Assessing interference environment for wireless communication devices

• US 9,112,597 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US14/531,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20150050892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63.1, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/67.15, 4552261-2263, 455/296, 455/68, 455/69, 375/254, 375346-351
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

measuring an ambient signature of a radio frequency environment of the device,

measuring a noise signature of a radio frequency band of the radio frequency environment of the device,

comparing the ambient signature and the noise signature to determine whether a threshold is exceeded, and

in response to determining that the threshold is exceeded, performing a remedial action.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the threshold comprises a maximum level of noise that allows a communication link between the device and a network.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the remedial action comprises at least one of adjusting a frequency of measuring the noise signature, adjusting a type of measurement of the noise signature, reporting the noise signature, or generating an alarm.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein reporting the noise signature comprises generating a report comprising the noise signature and a result of comparing the ambient signature and the noise signature.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise de-registering from a network prior to measuring the noise signature.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the ambient signature comprises a signature of a known third-party network.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein comparing the ambient signature and the noise signature to determine whether the threshold is exceeded comprises applying the signature of the known third-party network against the noise signature to remove noise effects of the known third-party network.

8. A method comprising:

measuring, by a device comprising a processor, an ambient signature of a radio frequency environment of the device;

measuring, by the device, a noise signature of a radio frequency band of the radio frequency environment of the device;

comparing, by the device, the ambient signature and the noise signature to determine whether a threshold is exceeded; and

in response to determining that the threshold is exceeded, performing, by the device, a remedial action.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the threshold comprises a maximum level of noise that allows a communication link between the device and a network.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the remedial action comprises at least one of adjusting a frequency of measuring the noise signature, adjusting a type of measurement of the noise signature, reporting the noise signature, or generating an alarm.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein reporting the noise signature comprises generating a report comprising the noise signature and a result of comparing the ambient signature and the noise signature.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising de-registering from a network prior to measuring the noise signature.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the ambient signature comprises a signature of a known third-party network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein comparing the ambient signature and the noise signature to determine whether the threshold is exceeded comprises applying the signature of the known third-party network against the noise signature to remove noise effects of the known third-party network.

15. A memory storing instructions that, when executed by a device comprising a processor, cause the device to perform operations comprising:

measuring an ambient signature of a radio frequency environment of the device;

measuring a noise signature of a radio frequency band of the radio frequency environment of the device;

comparing the ambient signature and the noise signature to determine whether a threshold is exceeded; and

in response to determining that the threshold is exceeded, performing a remedial action.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the remedial action comprises at least one of adjusting a frequency of measuring the noise signature, adjusting a type of measurement of the noise signature, reporting the noise signature, or generating an alarm.

17. The memory of claim 16, wherein reporting the noise signature comprises generating a report comprising the noise signature and a result of comparing the ambient signature and the noise signature.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise de-registering from a network prior to measuring the noise signature.

19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the ambient signature comprises a signature of a known third-party network.

20. The memory of claim 19, wherein comparing the ambient signature and the noise signature to determine whether the threshold is exceeded comprises applying the signature of the known third-party network against the noise signature to remove noise effects of the known third-party network.