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

• US 8,422,965 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• 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:
  US13/445,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20120196548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 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, 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 device comprising:

a first receiver configured to communicate using a plurality of communication bands;

a first transmitter configured to communicate using the plurality of communication bands;

a second receiver selectively activated and configured to communicate using a first communication band of the plurality of communication bands;

a data storage structure configured to store data related to operational capabilities of the first receiver and the first transmitter, the operational capabilities including a limited set of communication bands of the plurality of communication bands on which the first receiver and the first transmitter can communicate 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 from the limited set of communication bands based on the data in the data structure if the second receiver is selectively activated;

wherein the first receiver and the first transmitter are communicating using an initial communication band of the plurality of communication bands when the second receiver is not activated and, when the second receiver is activated, the controller is further configured to alter the initial communication band on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are communicating if the initial communication band is not one of the limited set of communication bands when the second receiver is selectively activated.

2. The device in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause a re-registration process upon alteration of the initial communication band on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are communicating.

3. The device in claim 1, wherein the second receiver is part of an auxiliary transceiver.

4. The device in claim 1, wherein the data storage structure is further configured to store data related to operational capabilities including a signaling protocol, a transmission power level, and a bandwidth.

5. The device in claim 1, wherein the second receiver is contained within a housing containing the first transmitter and the first receiver.

6. The device in claim 1, wherein the second receiver is configured to receive signals from a global positioning system (GPS) satellite.

7. A method comprising:

using a wireless communication device having at least one processor for communicating using a plurality of communication bands;

using the at least one processor for determining that an auxiliary receiver in the wireless communication device has been activated;

using the at least one processor for determining that the wireless communication device is not communicating on any of a limited set of communication bands of the plurality of communication bands on which the wireless communication device can communicate when the auxiliary receiver is activated;

using the at least one processor for altering operation of the wireless communication device to communicate using one of the limited set of communication bands; and

using the at least one processor for re-registering the wireless communication device with a communications network using the one of the limited set of communication bands.

8. The method in claim 7, wherein the wireless communication device communicates using the one of the limited set of communication bands while the auxiliary device is activated.

9. The method in claim 7, further comprising determining that the auxiliary receiver has been deactivated.

10. The method in claim 9, further comprising altering operation of the wireless communication device to communicate using one of the plurality of communication bands.

11. The method in claim 7, wherein the auxiliary receiver is activated to receive broadcast television signals.

12. The method in claim 7, wherein the auxiliary receiver is activated to receive signals from a global positioning system (GPS) satellite.

13. The method in claim 7, further comprising transmitting, to the communications network, data indicating current operational capabilities of the first receiver and the first transmitter, including the one of the limited sets of communication bands on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

using a wireless communication device communicate using a plurality of communication bands;

determining that an auxiliary receiver in the wireless communication device has been activated;

determining that the wireless communication device is not communicating on any of a limited set of communication bands of the plurality of communication bands on which the wireless communication device can communicate when the auxiliary receiver is activated;

altering operation of the wireless communication device to communicate using one of the limited set of communication bands; and

re-registering the wireless communication device with a communications network using the one of the limited set of communication bands.

15. The computer-readable medium in claim 14, wherein the wireless communication device communicates using the one of the limited set of communication bands while the auxiliary device is activated.

16. The computer-readable medium in claim 14, wherein the execution of the computer instructions causes the processor to perform a further operation of determining that the auxiliary receiver has been deactivated.

17. The method in claim 16, wherein the execution of the computer instructions causes the processor to perform a further operation of altering operation of the wireless communication device to communicate using one of the plurality of communication bands.

18. The method in claim 14, wherein the auxiliary receiver is activated to receive broadcast television signals.

19. The method in claim 14, wherein the auxiliary receiver is activated to receive signals from a global positioning system (GPS) satellite.

20. The method in claim 14, wherein the execution of the computer instructions causes the processor to perform a further operation of transmitting, to the communications network, data indicating current operational capabilities of the first receiver and the first transmitter, including the one of the limited sets of communication bands on which the first receiver and the first transmitter are operating.