U.S. patent application number 14/757815 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-29 for wireless fidelity (wi-fi) clear channel assesment (cca) detection and transmission decision making in a portable device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Intel IP Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Intel IP Corporation. Invention is credited to Assi Jakoby, Ido Ouzieli, Ross Rony.
Application Number | 20170187473 14/757815 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58776483 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170187473 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jakoby; Assi ; et
al. |
June 29, 2017 |
WIRELESS FIDELITY (WI-FI) CLEAR CHANNEL ASSESMENT (CCA) DETECTION
AND TRANSMISSION DECISION MAKING IN A PORTABLE DEVICE
Abstract
Described herein are technologies related to an implementation
of Wi-Fi CCA detection and transmission decision making using a
histogram data block. For example, the histogram data block
facilitates threshold values that are used for the transmission
decision making to avoid Wi-Fi signal retransmission and/or
collision.
Inventors: |
Jakoby; Assi; (Herzelia,
IL) ; Ouzieli; Ido; (Tel Aviv, IL) ; Rony;
Ross; (Haifa, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Intel IP Corporation |
Santa Clara |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Intel IP Corporation
Santa Clara
CA
|
Family ID: |
58776483 |
Appl. No.: |
14/757815 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 24/02 20130101;
H04B 17/318 20150115; H04L 43/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 17/318 20060101
H04B017/318; H04L 12/26 20060101 H04L012/26; H04W 24/02 20060101
H04W024/02 |
Claims
1. A method of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) Clear Channel Assessment
(CCA) detection in a device, the method comprising: detecting and
measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of a signal;
comparing the measured RSSI of the detected signal to a first
threshold value; determining whether the detected signal is
transmitted from a source internal to the device or from an
external wireless signal source in response to the measured RSSI
that is greater than the first threshold value; transmitting Wi-Fi
signals by the device in response to a determination that the
detected signal is transmitted from the source internal to the
device; determining whether the detected signal is transmitted from
the source internal to the device or from an external Wi-Fi signal
source in response to the measured RSSI that is lesser than the
first threshold value; transmitting the Wi-Fi signals by the device
in response to a determination that the detected signal is
transmitted from the source internal to the device; and deferring
Wi-Fi signal transmission by the device in response to a
determination that the detected signal is transmitted from the
external Wi-Fi signal source.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determination of
whether the detected signal is transmitted from the source internal
to the device implements a histogram data block.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first threshold
value is -62 dBm.
4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein stored contents of the
histogram data block for a signal range that is greater than the
first threshold value include the RSSI of different external
wireless signal sources.
5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the histogram data
collects and stores data when an internal long term evolution (LTE)
transmission on the device is not active.
6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the stored contents of
the histogram data block for a signal range that is lesser than the
first threshold value include the RSSI of different external Wi-Fi
signal sources.
7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining of
whether the detected signal is transmitted from the source internal
to the device or from the external wireless signal source is based
from stored contents of a histogram data block that comprise
identification features of different external wireless signal
sources for a signal range that is greater than the first threshold
value.
8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining of
whether the detected signal is transmitted from the source internal
to the device or from the external Wi-Fi signal source is based
from stored contents of a histogram data block that comprise
identification features of different external Wi-Fi signal sources
for a signal range that is lower than the first threshold
value.
9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the lower than the
first threshold is between -62 dBm to -82 dBm.
10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining of
whether the detected signal is transmitted from the source internal
to the device or from the external wireless signal source is
performed while an internal long term evolution (LTE) transmission
is co-running on the device.
11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the detected signal
is assumed to be an external signal when the determining is
performed while the LTE transmission is not co-running on the
device.
12. A device transceiver comprising: a signal scanner configured to
detect and measure a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of a
signal; a histogram data block configured to store a percentage
plot of different RSSIs that correspond to different external
wireless signal sources for a signal range that is greater than a
first threshold value; a processor configured to determine whether
the detected signal is transmitted from a source internal to the
device or from the external wireless signal sources; and a Wi-Fi
modem configured to transmit Wi-Fi signals in response to a
determination of the detected signal that is transmitted from the
source internal to the device.
13. The device transceiver as recited in claim 12, wherein the
first threshold value is -62 dBm.
14. The device transceiver as recited in claim 12, wherein the
histogram data block is configured to collect and store data when
an internal long term evolution (LTE) transmission on the device is
not active.
15. The device transceiver as recited in claim 12, wherein the
processor is further configured to determine whether the detected
signal is transmitted from the source internal to the device or
from an external Wi-Fi signal source in a case where the detected
RSSI of the signal is lesser than the first threshold value.
16. A device comprising: an antenna; a transceiver coupled to the
processor, the transceiver further comprises: a signal scanner
configured to detect and measure a received signal strength
indicator (RSSI) of a signal; a histogram data block configured to
store a percentage plot of different RSSIs that correspond to
different external wireless signal sources for a signal range that
is greater than a first threshold value, wherein the external
wireless sources is limited to a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) signal
source for the signal range that is lesser than the first threshold
value; a processor configured to determine whether the detected
signal is transmitted from a source internal to the device or from
the external wireless signal sources in a case where the detected
signal is greater than the threshold value; and a Wi-Fi modem
configured to transmit Wi-Fi signals in response to a determination
of the detected signal that is transmitted from the source internal
to the device in the case where the detected signal is greater than
the threshold value.
17. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the Wi-Fi modem
defers the Wi-Fi signal transmission in a case where the detected
signal is transmitted from the external Wi-Fi signal source for the
signal range that is lesser than the first threshold value.
18. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the Wi-Fi modem does
not transmit the Wi-Fi in response to a determination of the
detected signal that is transmitted from the external wireless
signal sources in the case where the detected signal is greater
than the threshold value.
19. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the first threshold
value is -62 dBm.
20. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein the external
wireless signal sources include any wireless transmission.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Wireless communication systems may use one or more channels
to transfer data between a transmitter and receivers. These
communication systems may operate according to a set of standards
defined, for example, by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 committee for Wireless Local
Area Network (WLAN) communication.
[0002] According to a Wi-Fi standard, in order for a Wi-Fi modem to
perform Wi-Fi signal transmission, there is a need to check that
surrounding air interface is clear of any neighboring Wi-Fi signal
sources, or other unlicensed wireless technology transmissions
(i.e., there is no other unlicensed wireless technology device in
the area which is currently transmitting at the same channel as the
Wi-Fi modem). Since the neighbor transmission is not regularly
received and/or identified in a clear manner (e.g., preamble is not
correctly received), it may be enough to detect an interfering
energy (not necessarily identified as Wi-Fi) to prevent Wi-Fi
signal transmission operation by a device. This process may be
referred to as clear channel assessment (CCA) process.
[0003] As such, there is a need to improve Wi-Fi CCA detection for
efficient transmission decision making as described in present
implementations herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates an example scenario that implements an
efficient Wi-Fi CCA detection in a transceiver circuitry of a
portable device.
[0005] FIG. 2 is an example schematic block diagram of a portable
device transceiver as described in present implementations
herein.
[0006] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate example illustrations of plotted
stored data from a histogram data block for different portable
device geo-locations as described in present implementations
herein.
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary process for implementing
Wi-Fi CCA detection in a transceiver of a portable device.
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates an example system of a device that
utilizes Wi-Fi CCA detection in a transceiver in accordance with
implementations herein.
[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates an example device that utilizes Wi-Fi CCA
detection in a transceiver described in accordance with
implementations herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Described herein is a technology for implementing wireless
fidelity (Wi-Fi) Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) detection in a
device. For example, to avoid Wi-Fi signal and/or collision, which
may increase Wi-Fi latency, the implementations described herein
may include a histogram data block that stores a different set of
received signal strength indicator (RSSI) percentage plot data for
a signal range that is higher than a first threshold value of -62
dBm, and for the signal range that is lower than the first
threshold value.
[0011] The stored set of RSSI percentage plot data for the signal
range that is higher than the first threshold value (e.g., -62 dBm)
may be utilized to determine whether a signal that is detected by
the device is due to an internal transmission within the device, or
due to external wireless signal sources. For example, when the
detected signal is due to the internal transmission within the
device (i.e., based from the histogram data block), then a Wi-Fi
signal transmission may be performed by the device. Otherwise, when
the detected signal is due to any neighboring external wireless
signal source, then no Wi-Fi signal transmission by the device is
performed. In this example, a co-running long term evolution (LTE)
transmission is assumed to be present during process of determining
whether the detected signal is a hidden internal signal or external
to the device. Furthermore, the stored set of RSSI percentage plot
data for the signal range that is higher than the first threshold
value may be collected when there is no LTE transmission that is
currently running in the device.
[0012] On the other hand, the stored set of RSSI percentage plot
data for the signal range that is lower than the first threshold
value (e.g., -62 dBm) may be utilized to determine whether the
signal that is detected by the device is due to the internal
transmission within the device, or due to an external Wi-Fi signal
source(s). The reason being, when the RSSI of the detected signal
is lesser than the first threshold value, then the Wi-Fi
transmission by the device may be limited by external Wi-Fi signal
sources. To this end, when the detected signal (with RSSI<first
threshold value) is due to the internal transmission within the
device or external non-Wi-Fi signal sources, then the transmission
of the Wi-Fi signals by the device is performed. Otherwise, when
the detected signal (with RSSI<first threshold value) is due to
the external Wi-Fi signal source as derived from the histogram data
block, then the device defers Wi-Fi signal transmission so as not
to interfere with the currently transmitting Wi-Fi signal source.
In this scenario, it is assumed that there is co-running LTE
transmission during the process of determining whether the detected
signal (with RSSI<first threshold value) is due to the external
Wi-Fi signal source or not.
[0013] As described herein, the signal range that is lower than the
first threshold value (e.g., -62 dBm) may be between -62 dBm to -82
dBm since the signal below -82 dBm may be ignored as
non-interfering signal. That is, internal or external wireless
signal sources with RSSI below -82 dBm may not affect the
implementations described herein.
[0014] The external wireless signal sources as described above for
the signal range that is higher than the first threshold value
(e.g., -62 dBm) may include an external LIE transmission, an
external Wi-Fi signal transmission, an external Bluetooth (BT)
transmission, and the like.
[0015] FIG. 1 is an example scenario 100 that utilizes an efficient
Wi-Fi CCA detection in a transceiver circuitry of a portable
device. The Wi-Fi CCA detection as described herein may increase
total packet transmission (TPT) and latency in an environment where
there may be an interference from internal or external LTE,
cellular uplink, BT concurrent transmission, and the like. The
scenario 100 shows a portable device 102 with an antenna 104, and
another portable device 106 with an antenna 108.
[0016] The portable devices 102 or 106 may include, but is not
limited to, a tablet computer; a netbook, a notebook computer, a
laptop computer; mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a
personal digital assistant, a multimedia playback device, a digital
music player, a digital video player, a navigational device, a
digital camera, and the like.
