Communicating in the presence of periodic noise

Abstract

A wireless communication system operating in the presence of the periodic noise signals such as from a microwave oven, the communication system, including at least two wireless communication stations with each station including a transceiver, each such transceiver. Each transceiver includes a detector for detecting periodic noise signals and producing a first signal indicating the presence of noise signal's quiescent period and second signals indicating the end of quiescent periods of such periodic noise signal. A controller responsive to the first and second noise signals controls the transceiver to provide effective communication with an other transceiver which minimizes the noise effect of the periodic noise signal. The transceiver transmits information concerning the detected quiescent period for use by the other transceiver to determine when to transmit during such quiescent period.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Reference is made to commonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 118,798 filed Feb. 5, 1999, by Carlson et al. entitled “Communicating in the Presence of Periodic Microwave Noise.”FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a digital wireless wideband RF communication system operating in periodic noise environments. Such a system is useful, for example, for communicating digital data at high data rates; e.g. rates greater than 1 Mega bits per second (Mbps). BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] With the advent of digital photography, the wireless transmission of digital images, for example between a portable transmitting device like a digital camera and a receiving device such as a personal computer or other image appliance such as a printer, has become a desirable feature. High data rate transmissions are desirable because digital images represent a large amount of data and short transmission times are ne...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] This need is met by a wireless communication system operating in the presence of periodic noise signals such as from a microwave oven, that includes at least two wireless communication stations with each station including a transceiver, each such transceiver. Each transceiver includes a detector for detecting periodic noise signals and producing a first signal indicating the presence of noise signal's quiescent period and second signals indicating the end of quiescent periods of such periodic noise signal. A controller responsive to the first and second noise signals controls the transceiver to provide effective communication with an other transceiver which minimizes the noise effect of the periodic noise signal. The transceiver transmits information concerning the detected quiescent period for use by the other transceiver to determine when to transmit during such quiescent period.

[0010] 1. When each station can tell the other station(s) when periodic microwave signals will prevent reception, the transmitting stations can wait to transmit during the proper time. While waiting, systems may be powered down to reduce energy consumption, reduce interference with other devices and more efficiently control data flow to and from the host CPU; and

[0012] This invention is less expensive than one that uses a master clock to assign a global time reference to all stations and their quiescent periods. Such a system requires expensive accurate internal time bases or access to a Global Positioning System time base such as used by Code Division Multiple Access cellular systems.

Problems solved by technology

Such a system requires expensive accurate internal time bases or access to a Global Positioning System time base such as used by Code Division Multiple Access cellular systems.

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