U.S. patent application number 15/611088 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-21 for systems and methods for enabling radio-frequency communication of a modular mobile electronic device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Google Inc.. Invention is credited to Paul Eremenko, David Nathaniel Fishman, Ara N. Knaian, Derek Linden, Seth Newburg.
Application Number | 20170272558 15/611088 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55349352 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170272558 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eremenko; Paul ; et
al. |
September 21, 2017 |
Systems and Methods for Enabling Radio-Frequency Communication of a
Modular Mobile Electronic Device
Abstract
A system for enabling RF communication of a modular mobile
electronic device includes a set of antennas that enable RF
communication of modules removably coupled to the modular mobile
electronic device and an antenna control system, including an
antenna routing system, wherein the antenna routing system controls
electrical coupling between the set of antennas and the modular
mobile electronic device, wherein the antenna tuning system is
integrated into a chassis of the modular mobile electronic
device.
Inventors: |
Eremenko; Paul; (San Jose,
CA) ; Fishman; David Nathaniel; (San Jose, CA)
; Linden; Derek; (Ashburn, VA) ; Newburg;
Seth; (Arlington, MA) ; Knaian; Ara N.;
(Newton, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Google Inc. |
Mountain View |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55349352 |
Appl. No.: |
15/611088 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14834236 |
Aug 24, 2015 |
9674320 |
|
|
15611088 |
|
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|
62040876 |
Aug 22, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q 1/243 20130101;
H01Q 21/28 20130101; H01Q 9/285 20130101; H04B 1/3888 20130101;
H04M 1/0256 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/02 20060101
H04M001/02; H01Q 21/28 20060101 H01Q021/28; H01Q 1/24 20060101
H01Q001/24 |
Claims
1. A system for enabling RF communication of a modular mobile
electronic device comprising: A set of antennas that enable RF
communication of modules removably coupled to the modular mobile
electronic device; and an antenna control system, comprising an
antenna routing system, wherein the antenna routing system controls
electrical coupling between the set of antennas and the modular
mobile electronic device, wherein the antenna routing system is
integrated into a chassis of the modular mobile electronic
device.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna routing system routes
RF signals between a module transceiver and at least one of the set
of antennas based on a configuration state of the modular mobile
electronic device.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the configuration state of the
modular mobile electronic device includes information describing
connections between the modules and interfaces of the antenna
routing system and connections between the set of antennas and the
antenna routing system.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of antennas comprises a
dynamic antenna, wherein properties of the dynamic antenna are
adapted by the antenna control system in response to RF signal
quality monitoring results.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of antennas comprises a
printed antenna, printed with conductive ink using a 3D
printer.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the printed antenna is printed as
part of a module cover.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of antennas comprises an
antenna formed by a section of the chassis.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of antennas comprises an
endcap antenna coupled to the chassis.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna control system
further comprises an antenna tuning system that modifies impedances
of the set of antennas.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the antenna tuning system
comprises an RF MEMS matching network.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the antenna control system
further comprises an antenna filter that filters out undesired
signals from the set of antennas.
