Mobile communications devices and methods having reduced communication latency

• US 8,437,384 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maguire, Yael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Washburn, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAILEGIORGIS, FITWI Y
• Application Number:
  US13/485,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20120307875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 340/572.2, 342/127, 455/299
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving

Abstract

An improved mobile communications device, of the type having a set of antennas and a narrowband RF transceiver coupled to a first member of the set of antennas, also includes a broadband RF receiver coupled to a second member of the set of antennas; and processing circuitry, coupled to the narrowband RF transceiver and the broadband RF receiver, that uses a received signal from the broadband receiver to determine a communication parameter for the narrowband RF transceiver. Related methods are also provided.

Claims

1. An improved mobile communications device of the type having a set of antennas, and a narrowband RF transceiver coupled to a first member of the set of antennas, wherein the improvement comprises:

a broadband amplitude-shift-key receiver, coupled to a second member of the set of antennas, to produce a digital signal; and

processing circuitry, coupled to the narrowband RF transceiver and the broadband amplitude-shift-key receiver, that processes the digital signal to;

determine a communications channel for the narrowband RF transceiver;

set a frequency of the narrowband RF transceiver to correspond to the determined communications channel;

monitor the narrowband RF transceiver and the broadband amplitude-shift-key receiver in parallel for received information relevant to operation of the narrowband RF transceiver; and

determine a communications channel for the narrowband RF transceiver and to set a frequency of the narrowband RF transceiver based on information received from the broadband amplitude-shift-key RF receiver when relevant information is received from the broadband amplitude-shift-key RF receiver before relevant information is received from the narrowband RF transceiver.

2. An improved mobile communications device of the type having a set of antennas and a narrowband RF transceiver coupled to a first member of the set of antennas, wherein the improvement comprises:

a broadband RF receiver coupled to a second member of the set of antennas; and

processing circuitry, coupled to the narrowband RF transceiver and the broadband RF receiver, that is configured to;

use a received signal from the broadband receiver to determine a communication parameter for the narrowband RF transceiver;

monitor the narrowband RF transceiver and the broadband RF receiver in parallel for received information relevant to operation of the narrowband RF transceiver; and

set a communication parameter for the narrowband RF transceiver based on information received from the broadband RF receiver when relevant information is received from the broadband RF receiver before relevant information is received from the narrowband RF transceiver.