METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE SUPPORT FOR MULTI-RADIO COEXISTENCE

• US 20120163307A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jibing, Kadous, Tamer Adel, Mantravadi, Ashok, Linsky, Joel Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 9,277,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• 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 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method of wireless communication includes monitoring coexistence issues among supported radios in a User Equipment (UE). The method includes determining a coexistence policy for communication resource operation within a user equipment (UE) and configuring communication resources of the user equipment in accordance with the determined coexistence policy. The policy may give priority to an LTE modem, an ISM modem, or may implement a variable priority scheme. The policy may be communicated to each modem from a host over a software messaging communication line. Modems in the UE may communicate with each other through logical lines providing real time communication. The policy may determine the operation of each modem and the treatment of the logical lines by each modem.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving over a software messaging input, a coexistence policy for operation of communication resources of a first radio access technology within a user equipment (UE); and

configuring operation of communication resources of the user equipment in response to signals on logical lines between resources of the first radio access technology and resources of a second radio access technology based on the coexistence policy.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

receiving the coexistence policy over a coexistence interface.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising reconfiguring operation of communication resources based on the coexistence policy in response to communication conditions experience by the user equipment.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising reconfiguring operation of communication resources based on the coexistence policy in response to the signals on logical lines between the first radio access technology resources and the second radio access technology resources.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reconfiguring operation of communication resources of the user equipment in response to the signals on logical lines between the first radio access technology resources and the second radio access technology resources based on a second coexistence policy, the second coexistence policy controlling operation of communication resources of the first radio access technology.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the coexistence policy allows a Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem to transmit when an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) modem is not receiving, and the coexistence policy allows the LTE modem to receive when the ISM modem is not transmitting or to receive while accounting for interference from the ISM modem.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the configuring comprises:

setting a first logical line when the ISM modem is transmitting;

assigning priority to the ISM modem on a second logical line when the ISM modem is receiving;

halting transmission by the LTE modem when the ISM modem has priority on the second logical line;

allowing transmission by the LTE modem when the ISM modem does not have priority on the second logical line; and

allowing receiving by the LTE modem when the first logical line is not set.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the coexistence policy allows an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) modem to transmit when an Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem is not receiving.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the configuring comprises:

setting a first logical line when the LTE modem is to receive a signal;

allowing transmission by the ISM modem when the first logical line is not set; and

allowing receiving by the ISM modem when the LTE modem is not transmitting or when a power level of the LTE modem is below a threshold value.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the coexistence policy allows an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) modem to communicate high priority events or when an Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem is not in operation.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the configuring comprises:

allowing transmission by the LTE modem when the ISM modem does not have priority on a first logical line;

allowing receiving by the LTE modem while accounting for potential interference from the ISM modem, when a second logical line is set;

setting a third logical line when the LTE modem is to receive an LTE signal; and

determining a priority of an ISM signal when an ISM modem desires to transmit the ISM signal, and permitting assertion of the first logical line and setting the second logical line when the priority is above a threshold value.

12. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured;

to receive over a software messaging input, a coexistence policy for operation of communication resources of a first radio access technology within a user equipment (UE); and

to configure operation of communication resources of the user equipment in response to signals on logical lines between resources of the first radio access technology and resources of a second radio access technology based on the coexistence policy.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the processor is further configured to receive the coexistence policy over a coexistence interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the processor is further configured to reconfigure operation of communication resources based on the coexistence policy in response to communication conditions experience by the user equipment.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the processor is further configured to reconfigure operation of communication resources based on the coexistence policy in response to the signals on logical lines between the first radio access technology resources and the second radio access technology resources.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the processor is further configured to reconfigure operation of communication resources of the user equipment in response to the signals on logical lines between the first radio access technology resources and the second radio access technology resources based on a second coexistence policy, the second coexistence policy controlling operation of communication resources of the first radio access technology.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the coexistence policy allows a Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem to transmit when an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) modem is not receiving, and the coexistence policy allows the LTE modem to receive when the ISM modem is not transmitting or to receive while accounting for interference from the ISM modem, and in which the processor is further configured:

to set a first logical line when the ISM modem is transmitting;

to assign priority to the ISM modem on a second logical line when the ISM modem is receiving;

to halt transmission by the LTE modem when the ISM modem has priority on the second logical line;

to allow transmission by the LTE modem when the ISM modem does not have priority on the second logical line; and

to allow receiving by the LTE modem when the first logical line is not set.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the coexistence policy allows an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) modem to transmit when an Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem is not receiving, and in which the processor is further configured:

to set a first logical line when the LTE modem is to receive a signal;

to allow transmission by the ISM modem when the first logical line is not set; and

to allow receiving by the ISM modem when the LTE modem is not transmitting or when a power level of the LTE modem is below a threshold value.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the coexistence policy allows an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) modem to communicate high priority events or when an Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem is not in operation, and in which the processor is further configured:

to allow transmission by the LTE modem when the ISM modem does not have priority on a first logical line;

to allow receiving by the LTE modem while accounting for potential interference from the ISM modem, when a second logical line is set;

to set a third logical line when the LTE modem is to receive an LTE signal; and

to determine a priority of an ISM signal when an ISM modem desires to transmit the ISM signal, and permitting assertion of the first logical line and setting the second logical line when the priority is above a threshold value.

20. A computer program product for wireless communication in a wireless network, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising;

program code to receive over a software messaging input, a coexistence policy for operation of communication resources of a first radio access technology within a user equipment (UE); and

program code to configure operation of communication resources of the user equipment in response to signals on logical lines between resources of the first radio access technology and resources of a second radio access technology based on the coexistence policy.

21. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving over a software messaging input, a coexistence policy for operation of communication resources of a first radio access technology within a user equipment (UE); and

means for configuring operation of communication resources of the user equipment in response to signals on logical lines between resources of the first radio access technology and resources of a second radio access technology based on the coexistence policy.