12. A method for enabling RF communication of a modular mobile
electronic device comprising: monitoring RF communications of the
modular mobile electronic device, wherein monitoring RF
communications comprises storing RF signal quality data;
calculating an RF performance metric based on the RF signal quality
data; and adapting RF communications parameters based on the RF
performance metric; wherein adapting RF communications properties
comprises changing antenna routing.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating the RF performance
metric comprises calculating the RF performance metric based on at
least one of: data expressing to what extent various RF
communication methods contribute to user experience; data
expressing to what extent various RF communication methods
contribute to device performance; comparisons of communication use
across communication types; and comparisons of signal strength
across communication types.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating the RF performance
metric comprises calculating the RF performance metric based on at
least one of: historical data on communication use; historical data
on signal strength; and historical data on user interaction with
the modular mobile electronic device.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating the RF performance
metric comprises calculating the RF performance metric based on at
least one of: crowdsourced data on signal strength; and
crowdsourced data on user interactions with modular mobile
electronic devices similar to the modular mobile electronic
device.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein adapting RF communications
properties comprises tuning an antenna tuning system in response to
detected de-tuning effects.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein adapting RF communications
properties comprises redirecting power of the modular mobile
electronic device to RF transmission from other tasks.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein adapting RF communications
properties comprises notifying a user of the modular mobile
electronic device of actions that may improve RF performance.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein notifying a user of the modular
mobile electronic device of actions that may improve RF performance
comprises suggesting that a user reposition one or more modules of
the modular mobile electronic device.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein notifying a user of the modular
mobile electronic device of actions that may improve RF performance
comprises suggesting that a user hold the modular mobile electronic
device in a particular manner.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/040,876, filed on 22 Aug. 2014, all of which is
incorporated in its entirety by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates generally to the mobile electronics
field, and more specifically to new and useful systems and methods
for enabling radio-frequency (RF) communication of a modular mobile
electronic device in the mobile electronics field.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Current methods of mobile electronic device design create
devices that are static, both in terms of functionality and in
terms of design. Companies try to solve this problem by producing a
wide range of devices having different functionalities and
different designs. As a result, users of such devices are forced to
make compromises; they lack the ability to customize the
functionality and design of their mobile devices to truly meet
their needs and preferences. Modular mobile electronic devices may
serve to meet user needs and preferences. Like all mobile
electronic devices, if modular mobile electronic devices include
systems for radio-frequency (RF) communication, said systems must
be carefully designed and configured to achieve high signal
transmission/reception quality. This design and configuration, as
part of enabling RF communication, is especially difficult for
modular mobile electronic devices because the RF properties of
modular mobile electronic devices depend greatly on the
configuration of the modular mobile electronic devices. Thus, there
is a need in mobile electronics field to create systems and methods
for enabling RF communication of a modular mobile electronic
device. This invention provides such new and useful systems and
methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0004] FIG. 1 is a diagram view of a system of an invention
embodiment;
[0005] FIG. 2 is an exploded model view of a module;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a model view of a module cover including an
antenna of a system of an invention embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a model view of a modular mobile electronic device
chassis including an antenna of a system of an invention
embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 5 is a model view of a modular mobile electronic device
chassis including an antenna of a system of an invention
embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a diagram view of an antenna control system of a
system of an invention embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 7 is a diagram view of an antenna routing system of a
system of an invention embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 8 is an example schematic view of an antenna tuning
system of a system of an invention embodiment; and
[0012] FIG. 9 is a diagram view of a method of an invention
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The following description of the invention embodiments of
the invention is not intended to limit the invention to these
invention embodiments, but rather to enable any person skilled in
the art to make and use this invention.
[0014] A system and method for enabling RF communication of a
modular mobile electronic device function to allow a modular mobile
electronic device to configure RF communications parameters and/or
components to achieve high communication quality. The system and
method are preferably applied to modular mobile electronic devices
for which modules can be used in different combinations and/or
orientations. The high variability of such electronic architecture
can create a highly dynamic and variable communication environment
to which the system and method can preferably adapt.
[0015] Wireless communications are an important part of mobile
electronic device operations. Almost all wireless communications
standards are based on the transmission and reception of RF
electromagnetic waves. Some examples of RF-based communications
standards commonly used in mobile electronic devices include Wi-Fi,
WiMax, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Cellular standards (e.g., GSM, CDMA,
GPRS, EDGE, LTE), CB radio, AM radio, FM radio, NFC, and RFID.
[0016] Because of the nature of RF communication, RF communications
systems for mobile electronic devices should be carefully designed
and configured to achieve high signal quality. In particular, RF
communication is particularly susceptible to interference issues;
these susceptibilities may become more significant as antenna sizes
shrink, antennas are placed in close proximity to one another,
and/or antennas are placed in close proximity to objects that could
absorb, reflect, and/or re-radiate RF fields. Designers of RF
communications systems for mobile electronic devices typically deal
with these issues by carefully designing and positioning antennas
and power circuitry to take into account the static presence of
other antennas, metal objects in the mobile electronic device (e.g.
chassis), and user contact (e.g. where hands touch or cover
antennas)--not a variable presence of antennas, physical
components, and electronics.
[0017] Modular mobile electronic devices may include a wide variety
of antennas (both in number and type) and may support many physical
and electrical configurations. Therefore, RF communications systems
for modular mobile electronic devices should be robust across a
variety of modular mobile electronic device configurations. The
systems and methods (hereafter described) for enabling
radio-frequency (RF) communication of a modular mobile electronic
device function to enable modular mobile electronic devices to
communicate wirelessly with the internet and/or other electronic
devices across a wide variety of modular mobile electronic device
configurations.
