Transmission power modulation to facilitate in-device coexistence between wireless communication technologies

• US 8,781,519 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Burchill, William S., Majjigi, Vinay R., Wang, Xiaowen
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/628,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20140087663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 455/425, 455/448, 455/41.2, 455/522, 455/66.1, 455/88, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 370/318
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method of modulating transmission power to facilitate in-device coexistence between wireless communication technologies is provided. The method can include determining a scheduled time period during which data is received by a device via a first wireless communication technology. The method can further include reducing a transmission power of a transmission from the device via a second wireless communication technology to a threshold level prior to the scheduled time period and controlling the transmission power so that the transmission power does not exceed the threshold level during the scheduled time period. The method can additionally include, subsequent to the time period, increasing the transmission power to a level exceeding the threshold level.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, with a processor, a scheduled time period during which data is received by a device via Bluetooth;

reducing a transmission power of a cellular transmission from the device to a threshold level prior to the scheduled time period and controlling the transmission power so that the transmission power does not exceed the threshold level during the scheduled time period, wherein the transmission power is reduced in an instance in which the data received during the scheduled time period comprises data satisfying a threshold priority criterion; and

subsequent to the scheduled time period, increasing the transmission power to a level exceeding the threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold level is a pre-determined power level at which the cellular transmission does not inhibit concurrent data reception via Bluetooth.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a message from a Bluetooth control module, the message including an indication of the scheduled time period, and wherein determining the scheduled time period comprises determining the scheduled time period based at least in part on the indication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular transmission comprises a transmission in accordance with one of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular communication technology, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) cellular communication technology, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular communication technology, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular communication technology, or a CDMA 2000 cellular communication technology.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein data satisfying the threshold priority criterion comprises a Link Manager Protocol (LMP) message, wherein the transmission power is not reduced for reception of data other than LMP messages.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting an operational parameter of a power amplifier applied to the cellular transmission to increase a linearity of the power amplifier during the scheduled time period.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a first wireless transceiver configured to emit transmissions via a first wireless communication technology; and

processing circuitry coupled to the first wireless transceiver, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to;

determine a scheduled time period during which data is received by a second wireless transceiver co-located with the first wireless transceiver via a second wireless communication technology;

reduce a transmission power of a transmission emitted by the first wireless transceiver prior to the scheduled time period and control the transmission power so that the transmission power does not exceed the threshold level during the scheduled time period, wherein the transmission power is reduced in an instance in which the data received during the scheduled time period comprises data satisfying a threshold priority criterion; and

subsequent to the scheduled time period, increase the transmission power to a level exceeding the threshold level.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry is coupled to an interface, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive, via the interface, a message sent by a control module configured to control the second wireless transceiver, the message including an indication of the scheduled time period; and

determine the scheduled time period at least in part by determining the scheduled time period based at least in part on the indication.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is implemented on a chipset for the first wireless communication technology, wherein the control module comprises a chipset for the second wireless communication technology, and wherein the interface comprises an interface between the chipset for the first wireless communication technology and the chipset for the second wireless communication technology.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the chipset for the first wireless communication technology comprises a cellular chipset, and wherein the second wireless communication technology comprises a wireless communication technology utilizing an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is implemented on a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device further comprising the second wireless transceiver.

12. A method comprising:

determining a scheduled time period during which data is received by a device via a first wireless communication technology;

determining, with a processor, that a transmission power of a transmission from the device via a second wireless communication technology should be reduced to a threshold level during the scheduled time period so that transmission via the second wireless communication technology does not inhibit data reception via the first wireless communication technology during the scheduled time period, wherein determining that the transmission power should be reduced comprises determining that the data to be received during the scheduled time period comprises data satisfying a threshold priority criterion; and

sending a message including an indication of the scheduled time period to a control module for the second wireless communication technology in advance of the scheduled time period to request that the control module reduce the transmission power to the threshold level prior to the scheduled time period and control the transmission power so that it does not exceed the threshold level during the scheduled time period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmission power is not reduced for data that does not satisfy the threshold priority criterion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first wireless communication technology comprises Bluetooth, and wherein determining that data to be received during the scheduled time period comprises data satisfying the threshold priority criterion comprises determining that a Link Manager Protocol (LMP) message is received during the scheduled time period, wherein the transmission power is not reduced for reception of data other than LMP messages.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the message comprises sending a message from a control module for the first wireless communication technology to the control module for the second wireless communication technology via an interface between the control module for the first wireless communication technology and the control module for the second wireless communication technology.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a plurality of scheduled time periods during which data is received via the first wireless communication technology and the transmission power should be reduced to the threshold level, and wherein sending the message comprises sending a message including an indication of the plurality of scheduled time periods.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the plurality of scheduled time periods comprises determining the plurality of scheduled time periods based at least in part on a schedule of reception time slots for a synchronous connection supported by the first wireless communication technology.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a first wireless transceiver configured to receive data via a first wireless communication technology; and

processing circuitry coupled to the first wireless transceiver, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to;

determine a scheduled time period during which data is received by the first wireless transceiver;

determine that a transmission power of a transmission by a second wireless transceiver co-located with the first wireless transceiver via a second wireless communication technology should be reduced to a threshold level during the scheduled time period so that transmission by the second wireless transceiver does not inhibit data reception via the first wireless communication technology during the scheduled time period, wherein the transmission power is reduced in an instance in which the data received during the scheduled time period comprises data satisfying a threshold priority criterion; and

send a message to a control module configured to control the second wireless transceiver, the message including an indication of the scheduled time period to request that the control module reduce the transmission power to the threshold level prior to the scheduled time period and control the transmission power so that it does not exceed the threshold level during the scheduled time period.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine that the transmission power should be reduced at least in part by determining that a control message is received during the scheduled time period, wherein the transmission power is not reduced for non-control messages.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is implemented on a chipset for the first wireless communication technology, wherein the control module comprises a chipset for the second wireless communication technology, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to send the message via an interface between the chipset for the first wireless communication technology and the chipset for the second wireless communication technology.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is implemented on a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device further comprising the second wireless transceiver.

22. An apparatus comprising:

first control circuitry for a first wireless communication technology;

second control circuitry for a second wireless communication technology; and

an interface configured to enable communication between the first control circuitry and the second control circuitry,

wherein the first control circuitry is configured to determine a scheduled time period during which data is received by a device via a first wireless communication technology and send a message over the interface to the second control circuitry to request that the second control circuitry reduce a transmission power of a transmission via the second wireless communication technology to a threshold level during the scheduled time period, wherein the transmission power is reduced in an instance in which the data received during the scheduled time period comprises data satisfying a threshold priority criterion; and

wherein the second control circuitry is configured to receive the message sent over the interface by the first control circuitry and, in response to the message, to reduce the transmission power to the threshold level prior to the scheduled time period and control the transmission power during the scheduled time period so that the transmission power does not exceed the threshold level.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first control circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether the transmission power should be reduced to the threshold level during the scheduled time period; and

to send the message to the second control circuitry only in an instance in which it is determined that the transmission power should be reduced to the threshold level during the scheduled time period.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second control circuitry is further configured to adjust an operational parameter of a power amplifier applied to the cellular transmission to increase a linearity of the power amplifier during the scheduled time period in response to the message.