Method for controlling of receive diversity in an antenna system

• US 8,626,109 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Ma, David, Hossain, Asif, Gupta, Rakesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): HU, RUI MENG
• Application Number:
  US12/858,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 455132-141, 455272-280, 4553431-3436, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/343.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0871 using different reception schemes, at least one of them being a diversity reception scheme

Abstract

A method for controlling receive diversity of an antenna system of a computer device, the antenna system including two or more antenna elements. The method includes establishing a session with a remote transmitting system and determining whether a predetermined criteria detected by the computer device is satisfied within the session. If the predetermined criteria is satisfied within the session, the method includes activating at least two of the antenna elements for receiving transmissions, enabling performance of receive diversity on the received transmissions, and performing receive diversity on the received transmissions. If the predetermined criteria is not satisfied within the session, the method includes activating at least one of the antenna elements, disabling performance of receive diversity on the received transmissions, and performing a default signal processing on the received transmissions. A mobile communication device may be used to perform the method.

Claims

1. A method for controlling receive diversity of an antenna system of a computer device, the antenna system including two or more antenna elements, the method comprising:

establishing a session with a remote transmitting system;

determining whether a predetermined criteria detected by the computer device is satisfied within the session, and if so;

activating at least two of the antenna elements for receiving transmissions, enabling performance of receive diversity on the received transmissions, and performing receive diversity on the received transmissions;

if the predetermined criteria is not satisfied within the session;

activating at least one of the antenna elements, disabling performance of receive diversity on the received transmissions, and performing a default signal processing on the received transmissions; and

displaying an interface on the computer device, the interface including a user tuneable element for setting of a threshold during the session, wherein the predetermined criteria includes the threshold,

wherein the predetermined criteria is detected over a time period, the time period having a length which is user controllable through the interface using a sliding scale.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said session includes a data session or a voice session.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria includes determining whether the computer device is connected to an external power supply.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna elements are activateable by a portable power source having a limited power supply.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the portable power source is rechargeable by way of a data connection, wherein the predetermined criteria includes the computer device being connected to the data connection.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is based on data communications of the computer device.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined criteria is further based on data quality of the data communications.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising activating a timer and refraining from enabling or disabling of performance of receive diversity within the timer.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the timer is dependent on a difference between a detected value in relation to the threshold.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the timer is dependent on a time of most recent enabling or disabling of performance of receive diversity.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the predetermined criteria includes determining whether a time of the session has exceeded a predetermined time period.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface includes a sliding scale for setting of the threshold.

13. A computer device for controlling of receive diversity, comprising:

a controller for controlling operation of the computer device;

an antenna system including two or more antenna elements and controllable by the controller;

a power source for individually activating each of the antenna elements for receiving transmissions; and

a signal processor for performing signal processing on the received transmissions including performing of a default signal processing and performing of receive diversity,

the controller being configured for establishing a session with a remote transmitting system and determining whether a predetermined criteria is satisfied within the session, and if so;

activating at least two of the antenna elements for receiving transmissions, enabling performance of receive diversity on the received transmissions, and performing receive diversity on the received transmissions,

if the predetermined criteria is not satisfied within the session;

activating at least one of the antenna elements, disabling performance of receive diversity on the received transmissions, and performing a default signal processing on the received transmissions, and

displaying an interface on the computer device, the interface including a user tuneable element for setting of a threshold during the session, wherein the predetermined criteria includes the threshold,

wherein the predetermined criteria is detected over a time period, the time period having a length which is user controllable through the interface using a sliding scale.

14. A computer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said session includes a data session or a voice session.

15. A computer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined criteria includes determining whether the computer device is connected to an external power supply.

16. A computer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the power source includes a portable power source having a limited power supply.

17. A computer device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a data connection for recharging the portable power source, wherein the predetermined criteria includes the computer device being connected to the data connection.

18. A computer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined criteria is based on data communications of the computer device.

19. A computer device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the predetermined criteria is further based on data quality of the data communications.

20. A computer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured for activating a timer and refraining from enabling or disabling performance of receive diversity within the timer.

21. A computer device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the timer is dependent on a difference between a detected value in relation to the threshold.

22. A computer device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the timer is dependent on a time of most recent enabling or disabling of performance of receive diversity.

23. A computer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined criteria includes determining whether a time of the session has exceeded a predetermined time period.

24. A computer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the computer device is a portable mobile communication device.

25. A computer device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the interface includes a sliding scale for setting of the threshold.

26. A method for controlling receive diversity of an antenna system of a computer device, the antenna system including two or more antenna elements, the antenna system being configured for operating in a high power mode of signal processing including activation of at least two of the antenna elements and a low power mode of signal processing including activation of at least one of the antenna elements, the antenna system being defaulted to the low power mode of signal processing, the method comprising:

determining whether a predetermined criteria detected by the computer device is satisfied, wherein the predetermined criteria includes determining whether the computer device is connected to an external power supply, and if so;

activating at least two of the antenna elements for receiving transmissions, and enabling performance of the high power mode of signal processing;

if the predetermined criteria is not satisfied;

activating at least one of the antenna elements, and enabling performance of the low power mode of signal processing on the received transmissions; and

displaying an interface on the computer device, the interface including a user tuneable element for setting of a threshold during a session with a remote transmitting system, wherein the predetermined criteria includes the threshold,

wherein the predetermined criteria is detected over a time period, the time period having a length which is user controllable through the interface using a sliding scale.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the antenna elements are activateable by a portable power source having a limited power supply.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the portable power source is rechargeable by way of a data connection, wherein the predetermined criteria includes the computer device being connected to the data connection.

29. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the interface includes a sliding scale for setting of the threshold.