[0018] Modular mobile electronic devices are preferably created
and/or modified through the use of user-removable modules. When
multiple modules are connected, the modules are preferably enabled
in confederation to serve as a mobile electronic device. The mobile
electronic device created by such a confederation is preferably
characterized by the confederated modules as well as the parameters
of confederation, which are preferably determined by the
confederated modules and any system enabling the confederation of
the modules. A modular mobile electronic device configured to serve
as a smartphone is an example of a possible mobile electronic
device. Other examples of possible mobile electronic devices
include those configured to serve as tablets, laptops, media
players, cameras, measurement devices, gaming systems, vehicular
computing devices, set-top boxes, and televisions.
[0019] Modules are preferably user-removable and replaceable,
enabling users to create mobile electronic devices with highly
varied form and functionality. For example, a user may connect a
camera module, a flash memory module, a processor module, a battery
module, and a display module to a modular mobile electronic device
to create a small and lightweight camera. The user could later add
a cell-phone radio module and a microphone/speaker module to create
a camera phone. Modules preferably follow an open and free
standard, enabling almost anyone to be a module developer.
[0020] The flexibility afforded by module confederation preferably
allows for a number of favorable outcomes. Users can purchase only
the modules necessary for their needs, allowing for reductions in
cost. Users can also choose to replace modules or add additional
modules at a later time. In combination, these two outcomes may
help increase accessibility to mobile electronic devices (and in
many cases, the internet) throughout the world, especially for
people for whom a smartphone or a PC is not currently a good value
proposition. For example, a user may buy a system and a basic set
of modules at a low price point, and transition to a more advanced
phone by adding modules later on. These two outcomes may also help
slow the creation of electronic waste by allowing mobile electronic
devices to be upgraded or modified rather than replaced. Further,
because modular mobile electronic devices are compatible with
modules of highly varied form and function, and because modules are
preferably based on an open standard, module confederation may
allow small or specialized companies to make modules playing to
their strengths without designing a full mobile electronic
device.
[0021] Some example module types include sensor modules, processor
modules, storage modules, communication modules, display modules,
and power modules. Examples of sensor modules include accelerometer
modules, GPS modules, camera modules, depth imaging modules,
fingerprint reader modules, biometric modules, microphone modules,
digital/analog input modules, haptic input modules, infrared flash
modules, pedometer modules, barometer modules, magnetometer
modules, and gyroscope modules. Examples of processor modules
include application processor modules and graphics processor
modules. Examples of storage modules include non-volatile flash
memory modules and RAM modules. Examples of communication modules
include Wi-Fi radio modules, GSM/CDMA radio modules, HDMI connector
modules, NFC modules, Bluetooth radio modules, and USB connector
modules. Examples of display modules include touchscreen LCD or
OLED modules, non-touch graphical display modules, and e-ink
display modules. Examples of power modules include battery modules,
solar panel modules, and battery charging modules. The variety of
modules preferably serve to provide various options and
combinations of inputs, outputs, data storage, data processing,
communication, power, and other suitable aspects of a computing
device. Note that these example module types are in no way
exhaustive or exclusive; i.e., modules may incorporate
functionality from many of these example types or from none at all,
and modules may additionally or alternatively incorporate suitable
functionality not herein described.
[0022] The modules and modular mobile electronic devices are
preferably those described in U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/976,173 and/or U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/976,195,
which are incorporated in their entirety by this reference. The
modules and modular mobile electronic devices may additionally or
alternatively be any suitable modules and modular mobile electronic
devices.
1. System for Enabling RF Communication
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a system 100 for enabling RF
communication of a modular mobile electronic device includes
antennas 110 and an antenna control system 120. The system 100
preferably includes a plurality of antennas 110, but may
alternatively only include one antenna 110. The system 100
preferably operates as part of the modular mobile electronic
device, but may additionally or alternatively operate as part of
any suitable system.
[0024] The system 100 enables RF communication of a modular mobile
electronic device by providing antennas 110, which allow for the
reception and/or transmission of RF data. The system 100 preferably
further enables high signal quality for the RF communication
through the antenna control system 120, which adapts the properties
of the antennas 110 and/or of signals received/transmitted by the
antennas 110 to increase signal quality, taking into account
modular mobile electronic device configuration.