[0017] The portable device 102, for example, may communicate with
the other portable device 106 in a network environment. The network
environment, for example, includes a cellular network base station
configured to facilitate communications between the portable device
102 and the other portable device 106. During this cellular network
communications, detected wireless signals such as external LTE
transmissions, Bluetooth (BT) transmissions, external Wi-Fi
transmissions and the like, may interfere with Wi-Fi communication
features of the portable devices 102 and 106. Thus, the
implementations described herein may facilitate interference or
harmonic spurs mitigation, for example, of the interfering detected
signal to the Wi-Fi wireless communications in the portable device
102.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an example schematic block diagram of a portable
device transceiver 200 as described in present implementations
herein. The portable device transceiver 200 may include a Wi-Fi
modem 202, a cellular modem 204, and a BT modem 206 to enable the
device to communicate through an access point (AP), cellular
network base station, and BT radio waves, respectively.
Furthermore, the portable device transceiver 200 shows a histogram
data block 208, a signal scanner 210, and the antenna 104.
Furthermore still, a transmit chain of the Wi-Fi modem 202 may
further include, but not limited to, a digital to analog converter
(D2A) 214, a filter 214, a mixer 216, and an analog PA 220 to
process an input signal 220. On the other hand, a receiver chain of
the Wi-Fi modem 202 may further include, but not limited to,
receiver mixer 222, a receiver baseband filter 224, and an analog
to digital converter (A2D) 226 that supplies digital baseband
signals to a receiver digital processing 228. It is also to be
understood that portable transceiver 200 may include one or more
processors and one or more memory components (not shown).
[0019] As an example of present implementations herein, the
histogram data block 208 may include datasets (e.g., RSSI
percentage plot) of wireless signal sources, which are collected
through the signal scanner 210 when the cellular modem 204, for
example, is at inactive state (i.e., not transmitting). For
example, during inactive LTE transmission, the signal scanner 210
may periodically scan any external wireless signal sources (e.g.,
external LTE, Wi-Fi, BT, etc.) with RSSI-signal range of -62 dBm or
higher i.e., equal to or higher than a pre-configured first
threshold value of -62 dBm. In this example, the signal scanner 210
may further scan and store identification features of the scanned
external wireless signal sources to the histogram data block 208.
The identification features may include, but not limited to,
received RSSI, geo-location, service set identification (SSID), a
unique basic service set identification (BSSID), a media access
card (MAC) address, data packet air time, or a combination thereof,
of the external wireless signal sources.
[0020] In another scenario, for RSSI-signal range lower than the
-62 dBm (but not any lower than -82 dBm), the histogram data block
208 may be limited to store datasets (e.g., RSSI percentage plot)
of external Wi-Fi signal sources. That is, the histogram data block
208 need not store external LTE transmissions, external BT
transmissions, or any other non-Wi-Fi signal sources as they may
not affect Wi-Fi signal transmissions by the portable device 102 at
this signal range i.e., -62 dBm to -82 dBm. In this other scenario,
the signal scanner 210 may similarly scan periodically the external
Wi-Fi signal sources with RSSI-signal range of lower than the 62
dBm, and store their corresponding identification features to the
histogram data block 208.
[0021] In other implementations, the histogram data block 208
(through the processor) may be configured to set its own histogram
moving window time; to be able to clear histogram history, to
restart its histogram count, and to set its method of averaging
such as percentages of neighboring wireless transmission as further
illustrated in FIG. 3. For example, corresponding percentages of
the identified neighboring Wi-Fi signal sources--with RSSI-signal
range lower than the -62 dBm--may be defined by the received RSSI
over histogram window time. In this example, the signal scanner 210
collects the RSSI and its corresponding air time duration, and
stores the collected RSSI and air time duration to the histogram
data block 208. The histogram data block 208 may then generate a
percentage of occurrence of a neighboring Wi-Fi signal source with
the same level of RSSI. The percentage of occurrence, as described
herein, may be utilized to determine whether the detected signal is
internal or due to external wireless signal sources.
[0022] While the signal scanner 210 may detect and collect the
identification features of the external Wi-Fi sources during
inactive LTE uplink transmission, BT transmission, and the like,
the signal scanner 210 may also be configured to detect and collect
the identification feature such as the RSSI of the external
wireless signals while the portable device 102 is performing LTE
uplink transmission.
[0023] With the stored data in the histogram data block 208, the
stored data is utilized when the portable device 102 (with active
LTE transmission) is en route to a particular place. For example,
in a particular shopping mall, the signal scanner 210 of the
portable device 102 detects a signal and identifies the detected
signal to be a Wi-Fi signal source based on its RSSI-signal range
of -70 dBm, which may be found on the histogram data block 208. In
this example, the Wi-Fi modem 202 may defer Wi-Fi transmission
since the detected signal from the identified external Wi-Fi signal
may be interfered upon by the Wi-Fi transmission from the Wi-Fi
modem.
[0024] In another example, such as in a particular sports arena,
the signal scanner 210 of the portable device 102 (with active LTE
transmission) detects and identifies a signal with a measured
RSSI-signal range of -50 dBm. In this example, if the -50 dBm
signal is not identified or found on the histogram data block 208,
then the -50 dBm signal is assumed to be internal to the device. As
such, the Wi-Fi modem 202 may perform Wi-Fi transmission.
Otherwise, if the -50 dBm signal is identified or found on the
histogram data block 208 to be coming from an external wireless
signal, then the -50 dBm signal may block Wi-Fi transmission by the
Wi-Fi modem 202.
[0025] In both examples as described above, the stored datasets in
the histogram data block 208 for the RSSI-signal range that is
equal to or higher than the -62 dBm (first threshold value) may
facilitate a determination of whether or not the detected signal is
due to the internal transmission within the device, or due to any
external wireless signal sources. On the other hand, the stored
datasets in the histogram data block 208 for the RSSI-signal range
that is lower than -62 dBm (but not any lower than -82 dBm) may
facilitate a determination of whether or not the detected signal is
due to the internal transmission within the device, or due to
external Wi-Fi signal sources.
