SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR ARBITRATION OF ANTENNA SWITCH CONFIGURATION AMONG DIFFERENT CLIENTS

• US 20130310045A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: YAN, Hongbo, Filipovic, Daniel Fred
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/437
• 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 selection for different radio access technologies. An apparatus can include a plurality of antennas and a plurality of radio access technology modules each configured to communicate according to a different radio access technology. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to switch communication circuits of each of the radio access technology modules to communicate via a corresponding one or more of the plurality of antennas. The apparatus further includes a switching manager configured to manage a plurality of switch configurations each defining a mapping between each of the radio access technology modules and the antennas. The switching manager is further configured to store a switch configuration used for a first radio access technology module and cause the controller to maintain the switch configuration in place in response to a network handover. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Claims

1. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of antennas;

a plurality of radio access technology modules each configured to wirelessly communicate according to a radio access technology, each of the radio access technology modules comprising one or more communication circuits configured to transmit or receive wireless communications;

a controller configured to selectively switch communication circuits of each of the radio access technology modules to transmit or receive wireless communications via a corresponding one or more of the plurality of antennas; and

a switching manager configured to manage a plurality of switch configurations, each of the switch configurations defining a mapping between communications circuits of each of the radio access technology modules and the antennas, the switching manager further configured to;

store a switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations used for a first radio access technology module; and

cause the controller to maintain the switch configuration in place in response to a network handover.

2. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network handover comprises one of:

a handover from a first portion of a network of the first radio access technology module to a second portion of the network of the first radio access technology module;

or

a handover to a network of a second radio access technology module from the network of the first radio access technology module, the controller configured to maintain the switch configuration to be used for the second radio access technology.

3. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching manager is further configured to send information indicative of a change in a switch configuration for a radio access technology module to other radio access technology modules, the information configured to be used by the other radio access technology modules to adjust one or more transmission or reception characteristics based on the changed switch configuration.

4. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching manager is configured to:

store a switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations for a radio access technology module having priority over other radio access technology modules; and

cause the controller to switch the other radio access technology modules to the stored switch configuration of the higher priority radio access technology module.

5. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching manager is configured to:

receive performance metrics from one or more of the plurality of radio access technology modules; and

determine the switch configurations for the plurality of radio access technology modules based on the collected performance metrics to maintain a performance target.

6. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching manager is configured to send a message to the plurality of radio access technology modules to broadcast an availability of one or more of the plurality of antennas.

7. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 6, wherein the switching manager is configured to receive performance metrics from the radio access technology modules based on the message and antenna availability to determine one or more switching configurations.

8. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching manager is configured to change a switch configuration such that a transmit signal of a first communication circuit of the first radio access technology module does not go through a same switch as a receive signal of a second communication circuit of a second radio access technology module.

9. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching manager is configured to selectively switch between coupling one of the first radio access technology module or a second radio access technology module to a single antenna based on at least one of:

which of the first or second radio access technology modules has a higher priority, a throughput of the first or second radio access technology modules, a received signal strength of the first or second radio access technologies, and a communication link state of the first or second radio access technology modules.

10. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching manager is configured to switch between different switch configurations and obtain information from the radio access technology modules for each switch configuration of the different switch configurations, and wherein the switching manager is configured to determine one or more switching configurations to use based on the obtained information.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10, wherein the switching manager is further configured to:

compare first performance metrics of a first antenna and a second antenna of the plurality of antennas according to a first switch configuration;

compare second performance metrics of the second antenna and a third antenna according to a second switch configuration;

determine an antenna performance ranking of the first, second, and third antennas based on the first and second performance metrics; and

determine a switch configuration to use based on the antenna performance ranking.