[0025] The antennas 110 function to convert conducted electric
power into RF waves and/or vice versa, enabling the transmission
and/or reception of RF communication. The antennas 110 are
preferably made out of a conductive material (e.g. metal). The
antennas 110 may additionally or alternatively include dielectric
materials to modify the properties of the antennas 110 or to
provide mechanical support.
[0026] The antennas 110 may be of a variety of antenna types; for
example, patch antennas (including rectangular and planar inverted
F), reflector antennas, wire antennas (including dipole antennas),
bow-tie antennas, aperture antennas, loop-inductor antennas, and
fractal antennas. The plurality of antennas 110 can additionally
include one or more type of antennas, and the types of antennas can
include any suitable variations.
[0027] The antenna 110 structure may be static or dynamic (e.g. a
wire antenna that includes multiple sections that may be
electrically connected or isolated depending on the state of the
antenna).
[0028] The plurality of antennas 110 are preferably connected
directly to transceivers with conductive wires, but may
additionally or alternatively be connected to transceivers through
any suitable method. In one variation of the invention embodiment,
the antennas 110 are connected to transceivers through components
of the antenna control system 120 (e.g. antenna switches and/or
filters).
[0029] The antennas 110 are preferably connected to transceivers
and/or the antenna control system 120 using fixed conductive wires,
but may additionally or alternatively be connected to using a
removable interface (e.g. through a plug and jack interface).
[0030] The antennas 110 may be located in a variety of locations,
including at a module of a modular mobile electronic device, at the
chassis of a modular mobile electronic device, and/or at any other
suitable location.
[0031] An antenna 110 located at a module is preferably contained
within the module and is connected to a transceiver also contained
within the module. Additionally or alternatively, the module may
include an antenna interface to allow connection of the antenna 110
to a transceiver not contained within the module and/or the antenna
110 located at a module may be located on a module or otherwise
coupled to a module. An antenna 110 located within a module may be
located at any position inside the module. An antenna 110 located
at a module may be physically distinct from other parts of the
module; or the antenna 110 may be integrated into other parts of
the module. As shown in FIG. 2, an example module includes a module
base, a module printed circuit board (PCB), a module RF shield, and
a module cover. A physically distinct antenna 110 may be placed at
the module in any suitable location; for example, a microstrip
antenna 110 may be attached to the surface of the RF shield near
the module cover. As another example, the antenna might be inserted
into a corresponding slot on the module cover. Likewise, an
integrated antenna 110 may be integrated into any suitable part of
the module. In one example, an antenna 110 is integrated into the
module base.
[0032] In one variation of the invention embodiment, the module
cover is 3D printed. As shown in FIG. 3, the antenna 110 might be
printed as part of the module cover. The antenna 110 may be exposed
or may be covered by a dielectric material (which may be of any
transparency and appearance). In this variation, the antenna 110 is
preferably printed with a conductive material (or electroplated,
etc.), while remaining parts of the module cover are printed using
dielectric materials. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna
110 and the module cover may be printed using any suitable
materials.
[0033] An antenna 110 located at the chassis of a modular mobile
electronic device may be connected to transceivers in a variety of
ways. For example, an antenna 110o located at the chassis may
include an antenna interface that connects to a corresponding
interface on a module, allowing the antenna to connect to a
transceiver through the module (potentially a transceiver in the
module).
[0034] As another example, an antenna 110 may connect to conductive
wires contained within the chassis that allow for the antenna 110
to be connected to a transceiver in a module and/or in the chassis.
In this example, the antenna 110 may connect directly to a
transceiver or indirectly; e.g., through an antenna switch. Such an
antenna 110 may be contained or coupled to any part of the chassis;
for example, the antenna 110 may be contained within a
non-conductive shell attached to the chassis (e.g., an endcap
antenna), as shown in FIG. 4.
[0035] As a third example, part of the chassis itself may serve as
an antenna 110. If the chassis or part of the chassis serves as an
antenna 110, the chassis may be modified to enhance antenna
performance. As shown in FIG. 5, in one example, an antenna 110 is
formed using one side of the chassis, which is electrically
isolated from the rest of the chassis (which may serve as a ground,
for instance).
