Devices, methods, and systems for antenna switching based on look-back

• US 9,231,302 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: He, Ning, Yan, Hongbo, Filipovic, Daniel Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US13/835,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20130307727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 455/101, 455132-135, 455/67.11, 4552261-2264, 4552771-2772
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0404 the mobile station comprising multiple antennas, e.g. to provide uplink diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0602 using antenna switching H04B7/0686 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0814 based on current reception conditions, e.g. switching to different antenna when signal level is below threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for antenna switching for simultaneous communication. An can include a plurality of antennas including a first antenna and a second antenna. The apparatus can further includes a plurality of receive circuits including a first receive circuit. The apparatus can further include a controller configured to determine one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at a first time. The controller is further configured to determine a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time. The controller is further configured to selectively switch the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna if the difference is larger than a threshold. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of antennas including a first antenna and a second antenna;

a plurality of receive circuits including a first receive circuit; and

a controller configured to;

determine one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at a first time;

determine a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, wherein determining a difference comprises determining a persistent drop between a first value corresponding to a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna determined at the first time and a second value corresponding to a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna determined at an earlier time; and

selectively switch the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna if the determined difference is larger than a threshold,

wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time comprise a first plurality of performance characteristics, and wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprise a second plurality of performance characteristics, and

wherein the determining a persistent drop comprises determining a drop in each of the first plurality of performance characteristics relative to each of the second plurality of performance characteristics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time to a second threshold,

wherein the controller, being configured to determine a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, is further configured, if the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time are below the second threshold, to determine a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time.

3. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transmit circuits including a first transmit circuit, and wherein the controller is further configured to:

selectively switch the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna if the determined difference is larger than a third threshold.

4. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time include one or more downlink performance metrics at the first time.

5. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprises an average of one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at a plurality of earlier times.

6. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threshold comprises a relative threshold.

7. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threshold comprises an absolute threshold.

8. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, the controller further configured to:

determine one or more performance characteristics of the second antenna;

selectively switch the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the second antenna to receive wireless communications via the first antenna if the one or more performance characteristics of the second antenna are lower than the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time.

9. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining a persistent drop comprises determining a plurality of differences between a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, and wherein selectively switching comprises selectively switching the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna if each of the plurality of determined differences are larger than a respective threshold.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time comprise a first plurality of performance characteristics, and wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprise a second plurality of performance characteristics, and

wherein the determining a persistent drop comprises:

determining an average of the first plurality of performance characteristics; and

determining an average of the second plurality of performance characteristics, and

wherein the difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time comprises a difference between the average of the first plurality of performance characteristics and the average of the second plurality of performance characteristics.

11. A method implemented in a wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising:

determining one or more performance characteristics of a first antenna at a first time;

determining a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, wherein determining a difference comprises determining a persistent drop between a first value corresponding to a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna determined at the first time and a second value corresponding to a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna determined at an earlier time; and

selectively switching a first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via a second antenna if the determined difference is larger than a threshold,

wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time comprise a first plurality of performance characteristics, and wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprise a second plurality of performance characteristics, and

wherein the determining a persistent drop comprises determining a drop in each of the first plurality of performance characteristics relative to each of the second plurality of performance characteristics.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time to a second threshold,

wherein the determining a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time comprises, if the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time are below the second threshold, determining a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

selectively switching the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna if the determined difference is larger than a third threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time include one or more downlink performance metrics at the first time.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprises an average of one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at a plurality of earlier times.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold comprises a relative threshold.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the threshold comprises an absolute threshold.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining one or more performance characteristics of the second antenna;

selectively switching the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the second antenna to receive wireless communications via the first antenna if the one or more performance characteristics of the second antenna are lower than the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein determining a persistent drop comprises determining a plurality of differences between a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, and wherein selectively switching comprises selectively switching the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna if each of the plurality of determined differences are larger than a respective threshold.

20. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of antennas including a first antenna and a second antenna;

a plurality of receive circuits including a first receive circuit;

means for determining one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at a first time;

means for determining a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, wherein determining a difference comprises determining a persistent drop between a first value corresponding to a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna determined at the first time and a second value corresponding to a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna determined at an earlier time; and

means for selectively switching the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna if the determined difference is larger than a threshold,

wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time comprise a first plurality of performance characteristics, and wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprise a second plurality of performance characteristics, and

wherein the determining a persistent drop comprises determining a drop in each of the first plurality of performance characteristics relative to each of the second plurality of performance characteristics.

21. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for comparing the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time to a second threshold,

wherein the means for determining a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time is configured to determine the difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time if the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time are below the second threshold.

22. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for selectively switching the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna if the determined difference is larger than a third threshold.

23. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 20, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time include one or more downlink performance metrics at the first time.

24. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 20, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprises an average of one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at a plurality of earlier times.

25. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 20, wherein the threshold comprises a relative threshold.

26. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 20, wherein the threshold comprises an absolute threshold.

27. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for determining one or more performance characteristics of the second antenna;

means for selectively switching the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the second antenna to receive wireless communications via the first antenna if the one or more performance characteristics of the second antenna are lower than the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time.

28. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 20, wherein means for determining a persistent drop comprises means for determining a plurality of differences between a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, and wherein means for selectively switching comprises means for selectively switching the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna if each of the plurality of determined differences are larger than a respective threshold.

29. A non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising instructions stored therein that when executed cause a processor in a device to perform a method for reducing collisions in a wireless network, the method comprising:

determining one or more performance characteristics of a first antenna at a first time;

determining a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, wherein determining a difference comprises determining a persistent drop between a first value corresponding to a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna determined at the first time and a second value corresponding to a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna determined at an earlier time; and

selectively switching a first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via a second antenna if the determined difference is larger than a threshold,

wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time comprise a first plurality of performance characteristics, and wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprise a second plurality of performance characteristics, and

wherein the determining a persistent drop comprises determining a drop in each of the first plurality of performance characteristics relative to each of the second plurality of performance characteristics.

30. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising:

comparing the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time to a second threshold; and

wherein the determining a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time comprises, if the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time are below the second threshold, determining a difference between the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time.

31. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 29, the method further comprising:

selectively switching the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna if the determined difference is larger than a third threshold.

32. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time include one or more downlink performance metrics at the first time.

33. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the earlier time comprises an average of one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at a plurality of earlier times.

34. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the threshold comprises a relative threshold.

35. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the threshold comprises an absolute threshold.

36. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 29, the method further comprising:

determining one or more performance characteristics of the second antenna;

selectively switching the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the second antenna to receive wireless communications via the first antenna if the one or more performance characteristics of the second antenna are lower than the one or more performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time.

37. The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein determining a persistent drop comprises determining a plurality of differences between a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna at the first time and a plurality of performance characteristics of the first antenna at an earlier time, and wherein selectively switching comprises selectively switching the first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna if each of the plurality of determined differences are larger than a respective threshold.