Wireless communication system for attenuating inter-mobile device and intra-mobile device interference between communication sessions

Abstract

System (200) for attenuating interference between communication sessions, the system (200) comprises: a first mobile device (202) and a second mobile device (212), wherein both the first mobile device (202) and the second mobile device (212) comprise a first modem (204; 214) operating according to a first wireless communication protocol and a second modem (206, 216) operating according to a second wireless communication protocol; wherein the first mobile device (202) is configured to establish an initial communication session using the first modem (204) of the first mobile device (202) and the first wireless communication protocol; and where the second mobile device (212) is set up for: Establishing a second communication session using the second modem (216) of the second mobile device (212) and the second wireless communication protocol; Determining the geographical proximity of the first mobile device (202); Determine, based on geographical proximity, that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device (202) or the second mobile device (212), is a potential interferer for the other mobile device, the first mobile device (202) or the second mobile device (212); Arranging a transfer of the first communication session to the second mobile device (212) in response to determining that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device (202) or the second mobile device (212), is a potential interfering device to the other mobile device, and Operating the second mobile device (212) to reduce the interference between the first communication session and the second communication session in response to the transfer of the first communication session to the second mobile device (212).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to mitigating inter-mobile device and intra-mobile device interference in a wireless communication system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for allocating the limited radio frequency spectrum among various government agencies, mobile phone and data network operators, and a wide variety of competing corporate and individual interests. In this capacity, the FCC has designated certain frequency bands for use by and for the benefit of local, state, and national public safety organizations.

[0003] Referring to Fig. Figure 1 depicts a portion 100 of the electromagnetic spectrum, including bandwidths allocated by the FCC to public safety organizations. A frequency band 101a from 799 to 805 megahertz (MHz) has been allocated for uplink (UL) transmissions in a public safety narrowband (PSNB) voice communications by police, fire, and other emergency response teams. The frequency band 101a is paired with a frequency band 101b from 769 to 775 MHz, which has been allocated for downlink (DL) transmissions by such PSNB voice communications by police, fire, and other emergency response teams. These frequencies support push-to-talk (PTT) land mobile radio (LMR) two-way radios used by law enforcement agencies across the country.Similarly, a frequency band 102a from 806 to 809 MHz and a frequency band 103a from 809 to 815 MHz have been allocated for UL PSNB transmissions, respectively, and are paired with a frequency band 102b from 851 to 854 MHz and a frequency band 103b from 854 to 860 MHz allocated for DL ​​PSNB transmissions, respectively.

[0004] A frequency band 104a from 793 to 798 MHz has been allocated for UL broadband public safety transmissions, for example, by police, fire departments, and other emergency response teams. The 104a frequency band is in turn paired with a frequency band 104b from 763 to 768 MHz, which is allocated for DL ​​broadband public safety transmissions by police, fire departments, and other emergency response teams. The FCC has mandated the use of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology from the Third Generation Partnership (3GPP) in this broadband spectrum. This corresponds to the upper portion of the 3GPP's evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) operating band 14 of the spectrum.

[0005] The FCC has also designated a frequency band 105a from 776 to 787 MHz for UL broadband transmissions by public operators, such as Verizon Wireless, and paired it with a frequency band 105b from 746 to 756 MHz for DL ​​broadband transmissions (referred to as Operating Band 13 or BC 13, also expected to be LTE compatible).

[0006] Furthermore, the FCC has designated a frequency band 106a from 788 to 793 MHz for UL wideband operation (possibly with shared access) for public safety transmissions, and paired it with a frequency band 106b from 758 to 763 MHz for DL ​​wideband operation (possibly with shared access) for public safety transmissions, which could also be arranged as LTE compatible. This corresponds to the lower part of the 3GPP E-UTRA operating band 14.

[0007] Because the aforementioned public safety broadband spectrum allocations are spectrally close to the PSNB voice band, some energy from the broadband allocations may leak into the PSNB network. Under certain conditions, this leakage, known as out-of-band emissions (OOBE), can cause unwanted radio interference in communications between an LMR base station and one or more LMR mobile devices, which may, for example, result in the desensitization of a receiver of the LMR mobile device, particularly if the LMR mobile device is geographically co-located with the interfering broadband radio / mobile device (e.g., in the same police car or fire truck, or even in the same radio).From the prior art in the form of WO 2010 / 146 238 A1, a proactive switch to an alternative network by a terminal device is already known if this terminal device expects interference due to a short-range communication that is to be established. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, incorporated in the specification, form a part of the specification and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts comprising the claimed invention and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. Fig. Figure 1 shows a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum including bandwidths allocated to public safety applications and public operators. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system according to various embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a mobile device of the wireless communication system according to Fig. 2 according to some embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a group management server (“Group Management Server”) of the wireless communication system according to Fig. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method used by the wireless communication system of Fig. 2 in mitigating inter-mobile interference according to some embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method used by the wireless communication system of Fig. 2 in mitigating inter-mobile interference according to some embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method used by the wireless communication system of Fig. 7 in mitigating inter-mobile interference according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0009] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and / or relative positions of some elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements in order to enhance understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially practical embodiment are often not shown to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be understood that certain acts and / or steps may be described or illustrated in a particular order of occurrence, while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity regarding order is not actually required.Those skilled in the art will further recognize that references to specific implementation embodiments, such as "circuitry," can also be achieved by replacing them with software instruction executions, either on a general computing device (e.g., a CPU) or on a specialized processing device (e.g., a DSP). It will also be understood that the terms and terminology used herein have the usual technical meanings accorded to such terms and terminology by those skilled in the art described above, unless other specific meanings are otherwise set forth herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A method, apparatus, and system are provided for mitigating interference between two communication sessions based on a determined geographic proximity of two mobile devices to each other. In one embodiment, a first mobile device establishes a first communication session using a first wireless communication protocol, and a second mobile device establishes a second communication session using a second wireless communication protocol. A geographic proximity of the two mobile devices to each other is determined, and based on the determined geographic proximity, it is determined that one of the mobile devices is a potential interferer for the other mobile device.One of the two communication sessions is then transferred to the other mobile device, so that both communication sessions are consolidated on the same mobile device, thereby enabling that mobile device to operate to mitigate interference between the two sessions. In other embodiments where a first mobile device is involved in two communication sessions, the first mobile device may determine to transfer one of the two communication sessions to a second mobile device that is geographically sufficiently distant from the first mobile device, or the first mobile device may determine to use a remote wireless device as a relay device for uplink and downlink transmissions for one of the two communication sessions if the remote wireless device is geographically sufficiently distant from the first mobile device.By transmitting or handing off one of the two communication sessions to the second mobile device or by using the remote wireless device as a relay device, the likelihood is reduced that an uplink transmission as part of one of the two communication sessions will interfere with a downlink reception as part of the other of the two communication sessions.

