Co-located Radio Interference Control via Preemptive Frequency Reservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for co-locating wireless communication modules, such as WLAN and WPAN radios, in mobile devices that operate in the same frequency region often result in interference, with current time-only or frequency-only based solutions like PTA and AFH algorithms being inadequate, particularly during transitions, leading to issues like audio delays or dropped calls.

Innovation Solution

A communication control configuration and method that employs pre-emptive channel reservation and time division multiplexing, where a host controller ensures that one radio adjusts its frequency region before allowing the other to transition, thereby minimizing interference and maintaining minimum frequency spreading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If time-only based methods like PTA are used to manage co-located radios, then transmission collisions are avoided, but reception is lost during frequency transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidreception quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by notifying the second radio of the proposed frequency region before the first radio actually transitions. This allows the second radio to proactively clear its frequency list of the upcoming frequency, preventing future collisions. The host controller sends a notification message containing the proposed frequency region, enabling the second radio to prepare in advance by removing the frequency from its available channels before the transition occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If frequency-only based methods like AFH are used to manage co-located radios, then interference is avoided in steady state, but transitions cause audio delays or dropped calls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference avoidanceVSAvoidtransition delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by notifying the second radio of the proposed frequency region before the first radio actually transitions. This allows the second radio to proactively clear its frequency list of the upcoming frequency, preventing future collisions. The host controller sends a notification message containing the proposed frequency region, enabling the second radio to prepare in advance by removing the frequency from its available channels before the transition occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the frequency region of the second radio based on the current and proposed frequencies of the first radio. The host controller continuously monitors the first radio's frequency transitions and sends notification messages to the second radio, which then dynamically updates its frequency list by clearing the proposed frequency. This dynamic adaptation ensures continuous interference avoidance without fixed timing constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the second radio maintains frequency spreading, then frequency diversity is improved, but interference with the first radio increases during transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency diversityVSAvoidinterference level
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by selectively removing only the specific proposed frequency from the second radio's frequency list, rather than removing all frequencies or maintaining a fixed spreading pattern. The host controller identifies the exact frequency region that will be used by the first radio and notifies the second radio to clear only that specific frequency. This localized adjustment maintains frequency diversity in other regions while preventing interference in the specific frequency region being used by the first radio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP1895719B1Communication device comprising multiple wireless communication modules sharing a frequency band
Publication Date: 2009.08.26 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP1895719B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1895719B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1895719B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various embodiments for a communication control configuration and a communication control method are described for wireless communication devices having at least two radios that can potentially interfere with one another. The control schemes described herein reduce the likelihood that the two radios will interfere with one another during operation.