by selecting a communication band for operation based on the data in the data structure, the controller selecting a communication band from the selected ones of the plurality of communication bands.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the controller causes the apparatus to undergo a re-registration process if the controller alters the communication band on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating after cessation of activation of the second receiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the controller causes the apparatus to transmit data to the wireless communication network to indicate current operational capabilities of the apparatus, including the altered band on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first receiver and the first transmitter are portions of a transceiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second receiver is configured to receive broadcast television signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second receiver is configured to receive signals from one or more global positioning system (GPS) satellites.

12. A wireless communication apparatus for use in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless communication network using an initial set of operational parameters including operation on a selected one of a plurality of communication bands;

a receiver configured to receive communication signals on a selected one of a plurality of communication bands;

a data storage structure containing data related to the operational capabilities of the transceiver, the operational capabilities including an indication of permissible operational parameters with which the transceiver may operate, the data storage structure containing data related to a reduced set of operational capabilities for the transceiver when the receiver is active; and

a controller configured to control operation of the transceiver by selecting operational parameters from the reduced set of operational capabilities if the receiver is activated;

wherein the controller causes the apparatus to undergo a re-registration process if the controller alters the operational parameters with which the transceiver is operating.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the operational capabilities of the transceiver are selected from a group of operational capabilities comprising a communication band, a signaling protocol, a transmission power level, and a bandwidth.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the operational capabilities include an indication of a limited number of bands on which the transceiver can operate when the receiver is activated to receive communication signals.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller causes the apparatus to transmit data to the wireless communication network to indicate current operational capabilities of the apparatus, including the operational parameters with which the transceiver is operating.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller detects cessation of activation of the receiver and alters operation of the transceiver by selecting operational parameters from the permissible operational parameters with which the transceiver may operate.

17. A wireless communication system for use in a wireless communication network, the system comprising:

a first transceiver configured to communicate using an initial set of operational parameters including operation on a selected one of a plurality of communication bands;

a second transceiver configured to communicate on a selected one of a plurality of communication bands;

a data storage structure containing data related to the operational capabilities of the first transceiver, the operational capabilities including an indication of permissible operational parameters with which the first transceiver may operate, the data storage structure containing data related to a reduced set of operational capabilities for the first transceiver when the second transceiver is active; and

a controller configured to control operation of the first transceiver by selecting operational parameters from the reduced set of operational capabilities if the second transceiver is activated;

wherein the controller causes a re-registration process if the controller alters the operational parameters with which the first transceiver is operating.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the operational capabilities of the first transceiver are selected from a group of operational capabilities comprising a communication band, a signaling protocol, a transmission power level, and a bandwidth.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the operational capabilities include an indication of a limited number of bands on which the first transceiver can operate when the second transceiver is activated.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first transceiver is configured to communicate with the wireless communication network.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the second transceiver is contained within a housing containing the first transceiver and is configured to communicate with the wireless communication network.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first transceiver is contained within a housing containing the second transceiver and is configured to communicate with a third transceiver.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the third transceiver is a Bluetooth device.

24. A method for operating a wireless communication device in a wireless communication network, comprising:

using the wireless communication device to communicate using an initial set of operational parameters selected from a list of normal operational parameters;

sensing user activation of an auxiliary receiver in the wireless communication device; and

altering operation of the wireless communication device to communicate using operational parameters selected from a reduced set of operational parameters when the auxiliary receiver is activated;

wherein the wireless communication device undergoes a re-registration process if the operational parameters with which the wireless communication device is operating are altered by activation of the auxiliary receiver.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the reduced operational parameters of the wireless communication device are selected from a group of operational parameters comprising a communication band, a signaling protocol, a transmission power level, and a bandwidth.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the reduced operational parameters include a limited number of bands on which wireless communication device can operate when the auxiliary receiver is activated.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the wireless communication device transmits data to the wireless communication network to indicate current operational parameters of the wireless communication device while the auxiliary receiver is activated.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising detecting cessation of activation of the auxiliary receiver and altering operation of the wireless communication device by selecting operational parameters from the normal operational parameters rather than from the reduced set of operational parameters.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the wireless communication device is configured to communicate with the wireless communication network using the initial set of operational parameters if the auxiliary receiver is not activated or using operational parameters selected from a reduced set of operational parameters when the auxiliary receiver is activated.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the auxiliary receiver is part of a transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless communication network.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the wireless communication device is configured to communicate with an external device using the initial set of operational parameters if the transceiver is not activated or using operational parameters selected from a reduced set of operational parameters when the transceiver is activated.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the external device is a Bluetooth device.