[0011] For example, one embodiment of the present invention includes a system for mitigating interference between communication sessions in a wireless communication system. The system includes a first mobile device and a second mobile device, wherein each of the first mobile device and the second mobile device includes a first modem operating according to a first wireless communication protocol and a second modem operating according to a second wireless communication protocol. The first mobile device is configured to establish a first communication session using the first modem of the first mobile device and the first wireless communication protocol, and the second mobile device is configured to: establish a second communication session using the second modem of the second mobile device and the second wireless communication protocol;Determining a geographic proximity of the first mobile device; determining, based on the determined geographic proximity, that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device or the second mobile device, is a potential interferer with the other mobile device, the first mobile device or the second mobile device; arranging a transfer of the first communication session to the second mobile device in response to determining that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device or the second mobile device, is a potential interferer with the other mobile device; and operating the second mobile device to mitigate interference between the first communication session and the second communication session in response to transferring the first communication session to the second mobile device.

[0012] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a system for mitigating interference between communication sessions in a wireless communication system. The system includes a first mobile device and a second mobile device, wherein each of the first mobile device and the second mobile device includes a first modem operating according to a first wireless communication protocol and a second modem operating according to a second wireless communication protocol.The first mobile device is configured to: establish a first communication session using the first modem of the first mobile device and the first wireless communication protocol; establish a second communication session using the second modem of the first mobile device and the second wireless communication protocol; determine a geographic proximity of the first mobile device and the second mobile device; determine, based on the determined geographic proximity, to transfer the second communication session to the second mobile device; and, in response to determining to transfer the second communication session, transfer the second communication session to the second mobile device.

[0013] An unclaimed form that may serve to better understand the present invention comprises an apparatus for mitigating interference in a wireless communication system. The apparatus comprises a plurality of modems and a processor. The processor is configured to: establish a first communication session using one modem of the plurality of modems and a first wireless communication protocol; establish a second communication session using another modem of the plurality of modems and a second wireless communication protocol; determine a geographic proximity of a user-based wireless communication device to the mobile device; determine, based on the determined geographic proximity, to use the user-based wireless communication device as a relay device for the first communication session;and establishing, in response to determining to use the user-based wireless communication device as a relay device for the first communication session, a third communication session with the user-based wireless communication device using a third wireless communication protocol and relaying communication for the first communication session via the user-based wireless communication device using the third wireless communication protocol;

[0014] The present invention can be described with reference to the Fig. 2 to 8 are described more fully. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system 200 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The communication system 200 includes a plurality of wireless communication networks 220, 230 (two shown), such as a first network ("Network A") 220 operating according to a first wireless communication protocol and a second network 230 ("Network B") operating according to a second wireless communication protocol. The first network 220 includes an access network 222 including a first access node 224 and providing wireless communication services to mobile devices located within a coverage area 226 of the first access node over a first air interface 228 and the first wireless communication protocol.The second network 230 includes a second access network 232, which includes a second access node 234 that provides wireless communication services to mobile devices located within a coverage area 236 of the second access node via a second air interface 238 and the second wireless communication protocol. Each of the air interfaces 238 and 238 includes an uplink and a downlink, with uplinks and downlinks each including multiple traffic channels and multiple signaling channels.

[0015] In various embodiments of the present invention, the first and second networks 220, 230 may be the same type of network or a different type of network. For example, the first and second networks 220, 230 may each be a broadband network, the first and second networks 220, 230 may each be a narrowband network, or one of the first and second networks 220, 230 may be a broadband network and the other of the first and second networks 220, 230 may be a narrowband network.

[0016] For example, one of the plurality of networks 220, 230 may be a narrowband network utilized by a local government agency or business, such as a public safety organization, where the narrowband network implements a specialized voice communications system typically supporting digital or analog transmission of low-bit-rate audio and / or data streams. An example of such a narrowband network is a network utilized by a Project 25 (P25)-compliant two-way push-to-talk voice communications system that includes wireless and wired communications devices. Other examples include a land mobile radio (LMR) network or a terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) system network.Public safety organizations might choose these narrowband systems because they offer improved end-to-end voice quality and efficient group communication, utilize advanced cryptography, enable centralized call logging, and / or connect with lower latency and higher reliability. As another example, another of the multiple networks 220, 230 may be a broadband network used in parallel by the public safety organization to support data applications, or may be a commercial carrier broadband network that supports users' personal devices (e.g., a "bring your own device" (BYOD)).An example of such a broadband network is a network operating in accordance with the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or 3GPP2 standards, or their next-generation standards, such as the 3GPP LTE ("Long Term Evolution") standard, where the core network is an evolved packet core (EPC). Broadband networks typically support high-bit-rate digital transmission of data streams, including real-time video.

[0017] The communication system 200 further includes a plurality of mobile devices 202, 212 (two shown), each located within a coverage area 226, 236, such as a cell site or a sector of a cell site of one or more networks 220, 230, and each provided with wireless service from an access node 224, 234 of the corresponding network 220, 230 via the corresponding air interface 228, 238. In various technologies, the mobile devices 202, 212 may be referred to as a mobile station (MS), user equipment (UE), user terminal (UT), subscriber station (SS), subscriber unit (SU), remote unit (RU), access terminal, and so on.Each of the plurality of mobile devices 202, 212 is configured to operate in a narrowband network and / or a broadband network, such as the first network 220 or the second network 230, and to communicate with infrastructure devices in the respective network using any suitable over-the-air protocol and modulation scheme. Furthermore, in various embodiments of the present invention, each of the plurality of mobile devices 202, 212 may be associated with the same user or different users.

[0018] Mobile devices 202 and 212 may be "paired" to work together (i.e., they may be collaborative devices), so that information sent to or received from one of the mobile devices 202, 212 may be based on information sent or received from the other mobile device 202, 212. "Pairing" the devices means that the devices are within range of each other and communicate with each other via a short-range wireless link 210 using a third communication protocol, such as Bluetooth. ® Link, a near-field communication (NFC) link, or a Wi-Fi link. The ability to perform interworking between mobile devices 202 and 212 may allow a user to utilize either mobile device 202 or mobile device 212 beyond the capabilities provided by such a mobile device.

