Methods and apparatus for wireless coexistence based on transceiver chain emphasis

• US 10,616,795 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• 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:
  US15/960,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20180317127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• 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 processing subsystem of a wireless device with a plurality of wireless interfaces comprising a first interface and a second interface, the processing subsystem comprising a non-transitory storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions being configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus, cause the processing subsystem to:

determine a physical configuration of the wireless device;

determine an operational mode of the first interface of the plurality of wireless interfaces;

implement an interference-avoidance scheme based on (i) the determined physical configuration of the wireless device and (ii) the determined operational mode of the first interface;

wherein the implementation of the interference-avoidance scheme is configured to reduce coexistence interference between the first interface and the second interface.

2. The processing subsystem of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a housing, the housing comprising a first portion and a second portion;

and

wherein the physical configuration of the wireless device comprises an open configuration or a clamshell configuration of the first portion and the second portion.

3. The processing subsystem of claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises a Wi-Fi interface, and the second interface comprises a Bluetooth interface.

4. The processing subsystem of claim 1, wherein the first interface and the second interface operate according to different wireless protocol standards.

5. The processing subsystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to measure an isolation level between the first and second interfaces;

wherein the interference-avoidance scheme is implemented responsive to a determination that the measured isolation level is below a first threshold and above a second threshold.

6. The processing subsystem of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to adjust a parameter of a signal processing chain responsive at least to a determination that the measured isolation level is below the second threshold and above a third threshold.

7. The processing subsystem of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the wireless device to operate in another coexistence mode responsive at least to a determination that the measured isolation level is below the third threshold.

8. A wireless device, comprising:

a first interface configured to transmit and receive first data according to a first wireless protocol;

a second interface configured to transmit and receive second data via a plurality of channels according to a second wireless protocol, the second wireless protocol differing from the first wireless protocol;

a processing apparatus; and

a non-transitory storage apparatus comprising a storage medium, the storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on the processing apparatus, cause the wireless device to;

implement an interference-avoidance scheme on the second interface based on determination of (i) an operational configuration of the wireless device and (ii) an operational mode of the first interface;

wherein the implementation of the interference-avoidance scheme is configured to reduce coexistence interference between the first and the second wireless protocols.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to measure a value corresponding to coexistence interference between the first and second interfaces;

wherein the interference-avoidance scheme is implemented on the second interface based on the measured value.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the value is measured at periodic intervals.

11. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein the value is measured at a predetermined operational stage of the wireless device.

12. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to adjust a parameter of a signal processing chain of the first interface based at least in part on the measured value.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the parameter comprises at least one transmit power setting that corresponds to the signal processing chain.

14. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the first wireless interface comprises a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless local area network (WLAN) interface, and the second wireless interface comprises a personal area network (PAN) interface.

15. A method for reducing coexistence interference between a first wireless interface and a second wireless interface, comprising:

determining a physical configuration of a wireless device, the wireless device being enabled to transact data via the first wireless interface and the second wireless interface;

determining an operational mode of the first wireless interface;

reducing interference between the first and second wireless interfaces, the reducing of the interference comprising deploying an interference-avoidance scheme based on (i) the physical configuration of the wireless device being determined to be in a first one of a plurality of physical configurations, and (ii) the operational mode of the first wireless interface.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

measuring an isolation level between the first and second wireless interfaces; and

deploying the interference-avoidance scheme further based on the measured isolation level being between a first threshold level and a second threshold level.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

adjusting a transmit power setting of a signal processing chain of the first wireless interface responsive at least to the measured isolation level being between the second threshold level and a third threshold level.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the adjusting of the transmit power setting of the signal processing chain of the first wireless interface comprises adjusting the transmit power setting based on one or more gain parameters predetermined by a calibration process.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

causing the wireless device to operate in another coexistence mode responsive at least to the measured isolation level being below the third threshold level.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing the wireless device to operate in another coexistence mode based on the physical configuration of the wireless device being determined to be in a second one of the plurality of physical configurations, the second one being different from the first one of the plurality of physical configurations.