Using location information to control transmission signal levels of wireless devices

• US 9,386,544 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAN, RAYMOND S
• Application Number:
  US13/781,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 4554561-4564, 455/522, 455/574, 370/318
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Provided is adjusting power output levels of a wireless network device by determining a location information of another wireless network device relative to the wireless network device, the location information including distance range. Based on the location information of the another wireless network device, a power output level is adjusted to optimize the power usage of the wireless network device. The power output level is readjusted based upon a sensing a subsequent signal of the another wireless device, and when a signal strength of the subsequent signal compares favorably to a predetermined threshold level, the location information is refreshed, and the power output level of the wireless network device is readjusted based upon the refreshed location information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a signal at a maximum power output level by a first wireless mobile device to establish communication with a second wireless mobile device;

upon establishing communication with the second wireless mobile device, determining a distance between the first wireless mobile device and the second wireless mobile device;

adjusting a power output level of the first wireless mobile device from the maximum power output level, for transmitting the signal to the second wireless mobile device, to an adjusted power output level based on the distance between the first wireless mobile device and the second wireless mobile device; and

periodically determining whether the signal between the first and the second wireless mobile devices has an amount of errors equal to or exceeding a predetermined error threshold;

when the amount of errors are equal to or exceeding the predetermined error threshold;

determining a subsequent distance between the first wireless mobile device and the second wireless mobile device; and

readjusting the adjusted power output level of the first wireless mobile device, for transmitting the signal to the second wireless mobile device, to a readjusted power output level based at least in part on the subsequent distance to bring the amount of errors within the predetermined error threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined error threshold comprises an error amount of the signal over a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the distance further comprising:

determining distance range information of the second wireless mobile device with respect to the first wireless mobile device; and

determining geographic position information of the second wireless mobile device generated by a Global Positioning System.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless mobile device functions as a master device configured to serve as an Access Point.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the readjusting the power output level of the first wireless mobile device is further based at least in part on re-determining the distance between the first and the second wireless mobile devices.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the readjusting the adjusted power output level of the first wireless mobile device is further based at least in part on a determining that a strength level of the signal is at a strength level that is over a required strength level by the predetermined error threshold.

5. An apparatus for a wireless network, the apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to:

transmit a signal at a maximum power output level to establish communication with a wireless mobile device;

upon establishing the communication with the wireless mobile device, determine a distance with the wireless mobile device;

adjust a power output level, for transmitting a signal to the wireless mobile device, from the maximum power output level to an adjusted power output level based on the distance; and

periodically determine whether the signal between the apparatus and the wireless mobile device has an amount of errors equal to or exceeding a predetermined error threshold;

when the amount of errors are equal to or exceeding the predetermined error threshold;

determine a subsequent distance between the apparatus and the wireless mobile device; and

readjust the adjusted power output level to a readjusted power output level based at least in part on the subsequent distance to bring the amount of errors within the predetermined error threshold, wherein the readjusted power output level is over a required strength level by a predetermined threshold.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the power output level of the wireless mobile device readjusted to the readjusted power output level further based at least in part on re-determining the distance the wireless mobile device.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the adjusted power output level being readjusted to the readjusted power output level having a minimum strength level of the signal to the wireless mobile device.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the distance by:

when a surrounding geographic environment is an immediate surrounding environment, transmit initial detecting pulse signals to detect at least one of an interior design and an interior layout.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured for transmitting the signal by:

transmitting the signal in pulses at a predetermined power level.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the predetermined threshold comprises the strength level being over the required strength level over a predetermined period of time.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the predetermined error threshold comprises an error amount of at least one subsequent signal from the wireless mobile device.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the predetermined threshold comprises a power saturated signal level.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the distance by:

determining distance range information of the wireless mobile device; and

determining geographic position information of the wireless mobile device generated by a Global Positioning System.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus functions as a master device configured to serve as an Access Point.

17. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a processing module; and

memory coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that upon execution cause the processing module to;

transmit a signal at a maximum power output level to establish communication with another wireless mobile device;

upon establishing the communication with the another wireless mobile device via the signal, determine a distance with respect to the another wireless mobile device;

adjust a power output level, for transmitting a signal to the another mobile wireless device, from the maximum power output level to an adjusted power output level based on the distance to the another mobile wireless device; and

periodically determine whether the signal has an amount of errors equal to or exceeding a predetermined error threshold;

when the amount of errors are equal to or exceeding the predetermined error threshold;

determine a subsequent distance to the another wireless mobile device; and

readjust the adjusted power output level to a readjusted power output level based at least in part on the subsequent distance to bring the amount of errors within the predetermined error threshold.

18. The wireless mobile device of claim 17, wherein the predetermined error threshold further comprises the amount of errors over a predetermined time period.

19. The wireless mobile device of claim 17, wherein the predetermined error threshold level further comprises a power saturated signal level of a signal transmission from the wireless mobile device.

20. The wireless mobile device of claim 17, wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that upon execution cause the processing module to determine the distance by:

when a surrounding geographic environment is an immediate surrounding environment, transmit initial detecting pulse signals to detect at least one of an interior design and an interior layout.