[0019] At least one of the mobile devices 202, 212, such as mobile device 212, is a multi-mode or converged mobile device configured to operate over both the first network 220 and the second network 230. That is, each of the plurality of mobile devices 202, 212 includes at least one modem for wireless communication with other mobile devices and / or with infrastructure 260. As described, for example, in Fig. 2, each of the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 of the plurality of mobile devices 202, 212 may include a first modem 204, 214 for wireless communication with the first network 220 via the first wireless communication protocol, a second modem 206, 216 for wireless communication with the second network 230 via the second wireless communication protocol, and a third modem 208, 218 for short-range communication with other mobile devices, such as mobile device 212 with respect to mobile device 202 or mobile device 202 with respect to mobile device 212, via the third wireless communication protocol.

[0020] The communication system 200 further includes a service network 250 of a local authority or enterprise, accessible by the mobile devices 202 and 212 via the networks 220 and 230 and a data network 240, such as a private network or the Internet. The service network 250 includes one or more application functions (AFs), such as a group management server 252, for example, a push-to-talk (PTT) server. Access nodes 224 and 234, data network 240, and group management server 252 collectively comprise an infrastructure 260 of the communication system 200 and may therefore each be referred to as an infrastructure element of the communication system 200.

[0021] Now referring to Fig. 3, a block diagram of a mobile device 300, such as mobile devices 202, 212, and 702 (described below), is provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The mobile device 300 may be, for example, a smartphone, a Land Mobile Radio (LMR), a vehicle modem, a vehicle-mounted server, a tablet, a laptop, a body-worn computing device, etc. The mobile device 300 generally includes a processor 302, at least one memory device 304, one or more input / output (I / O) interfaces 310, and a plurality of wireless interfaces 312, 316, 320 (three shown). Those skilled in the art should understand that Fig. 3 illustrates mobile device 300 in an overly simplistic manner, and a practical embodiment may include additional components and appropriately configured processing logic to support known or conventional operating features not described in detail herein. The components (302, 304, 310, 312, 316, and 320) of mobile device 300 are communicatively coupled via a local interface 324. Local interface 324 may include, for example, but is not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections as known in the art. Local interface 324 may include additional elements omitted for simplicity, such as, among others, controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers to enable communication.Furthermore, the local interface 324 may include address, control and / or data connections to enable suitable communications between the aforementioned components.

[0022] The mobile device 300 operates under the control of a processor 302, such as one or more microprocessors, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), combinations thereof, or other such devices known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The processor 302 operates the associated mobile device according to data and instructions stored in at least one storage device 304, such as random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and / or read-only memory (ROM), or equivalents thereof, which stores data and instructions executable by the associated processor so that the mobile device can perform the functions described herein.

[0023] The one or more I / O interfaces 310 may include user interfaces that allow a user to enter information into and retrieve information from the mobile device 300. For example, the user interfaces may include a keypad, a touch screen, a scroll ball, a scroll bar, buttons, a barcode scanner, and the like. Furthermore, the user interfaces may include a display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch screen, and the like, for presenting system output. The I / O interface 310 may also include, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a small computer system interface (SCSI), an infrared (IR) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and the like for communicating with or coupling to an external device.

[0024] The plurality of wireless interfaces 312, 316, 320 (three shown) each include a modem 314, 318, 322 and enable exchange of wireless communications with other mobile devices and / or with an access network, such as the access networks 222, 232. For example, the plurality of wireless interfaces 312, 316, 320 may include one or more wireless interfaces 312, 316 for wireless wide area communications, such as wireless area network (WAN) communications or wireless local area network (WLAN) communications. Each of the one or more wireless interfaces 312, 316 includes an associated modem 314, 318, such as modems 204 and 206 of mobile device 202 and modems 214 and 216 of mobile device 202, and antennas for generating wireless WAN / WLAN signals.For example, in the case of a multi-mode mobile device, one of the wireless interfaces 312 and 316, and correspondingly one of the modems 314 and 318, may be a narrowband interface and modem supporting communication with a narrowband network, while the other of the wireless interfaces 312 and 316 and modems 314 and 318 may be a broadband interface and modem supporting communication with a broadband network. The plurality of wireless interfaces 312, 316, and 320 may further include a short-range wireless interface 320, such as the modem 208 of the mobile device 202 and the modem 218 of the mobile device 212, for short-range communication with other mobile devices.The short-range wireless interface 320 may be a Bluetooth device including a Bluetooth modem 322 and an antenna, a near-field communication (NFC) device (or a near-field device) including an NFC modem 322 and a resonant NFC antenna, or a Wi-Fi device including a Wi-Fi modem 322 and an antenna.

[0025] The data and instructions managed by at least one storage device 304 include software programs containing an ordered list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. For example, the software in at least one storage device 304 includes a suitable operating system (O / S) and programs. The operating system essentially controls the execution of other computer programs and provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, communication control, and related services. The programs may include various applications, add-ons, etc.configured to provide user functionality with the mobile device 300. For example, at least one storage device 304 manages a group call client that, when executed by the processor 302, enables peer-to-peer exchange of signaling and traffic with the group management server 252. At least one storage device 304 further manages at least one identifier (ID) of the mobile device, such as a subscriber unit identifier (SUID), an IMEI, an MSISDN, an IMSI, and / or a SIP URI, each of which identifies the mobile device in the communication system 200.

[0026] At least one storage device 304 further includes an interference manager module 306 (hereinafter also referred to as "interference manager") that enables the mobile device 300 to determine when a physical proximity of the mobile device to another mobile device represents a potential for interference and to collaboratively negotiate interference mitigation with an interference manager of the other mobile device.The interference manager 306 includes a proximity threshold 308 that defines a physical proximity or geographic distance between two mobile devices at which an uplink transmission by one of the two mobile devices may generate unacceptable interference for a downlink reception by the other mobile device, for example, when the uplink transmission and downlink reception are in a spectrally close spectrum and / or when an uplink transmission by one of the two mobile devices generates intermodulation distortion (IMD) components that fall within a spectrum of a downlink reception by the other mobile device. A value for the proximity threshold 308 may be hard-coded or a user-configurable setting. User configurability of the proximity threshold 308 may allow fine-tuning of the interference manager 306 on a per-user or situational basis (i.e., static versus transiently nearby mobile devices).

