Methods and apparatus for wireless coexistence based on transceiver chain emphasis

• US 9,319,887 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Camille, Li, Lei, Zimmermann, Chris, Giles, Michael J., Tolentino, Jaime, Hartman, Chris, Lin, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tri H
• Application Number:
  US14/095,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20140221029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-238, 370/241.1, 370249-252, 370254-255, 370310-350, 375144-145, 375148-149, 375/254, 375/278, 375284-285, 375/296, 375346-350, 375/354, 455 631- 6716, 455/278.1, 455423-425, 455500-506, 455/522, 455/570
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• 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: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for reduction of interference between a plurality of wireless interfaces. In one exemplary embodiment, a device having a first (e.g., Wi-Fi) interface and a second (e.g., Bluetooth) interface monitors interference between its interfaces. A reduction in transmit power of the Wi-Fi module causes a disproportionately larger reduction in undesirable interference experienced at the Bluetooth antennas. For example, when the Bluetooth interface detects interference levels above acceptable thresholds, the Wi-Fi interface adjusts operation of one or more of its transmit chains based on various conditions such as duty cycle, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), etc. Various embodiments of the present invention provide simultaneous operation of WLAN and PAN interfaces, without requiring time division coexistence, by reducing power on a subset of interfering antennas.

Claims

1. A method of mitigating interference between multiple wireless interfaces of a wireless device, the method comprising:

determining one or more operational configurations of the wireless device;

monitoring a condition indicative of an interference at one of a first or a second wireless interface of the multiple wireless interfaces, the interference caused at least in part by an other one of the first or the second wireless interface of the multiple wireless interfaces; and

when the monitored condition exceeds an interference threshold, configuring one or more parameters of at least one of the first and second wireless interfaces to reduce the interference caused at least in part by the second wireless interface, the act of configuring based at least in part on the determined one or more operational configurations;

wherein the first wireless interface comprises a Personal Area Network (PAN) interface and the second wireless interface comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising calibrating one or more parameters of one of the first wireless and second interfaces to minimize the interference with the other one of the first and second wireless interfaces;

wherein the configuring is further based at least in part on the calibrated one or more parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the calibrated one or more parameters comprise a transmission gain for at least one of a plurality of transmit antennas.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing one or more parameters configured to reduce the interference.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more parameters comprise static parameters programmed at device manufacture.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference threshold comprises a threshold of a power of interference.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of configuring of the one or more parameters comprises adjusting one or more parameters specific to at least one transmit chain of the first or second wireless interfaces.

8. A wireless apparatus, comprising:

first and second wireless interfaces;

a processor in data communication with at least one of the first and second wireless interfaces; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed, cause the wireless apparatus to;

monitor one or more conditions associated with the second wireless interface;

determine one or more parameters for the first wireless interface, the parameters effective to at least reduce an interference between the first and second wireless interfaces; and

configure the first wireless interface according to the determined one or more parameters.

9. The wireless apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first wireless interface comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface, and the second wireless interface comprises a Personal Area Network (PAN) interface.

10. The wireless apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause the wireless apparatus to compare the monitored one or more conditions against at least one interference threshold; and

the first wireless interface is configured with the determined one or more parameters when the monitored one or more conditions exceed the at least one interference threshold.

11. The wireless apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determined one or more parameters comprise parameters calibrated during a manufacturing process of the wireless apparatus.

12. The wireless apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause the wireless apparatus to transmit one or more test patterns over at least one of the first and second wireless interfaces; and

the determined one or more parameters are based at least in part the transmitted one or more test patterns.

13. The wireless apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more test patterns further comprise one or more transmit chain-specific parameters associated with the at least one of the first and second wireless interfaces being used to transmit the one or more test patterns.

14. The wireless apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the first wireless interface comprises a plurality of transmit chains;

the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause the wireless apparatus to evaluate an effect of interference of the plurality of transmit chains on an overall interference experienced at the second wireless interface; and

the determined one or more parameters are based at least in part on the evaluation.

15. A computer-readable apparatus for use in a wireless device with multiple wireless interfaces, the computer-readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed, cause the wireless device to:

measure an interference on a first wireless interface of the wireless device, the measured interference caused at least in part on operation of a second wireless interface of the wireless device, the second wireless interface comprising a plurality of antennae; and

adjust one or more parameters of the plurality of antennas of the second wireless interface, the adjustment configured to minimize the interference with the first wireless interface.

16. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause the wireless device to:

store the adjusted one or more parameters; and

during at least one subsequent use, configure the second wireless interface based on the stored one or more parameters.

17. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first wireless interface comprises a Personal Area Network (PAN) interface, and the second wireless interface comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface.

18. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause the wireless device to transmit one or more test patterns over the second wireless interface;

the one or more parameters are adjusted based on the measured interference associated with the transmitted one or more test patterns.

19. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more adjusted parameters comprises a transmission gain for at least one of the plurality of antennas.

20. The computer-readable apparatus of claim 15, wherein the adjustment is performed when a prescribed hardware installation of a wireless interface in the wireless device is detected.