Assessing interference environment for wireless communication devices

• US 8,718,566 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Prather, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US13/591,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.1, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/67.15, 4552261-2263, 455/296, 455 68- 69, 375/254, 375346-351
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/23 Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover

Abstract

Disclosed is a device and method to automate the process of measuring RF noise, correlating measured noise with known sources, and making adjustments to the noise-measuring and reporting process. A wireless communication device is coupled to equipment at a fixed location, and transmits data about the operation of the equipment back to an operator, via a provider'"'"'s network. Examples include fixed wireless terminals. A management entity aboard the wireless communication device performs the measurements via a transceiver, and performs remedial actions when required, without requiring an onsite technician or remote assistance. The management entity may include a spectrum analyzer.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing logical instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

measuring a radio-frequency (RF) spectrum within a range of an antenna coupled to the processor, and

comparing the RF spectrum with a known ambient RF spectrum to determine a noise level.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the known ambient RF spectrum is obtained at a time that the device is known to be operating properly.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the ambient RF spectrum includes a composite of ambient RF spectrums measured at different times.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the RF spectrum includes a network signal and an interference measurement from an RF source.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the RF source is one of a GSM, UMTS, LTE, COMA, WiFi, and WiMax network.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the noise level includes any combination of:

an error rate, an interference level, and an interference mask.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the interference mask represents a known source of noise.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the known source of noise is a signal from a third-party network.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting a frequency of measurement, adjusting a type of measurement, reporting the noise level, generating an alarm, and changing an operating band to avoid interference.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise de-registering from a network prior to measuring the RF spectrum.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise presenting a user interface via a display in communication with the processor, the user interface displaying the noise level.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the user interface enables an adjustment of a frequency and a type of noise signature measurement.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the display is coupled to a remote device across a network in communication with the processor.

14. A method, comprising:

utilizing a device including a processor for measuring a radiofrequency (RF) signal around an antenna coupled to the device, the RF signal including an interference level;

comparing the noise signature with an ambient RF signal, the ambient RF signal representative of an environment where the device is known to be operating properly; and

determining that a noise threshold is exceeded, the noise threshold including one of a signal strength of a provider'"'"'s network, an error rate, an interference level, or an interference mask.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising performing a remedial action.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of:

adjusting a frequency of measurement, adjusting a type of measurement, generating an alert, and changing an operating band to avoid interference.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

de-registering from a network prior to measuring the RF signal.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying the RF measurement along with a plurality of user options on a user interface on a display coupled to the device.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

measuring an ambient signature of a radio-frequency (RF) environment around an antenna coupled to the processor, the ambient signature including an interference signature for a known third-party network;

storing the ambient signature;

measuring a noise level;

comparing the noise level with the ambient signature; and

determining that a threshold is exceeded.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the noise level is representative of another RF source, and wherein measuring the noise level includes comparing a measured interference level with the interference signature for the known third-party network.