[0027] Now referring to Fig. 4, a block diagram of the group management server 252 is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The group management server 252 includes a processor 402, such as one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), combinations thereof, or such other devices known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The group management server 252 further includes at least one storage device 404, such as random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and / or read-only memory (ROM), or equivalents thereof, in communication with an associated processor 402 via an associated local interface 408.At least one storage device 404 stores data and programs, such as group call programs, that can be executed by the processor 402 and that enable the group management server to perform all of the functions necessary to operate in the communication system 200. The group management server 252 further includes one or more network interfaces 406 (one shown) that are in communication with the processor 402 via a local interface 408 and that provide connection to other infrastructure devices of the communication system 200, such as the data network 240 and, via the data network, to the networks 220 and 230. The local interface 408 may include, for example, but is not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections as known in the art.The local interface 308 may include additional elements omitted for simplicity, such as, among others, controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers to enable communication. Furthermore, the local interface 408 may include address, control, and / or data connections to enable appropriate communication between the aforementioned components of the group management server.

[0028] It is assumed here that a first spectrum used by the first network 220, for example, a narrowband spectrum for public safety (with an uplink band of 799-805, 806-809 or 809-815 MHz paired with a downlink band of 769-775, 851-854 or 854-860 MHz, respectively) is in close spectral proximity to a second spectrum used by a second network 230, for example, a 3GPP LTE network operating in the neighboring C block with an uplink band of 776-787 MHz.In some embodiments of the present invention, it is assumed that the first and second mobile devices 202, 212 are in sufficient geographical or physical proximity to each other such that an uplink transmission by one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device or the second mobile device, as part of a communication session may result in interference with receiving when the other mobile device is receiving as part of a different communication session.For example, in communication system 200, an uplink transmission by a wideband mobile device, such as mobile device 212, in the B13 and / or B14 frequency bands may interfere with a reception by a narrowband mobile device, such as mobile device 202, of a narrowband transmission from a narrowband access node, such as access node 224, when the two mobile devices 202 and 212 are geographically or physically close to each other, because both the B13 and / or B14 transmission and the narrowband reception use frequencies that are relatively close to each other. To mitigate the interference, communication system 200 consolidates both the first communication session and the second communication session into a single mobile device.By consolidating both communication sessions into the same mobile device, the mobile device is able to exercise control over uplink transmissions for both communication sessions, thereby mitigating interference between the two sessions.

[0029] In other embodiments of the present invention, it is assumed that a converged mobile device, for example, the first mobile device 202, is sufficiently distant from another mobile device, for example, the second mobile device 212, such that an uplink transmission by the second mobile device as part of a second communication session does not cause interference with reception by the first mobile device as part of a first communication session. If two such communication sessions are initially located at the same mobile device, such as the first mobile device 202, and can potentially interfere with each other, the communication system 200 provides for a transfer or handover of one of the two communication sessions to the second mobile device.By transferring one of the communication sessions to the second mobile device, the likelihood of interference between the two communication sessions is reduced.

[0030] Now referring to Fig. 5, a logic flow diagram is provided illustrating a method performed by the communication system 200 in mitigating inter-mobile device interference in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The logic flow diagram 500 begins (502) when each of the plurality of mobile devices 202, 212 registers, in accordance with well-known techniques, with a network that serves the mobile device, such as a first network 220 with respect to a first mobile device 202 of the plurality of mobile devices 202, 212 and a second network 230 with respect to a second mobile device 212 of the plurality of mobile devices 202, 212, and further registers with a service network 250.

[0031] For example, the first mobile device 202 may activate or roam into the communication system 200 and, in response to activating / roaming into the communication system 200, register with the network 220 and the service network 250. Similarly, the mobile device 212 may activate or roam into the communication system 200 and, in response to activating / roaming into the communication system 200, register with the network 230 and the service network 250.As part of the process of registering in the service network 250, each of the plurality of mobile devices 202, 212 authenticates with and connects to the group management server 252, including transmitting group membership information to the group management server, which includes an identifier of the mobile device and / or a user of the mobile device, such as a SUID, an IMEI, an MSISDN, and / or an IMSI, and information regarding any groups with which the mobile device or the user of the mobile device is associated, such as a group identifier (ID), for example, a talk group ID.

[0032] At a time after registration with the first network 220 and the service network 250, the first mobile device 202 establishes (504) a first communication session with the first network using the modem 204 of the first mobile device and the first wireless communication protocol associated with the first network. Similarly, at a time after registration with the second network 230 and the service network 250, the second mobile device 212 establishes (506) a second communication session with the second network using the modem 216 of the second mobile device and the second wireless communication protocol associated with the second network.

[0033] It is assumed herein that a transmission by one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device 202 or the second mobile device 212, may interfere with reception by the other mobile device. For example, the spectrum used by the first communication session may be sufficiently spectrally close to the spectrum used by the second communication session that an uplink transmission by the second mobile device 212 as part of the second communication session may result in interference with reception when the first mobile device 202 is receiving as part of the first communication session, or vice versa (i.e., an uplink transmission by the first mobile device 202 as part of the first communication session may result in interference with reception when the second mobile device 212 is receiving as part of the second communication session).As another example, interference may result from intermodulation distortion (IMD) components associated with a transmission by one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device 202 or the second mobile device 212, where IMD components may fall within a receive band of the other mobile device.

[0034] To control such inference, the second mobile device 212 determines (508) a geographical proximity of the first mobile device and determines (510), based on the determined geographical proximity, that the first mobile device is geographically sufficiently close to the second mobile device so that it is a potential interferer for the second mobile device, or vice versa (that the second mobile device is sufficiently close to the first mobile device so that it is a potential interferer for the first mobile device).

[0035] That is, the communication system 200 does not require either the first mobile device 202 or the second mobile device 212 to specifically detect and measure interference resulting from uplink transmissions by the other mobile device. Rather, the second mobile device 212 determines, based on the determined geographic proximity of the first mobile device to the second mobile device, that uplink transmissions by the first mobile device 202 as part of the first communication session may cause unacceptable interference to downlink reception by the second mobile device as part of the second communication session (or conversely, that uplink transmissions by the second mobile device as part of the second communication session may cause unacceptable interference to downlink reception by the first mobile device as part of the first communication session).

[0036] For example, the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 may establish a Bluetooth or NFC communication link 210 via their respective short-range modems 208 and 218. The mere ability to establish a Bluetooth or NFC communication link 210 with the first mobile device 202 may be interpreted by the second mobile device 212 as an indication that the first mobile device is physically close enough to the second mobile device to be a potential interferer for the second mobile device, i.e., that uplink transmissions by the first mobile device 202 as part of the first communication session may cause unacceptable interference for downlink reception by the second mobile device 212 as part of the second communication session (or vice versa).As another example, the second mobile device 212 may determine a received signal strength of a transmission by the first mobile device 202 and a quantity of attenuation of the transmission based on transmission information received from the first mobile device. If the quantity of attenuation of the transmission is less than an attenuation threshold, the second mobile device 212 may determine that the first mobile device is physically close enough to the second mobile device to be a potential interferer for the second mobile device.

