Intelligent radio frequency power control

• US 9,351,261 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Niskala, Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US14/131,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/572, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/575.1, 455/422.1, 455/403, 455/57.11, 4553431-3435, 455/445, 455/522, 455/69, 455/68, 455/73, 370/310, 370/311, 370/328, 370/329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0248 dependent on the time of the day, e.g. according to expected transmission activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/28 using user profile, e.g. mobile speed, priority or network state, e.g. standby, idle or non transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Cognitive radio may benefit from cognitive transmission power control. Cognitive power control may relate to minimizing current consumption and placing limitations on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and specific absorption rate (SAR) especially for transmission during body-worn use. A method can include calculating and forecasting power consumption and exposure due to transmission by a device to a user of the device to obtain a calculated power consumption and exposure. The method can also include comparing the calculated and the forecasted exposure to at least one predetermined criterion to obtain a compliance result. The method can further include adjusting at least one parameter of the device contingent upon the compliance result. The calculating and the forecasting can be performed in real time.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

forecasting, by a device, a specific absorption rate for a user of the device due to transmission by the device to obtain a forecasted specific absorption rate;

comparing, by the device, the forecasted specific absorption rate to at least one predetermined criterion to obtain a compliance result; and

adjusting, by the device, at least one parameter of the device contingent upon the compliance result,

wherein the forecasting is performed in real time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting at least one parameter of the device to conserve power based on the forecasting.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the predetermined criterion based on at least one of geographic location, usage mode, or user indication.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forecasting the specific absorption rate based on at least one of usage mode, a certification of the device, radio link conditions, an orientation of the device, or a position of the device with respect to the user'"'"'s body.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forecasting a running average specific absorption rate of the transmission.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the parameter comprises changing to a communication system having lower power consumption or specific absorption rate potential.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the parameter comprises at least one of limiting maximum transmission power, changing communications system frequency band, changing radio access technology, changing uplink transmission mode, changing transmission data rate, changing transmission chain, limiting a number of transmission time-slots, interrupting packet data transmission for a needed interval or communicating with the user via a user interface.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to

forecast specific absorption rate for a user of the apparatus due to transmission by the apparatus to obtain a forecasted specific absorption rate;

compare the forecasted specific absorption rate to at least one predetermined criterion to obtain a compliance result;

adjust at least one parameter of the apparatus contingent upon the compliance result; and

forecast in real time.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to adjust at least one parameter of the apparatus to conserve power based on the forecasting.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to forecast the specific absorption rate due to the transmission wherein the transmission by the apparatus comprises multiple simultaneous transmissions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to forecast the specific absorption rate due to the multiple simultaneous transmissions, wherein the multiple simultaneous transmissions comprise at least one cellular transmission and at least one non-cellular transmission.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine the predetermined criterion based on at least one of geographic location, usage mode, or user indication.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to forecast the specific absorption rate based on at least one of usage mode, a certification of the apparatus, radio link conditions, an orientation of the apparatus, or a position of the apparatus with respect to the user'"'"'s body.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to forecast a running average specific absorption rate of the transmission.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to adjust the parameter by changing to a communication system having lower power consumption or specific absorption rate potential.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to adjust the parameter by at least one of limiting maximum transmission power, changing communications system frequency band, changing radio access technology, changing uplink transmission mode, changing transmission data rate, changing transmission chain, limiting a number of transmission time-slots, interrupting packet data transmission for a needed interval or communicating with the user via a user interface.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 is a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, an e-book reader, an entertainment console or controller, or a tablet computer.

18. A computer program, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

forecast, by a device, a specific absorption rate for a user of the device due to transmission by the device to obtain a forecasted specific absorption rate;

compare, by the device, the forecasted specific absorption rate to at least one predetermined criterion to obtain a compliance result; and

adjust, by the device, at least one parameter of the device contingent upon the compliance result,

wherein the forecast is performed in real time.