[0036] The system 100 preferably includes a variety of antennas
110. At least a subset of the antennas 110 can be attached to
modules or can otherwise be removable from the modular mobile
electronic device. Alternatively, all antennas 110 may be
non-removable from the modular mobile electronic device.
[0037] The antennas 110 can be designed to communicate at
frequencies of Wi-Fi, WiMax, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Cellular (e.g.,
GSM, CDMA, GPRS, EDGE, LTE), CB radio, AM radio, FM radio, NFC,
and/or RFID communication, but may additionally or alternatively be
designed to communicate at any suitable RF frequency. Antennas 110
may transmit/receive over a large frequency range (broadband) or a
smaller frequency range (narrowband). Antennas 110 may have any
impedance, may emit efficiently at any polarization, and may
transmit/receive according to any suitable radiation pattern.
[0038] The antennas 110 of the system 100 preferably exhibit
antenna diversity; e.g. they differ from each other in one or more
of resonant frequency, bandwidth, gain, spatial position, antenna
type, polarization, and radiation. Antenna diversity allows
antennas 110 to enable transmission/reception for a variety of
applications. In particular, the system 100 may include antennas
110 that have different resonant frequencies to allow for
communication over different RF standards. The system 100 may also
include antennas 110 that have the same resonant frequency, but are
spaced apart, allowing the system 100 to compensate for multipath
interference or to act as a multiple-in multiple out (MIMO)
system.
[0039] The antenna control system 120 functions to control how
antennas 110 interface with the system 100. The antenna control
system 120 may control how antennas 110 interface with the system
100 in a variety of ways, including connecting/disconnecting
antennas 110 to/from transceivers, routing signals to/from antennas
110 and/or transceivers, modifying signals received
from/transmitted by antennas 110, and/or modifying the electrical
properties (e.g. impedance) of antennas 110. As shown in FIG. 6,
the antenna control system 120 may include antenna routing systems
121, antenna tuning systems 122, antenna filters 123.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 7, antenna routing systems 121 function to
route signals to/from antennas 110 from/to transceivers or other
circuitry of a modular mobile electronic device. An antenna routing
system 121 preferably includes an antenna switch that allows for
antennas 110 to be electrically connected or electrically isolated
from circuits of the modular mobile electronic device. Antennas 110
and/or transceivers may be hardwired to the antenna routing system
121 (or antenna routing systems 121), but the antennas 110 and/or
transceivers may be removable from antenna routing system 121 (e.g.
connected via plug and jack interfaces). Antennas 110 and
transceivers in the same module may have separate interfaces or
share interfaces to antenna routing systems 121. The antenna
routing system 121 is preferably integrated into a chassis of a
modular mobile electronic device, but may additionally or
alternatively be integrated into a module or any other suitable
location.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 8, an antenna tuning system 122 functions
to modify the impedance of antennas 110 as seen by one or more
other components of the modular mobile electronic device. By
modifying the impedance of antennas 110, the antenna tuning systems
122 allow for the modification of antenna reception/transmission
frequencies (i.e. the frequencies at which power transfer is high).
The antenna tuning system 122 may connect to a single antenna 110
or to multiple antennas 110. Antenna tuning systems 122 also
function to increase efficiency of resonant antenna reception at
off-resonant frequencies. Antenna tuning systems 122 may include
any suitable type of antenna tuning system, e.g., T networks, Pi
networks, SPC networks, Z-match networks, and RF MEMS matching
networks. Antenna tuning systems 122 are preferably co-located with
antennas 110, but may additionally or alternatively be located in
any suitable part of a modular mobile electronic device (e.g. a
module, the chassis, etc.).
[0042] Antenna filters 123 function to filter signals received
at/transmitted from antennas 110. Antenna filters 123 preferably
filter out noise and/or undesired signals in antenna 110 signal
paths. Antenna filters 123 preferably filter noise by suppressing
undesired features or components of signals. Antenna filters 123
may be linear or non-linear, time invariant or time-variant, analog
or digital, discrete-time (sampled) or continuous time, passive or
active, infinite impulse response or finite impulse response, or
any combination or subset of the previous. Antenna filters 123 may
be electronic filters, digital filters, mechanical filters,
distributed element filters, waveguide filters, or any other
suitable type of filters.