[0037] As yet another example, the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 may exchange data including location and transmission information. In such an embodiment, the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 may establish a short-range wireless link 210 and exchange data including location and transmission information over the link 210. Communications over the link 210 may be direct communication between the mobile devices 202, 212 without requiring intermediate routing.In another such embodiment, both the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 may provide location information identifying their respective locations to the infrastructure 260, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates, and the infrastructure 260 may then transmit to both the first and second mobile devices the location information received from the other mobile device. The proximity threshold 308 defines a maximum physical proximity separating the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 at which, for the purposes of the communication system 200, an uplink transmission by either the first or second mobile device causes unacceptable interference with a downlink reception by the other of the two mobile devices.Based on the location information received by the second mobile device 212 and concerning a location of the first mobile device 202, the second mobile device determines a physical proximity of the first mobile device to the second mobile device and compares the determined physical proximity to the proximity threshold 308.If the physical proximity is less than the proximity threshold 308, the second mobile device 212 determines that one of the mobile devices, the first or the second mobile device, is a potential interferer for the other mobile device, the first mobile device or the second mobile device, that is, an uplink transmission by the first mobile device as part of the first communication session may cause unacceptable interference for a downlink reception by the second mobile device as part of the second communication session, or vice versa (that is, an uplink transmission by the second mobile device as part of the second communication session may cause unacceptable interference for a downlink reception by the first mobile device as part of the first communication session).

[0038] In response to determining that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device or the second mobile device, and / or one of the communication sessions, the first or the second communication session, is a potential interferer for the other mobile device / the other communication session, the second mobile device 212 arranges (512) a transfer or transmission of the first communication session from the first mobile device to the second mobile device such that both sessions are now co-located at the second mobile device.For example, the second mobile device 212 may request that the group management server 252 add the second mobile device to the first communication session and remove the first mobile device 202 from the first communication session, and / or may request that the group management server redirect communications intended for the first mobile device as part of the first communication session to the second mobile device. In response to receiving the request(s) from the second mobile device 212, the group management server 252 adds the second mobile device 212 to the first communication session and redirects subsequent communications intended for the first mobile device 202 to the second mobile device.

[0039] As part of transferring the first communication session to the second mobile device 212, the group management server 252 may determine the existence of a relationship between the second mobile device and the first mobile device 202. For example, the group management server 252 may maintain an association between the first mobile device and the second mobile device in at least one storage device 404. In such an embodiment, the association may already exist prior to initiation of the first communication session and may be stored in a profile of the mobile device or in a profile of the user on the group management server 525 or on a server accessible to the group management server.

[0040] In another such embodiment, the first mobile device 202 and / or the second mobile device 212 may identify a relationship between the two mobile devices when they register with the infrastructure 260 and the group management server 252. For example, both the first mobile device and the second mobile device may be associated with and provide the same user identity. For example, when one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device or the second mobile device, registers with the group management server 252 or with an identity server accessible to the group management server, the registering mobile device may transmit data to the group management server or identity server, such as which other mobile devices of the user of the registering mobile device wish to gain access and / or the conditions under which such access should be permitted or denied.

[0041] For example, the registering mobile device may receive an identity token when one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device or the second mobile device, registers with the infrastructure 260 and the group management server 252. The identity token includes an identification of the user and / or an identification of the mobile device to which the respective identity token is sent. The registering mobile device may then transfer the identity token to the other mobile device via the link 210, and the other mobile device may transmit the received identity token to the group management server 252 when the other mobile device registers or wishes to establish a relationship between the two mobile devices.For example, the second mobile device 212 may obtain such an identity token from the first mobile device 202 via the link 210 and, when requesting a transfer of the first communication session from the first mobile device to the second mobile device, transmit the identity token (which identifies the first mobile device and / or the user of the first mobile device) to the group management server.

[0042] In response to transmitting the first communication session to the second mobile device, the second mobile device 212 operates (514) to mitigate interference at the second mobile device between the co-located first communication session and the co-located second communication session. For example, the second mobile device 212 may inhibit (i.e., withhold transmitting) uplink transmissions to the second network 230 during scheduled downlink transmissions from the first network 220 to avoid interference while the second mobile device receives the downlink transmissions, and / or the second mobile device may inhibit uplink transmissions to the first network 220 during scheduled downlink transmissions from the second network 230.For example, the second mobile device 212 may buffer or delay an uplink transmission to one such network until the second mobile device receives a scheduled transmission over the other such network. In another embodiment, the second mobile device 212 may roam for uplink transmissions to one of the networks 220 and 230 to a channel farther away, that is, to a channel farther away in frequency, from the channel used for downlink transmissions from the other network 220 and 230. By coordinating when and on which channel each of the modems 214, 216 communicates, interference between the first communication session and the second communication session, which are co-located, may be avoided and / or minimized. Logic flow 500 then ends (516).

[0043] That is, by merging the first communication session and the second communication session into the same mobile device, i.e., the second mobile device 212, the second mobile device is able to exercise control over uplink transmissions for both communication sessions and mitigate interference between the two sessions, for example, preventing the second mobile device from transmitting on an uplink as part of the second communication session while the mobile device is receiving a downlink transmission as part of the first communication session.

[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, the communication system 200 provides for a transfer or transmission of one of the two communication sessions to a second, different mobile device, such as the second mobile device 212, that is physically far enough from the first mobile device so that the likelihood of interference between the two communication sessions is reduced when two communication sessions are co-located on the same mobile device, such as the first mobile device 202, and can potentially interfere with each other. That is, with reference to Fig. 6, a logic flow diagram 600 is provided illustrating a method performed by the communication system 200 for mitigating inter-mobile interference in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] The logic flow diagram 600 begins (602) when the first mobile device 202 registers with the first network 220 and the second network 230 and the service network 250 according to well-known techniques. At a time after registering with the first network 220 and the service network 250, the first mobile device 202 establishes (604) a first communication session with the first network using the first mobile device modem 204 and the first wireless communication protocol associated with the first network. Similarly, at a time after registering with the second network 230 and the service network 250, the first mobile device 202 also establishes (606) a second communication session with the second network using the first mobile device modem 206 and the second wireless communication protocol associated with the second network.

