Collocated Radio Interference Management via Dynamic Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices with collocated radios, such as LTE and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi modules, experience interference due to concurrent transmissions over neighboring frequencies, leading to packet loss and disassociation from networks, and existing mitigation methods like frequency switching or power reduction can reduce bandwidth and are not always effective, especially when 2G/3G bands are overloaded.
Innovation Solution
A system where a host controller coordinates the operations of collocated radio modules to manage interference by determining signal quality metrics, generating a collocated radio tolerance indicator, and performing actions such as frequency changes or power adjustments to minimize interference while maintaining required bandwidth, using adaptive frequency-hopping and time division multiplexing techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the LTE radio module transmits at higher power to enable longer distance transmissions, then transmission range is improved, but interference with the BT-WLAN radio module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts LTE transmission power based on real-time interference conditions detected by the BT-WLAN radio module. The host controller continuously monitors interference levels and adapts the LTE power output accordingly, allowing the system to maintain long transmission range when interference is low while reducing power when interference becomes problematic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission power parameter of the LTE radio module based on detected interference conditions. When the BT-WLAN module detects significant interference from LTE transmissions, the host controller modifies the LTE power parameter to an appropriate lower level, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining transmission range and reducing interference.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the host controller coordinates frequency changes to mitigate interference, then interference is reduced, but bandwidth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The BT-WLAN radio module provides feedback to the host controller about detected interference levels from the LTE module. Based on this feedback, the host controller intelligently coordinates frequency or power adjustments only when necessary, rather than continuously switching frequencies. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain LTE bandwidth while mitigating interference through targeted adjustments.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the LTE radio module switches to 2G/3G band to avoid interference, then interference with BT-WLAN is reduced, but network performance deteriorates due to band overload
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than statically switching to 2G/3G bands, the system dynamically adjusts LTE transmission power in real-time based on interference conditions. This dynamic power control allows the LTE module to remain on the preferred LTE band (maintaining network performance) while adapting power levels to minimize interference with BT-WLAN operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A device implementing a system for managing interference between collocated radios may include a first radio module, a collocated second radio module, and a host processor. The first radio module may be configured to generate a collocated radio tolerance indicator that indicates a tolerance of the first radio module to interference caused by the collocated second radio module when the collocated second radio module is transmitting, and provide the collocated radio tolerance indicator to a host processor when a second collocated radio module is transmitting. The host processor may be configured to control the second radio module based at least in part on the collocated radio tolerance indicator.