SPS Receiver Tracking During Uplink Interference in Mobile Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Concurrent operation of Satellite Positioning System (SPS) and wireless communication in mobile devices is hindered by interference from wireless communication signals, leading to degraded positioning accuracy and increased false detection due to harmonics and intermodulation products, especially when the communication signals are significantly stronger.

Innovation Solution

The mobile device initiates SPS acquisition before wireless communication, employs signal blanking, measurement exclusion, or disables SPS reception during uplink transmissions, and aligns SPS signal measurement dwells with transmitter off periods to mitigate interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the mobile device transmits wireless communication signals concurrently with SPS reception, then communication functionality is maintained, but SPS signal reception is degraded due to interference from uplink signals and their harmonics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcurrent operation capabilityVSAvoidSPS signal reception quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs SPS signal acquisition and establishes tracking before initiating uplink wireless communication transmissions. This preliminary action ensures that SPS signals are acquired and tracked without interference from the stronger communication signals, allowing the device to maintain both communication functionality and positioning accuracy concurrently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic measurement dwells during which the SPS receiver temporarily stops uplink transmissions to measure SPS signals in the interfered frequency band. These periodic measurement intervals are timed to occur during off durations when communication transmissions are not active, allowing interference-free SPS signal measurements while maintaining overall concurrent operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If the mobile device performs SPS acquisition before wireless communication, then SPS signals are acquired without interference, but communication setup time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSPS signal acquisition accuracyVSAvoidcommunication setup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs SPS signal acquisition and establishes tracking before initiating uplink wireless communication transmissions. This preliminary action ensures that SPS signals are acquired and tracked without interference from the stronger communication signals, allowing the device to maintain both communication functionality and positioning accuracy concurrently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Once SPS signals are acquired and tracking is established, the system maintains continuous SPS signal tracking throughout the wireless communication session. This continuous tracking ensures that positioning accuracy is maintained without requiring repeated acquisition procedures, minimizing time loss while preserving measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If the mobile device uses signal blanking or measurement exclusion to mitigate interference, then SPS reception accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSPS signal measurement accuracyVSAvoidinterference mitigation mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic measurement dwells during which the SPS receiver temporarily stops uplink transmissions to measure SPS signals in the interfered frequency band. These periodic measurement intervals are timed to occur during off durations when communication transmissions are not active, allowing interference-free SPS signal measurements while maintaining overall concurrent operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the SPS receiver's operational parameters, including enabling or disabling SPS reception in interfered bands, configuring measurement dwell timings, and selecting between different frequency bands based on communication transmission schedules. These parameter changes allow the receiver to optimize SPS measurement accuracy without requiring complex hardware modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4722761A2Methods and apparatus for concurrent operation of SPS receiver and wireless transmitter

Publication Date: 2026.04.08 QUALCOMM INC

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AI summary

A mobile device may be configured to perform concurrent Satellite Positioning System (SPS) operation and wireless communications when uplink signals transmitted by the mobile device interferes with the reception of SPS signals in one or more frequency bands. The mobile device may determine if the SPS receiver has already acquired SPS signals and is in a tracking state. If the SPS receiver is not in a tracking state, an SPS acquisition procedure is initiated before the wireless communication session is initiated. The SPS acquisition procedure is performed until the SPS receiver reaches a tracking state, or until a timeout is reached. Once the SPS receiver is in a tracking state, the wireless communication session may be initiated, during which the SPS receiver is controlled, e.g., to perform signal blanking, measurement exclusion, or disable SPS reception, to mitigate interference with SPS signals.