[0046] Again, it is assumed herein that a transmission by one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device 202 or the second mobile device 212, may interfere with reception by the other mobile device. For example, the spectrum used by the first communication session may be spectrally close enough to the spectrum used by the second communication session such that an uplink transmission by the first mobile device 202 as part of the second communication session may result in interference with reception when the first mobile device is receiving as part of the first communication session, or vice versa (i.e., an uplink transmission by the first mobile device 202 as part of the first communication session may result in interference with reception when the first mobile device is receiving as part of the second communication session).In another example, the IMD associated with a transmission by one of the first or second mobile devices may interfere with reception by the other mobile device. To mitigate such interference, the first mobile device 202 determines (608) a geographic proximity of the second mobile device 212 to the first mobile device. Based on the determined geographic proximity, the first mobile device 202 determines that a transmission by the second mobile device is not a potential interferer with (i.e., will not unacceptably interfere with) downlink reception by the first mobile device.

[0047] For example, the first mobile device 202 may determine that it is unable to establish a Bluetooth or NFC communication link 210 with the first mobile device 212, and based on the inability to establish a Bluetooth or NFC communication link, determine that the second mobile device is geographically sufficiently distant from the first mobile device that it is not a potential interferer for the first mobile device, i.e., that a transmission by the second mobile device as part of the second communication session will not interfere with a reception by the first mobile device as part of the first communication session. For example, the first mobile device 202 may determine a received signal strength of a transmission by the second mobile device 212, and, based on transmission information it receives from the second mobile device, determine a quantity of attenuation of the transmission.If the attenuation quantity of the transmission is greater than an attenuation threshold, then the first mobile device 202 may determine that the second mobile device 212 is geographically sufficiently distant from the first mobile device so that it is not a potential interferer for the first mobile device.

[0048] In yet another example, the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 may exchange data with each other relating to location and transmission information. In such an embodiment, the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 may establish a short-range wireless link 210 and exchange data including the location and transmission information over the link 210. Communication over the link 210 may be direct communication between the mobile devices 202, 212, with no need for intermediate routing.In another such embodiment, both the first mobile device 202 and the second mobile device 212 may provide location information identifying their locations, for example, GPS coordinates, to the infrastructure 260, and the infrastructure 260 may then communicate the information received from the other mobile device to each of the first mobile device and the second mobile device. Based on the location information received from the first mobile device 202 regarding a location of the second mobile device 212, the first mobile device determines a physical proximity of the second mobile device to the first mobile device and compares the determined physical proximity to the proximity threshold 308.If the determined physical proximity is greater than the proximity threshold 308, the first mobile device 202 determines that the second mobile device 212 is geographically sufficiently distant from the first mobile device so that it is not a potential interferer for the first mobile device, i.e., it determines that an uplink transmission by the second mobile device as part of the second communication session will not cause unacceptable interference with a downlink reception by the first mobile device as part of the first communication session, or vice versa (i.e., an uplink transmission by the first mobile device as part of the first communication session will not cause unacceptable interference with a downlink reception by the second mobile device as part of the second communication session).

[0049] In response to determining that the second mobile device 212 is sufficiently geographically distant from the first mobile device 202 so that it is not a potential interferer for the first mobile device / first communication session, the first mobile device 202 determines (610) to transfer or hand over the second communication session from the first mobile device to the second mobile device such that the first and second communication sessions are no longer co-located, i.e., the first communication session is now localized at the first mobile device and the second communication session is now localized at the second mobile device, and arranges (612) such transfer or handover.For example, the first mobile device 202 may request that the management server 252 add the second mobile device 212 to the first communication session and remove the first mobile device from the second communication session, and / or may request that the group management server redirect communications intended for the first mobile device as part of the second communication session to the second mobile device. In response to receiving the request(s) from the first mobile device 202, the group management server 252 adds the second mobile device 212 to the second communication session and redirects subsequent communications intended for the first mobile device 202 as part of the second communication session to the second mobile device.

[0050] Similar to logic flow diagram 500, as part of transferring the second communication session to the second mobile device 212, the group management server 252 may determine the existence of a relationship between the second mobile device and the first mobile device 202. For example, the group management server 252 may maintain an association between the first and second mobile devices in at least one storage device 404. In various such embodiments, the association may already exist and be stored in a profile of the mobile device or a profile of the user on the group management server 252 or on a server accessible by the group management server.In another example, the first mobile device 202 and / or the second mobile device 212 may identify a relationship between the two mobile devices when registering with the infrastructure 260 and the group management server 252 or when requesting a transfer of the second communication session from the first mobile device to the second mobile device. For example, the first mobile device may transmit an identity token (received from the second mobile device and identifying the second mobile device and / or the user of the second mobile device) to the group management server when registering with the group management server or when requesting a transfer of the second communication session.In response to transferring the second communication session to the second mobile device 212, the second mobile device participates in the second communication session and the first mobile device terminates its participation in the second communication session and / or at least terminates all transmissions as part of the second communication session, and the logic flow diagram 600 then ends (614).

[0051] By transferring or handing over one of the two communication sessions to the second mobile device 212 by the first mobile device 202 when the second mobile device is geographically sufficiently distant from the first mobile device, the first mobile device reduces a likelihood that an uplink transmission as part of one of the two communication sessions will interfere with a downlink reception as part of the other of the two communication sessions.However, in yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first mobile device 202 may reduce a likelihood that an uplink transmission as part of a first communication session will interfere with a downlink reception as part of a second communication session by utilizing a remote wireless device as a relay device for uplink and downlink transmissions when the second mobile device is sufficiently geographically distant from the first mobile device.

[0052] For example, referring to Fig. 7, a block diagram of a wireless communication system 700 is provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Similar to wireless communication system 200, wireless communication system 700 includes a plurality of wide area wireless communication networks (WANs) 730, 740 (two shown), such as a first network 730 operating according to a first wireless communication protocol and a second network 740 operating according to a second wireless communication protocol. The first network 730 provides wireless communication services to mobile devices via a first air interface 732 and the first wireless communication protocol, and the second network 740 provides wireless communication services to mobile devices via a second air interface 742 and the second wireless communication protocol.Each of the air interfaces 732 and 742 includes an uplink and a downlink, with uplinks and downlinks each including multiple traffic channels and multiple signaling channels.

[0053] In various embodiments of the present invention, both the first network 730 and the second network 740 may be the same type of network, or they may be different types of networks. For example, both the first network 730 and the second network 740 may be a broadband network, both the first and second networks 730 and 740 may be a narrowband network, or one of the first network 730 and the second network 740 may be a broadband network, and the other of the first network 730 and the second network 740 may be a narrowband network.