[0026] As such, the histogram data block 208 may be configured to
store a different set of RSSI percentage plot data for the
RSSI-signal range that is equal or higher than the first threshold
value of -62 dBm, and for the RSSI-signal range that is lower than
the first threshold value.
[0027] In a case where there is no co-running LTE transmission or
internal signal within the portable device transceiver 200 during
the detection of the signal, it is assumed that the detected signal
is an external signal and similar implementations described above
may be applied. In other words, for the detected signal with
RSSI-signal range that is equal or higher than the first threshold
value of -62 dBm, there will be no Wi-Fi signal transmission by the
modem 202. On the other hand, for the detected signal with
RSSI-signal range that is lower than the first threshold value of
-62 dBm, there will be a deferring of Wi-Fi signal transmission by
the modem 202 when the detected signal is an external Wi-Fi signal
source.
[0028] With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the input signal 220
may include an original Wi-Fi signal to be transmitted. The input
signal 220 is converted into analog signal, filtered, and amplified
through the PA 218 prior to transmission through the antenna 104.
For Wi-Fi signal receiving, a received signal may be first
amplified, down-converted, and converted into digital baseband
signals for further processing at the Rx digital processing
228.
[0029] Although the example portable device transceiver 200
illustrates in a limited manner basic components of the receiver of
the portable device, other components such as battery, one or more
processors, SIM card, etc. were not described in order to simplify
the embodiments described herein. For example, the one or more
processors may be configured to perform comparison of the detected
signals to the threshold values as described above.
[0030] FIGS. 3A and 3B are example illustrations of plotted stored
data from the histogram data block for different device
geo-locations. The plotted stored data in FIG. 3A, for example,
shows a percentage plot of RSSIs 302 versus RSSI percentage
occurrence 304 for each particular external signal source 306. That
is, the RSSIs 302 may include the measured RSSIs corresponding to
each external signal sources 306 whose identification features were
previously collected and stored on the histogram data block 208 for
RSSI-signal range that is higher than the first threshold
value.
[0031] On the other hand, the RSSI percentage occurrence 304 may
include an amount of percentage that the external wireless signal
source 306 is present within range of the portable device. As
opposed to FIG. 3B, for another device geo-location, the plotted
stored data in FIG. 3B shows another set of wireless signal sources
308-2 to 308-14 (i.e., RSSI-signal range that is equal to -62 dBm
or higher), and Wi-Fi signal sources 310-2 to 310-10 for collected
RSSI-signal range that is lower than -62 dBm. As described herein,
the set of wireless signal sources 308-2 to 308-14 may be utilized
to determine whether a detected signal is due to internal
transmission or any external wireless signals, while the Wi-Fi
signal sources 310-2 to 310-10 may be utilized to determine whether
a detected signal is due to internal transmission or external Wi-Fi
signal sources.
[0032] For example, when the portable device 102 (with active LTE
transmission) is located on a particular place (e.g., office), the
plotted data in FIG. 3A may be utilized to determine whether a RSSI
signal that is detected by the portable device 102 at the
particular place or office may be coming from internal or external
wireless signal sources 306. In a case where the detected RSSI
signal measures -45 dBm, which is not identified or found from the
plotted data in FIG. 3A, then the detected RSSI signal is presumed
to be an internal transmission within the portable device 102. As
such, the Wi-Fi modem 202 may perform Wi-Fi signal
transmission.
[0033] In another example, the signal scanner 210 detects and
measures a signal with an RSSI of -55 dBm. In this example, based
from the plotted data in FIG. 3A, the measured RSSI signal may most
probably be generated by the wireless signal source 306-12. As
such, the Wi-Fi modem 202 may not perform Wi-Fi signal transmission
due to presence of external wireless signal that is above the first
threshold value i.e., -62 dBm.
[0034] With continuing reference to FIG. 3B, when the portable
device 102 (with active LTE transmission) is located at another
place (e.g., shopping mall), the plotted data in FIG. 3B is
utilized to determine whether the detected external signal is
transmitted from the wireless signal sources 308 or Wi-Fi signal
sources 310.
[0035] For example, in a case where the detected RSSI signal
measures -64 dBm, which is not identified or found from the plotted
data in FIG. 3B, then the detected RSSI signal is presumed to be an
internal transmission within the portable device 102. As such, the
Wi-Fi modem 202 may perform Wi-Fi signal transmission. In this
scenario, the plotted data in FIG. 3B may be considered for
purposes of determining whether the detected signal is due to the
internal or the Wi-Fi signal sources.
[0036] However, in the same example, in a case where the detected
RSSI signal measures -75 dBm, which is identified or found from the
plotted data in FIG. 3B as Wi-Fi signal source 310-6, then the
detected RSSI signal is presumed to be from the external and not an
internal transmission within the portable device 102. As such, the
Wi-Fi modem 202 may defer Wi-Fi signal transmission in order to
avoid generation of interference to currently transmitting Wi-Fi
signal source 310-6. In an implementation, the deferral of the
Wi-Fi signal transmission may be implemented when the measured RSSI
is between -62 dBm to -82 dBm.
[0037] FIG. 4 shows an example process flowchart 400 illustrating
an example method for implementing Wi-Fi CCA detection in a
transceiver of a portable device. The order in which the method is
described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any
number of the described method blocks may be combined in any order
to implement the method, or alternate method. Additionally,
individual blocks may be deleted from the method without departing
from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.
Furthermore, the method may be implemented in any suitable
hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, without
departing from the scope of the invention.
[0038] At block 402, detecting and measuring an RSSI of a signal is
performed. For example, the signal scanner 210 (during active LTE
transmission by the cellular modem 204) is configured to detect the
identification features of a signal. In this example, the detecting
of identification feature may include measurements of RSSI of the
signal. In this example still, the active LTE transmission is
assumed since the implementations described herein facilitates a
determination of whether the detected signal is hidden internally
or produced by an external wireless signal source.