[0043] The antenna control system 120 may additionally or
alternatively include software for controlling the antenna control
system 120. Software for controlling the antenna control system 120
may be part of the antenna control system 120 or may be contained
within any other suitable location; e.g. a module not containing
the antenna control system 120 or a supervisory controller of a
modular mobile electronic device. Software for controlling the
antenna control system 120 preferably enables any controllable or
configurable aspects of the antenna control system 120 to be
controlled; additionally or alternatively, software may only enable
a subset of controllable or configurable aspects of the antenna
control system 120 to be controlled. For example, the antenna
control system 120 might interact with software that controls
antenna routing systems 121, directing antenna signals throughout a
modular mobile electronic device.
[0044] Antenna control system software preferably directs antenna
signal routing based on a modular mobile electronic device
configuration state; the configuration state including details
about module types (e.g., including presence and type of
transceivers and/or antennas in the modules) and their locations
(i.e., which interfaces the modules are connected to). If the
chassis includes any antennas, the configuration state may
additionally or alternatively include information about the chassis
antennas.
[0045] For example, antenna control system software may be used to
manage radiated emissions of a modular mobile electronic device to
keep emissions in compliance with international emissions
standards.
[0046] This configuration state may be used to automatically couple
transceivers to appropriate antennas. For example, antenna control
system software may detect that a 3G transceiver is located at a
first interface coupled to the antenna routing system 121 and that
a 3G antenna is located at a second interface coupled to the
antenna routing system 121 and then automatically route signals
between the transceiver and the antenna based on the information
detected (e.g., contained within the configuration state).
2. Method for Enabling RF Communication
[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, a method 200 for enabling RF
communication of a modular mobile electronic device includes
monitoring RF communication S210, calculating an RF performance
metric S220, and adapting RF communications based on the RF
performance metric S230. The method 200 functions to allow a
modular mobile electronic device to configure RF communications
systems to achieve high communication quality. The method 200
preferably enables RF communications to increase communication
quality in light of the particular context of use of a modular
mobile electronic device; e.g., if a device depends significantly
on Wi-Fi signals to create a good user experience and substantially
less significantly on GPS signals, the method 200 may prioritize
Wi-Fi communications quality over GPS communications quality. The
method 200 preferably operates on an RF communications system
substantially similar to the system 100, but may additionally or
alternatively operate on any suitable system.
[0048] Step S210 includes monitoring RF communication. Step S210
functions to determine RF signal quality of an RF communications
system; RF signal quality may include signal strength, noise, SNR,
and/or any other parameters related to RF signal quality. For
example, RF signal quality may include RF signal-related metrics
like dropped packet counts.
[0049] If an RF communications system communicates using multiple
communications standards, channels, and/or frequencies, monitoring
RF communication S210 preferably includes monitoring RF
communications for the complete set of standards, channels, and/or
frequencies; additionally or alternatively, S210 may include
monitoring only a subset of the complete set.
[0050] Monitoring RF communications S210 preferably includes
monitoring RF communications using hardware of an RF communications
system (e.g. measuring signal power at an antenna), but may
additionally or alternatively include monitoring RF communications
using any other suitable means. For example, Step S210 may include
receiving data from another RF communications system on the signal
transmitted by the first RF communications system. More
specifically, Step S210 may include receiving at a cell phone
antenna a transmission from the nearest cell tower containing data
relating to the transmission power of the cell phone; this could be
used to instruct the cell phone transceiver to increase or decrease
transmit power. Monitoring RF communications S210 preferably
includes monitoring RF communications over multiple antennas, but
may additionally or alternatively include monitoring RF
communications over a single antenna.
[0051] Monitoring RF communications S210 may additionally include
storing, aggregating, analyzing, and/or otherwise processing data
related to RF signal quality. For example, S210 may include
averaging signal strength at a particular frequency for a
particular antenna over ten second intervals.
[0052] Step S220 includes calculating an RF performance metric.
Step S220 functions to provide a measure for how well an RF
communication system is performing relative to expected
performance. Calculating an RF performance metric S220 preferably
includes calculating the RF performance metric based on data
collected by Step S210, but may additionally or alternatively
include calculating the RF performance metric based on any suitable
data.