[0054] The communication system 700 further includes a mobile device 702 that is within coverage of one or more networks 730, 740. In various technologies, the mobile device 702 may be referred to as a mobile station (MS), user equipment (UE), user terminal (UT), subscriber station (SS), subscriber unit (SU), remote unit (RU), access terminal, and so on. The mobile device 702 is a multi-mode or converged mobile device configured to operate in both the first network 730 and the second network 740.That is, the mobile device 702 includes a first modem 704 for wireless communication with the first network 730 via the first wireless communication protocol and a second modem 706 for wireless communication with the second network 740 via the second wireless communication protocol. The mobile device 702 further includes at least one third modem 708 for short-range communications via a third short-range wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth. ® protocol, an NFC protocol or Wi-Fi protocol.

[0055] The communication system 700 further includes a user-based wireless communication device 720, for example, a local access point (AP), such as a home AP (and hereinafter referred to as "AP 720"), that provides wireless services via the third short-range wireless communication protocol to mobile devices, such as the mobile device 702, that are within the coverage area of ​​the AP 720, such as within a home or a commercial property 750. The AP 720 further communicates with the network 730 via a modem 722 that is connected to or included in the AP and that operates according to the appropriate wireless communication protocol and modulation scheme.The communication system 700 may additionally include another wireless device 710 (i.e., in addition to the mobile device 702), for example, another mobile device such as a WLAN-enabled laptop computer or personal computer or Bluetooth-enabled electronic equipment such as audio or video equipment that is capable of communicating with the mobile device 702 via a short-range wireless communication protocol, such as the same short-range wireless communication protocol used by the AP 720 or a different short-range wireless communication protocol.

[0056] A logic flow diagram 800 will now be described with reference to Fig. 8 is provided, illustrating a method performed by the communication system 700 in mitigating intra-mobile interference in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The logic flow diagram 800 begins (802) when the mobile device 702 registers with the first network 730 and optionally also with the second network 740 according to well-known registration techniques. At some time after registering with the first network 730, the mobile device 702 establishes (804) a first communication session with the first network using the mobile device modem 704 and the first wireless communication protocol associated with the first network.The mobile device 702 also establishes (806) a second communication session with the second network 740 using the mobile device modem 706 and the second wireless communication protocol or with the wireless device 710 using the modem 708 and the appropriate short-range wireless communication protocol.

[0057] It is assumed herein that a transmission by the mobile device 702 as part of the first communication session may interfere with a reception by the first mobile device as part of the second communication session. To mitigate such interference, the mobile device 702 determines (808), as described above in connection with Fig.6, a geographical proximity of the AP 720 to the mobile device 702 and, based on the determined geographical proximity, that the AP 720 is sufficiently geographically distant from the mobile device 702 such that it is not a potential interferer for the mobile device 702, that is, that an uplink transmission by the AP 720 as part of the first communication session does not cause unacceptable interference with a downlink reception by the mobile device 702 as part of the second communication session.

[0058] In response to determining that the AP 720 is sufficiently geographically distant from the mobile device 702 so that it is not a potential interferer for the mobile device / second communication session, the mobile device 702 determines (810) to use the AP as a relay device for uplink transmissions as part of the first communication session. That is, the AP 720 becomes a remote control terminal that relays voice and / or data messages between the wireless network 730 and the mobile device 702. Preferably, the use of the AP 720 as a relay device is transparent to the user of the mobile device 702.That is, preferably, the user of the mobile device 702 continues to use the mobile device as if nothing happened and is unaware that the AP 720 is being used by the mobile device 702 to send voice and / or data messages to the wireless network 730 and to receive voice and / or data messages from the wireless network 730. That is, in response to determining to use the AP 720 as a relay device, the mobile device 702 establishes (812) a short-range communication session using a short-range wireless communication protocol between the mobile device 702 and the AP 720. For example, the mobile device 702 may perform a "handshake" with the AP 720 and exchange messages that pair the two devices based on the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi protocol.The AP 720 may then allocate wireless resources to the mobile device 702 and establish a short-range wireless link 724 with the mobile device using the allocated resources according to well-known short-range wireless communication protocols, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Further, the AP 720 may store, in conjunction with the allocated resources, a mobile device identifier associated with the mobile device 702 so that the AP 720 can identify messages it receives from the wireless network 730 that are intended for the mobile device 702 and forward such messages to the mobile device.

[0059] For example, the AP 720 may be preconfigured to operate with the network 730 and to wirelessly backhaul signaling to the network 730 over the air interface 732 and to wirelessly receive signaling from the network 730. Following establishment of the wireless short-range link 724 with the mobile device 702, the AP 720 automatically forwards messages received from the mobile device 702 over the wireless interface 724 to the wireless network 730 over the air interface 732. And, in response to receiving downlink messages from the wireless network 730 over the air interface 732 that are intended for the mobile device 702, the AP 720 automatically forwards such messages to the mobile device 702 over the wireless interface 724.

[0060] For example, the mobile device 702 may send the AP 720, through one or more control messages, access information associated with the first network 730 and the communication session, and identification information associated with the mobile device, such as a mobile device identifier or a user identifier. This may include sending an associated access point name (APN) to the AP 720 through one or more control messages. In response to receiving the access information and identification information, the AP 720 may perform a bearer attachment with the first network 730 using the access information and identification information specified in the one or more control messages.For example, the AP 720 may perform a bearer attachment transaction with the first network using the APN specified by the mobile device 702 and register with each network application used by the first mobile device 702 as part of the first communication session.

[0061] The mobile device 702 may then begin using the AP 720 as a relay device for the first communication session, i.e., using the AP 720 to forward (814) voice and / or data messages between the wireless network 730 and the mobile device via the air interface 732 and the wireless link 724. The logical flow 800 then ends (816). By transferring uplink and downlink WAN transmissions that are part of the first communication session from the mobile device 702 to the AP 720, the mobile device is better able to ensure that such uplink WAN transmissions as part of the first communication session do not interfere with downlink reception by the mobile device as part of the second communication session.

[0062] The embodiments of the present invention are preferably implemented in each of the mobile devices 202, 212, and 702, and more particularly, with or in software programs and instructions stored in at least one storage device 304 and executed by a processor 302 of the mobile device. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the embodiments of the present invention may alternatively be implemented in hardware, for example, in integrated circuits (ICs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and the like, such as ASICs implemented in one or more of the mobile devices 202, 212, and 702, and all references to "means for" herein may refer to any such implementation of the present invention.Based on the present disclosure, one skilled in the art will readily be able to make and implement such software and / or hardware without undue experimentation.

[0063] Specific embodiments have been described in the foregoing specification. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present teachings.

[0064] The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any conceivable element that results in any benefit, advantage, or solution occurring or becoming more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims, including any amendments made during the pendency of the present application, and all equivalents of such claims as published.