[0039] At block 404, determining whether the measured RSSI of the
signal is greater than a first threshold is performed. For example,
the first threshold is configured to include an amount of -62 dBm.
In this example, when the measured RSSI (e.g., measured RSSI of -60
dBm) of the signal is equal to or greater than the first threshold,
then at block 406, a determination is performed as to whether the
detected signal is due to an internal transmission within the
device, or due to a neighboring wireless signal source.
[0040] For example, at block 406, stored contents of the histogram
data block 208 for RSSI-signal range that is equal to or higher
than -62 dBm is utilized to determine whether the detected signal
is due to internal transmission within the device, or due to a
neighboring wireless signal source.
[0041] If the detected signal is not found or identified on the
stored contents of the histogram data block 208, then at block 408,
Wi-Fi signal transmission is performed because the detected signal
is due to internal transmission (e.g., LTE transmission) within the
device. However, if the signal is found or identified through the
histogram data block 208 to be any external wireless signals, then
at block 410, the Wi-Fi signal transmission is not performed since
the detected signal may be due to the neighboring wireless
transmission that is equal or greater than -62 dBm and not due to
internal transmissions within the device.
[0042] Referring back to block 404, when the measured RSSI (e.g.,
measured RSSI of -70 dBm) of the detected signal is lesser than the
first threshold of -62 dBm, then at block 412, a determination is
performed as to whether the detected signal is due to internal
transmission within the device, or due to a neighboring Wi-Fi
signal.
[0043] For example, at block 412, stored contents of the histogram
data block 208 are utilized to determine whether the detected
signal is due to internal transmission within the device, or due to
neighboring Wi-Fi signal. In this example, the stored contents of
the histogram data block at block 412 are different from the stored
contents of the histogram data block at block 406 since the
collected data for the histogram data block at block 412 for the
range -62 dBm to -82 dBm may substantially include Wi-Fi signal
sources. As opposed to the range that is equal to or above the -62
dBm threshold, the histogram data block at block 406 may include
different kinds of detected and measured signals such as, but not
limited to, LTE signals, BT signals, and the like.
[0044] As such, if the detected signal is not found or identified
through the histogram data block on block 412, then at block 414,
Wi-Fi signal transmission is performed because the detected signal
is due to the internal transmission within the device. That is, the
histogram data block 208 does not show presence of Wi-Fi signals
310-2 to 310-10 that may facilitate deferral of the Wi-Fi signal
transmission.
[0045] However, if the detected signal is found or identified
through the histogram data block 208, then at block 416, the Wi-Fi
signal transmission may be deferred because the detected signal is
found from the Wi-Fi signals 310-2 to 310-10 of the histogram data
block 208 and not due to internal transmissions within the device.
In block 416, the deferring of the Wi-Fi signal transmission is
implemented to avoid collision with currently transmitting Wi-Fi
signal source based from the histogram data block 208.
[0046] In an implementation where the LTE transmission from the
cellular modem 204 is not active during the signal detection, then
the detected signal is assumed to be an external signal. In this
implementation, the step on block 406 may result to
non-transmission of Wi-Fi signals at block 410 since the detected
signal is assumed to be any wireless signal. On the other hand, on
block 412, the Wi-Fi signal transmission by the Wi-Fi modem 202 may
be deferred depending upon whether or not the detected signal is
found on the histogram data block for Wi-Fi signal sources at
signal range -62 dBm to -82 dBm. That is, if the detected signal is
found or identified from the histogram data block, then deferred
Wi-Fi signal transmission is performed. Otherwise, there is no need
to defer Wi-Fi signal transmission since external non-Wi-Fi signal
sources may not affect Wi-Fi signal transmission at signal range
-62 dBm to -82 dBm.
[0047] In the implementation described above, the first threshold
may not be limited to -62 dBm threshold. Other amount of threshold
may be configured without affecting the implementations
described.
[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates an example system 500 of a device in
accordance with the present disclosure. For example, the portable
device 102 is a circuitry block within the example system 500. In
various implementations, the system 500 may be a media system
although system 500 is not limited to this context. For example,
system 500 may be incorporated into a personal computer (PC),
laptop computer, ultra-laptop computer, tablet, touch pad, portable
computer, handheld computer, palmtop computer, personal digital
assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, combination cellular
telephone/PDA, television, smart device (e.g., smart phone, smart
tablet or smart television), mobile internet device (MID),
messaging device, data communication device, and so forth.
[0049] In various implementations, system 500 includes a platform
502 coupled to a display 504. Platform 502 may receive content from
a content device such as content services device(s) 506 or other
similar content sources. A navigation controller 508 including one
or more navigation features may be used to interact with, for
example, platform 502 and/or display 504. Each of these components
is described in greater detail below.
[0050] In various implementations, platform 502 may include any
combination of a chipset 510, processor 512, memory 514, storage
516, graphics subsystem 518, applications 520 and/or radio 522.
Chipset 510 may provide intercommunication among processor 512,
memory 514, storage 516, graphics subsystem 518, applications 520
and/or radio 522. For example, chipset 510 may include a storage
adapter (not depicted) capable of providing intercommunication with
storage 516.
[0051] Processor 512 may be implemented as a Complex Instruction
Set Computer (CISC) or Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)
processors, x86 instruction set compatible processors, multi-core,
or any other microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU). In
various implementations, processor 510 may be dual-core
processor(s), dual-core mobile processor(s), and so forth.
