Adaptive Power Modulation

• US 9,867,143 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Egan, Kenneth W., Dearman, Clay
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan H
• Application Number:
  US14/215,227
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 455 69, 455134, 4552261, 4552262
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength

Abstract

Systems and methods comprise determining a received signal strength (RSSI) of a signal. A sensitivity level of a receiver is determined, where the signal is to be received at the receiver. When a determination is made that the RSSI is greater than the sensitivity level, a transmitter power level is calculated as a difference between the RSSI and the sensitivity level. A transmitter of the signal is controlled in accordance with the transmitter power level.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a receiver of a first sensor device and from a transmitter of a second sensor device, a signal;

determining a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the signal;

determining, by the first sensor device, a sensitivity level of the receiver;

determining that the RSSI is greater than the sensitivity level;

determining, in response to the determining that the RSSI is greater than the sensitivity level and based on a difference between the RSSI and the sensitivity level, a transmission power level for the transmitter of the second sensor device; and

transmitting, to the second sensor device, an indication of the transmission power level for the transmitter of the second sensor device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a request to reduce a power of the transmitter to the transmission power level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the received signal strength indicator comprises determining a received signal strength per transmission packet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the sensitivity level of a receiver of the second sensor device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the transmission power level is further based at least on absorption of the signal from the second sensor device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the indication of the transmission power level comprises transmitting, to the second sensor device, a command to reduce a power of the transmitter of the second sensor device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the indication of the transmission power level comprises transmitting the indication of the transmission power level using a wireless communication protocol.

8. A system comprising:

a first sensor device comprising a transmitter; and

a second sensor device in communication with the first sensor device and comprising a receiver and a sensor,

wherein the second sensor device is configured to;

receive, by the sensor of the second sensor device and from the transmitter of the first sensor device, a signal,

determine a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the signal,

determine that the RSSI is greater than a sensitivity level of the receiver,

determine, in response to determining that the RSSI is greater than the sensitivity level and based on a difference between the RSSI and the sensitivity level, a transmission power level for the transmitter of first sensor device, and

cause, based on the transmission power level, a power level of the first sensor device to be modified.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sensor device is configured to cause the power level of the transmitter of the first sensor device to be modified by reducing a transmission power of the transmitter.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sensor device is configured to determine the received signal strength indicator by determining a received signal strength per transmission packet.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sensor device is further configured to determine the sensitivity level of the receiver.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second sensor device is configured to determine the sensitivity level based at least on gain of an antenna of the second sensor device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sensor device is configured to cause the power level of the transmitter of the first sensor device to be modified by transmitting, to the first sensor device, an indication of the transmission power level.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second sensor device is configured to transmit the indication of the transmission power level to the first sensor device using a wireless communication protocol.

15. A device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

determine a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of a signal received by a receiver and transmitted by a transmitter of a sensor device;

determine that the RSSI is greater than a sensitivity level of the receiver;

determine, in response to the determining that the RSSI is greater than the sensitivity level and based on a difference between the RSSI and the sensitivity level, a transmission power level for the transmitter of the sensor device; and

transmit, to the sensor device, an indication of the transmission power level for the transmitter of the sensor device.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the indication of the transmission power level comprises a request to reduce a power of the transmitter of the sensor device to the transmission power level.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine the received signal strength indicator comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine a received signal strength per transmission packet.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the device further comprises the receiver.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the device to determine the sensitivity level of the receiver.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to transmit the indication of the transmission power level comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to transmit, to the sensor device, a command to reduce a power of the transmitter to the transmission power level.