[0065] Furthermore, in this document, relational expressions such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like are intended to be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "has," "having," "include," "containing," "contain," "containing," or any variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or device comprising, having, including, or containing a list of elements may include not only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent in such processes, methods, articles, or devices. An element that continues with "comprises... a," "has...a", "includes... a", "containing... a", does not, without further qualification, exclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising the element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms "substantially", "essentially", "approximately", "about", or any other version thereof have been defined as "being close to" as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment, the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1%, and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term "coupled", as used herein, is defined as "connected," although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically.A device or structure "configured" in a particular manner is configured in at least that manner, but may also be configured in at least one other manner not listed. Also, as used herein, the terms "air interface" and "wireless link" are intended to be used interchangeably.

[0066] It is desired that some embodiments include one or more generic or specialized processors (or "processing devices"), such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, custom processors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuitry, implement some, most, or all of the functions of the method and / or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all of the functions may be implemented by a state machine that does not have stored program instructions, or in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in which each function, or some combination of certain functions, is implemented as custom logic.Of course, a combination of the two approaches can be used. Both the state machine and the ASIC will be considered "processing devices" for the purposes of further discussion and claim wording.

[0067] Furthermore, an embodiment may be implemented as a computer-readable storage element or medium having computer-readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., including a processor) to perform a method described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and a flash memory.Furthermore, it is expected that one skilled in the art, notwithstanding possible considerable effort and a wide range of design choices due, for example, to available time, current technology, and economic considerations, guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein, will readily be able to generate such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

[0068] The Summary of Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly appreciate the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the spirit or meaning of the claims. Additionally, it will be appreciated from the foregoing Detailed Description that various features in various embodiments are grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This disclosure method should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as will be apparent from the following claims, inventive subject matter is found in fewer than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as separately claimed subject matter.

Claims

[1] System (200) for mitigating interference between communication sessions, the system (200) comprising: a first mobile device (202) and a second mobile device (212), wherein both the first mobile device (202) and the second mobile device (212) comprise a first modem (204; 214) operating according to a first wireless communication protocol and a second modem (206, 216) operating according to a second wireless communication protocol; wherein the first mobile device (202) is configured to establish a first communication session using the first modem (204) of the first mobile device (202) and the first wireless communication protocol; and wherein the second mobile device (212) is configured to: Establishing a second communication session using the second modem (216) of the second mobile device (212) and the second wireless communication protocol; Determining a geographical proximity of the first mobile device (202); Determining, based on the geographical proximity, that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device (202) or the second mobile device (212), is a potential interferer for the other mobile device, the first mobile device (202) or the second mobile device (212); Arranging a transfer of the first communication session to the second mobile device (212) in response to determining that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device (202) or the second mobile device (212), is a potential interferer for the other mobile device, and Operating the second mobile device (212) to mitigate interference between the first communication session and the second communication session in response to transferring the first communication session to the second mobile device (212). [2] The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the second mobile device (212) is configured to determine the geographical proximity of the first mobile device (202) by determining whether the second mobile device (212) is capable of establishing a wireless short-range link (210) with the first mobile device (202). [3] The system (200) of claim 2, wherein the second mobile device (212) is configured to determine that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device (202) or the second mobile device (212), is a potential interferer for the other mobile device by determining that the second mobile device (212) is capable of establishing a wireless short-range link (210) with the first mobile device. [4] The system (200) of claim 2, wherein the short-range wireless link (210) comprises a Bluetooth link or a Wi-Fi link. [5] The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the second mobile device (212) is configured to determine the geographical proximity of the first mobile device (202) by: Receiving location information associated with the first mobile device (202); and Determining the geographical proximity of the first mobile device (202) based on the received location information. [6] The system (200) of claim 5, wherein the second mobile device (212) is configured to determine that the first mobile device (202) is a potential interferer for the second mobile device (212) by: Comparing the determined geographical proximity of the first mobile device (202) with a proximity threshold (308); and Determining that one of the mobile devices, the first mobile device (202) or the second mobile device (212), is a potential interferer for the other mobile device if the determined geographic proximity is less than the proximity threshold (308). [7] The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the second mobile device (212) is configured to operate to mitigate interference between the first communication session and the second communication session by blocking uplink transmissions for one communication session of the first and second communication sessions when receiving on a downlink for the other communication session of the first and second communication sessions. [8] The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the second mobile device (212) is configured to operate to mitigate the interference between the first communication session and the second communication session by roaming to a channel for one of the first and second communication sessions that is farther away in frequency from a channel currently used for the other of the first and second communication sessions. [9] System (200) for mitigating interference between communication sessions, the system (200) comprising: a first mobile device (202) and a second mobile device (212), wherein both the first mobile device (202) and the second mobile device (212) comprise a first modem (204; 214) operating according to a first wireless communication protocol and a second modem (206; 216) operating according to a second wireless communication protocol: wherein the first mobile device (202) is configured to: Establishing (604) a first communication session using the first modem (204) of the first mobile device (202) and the first wireless communication protocol; Establishing (606) a second communication session using the second modem (206) of the first mobile device (202) and the second wireless communication protocol; Determining (608) a geographical proximity between the first mobile device (202) and the second mobile device (212); Determining (610) to transfer the second communication session to the second mobile device (212) based on the determined geographical proximity; and Transferring (612), in response to determining to transfer the second communication session, the second communication session to the second mobile device (212). [10] The system (200) of claim 9, wherein the first mobile device (202) is configured to determine the geographical proximity of the second mobile device (212) by determining whether the first mobile device (202) is capable of establishing a wireless short-range link (210) with the second mobile device (212). [11] The system (200) of claim 10, wherein the first mobile device (202) is configured to determine that the second communication session is transferred to the second mobile device (212) by determining that the first mobile device (202) is unable to establish a wireless short-range link (210) with the second mobile device (212). [12] The system (200) of claim 10, wherein the short-range wireless link (210) comprises a Bluetooth link or a Wi-Fi link. [13] The system (200) of claim 9, wherein the first mobile device (202) is configured to determine the geographical proximity to the second mobile device (212) by: Receiving location information associated with the second mobile device (212); and Determining the geographical proximity of the second mobile device (212) based on the received location information. [14] The system (200) of claim 13, wherein the first mobile device (202) is configured to determine that the second communication session is transferred to the second mobile device (212) by: Comparing the determined geographical proximity of the second mobile device (212) with a proximity threshold (308); and Determining to transfer the second communication session to the second mobile device (212) if the determined geographic proximity is greater than the proximity threshold (308).

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