Apparatus and method for multi-signal interference-avoiding data transmission

• US 8,811,906 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Syal, Ashish, Filer, Roderick David Earle, Pourseyed, Behrouz, Bennett, Steven John
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US13/107,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.3, 455/63.1, 455/68, 455/45, 455/93, 455/142, 455/200.1, 455/186.1, 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/226.3, 455/161.3, 455/73, 455/67.13, 455/69, 455/88, 455/115.1, 455/115.3, 455/135, 455/140, 455/222, 370/206, 370/329, 370/341, 370/276, 370/277, 375/344, 375/216
• US Class Current: 455/63.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters

Abstract

The present technology provides an apparatus and a method for transmitting data via two or more FM signals in an interference avoiding manner. The apparatus comprises at least two FM transmitters. Each FM transmitter is configured to transmit a FM signal on a particular FM channel characterized by a certain carrier frequency that includes data and optionally one or more corresponding alternative frequencies (AFs). The apparatus further includes at least two receivers for receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation (EMR). At least one of the receivers is configured to receive incoming EMR associated with at least one of the FM channels, and another is configured to receive incoming EMR at least at frequencies outside of the FM channels. The controller is configured to separately control activation and deactivation of the FM transmitters and determine the carrier frequencies and the one or more AFs based upon incoming EMR.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting data via frequency modulation (FM) of electromagnetic radiation;

the apparatus comprising;

a. a first FM transmitter configured to transmit a first FM signal on a first FM channel characterized by a first carrier frequency, the first FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more first alternative frequencies (AFs);

b. a second FM transmitter configured to transmit a second FM signal on a second FM channel characterized by a second carrier frequency, the second FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more second AFs;

c. a first receiver configured to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation associated with at least one of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;

d. a second receiver configured to receive incoming electromagnetic radiation at least at one or more frequencies outside of the first FM channel and the second FM channel; and

e. a controller operatively connected with the first FM transmitter, the second FM transmitter, the first receiver and the second receiver, the controller configured to determine the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency based upon incoming electromagnetic radiation;

the controller further configured to separately control activation and deactivation of the first FM transmitter and the second FM transmitter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising one or more data interfaces for obtaining at least some of the data via an operative connection with a data repository.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the apparatus is included in a media player that comprises the data repository.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data repository is provided by a media player that is external to the apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiver is at least in part controllable by the controller.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second receiver is at least in part controllable by the controller.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises audio data intended for receipt by a receiving device configured to convert the audio data for audible perception by a user.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first FM signal and the second FM signal include metadata for receipt by a receiving device configured to convert the metadata for display.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises an audio program, and wherein the controller is configured to:

monitor the audio program for an opportune break;

suspend transmission by the first FM transmitter during said opportune break; and

cause the first receiver to measure electromagnetic radiation in a frequency range including the first carrier frequency during said opportune break.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises an audio program, and wherein the controller is configured, upon encountering interference in the first FM channel to:

monitor the audio program for an opportune break; and

manipulate the first FM signal so as to stimulate an external FM receiver to tune from the first FM channel to the second FM channel during said opportune break.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first receiver to obtain a measurement of total electromagnetic radiation on the first FM channel during transmission of the first FM signal, and to subtract from said measurement an amount of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first FM transmitter, thereby obtaining a measurement of electromagnetic radiation in the first FM channel due to sources other than the first FM transmitter.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause an audible instruction to tune a remote FM receiver to a specified frequency, said audible instruction emitted by the apparatus or carried by the data to be emitted by the remote FM receiver.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recovered version of at least a portion of the first FM signal is obtained from electromagnetic radiation received by the first receiver, the controller is configured to compare aspects of the recovered version of said portion of the first FM signal to corresponding aspects of the first FM signal as transmitted by the first FM transmitter, and quality of the first FM channel is determined from said comparison.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recovered version of the data is obtained from electromagnetic radiation received by the first receiver, the controller is configured to compare the recovered version of the data to the data as provided for transmission, and quality of the first FM channel is determined from said comparison.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency based upon occurrence of one or more predetermined events including one or more of energization of the apparatus, re-initialization of the apparatus, interference in excess of a predetermined threshold, expiry of a predetermined time interval, occurrence of a predetermined time, and localization of the apparatus within one or more predetermined geographical regions by a geographical localization system for determining the position of the apparatus.

16. A method for transmitting data via frequency modulation (FM) of electromagnetic radiation;

the method comprising;

a. providing at least one of a first FM signal and a second FM signal, the first FM signal associated with a first FM channel characterized by a first carrier frequency, the first FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more first alternative frequencies (AFs);

the second FM signal associated with a second FM channel characterized by a second carrier frequency, the second FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more second AFs;

b. receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation associated with at least one of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;

c. receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation at least at one or more frequencies outside of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;

d. determining the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency based upon incoming electromagnetic radiation; and

e. separately controlling activation and deactivation of the first FM transmitter and the second FM transmitter.

17. A computer program product comprising a memory having computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a CPU, for performing a method for transmitting data via frequency modulation (FM) of electromagnetic radiation;

the method comprising;

a. providing at least one of a first FM signal and a second FM signal, the first FM signal associated with a first FM channel characterized by a first carrier frequency, the first FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more first alternative frequencies (AFs);

the second FM signal associated with a second FM channel characterized by a second carrier frequency, the second FM signal including the data and optionally an indication of one or more second AFs;

b. receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation associated with at least one of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;

c. receiving incoming electromagnetic radiation at least at one or more frequencies outside of the first FM channel and the second FM channel;

d. determining the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency based upon incoming electromagnetic radiation; and

e. separately controlling activation and deactivation of the first FM transmitter and the second FM transmitter.