Methods and systems for antenna switching based on uplink metrics

• US 9,819,080 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• 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): Orgad, Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Saumit
• Application Number:
  US13/835,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 370252, 370278, 370282, 370329, 370334, 342374, 343853, 343876, 455 78, 455 79, 4555531
• 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. In one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The wireless communication apparatus includes a plurality of antennas including a first antenna and a second antenna. The wireless communication apparatus further includes a plurality of transmit circuits including a first transmit circuit. The wireless communication apparatus further includes a controller configured to selectively switch the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna based on one or more uplink performance characteristics of at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna. 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 transmit circuits including a first transmit circuit; and

a controller configured to;

determine a first antenna probe time based on a first difference between first downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna and first downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna;

switch the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna and, at the first antenna probe time, determine one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna and determine one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna;

continue to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna if one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna are worse than the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna and a difference between one or more uplink performance characteristics of the first antenna and the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna is larger than a difference threshold;

determine a second antenna probe time based on a second difference between the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna and the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna;

selectively switch the first transmit circuit back to the first antenna at the second antenna probe time; and

selectively switch the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the second antenna to transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna at the second antenna probe time.

2. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to selectively switch back from the second antenna to the first antenna if the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna are worse than the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the first antenna.

3. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of receive circuits including a first receive circuit, and wherein 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 one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna are worse than the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna.

4. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of receive circuits including a first receive circuit, and wherein 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 based on one or more uplink performance characteristics of at least one of the first antenna or the second antenna.

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

determining a first antenna probe time based on a first difference between first downlink performance characteristics of a first antenna and first downlink performance characteristics of a second antenna;

switching a first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via a first antenna to transmit wireless communications via a second antenna and, at the first antenna probe time, determining one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna and determining one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna;

continuing to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna if one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna are worse than the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna and a difference between one or more uplink performance characteristics of the first antenna and the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna is larger than a difference threshold;

determining a second antenna probe time based on a second difference between the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna and the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna;

selectively switching the first transmit circuit back to the first antenna at the second antenna probe time; and

selectively switching the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the second antenna to transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna at the second antenna probe time.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

selectively switching back from the second antenna to the first antenna if the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna are worse than the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the first antenna.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

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

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

selectively switching a first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna based on one or more uplink performance characteristics of at least one of the first antenna or the second antenna.

9. A wireless communication apparatus, the apparatus comprises:

means for determining a first antenna probe time based on a first difference between first downlink performance characteristics of a first antenna and first downlink performance characteristics of a second antenna;

means for switching a first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via a first antenna to transmit wireless communications via a second antenna;

means for determining second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna at the first antenna probe time and determining one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna;

means for continuing to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna if one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna are worse than the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna, and a difference between the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the first antenna and the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna is larger than a difference threshold;

means for switching the first transmit circuit back to the first antenna if the wireless communications are not continued on the second antenna;

means for determining a second antenna probe time based on a second difference between the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna and the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna; and

means for selectively switching the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the second antenna to transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna at the second antenna probe time.

10. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

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

11. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for selectively switching a first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna based on one or more uplink performance characteristics of at least one of the first antenna or the second antenna.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions which, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the processor to;

determine a first antenna probe time based on a first difference between downlink performance characteristics of a first antenna and first downlink performance characteristics of a second antenna;

switch a first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via a first antenna to transmit wireless communications via a second antenna and, at the first antenna probe time, determine one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna are worse than one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna;

continue to transmit wireless communications via the second antenna if a difference between one or more uplink performance characteristics of the first antenna and one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna is larger than a difference threshold;

determine a second antenna probe time based on a second difference between the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna and the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna;

selectively switch the first transmit circuit back to the first antenna at the second antenna probe time; and

selectively switch the first transmit circuit from transmitting wireless communications via the second antenna to transmitting wireless communications via the first antenna at the second antenna probe time.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

one or more instructions to selectively switch back from the second antenna to the first antenna if the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the second antenna are worse than the one or more uplink performance characteristics of the first antenna.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

one or more instructions to selectively switching switch a first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna if the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the first antenna are worse than the one or more second downlink performance characteristics of the second antenna.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

one or more instructions to selectively switch a first receive circuit from receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to receive wireless communications via the second antenna based on one or more uplink performance characteristics of at least one of the first antenna or the second antenna.