[0052] Memory 514 may be implemented as a non-volatile memory
device such as, the PCM memory cell. In an implementation, the
memory 514 is coupled to the processor 512 and a transceiver
circuit (e.g., radio 522), which utilizes the apparatus 200 in its
circuitry block.
[0053] Storage 516 may be implemented as another non-volatile
storage device such as, but not limited to, a magnetic disk drive,
optical disk drive, tape drive, an internal storage device, an
attached storage device, flash memory, battery backed-up SDRAM
(synchronous DRAM), and/or a network accessible storage device. In
various implementations, storage 516 may include technology to
increase the storage performance enhanced protection for valuable
digital media when multiple hard drives are included, for
example.
[0054] Graphics subsystem 518 may perform processing of images such
as still or video for display. Graphics subsystem 518 may be a
graphics processing unit (GPU) or a visual processing unit (VPU),
for example. An analog or digital interface may be used to
communicatively couple graphics subsystem 518 and display 504. For
example, the interface may be any of a High-Definition Multimedia
Interface, Display Port, wireless HDMI, and/or wireless HD
compliant techniques. Graphics subsystem 518 may be integrated into
processor 512 or chipset 510. In some implementations, graphics
subsystem 518 may be a stand-alone card communicatively coupled to
chipset 510.
[0055] The graphics and/or video processing techniques described
herein may be implemented in various hardware architectures. For
example, graphics and/or video functionality may be integrated
within a chipset. Alternatively, a discrete graphics and/or video
processor may be used. As still another implementation, the
graphics and/or video functions may be provided by a
general-purpose processor, including a multi-core processor. In
further embodiments, the functions may be implemented in a consumer
electronics device.
[0056] Radio 522 may include one or more radios capable of
transmitting and receiving signals using various suitable wireless
communications techniques. Such techniques may involve
communications across one or more wireless networks. Example
wireless networks include (but are not limited to) wireless local
area networks (WLANs), wireless personal area networks (WPANs),
wireless metropolitan area network (WMANs), cellular networks, and
satellite networks. In communicating across such networks, radio
518 may operate in accordance with one or more applicable standards
in any version. Furthermore, the radio 522 is a part of a
transceiver block in the system 500 that may utilize the portable
device 102 in its circuitry block.
[0057] In various implementations, display 504 may include any
television type monitor or display. Display 504 may include, for
example, a computer display screen, touch screen display, video
monitor, television-like device, and/or a television. Display 504
may be digital and/or analog. In various implementations, display
504 may be a holographic display. In addition, display 504 may be a
transparent surface that may receive a visual projection. Such
projections may convey various forms of information, images, and/or
objects. For example, such projections may be a visual overlay for
a mobile augmented reality (MAR) application. Under the control of
one or more software applications 520, platform 502 may display
user interface 524 on display 504.
[0058] In various implementations, content services device(s) 506
may be hosted by any national, international and/or independent
service and thus accessible to platform 502 via the Internet, for
example. Content services device(s) 506 may be coupled to platform
502 and/or to display 504. Platform 502 and/or content services
device(s) 506 may be coupled to a network 526 to communicate (e.g.,
send and/or receive) media information to and from network 526.
Content delivery device(s) 506 also may be coupled to platform 502
and/or to display 504.5
[0059] In various implementations, content services device(s) 506
may include a cable television box, personal computer, network,
telephone, Internet enabled devices or appliance capable of
delivering digital information and/or content, and any other
similar device capable of unidirectionally or bidirectionally
communicating content between content providers and platform 502
and/display 504, via network 526 or directly. It will be
appreciated that the content may be communicated unidirectionally
and/or bidirectionally to and from any one of the components in
system 500 and a content provider via network 526. Examples of
content may include any media information including, for example,
video, music, medical and gaming information, and so forth.
[0060] Content services device(s) 506 may receive content such as
cable television programming including media information, digital
information, and/or other content. Examples of content providers
may include any cable or satellite television or radio or Internet
content providers. The provided examples are not meant to limit
implementations in accordance with the present disclosure in any
way.
[0061] In various implementations, platform 502 may receive control
signals from navigation controller 508 having one or more
navigation features. The navigation features of controller 508 may
be used to interact with user interface 524, for example. In
embodiments, navigation controller 508 may be a pointing device
that may be a computer hardware component (specifically, a human
interface device) that allows a user to input spatial (e.g.,
continuous and multi-dimensional) data into a computer. Many
systems such as graphical user interfaces (GUI), and televisions
and monitors allow the user to control and provide data to the
computer or television using physical gestures.
[0062] Movements of the navigation features of controller 508 may
be replicated on a display (e.g., display 504) by movements of a
pointer, cursor, focus ring, or other visual indicators displayed
on the display. For example, under the control of software
applications 520, the navigation features located on navigation
controller 506 may be mapped to virtual navigation features
displayed on user interface 524, for example. In embodiments,
controller 506 may not be a separate component but may be
integrated into platform 502 and/or display 504. The present
disclosure, however, is not limited to the elements or in the
context shown or described herein.
[0063] In various implementations, drivers (not shown) may include
technology to enable users to instantly turn on and off platform
502 like a television with the touch of a button after initial
boot-up, when enabled, for example. Program logic may allow
platform 502 to stream content to media adaptors or other content
services device(s) 506 or content delivery device(s) 506 even when
the platform is turned "off." In addition, chipset 510 may include
hardware and/or software support for 5.1 surround sound audio
and/or high definition 7.1 surround sound audio, for example.
Drivers may include a graphics driver for integrated graphics
platforms. In embodiments, the graphics driver may comprise a
peripheral component interconnect (PCI) Express graphics card.