12. A method for wireless communication via a plurality of radio access technology modules, each of the plurality of radio access technology modules configured to communicate according to a radio access technology, the method comprising:

managing a plurality of switch configurations via a switching manager, each of the switch configurations defining a mapping between communication circuits of each of the plurality of radio access technology modules and a plurality of antennas, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations comprises;

storing a switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations used for a first radio access technology module;

maintaining the switch configuration in place in response to a network handover; and

selectively switching the communication circuits of each of the radio access technology modules to transmit or receive wireless communications via a corresponding one or more of the plurality of antennas based on the switch configurations.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the handover comprises one of:

a handover from a first portion of a network of the first radio access technology module to a second portion of the network of the first radio access technology module;

or

a handover to a network of a second radio access technology module from the network of the first radio access technology module, wherein maintaining the switch configuration in place comprises maintaining the switch configuration to be used for the second radio access technology.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending, via the switching manager, information indicative of a change in a switch configuration for a radio access technology module to other radio access technology modules, the information configured to be used by the other radio access technology modules to adjust one or more transmission or reception characteristics based on the changed switch configuration.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

storing a switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations for a radio access technology module having priority over other radio access technology modules; and

switching the other radio access technology modules to the stored switch configuration of the higher priority radio access technology module.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

receiving performance metrics from one or more of the plurality of radio access technology modules; and

determining the switch configurations for the plurality of radio access technology modules based on the collected performance metrics to maintain a performance target.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises sending a message to the plurality of radio access technology modules to broadcast an availability of one or more of the plurality of antennas.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises receiving performance metrics from the radio access technology modules based on the message and antenna availability to determine one or more switching configurations.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises changing a switch configuration such that a transmit signal of a first communication circuit of the first radio access technology module does not go through a same switch as a receive signal of a second communication circuit of a second radio access technology module.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises selectively switching between coupling one of the first radio access technology module or a second radio access technology module to a single antenna based on at least one of:

which of the first or second radio access technology modules has a higher priority, a throughput of the first or second radio access technology modules, a received signal strength of the first or second radio access technologies, and a communication link state of the first or second radio access technology modules.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises switching between different switch configurations and obtaining information from the radio access technology modules for each switch configuration of the different switch configurations, and wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises determining one or more switching configurations to use based on the obtained information.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

comparing first performance metrics of a first antenna and a second antenna of the plurality of antennas according to a first switch configuration;

comparing second performance metrics of the second antenna and a third antenna according to a second switch configuration;

determining an antenna performance ranking of the first, second, and third antennas based on the first and second performance metrics; and

determining a switch configuration to use based on the antenna performance ranking.

23. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of means for transmitting or receiving signals;

a plurality of radio access technology modules, each configured to wirelessly communicate according to a radio access technology;

means for selectively switching each of the plurality of radio access technology modules to transmit or receive wireless communications via a corresponding one or more of the means for transmitting or receiving signals; and

means for managing a plurality of switch configurations, each of the switch configurations defining a mapping between each of the plurality of radio access technology modules and the means for transmitting or receiving signals, the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprising;

means for storing a switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations used for a first radio access technology module; and

means for maintaining the switch configuration in place in response to a network handover.

24. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the handover comprises one of:

a handover from a first portion of a network of the first radio access technology module to a second portion of the network of the first radio access technology module;

or

a handover to a network of a second radio access technology module from the network of the first radio access technology module, wherein the means for maintaining the switch configuration comprises means for maintaining the switch configuration to be used for the second radio access technology.

25. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises means for sending information indicative of a change in a switch configuration for a first radio access technology module to other radio access technology modules, the information configured to be used by the other radio access technology modules to adjust one or more transmission or reception characteristics based on the changed switch configuration.

26. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

means for storing a switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations for a radio access technology module having priority over other radio access technology modules; and

means for switching the other radio access technology modules to the stored switch configuration of the higher priority radio access technology module.

27. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

means for receiving performance metrics from one or more of the plurality of radio access technology modules; and

means for determining the switch configurations for the plurality of radio access technology modules based on the collected performance metrics to maintain a performance target.

28. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises means for sending a message to the plurality of radio access technology modules to broadcast an availability of one or more of the plurality of means for transmitting or receiving signals.

29. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises means for receiving performance metrics from the radio access technology modules based on the message to determine one or more switching configurations.

30. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises means for changing a switch configuration such that a transmit signal of a first radio access technology module does not go through a same switch as a receive signal of a second radio access technology module.

31. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises means for selectively switching between coupling one of the first radio access technology module or a second radio access technology module to a single means for transmitting or receiving signals based on at least one of:

which of the first or second radio access technology modules has a higher priority, a throughput of the first or second radio access technology modules, a received signal strength of the first or second radio access technologies, and a communication link state of the first or second radio access technology modules.

32. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises means for switching between different switch configurations and means for obtaining information from the radio access technology modules for each switch configuration of the different switch configurations, and wherein the wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations comprises means for determining one or more switching configurations to use based on the obtained information.

33. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

means for comparing first performance metrics of a first means for transmitting or receiving signals and a second means for transmitting or receiving signals of the plurality of means for transmitting or receiving signals according to a first switch configuration;

means for comparing second performance metrics of the second means for transmitting or receiving signals and a third means for transmitting or receiving signals according to a second switch configuration;

means for determining a performance ranking of the first, second, and third means for transmitting or receiving signals based on the first and second performance metrics; and

means for determining a switch configuration to use based on the performance ranking.

34. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded thereon with instructions that when executed cause a wireless communications apparatus to perform a method for wireless communication via a plurality of radio access technology modules, each of the plurality of radio access technology modules configured to communicate according to a radio access technology, the method comprising:

managing a plurality of switch configurations via a switching manager, each of the switch configurations defining a mapping between communication circuits of each of the plurality of radio access technology modules and a plurality of antennas, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations comprises;

storing a switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations used for a first radio access technology module;

maintaining the switch configuration in place in response to a network handover; and

selectively switching the communication circuits of each of the radio access technology modules to transmit or receive wireless communications via a corresponding one or more of the plurality of antennas based on the switch configurations.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the handover comprises one of:

a handover from a first portion of the network of the first radio access technology module to a second portion of the network of the first radio access technology module;

or

a handover to a network of a second radio access technology module from the network of the first radio access technology module, wherein maintaining the switch configuration in place comprises maintaining the switch configuration to be used for the second radio access technology.

36. The computer program product of claim 34, the method further comprising sending, via the switching manager, information indicative of a change in a switch configuration for a radio access technology module to other radio access technology modules, the information configured to be used by the other radio access technology modules to adjust one or more transmission or reception characteristics based on the changed switch configuration.

37. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

storing a switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations for a radio access technology module having priority over other radio access technology modules; and

switching the other radio access technology modules to the stored switch configuration of the higher priority radio access technology module.

38. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

receiving performance metrics from one or more of the plurality of radio access technology modules; and

determining the switch configurations for the plurality of radio access technology modules based on the collected performance metrics to maintain a performance target.

39. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises sending a message to the plurality of radio access technology modules to broadcast an availability of one or more of the plurality of antennas.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises receiving performance metrics from the radio access technology modules based on the message and antenna availability to determine one or more switching configurations.

41. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises changing a switch configuration such that a transmit signal of a first communication circuit of the first radio access technology module does not go through a same switch as a receive signal of a second communication circuit of a second radio access technology module.

42. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises selectively switching between coupling one of the first radio access technology module or a second radio access technology module to a single antenna based on at least one of:

which of the first or second radio access technology modules has a higher priority, a throughput of the first or second radio access technology modules, a received signal strength of the first or second radio access technologies, and a communication link state of the first or second radio access technology modules.

43. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises switching between different switch configurations and obtaining information from the radio access technology modules for each switch configuration of the different switch configurations, and wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises determining one or more switching configurations to use based on the obtained information.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein managing the plurality of switch configurations further comprises:

comparing first performance metrics of a first antenna and a second antenna of the plurality of antennas according to a first switch configuration;

comparing second performance metrics of the second antenna and a third antenna according to a second switch configuration;

determining an antenna performance ranking of the first, second, and third antennas based on the first and second performance metrics; and

determining a switch configuration to use based on the antenna performance ranking.