Wireline Transmitter Interference Mitigation via Controller Suspension

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile wireless communication devices experience interference between various communication signals, such as cellular and USB transmissions, leading to issues like dropped calls and increased bit error rates due to overlapping frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

A mobile wireless communications device with a controller that switches a wireline transmitter to a suspended communication mode when a wireless receiver begins receiving signals, preventing interference by disabling transmission during reception and enabling it when reception is complete, while allowing non-overlapping frequency band communications to continue uninterrupted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireline transmitter and wireless receiver operate simultaneously in overlapping frequency bands, then communication functionality is maintained, but signal interference occurs causing dropped calls and increased bit error rates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication functionalityVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller preemptively suspends wireline transmission before wireless reception begins by detecting upcoming reception events and timing the suspension to occur just before the wireless signal arrives. This preliminary action prevents interference from occurring in the first place, maintaining both communication functionality and signal quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the wireline transmitter based on real-time detection of wireless reception events. The controller continuously monitors for wireless signals and switches the wireline transmitter between normal and suspended modes accordingly, creating a dynamic adaptation that resolves the contradiction between maintaining functionality and ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If wireline transmitter is suspended during wireless reception, then signal interference is reduced, but transmission time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidtransmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller suspends transmission just before wireless reception begins rather than throughout the entire reception period. By timing the suspension to start only when necessary and resume immediately after reception completes, the system minimizes transmission time loss while still preventing interference during the critical reception window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system rushes through the suspension period by minimizing its duration - suspending only for the brief interval when wireless reception is actively occurring. This approach skips the unnecessary suspension time and gets back to normal transmission as quickly as possible, reducing overall time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Reliability

If controller switches wireline transmitter to suspended mode during wireless reception, then interference is mitigated, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller uses feedback from wireless reception event detection to automatically control the wireline transmitter state. When the wireless receiver detects an incoming signal, this feedback triggers the controller to suspend the wireline transmitter, and when reception completes, the feedback triggers resumption. This automated feedback loop manages complexity by using the system's own operational states to control itself rather than requiring external complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless receiver's detection capability serves dual purposes - both receiving wireless signals and triggering the interference mitigation mechanism. The system essentially self-regulates by using its own reception events to control the transmitter suspension, eliminating the need for separate complex control systems and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2933937B1Mobile wireless communications device providing enhanced interference mitigation from wireline transmitter and related methods
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2933937B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2933937B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2933937B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing, a wireless receiver carried by the housing and configured to receive communication signals over a wireless frequency range, a wireline transmitter carried by the housing and configured to transmit communication signals overlapping in frequency with the wireless frequency range, and a controller carried by the housing and coupled with the wireless receiver and the wireline transmitter. The controller may be configured to determine when the wireless receiver is to begin receiving and, based thereon, switch the wireline transmitter to a suspended communication mode during which transmission is disabled. The controller may also be configured to determine when the wireless receiver has completed receiving and, based thereon, switch the wireline transmitter to a normal communication mode in which transmission is enabled.