[0064] In various implementations, any one or more of the
components shown in system 500 may be integrated. For example,
platform 502 and content services device(s) 506 may be integrated,
or platform 502 and content delivery device(s) 506 may be
integrated, or platform 502, content services device(s) 506, and
content delivery device(s) 506 may be integrated, for example. In
various embodiments, platform 502 and display 504 may be an
integrated unit. Display 504 and content service device(s) 506 may
be integrated, or display 504 and content delivery device(s) 506
may be integrated, for example. These examples are not meant to
limit the present disclosure.
[0065] In various embodiments, system 500 may be implemented as a
wireless system, a wired system, or a combination of both. When
implemented as a wireless system, system 500 may include components
and interfaces suitable for communicating over a wireless shared
media, such as one or more antennas, transmitters, receivers,
transceivers, amplifiers, filters, control logic, and so forth. An
example of wireless shared media may include portions of a wireless
spectrum, such as the RF spectrum and so forth. When implemented as
a wired system, system 500 may include components and interfaces
suitable for communicating over wired communications media, such as
input/output (I/O) adapters, physical connectors to connect the I/O
adapter with a corresponding wired communications medium, a network
interface card (NIC), disc controller, video controller, audio
controller, and the like. Examples of wired communications media
may include a wire, cable, metal leads, printed circuit board
(PCB), backplane, switch fabric, semiconductor material,
twisted-pair wire, co-axial cable, fiber optics, and so forth.
[0066] Platform 502 may establish one or more logical or physical
channels to communicate information. The information may include
media information and control information. Media information may
refer to any data representing content meant for a user. Examples
of content may include, for example, data from a voice
conversation, videoconference, streaming video, electronic mail
("email") message, voice mail message, alphanumeric symbols,
graphics, image, video, text and so forth. Data from a voice
conversation may be, for example, speech information, silence
periods, background noise, comfort noise, tones and so forth.
Control information may refer to any data representing commands,
instructions or control words meant for an automated system. For
example, control information may be used to route media information
through a system, or instruct a node to process the media
information in a predetermined manner. The embodiments, however,
are not limited to the elements or in the context shown or
described in FIG. 5.
[0067] As described above, system 500 may be embodied in varying
physical styles or form factors. FIG. 6 illustrates implementations
of a small form factor device 600 in which system 500 may be
embodied. In embodiments, for example, device 600 may be
implemented as a mobile computing device having wireless
capabilities. A mobile computing device may refer to any device
having a processing system and a mobile power source or supply,
such as one or more batteries, for example.
[0068] As described above, examples of a mobile computing device
may include a personal computer (PC), laptop computer, ultra-laptop
computer, tablet, touch pad, portable computer, handheld computer,
palmtop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular
telephone, combination cellular telephone/PDA, television, smart
device (e.g., smart phone, smart tablet or smart television),
mobile internet device (MID), messaging device, data communication
device, and so forth.
[0069] Examples of a mobile computing device also may include
computers that are arranged to be worn by a person, such as a wrist
computer, finger computer, ring computer, eyeglass computer,
belt-clip computer, arm-band computer, shoe computers, clothing
computers, and other wearable computers. In various embodiments,
for example, a mobile computing device may be implemented as a
smart phone capable of executing computer applications, as well as
voice communications and/or data communications. Although some
embodiments may be described with a mobile computing device
implemented as a smart phone by way of example, it may be
appreciated that other embodiments may be implemented using other
wireless mobile computing devices as well. The embodiments are not
limited in this context.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 6, device 600 may include a housing 602, a
display screen 604, an input/output (I/O) device 606, a network
interface card (NIC) 608 and a transceiver component 610. Device
600 also may include navigation features 612. The display screen
604 may include any suitable display unit for displaying
information appropriate for a mobile computing device. For example,
the display screen 604 displays the personalized message that the
personalized communication program may generate. The I/O device 606
may include any suitable I/O device or user interface (UI) for
entering information into a mobile computing device such as when a
user opts-in to the personalized communication program. Examples
for I/O device 606 may include an alphanumeric keyboard, a numeric
keypad, a touch pad, input keys, buttons, switches, rocker
switches, microphones, speakers, voice recognition device and
software, and so forth. Information also may be entered into device
500 by way of microphone (not shown). Such information may be
digitized by a voice recognition device (not shown). The
embodiments are not limited in this context.
[0071] Various embodiments may be implemented using hardware
elements, software elements, or a combination of both. Examples of
hardware elements may include processors, microprocessors,
circuits, circuit elements (e.g., transistors, resistors,
capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integrated circuits,
application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic
devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmable
gate array (FPGA), logic gates, registers, semiconductor device,
chips, microchips, chip sets, and so forth. Examples of software
may include software components, programs, applications, computer
programs, application programs, system programs, machine programs,
operating system software, middleware, firmware, software modules,
routines, subroutines, functions, methods, procedures, software
interfaces, application program interfaces (API), instruction sets,
computing code, computer code, code segments, computer code
segments, words, values, symbols, or any combination thereof.
Determining whether an embodiment is implemented using hardware
elements and/or software elements may vary in accordance with any
number of factors, such as desired computational rate, power
levels, heat tolerances, processing cycle budget, input data rates,
output data rates, memory resources, data bus speeds and other
design or performance constraints.
[0072] One or more aspects of at least one embodiment may be
implemented by representative instructions stored on a
machine-readable medium which represents various logic within the
processor, which when read by a machine causes the machine to
fabricate logic to perform the techniques described herein. Such
representations, known as "IP cores" may be stored on a tangible,
machine readable medium and supplied to various customers or
manufacturing facilities to load into the fabrication machines that
actually make the logic or processor.
