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

• US 9,191,904 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• 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:
  US14/331,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20150018029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An apparatus comprising:

first control circuitry communicatively coupled to a first wireless transceiver;

second control circuitry communicatively coupled to the first control circuitry and to a second wireless transceiver,

wherein the first control circuitry is configured to;

determine a scheduled time period during which the first wireless transceiver is scheduled to receive data, and

send a message to the second control circuitry requesting that the second control circuitry reduce, prior to the scheduled time period, a transmission power of the second wireless transceiver such that the transmission power is below a threshold level during the scheduled time period when the data is scheduled to be received by the first wireless transceiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver are configured to communicate over different wireless connections.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second control circuitry is configured to:

allow the transmission power of the second wireless transceiver to exceed the threshold level after the scheduled time period.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface configured to connect the first control circuitry and the second control circuitry,

wherein the first control circuitry is configured to send the message to the second control circuitry via the interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission power is reduced at a predetermined time period before the scheduled time period.

6. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the second control circuitry is configured to reduce the transmission power of the second wireless transceiver before and during the scheduled time period when the data comprises a control message.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second control circuitry is further configured to allow the transmission power of the transmission by the second wireless transceiver to exceed the threshold level before and during the scheduled time period when the data does not comprise the control message.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first control circuitry or the second control circuitry is further configured to determine the threshold level based on one or more measurements of communication channel conditions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first control circuitry or the second control circuitry is further configured to determine the threshold level based on a proximity of the first wireless transceiver with respect to the second wireless transceiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is implemented in a mobile communication device.

11. A method of controlling transmission power in a wireless device, the method comprising:

by the wireless device;

determining a scheduled time period during which the wireless device receives data via a first wireless transceiver of the wireless device; and

reducing, prior to the scheduled time period, a transmission power of a second wireless transceiver of the wireless device below a threshold level such that the transmission power does not exceed the threshold level during the scheduled time period when the data is scheduled to be received by the first wireless transceiver.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

allowing the transmission power of the second wireless transceiver to exceed the threshold level before and during the scheduled time period when the data does not comprise a control message.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the control message includes at least one of a connection configuration message or a link management message.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmission power of the second wireless communication technology is reduced during a predetermined time interval before the scheduled time period.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, after the scheduled time period, allowing the transmission power of the second wireless communication technology to exceed the threshold level.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold level is set by a device manufacturer of the wireless device or a network service provider that provides wireless service to the wireless device via the second wireless transceiver.

17. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors in a wireless device, cause the wireless device to perform steps that include:

determining a scheduled time period during which a first wireless transceiver of the wireless device is scheduled to receive data;

communicating a message to a control module of the wireless device, the message providing an indication of the scheduled time period and a request to reduce, prior to the scheduled time period, a transmission power of a second wireless transceiver of the wireless device such that the transmission power is below a threshold level during the scheduled time period; and

reducing the transmission power of the second wireless transceiver prior to the scheduled time period.

18. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein the control module reduces the transmission power of the second wireless transceiver based on a look-up table that specifies a power modulation curve to use during the scheduled time period.

19. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein the transmission power of the second wireless transceiver is reduced at least in part by modifying a low pass filter of the second wireless transceiver.

20. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, wherein the control module controls the transmission power of the second wireless transceiver by adjusting a response time of a digitally controlled power supply of the wireless device.