[0053] Calculating an RF performance metric S220 preferably
includes calculating the RF performance metric based on RF
communication context. RF communication context may include how an
RF communications system is being used, to what extent various RF
communication methods contribute to a user experience and/or to
device performance, where an RF communications system is located,
time, available power, historical data, manufacturer data,
crowdsourced data, or any information relating to RF communication.
Some examples of RF communication context data include:
communication use by communication type (e.g. communication use for
Wi-Fi, communication use for LTE, etc.), power use by communication
type, communication channel use, signal strength by communication
type, noise by communication type, communication use by time,
historical data on communication use, historical data on signal
strength, crowdsourced data on signal strength,
historical/predictive/crowdsourced data on how a user interacts
with the RF communications system, battery percentage remaining,
location of nearby communication partners (e.g. cell towers, other
devices), and device use context (e.g. what the device is being
used for, such as taking pictures, making calls, etc.).
[0054] Calculating an RF performance metric S220 may additionally
include evaluating the RF performance metric relative to a
performance benchmark. The performance benchmark is preferably a
context-dependent expected performance for the RF performance
metric. The performance benchmark may be formed from historical
data, RF communications models, manufacturer data, crowdsourced
data, or any other suitable data. The performance benchmark is
preferably used to determine if the calculated RF performance
metric represents a good case scenario (e.g. one where RF
performance is close to or exceeds expectations given context) or a
bad case scenario (e.g. one where RF performance is not close to
expectations given context). The RF performance metric and
performance benchmark may both be used in adapting RF
communications, as described in Step S230.
[0055] Step S230 includes adapting RF communications based on the
RF performance metric. Step S230 functions to adapt RF
communication systems parameters to improve RF communications
system performance. RF communication systems performance may be
measured based on one or more RF performance metrics calculated in
Step S220 or in any other suitable manner (e.g. raw signal
strength). Step S230 preferably includes determining RF
communications adaptations by identifying known performance metric
deficiencies (e.g., detecting that Wi-Fi signal strength is low
compared to expected values) and correlating those deficiencies to
known solutions (which may be known through past experimentation,
through manufacturer data, through crowdsourced data, or through
any other suitable source). Step 230 may additionally or
alternatively include determining RF communications adaptations
through any suitable method and/or using any suitable
algorithm.
[0056] Step S230 preferably may adapt RF communications systems in
a variety of ways, including adapting antenna properties, adapting
transceiver properties, adapting signal processing, adapting
communication type, adapting communication type priority, or with
any other adaptations related to RF communications. For example, RF
communications systems may be adapted through direct changes to an
RF communications system; by changing antenna routing (e.g.,
disconnecting or connecting antennas from transceivers), changing
signal type, changing signal frequency, changing signal phase,
tuning an antenna tuning system, applying filters to signals,
changing properties of filters, changing how signals from antennas
are combined, changing transceiver power, and/or turning
transceivers on or off. RF communications systems may also be
adapted through indirect changes related to RF communications
systems; for example, prioritizing communication using one
communication protocol over communication using another at a
processor; changing a data encoding; and/or redirecting power from
a non-RF communication related system to an RF communication
system. Step S230 may additionally or alternatively including
notifying users of actions or configurations changes that may
improve RF system performance. For example, the method 200 may
include detecting that signal strength has diminished because of
the way that a user is holding a phone, and suggesting that the
user hold the phone in a different manner.
[0057] In another example, the method 200 operates on an RF
communications system of a modular mobile electronic device. In
this example, the method 200 includes detecting that two modules
with RF transceivers are placed nearby each other, causing
interference issue, and suggesting that a user reconfigure the
module positioning. The module positioning may include directions
to move two or more modules further apart, specific positioning of
the modules, or a general recommendation to rearrange one or more
module.
[0058] An alternative embodiment preferably implements the above
methods in a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable
instructions. The instructions are preferably executed by
computer-executable components preferably integrated with a modular
mobile electronic device or other devices with RF communications
systems. The computer-readable medium may be stored on any suitable
computer readable media such as RAMs, ROMs, flash memory, EEPROMs,
optical devices (CD or DVD), hard drives, floppy drives, or any
suitable device. The computer-executable component is preferably a
processor but the instructions may alternatively or additionally be
executed by any suitable dedicated hardware device.
[0059] As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the
previous detailed description and from the figures and claims,
modifications and changes can be made to the embodiments of the
invention without departing from the scope of this invention
defined in the following claims.
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