[0073] While certain features set forth herein have been described
with reference to various implementations, this description is not
intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Hence, various
modifications of the implementations described herein, as well as
other implementations, which are apparent to persons skilled in the
art to which the present disclosure pertains are deemed to lie
within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
[0074] Realizations in accordance with the present invention have
been described in the context of particular embodiments. These
embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many
variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are
possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for
components described herein as a single instance. Boundaries
between various components, operations and data stores are somewhat
arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context
of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of
functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of
claims that follow. Finally, structures and functionality presented
as discrete components in the various configurations may be
implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other
variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall
within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that
follow.
[0075] The following examples pertain to further embodiments:
[0076] Example 1 is a method of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) Clear
Channel Assessment (CCA) detection in a device, the method
comprising: detecting and measuring a received signal strength
indicator (RSSI) of a signal; comparing the measured RSSI of the
detected signal to a first threshold value; determining whether the
detected signal is transmitted from a source internal to the device
or from an external wireless signal source in response to the
measured RSSI that is greater than the first threshold value;
transmitting Wi-Fi signals by the device in response to a
determination that the detected signal is transmitted from the
source internal to the device; determining whether the detected
signal is transmitted from the source internal to the device or
from an external Wi-Fi signal source in response to the measured
RSSI that is lesser than the first threshold value; transmitting
the Wi-Fi signals by the device in response to a determination that
the detected signal is transmitted from the source internal to the
device; and deferring Wi-Fi signal transmission by the device in
response to a determination that the detected signal is transmitted
from the external Wi-Fi signal source.
[0077] In example 2, the method as recited in example 1, wherein
the determination of whether the detected signal is transmitted
from the source internal to the device implements a histogram data
block.
[0078] In example 3, the method as recited in example 1, wherein
the first threshold value is -62 dBm.
[0079] In example 4, the method as recited in example 3, wherein
stored contents of the histogram data block for a signal range that
is greater than the first threshold value include the RSSI of
different external wireless signal sources.
[0080] In example 5, the method as recited in example 3, wherein
the histogram data collects and stores data when an internal long
term evolution (LTE) transmission on the device is not active.
[0081] In example 6, the method as recited in example 3, wherein
the stored contents of the histogram data block for a signal range
that is lesser than the first threshold value include the RSSI of
different external Wi-Fi signal sources.
[0082] In example 7, the method as recited in example 1, wherein
the determining of whether the detected signal is transmitted from
the source internal to the device or from the external wireless
signal source is based from stored contents of a histogram data
block that comprise identification features of different external
wireless signal sources for a signal range that is greater than the
first threshold value.
[0083] In example 8, the method as recited in example 1, wherein
the determining of whether the detected signal is transmitted from
the source internal to the device or from the external Wi-Fi signal
source is based from stored contents of a histogram data block that
comprise identification features of different external Wi-Fi signal
sources for a signal range that is lower than the first threshold
value.
[0084] In example 9, the method as recited in example 8, wherein
the lower than the first threshold is between -62 dBm to -82
dBm.
[0085] In example 10, the method as recited in example 1, wherein
the determining of whether the detected signal is transmitted from
the source internal to the device or from the external wireless
signal source is performed while an internal long term evolution
(LTE) transmission is co-running on the device.
[0086] In example 11, the method as recited in example 10, wherein
the detected signal is assumed to be an external signal when the
determining is performed while the LTE transmission is not
co-running on the device.
[0087] Example 12 is a device transceiver comprising: a signal
scanner configured to detect and measure a received signal strength
indicator (RSSI) of a signal; a histogram data block configured to
store a percentage plot of different RSSIs that correspond to
different external wireless signal sources for a signal range that
is greater than a first threshold value; a processor configured to
determine whether the detected signal is transmitted from a source
internal to the device or from the external wireless signal
sources; and a Wi-Fi modem configured to transmit Wi-Fi signals in
response to a determination of the detected signal that is
transmitted from the source internal to the device.
[0088] In example 13, the device transceiver as recited in example
12, wherein the first threshold value is -62 dBm.
[0089] In example 14, the device transceiver as recited in example
12, wherein the histogram data block is configured to collect and
store data when an internal long term evolution (LTE) transmission
on the device is not active.
[0090] In example 15, the device transceiver as recited in example
12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine
whether the detected signal is transmitted from the source internal
to the device or from an external Wi-Fi signal source in a case
where the detected RSSI of the signal is lesser than the first
threshold value.
[0091] Example 16 is a device comprising: an antenna; a transceiver
coupled to the processor, the transceiver further comprises: a
signal scanner configured to detect and measure a received signal
strength indicator (RSSI) of a signal; a histogram data block
configured to store a percentage plot of different RSSIs that
correspond to different external wireless signal sources for a
signal range that is greater than a first threshold value, wherein
the external wireless sources is limited to a wireless fidelity
(Wi-Fi) signal source for the signal range that is lesser than the
first threshold value; a processor configured to determine whether
the detected signal is transmitted from a source internal to the
device or from the external wireless signal sources in a case where
the detected signal is greater than the threshold value; and a
Wi-Fi modem configured to transmit Wi-Fi signals in response to a
determination of the detected signal that is transmitted from the
source internal to the device in the case where the detected signal
is greater than the threshold value.
[0092] In example 17, the device as recited in example 16, wherein
the Wi-Fi modem defers the Wi-Fi signal transmission in a case
where the detected signal is transmitted from the external Wi-Fi
signal source for the signal range that is lesser than the first
threshold value.
[0093] In example 18, the device as recited in example 16, wherein
the Wi-Fi modem does not transmit the Wi-Fi in response to a
determination of the detected signal that is transmitted from the
external wireless signal sources in the case where the detected
signal is greater than the threshold value.
[0094] In example 19, the device as recited in example 16, wherein
the first threshold value is -62 dBm.
[0095] In example 20, the device as recited in example 16, wherein
the external wireless signal sources include any wireless
transmission.
* * * * *