System and method for interference identification and frequency allocation

• US 8,542,638 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Moelker, Dignus-Jan, Lansbergen, Robertus Cornelis Wilhelmus
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOPATA, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/297,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20090097445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/252, 370/310, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 375/346, 455/63.1, 455/67.13
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A system for interference detection and identification, as well as frequency allocation is described. It contains interference detection means for detecting interference on wireless radio frequencies. The interference detection means comprising discrimination means for discriminating between interference caused by a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and interference caused by other radio applications. The system does not allocate the frequencies associated with WLANs for use.

Claims

1. A system comprising an interference detection means for detecting interference on wireless radio frequencies, wherein the interference detection means comprises a discrimination means for:

discriminating between interference caused by a Wireless Local Area Network, herein after referred to as WLAN, and interference caused by other radio applications;

discriminating between interference from a narrowband source and interference from a broadband source, wherein when the discrimination means determines a detected interference is from a broadband source the discrimination means determines the detected interference is caused by a WLAN; and

wherein the interference detection means is adapted for measuring a total interference in a frequency band of interest and an aggregate interference from narrowband signals in the frequency band of interest, and wherein the discrimination means is adapted for determining the difference between the total interference and the aggregate interference and based thereon deducing if the detected interference is from a narrowband source or a broadband source.

2. A system comprising an interference detection means for detecting interference on wireless radio frequencies, wherein the interference detection means comprises a discrimination means for:

discriminating between interference caused by a Wireless Local Area Network, herein after referred to as WLAN, and interference caused by other radio applications;

discriminating between interference from a narrowband source and interference from a broadband source, wherein when the discrimination means determines a detected interference is from a broadband source the discrimination means determines the detected interference is caused by a WLAN; and

wherein the discrimination means comprises a correlator for measuring correlations of power measurements over delay times that are small compared to a main lobe of an autocorrelation of a WLAN signal and that are large compared to the main lobe of the autocorrelation of a WLAN signal, wherein the discrimination means is adapted for discriminating between narrowband and broadband interference from the measured correlations.

3. A system comprising an interference detection means for detecting interference on wireless radio frequencies, wherein the interference detection means comprises a discrimination means for:

discriminating between interference caused by a Wireless Local Area Network, herein after referred to as WLAN, and interference caused by other radio applications;

discriminating between interference from a narrowband source and interference from a broadband source, wherein when the discrimination means determines a detected interference is from a broadband source the discrimination means determines the detected interference is caused by a WLAN; and

wherein the discrimination means comprises an intensity filter for filtering interference statistics, wherein the intensity filter comprises;

a comparator for comparing the interference statistics against a threshold resulting in a logical result at the output of the comparator which is indicative of surpassing or not of the threshold; and

a filter averaging the logical result over time.