The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to managing operation of multiple communication modules.
The use of portable electronic devices and mobile communication devices has increased dramatically in recent years. A mobile device generally has a communication unit that includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and the receiver can include a local oscillator that generates a carrier frequency for modulating or demodulating a communication signal. The local oscillator can be implemented as an analog or a digital frequency synthesizer. A frequency synthesizer can generate a carrier frequency or accurately lock onto a carrier frequency. A receiver may include a frequency synthesizer for demodulating a received communication signal to base-band. The transmitter may include a frequency synthesizer for modulating a base-band signal to a carrier frequency.
Recently, dual-mode mobile devices have been introduced that are capable of supporting multiple communication modules. A narrowband communication module may provide Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), or integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network (iDEN) modulation schemes. A wideband communication module may provide Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a well-known, multi-carrier data transmission technique, used in wireless communications for achieving high throughput over a time-dispersive radio channel, without the need for a channel equalizer in the receiver. CDMA is also a well-known form of multiplexing that uses codes to spread a signal energy over a larger bandwidth to achieve high capacity and robustness to interference.
A Mobile device can implement multiple communication modules, each having separate transmit and receive modems. However, during dual-mode operation, a first communication module may generate interference in a second communication module. This can reduce a transmit and receive signal quality for both communication modules in the mobile device. A need therefore exists for managing an operation of multiple communication modules in a mobile device.
One embodiment of the invention is a method for dynamic frequency synthesizer programming. The method can include identifying a first operating frequency of a first oscillator, identifying a second operating frequency of a second oscillator, and adjusting the first operating frequency if the first operating frequency and the second operating frequency are within a pre-determined range. In one configuration, the first operating frequency can be changed by a pre-specified offset if the first oscillator is in transmit mode and the second oscillator is also in transmit mode. In another configuration, the first operating frequency can be changed by a pre-specified offset if the first oscillator is in transmit mode and the second oscillator is in receive mode.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for dynamic frequency synthesizer programming. The system can include a first integrated circuit (IC) having a first operating frequency, a second integrated circuit (IC) having a second operating frequency, an application processor (AP) operatively coupled to the first IC and the second IC for managing a first communication of the first IC and a second communication of the second IC, and a base-band processor (BP) operatively coupled to the application processor for adjusting the first operating frequency to mitigate an interference from the second operating frequency of the second IC. The base-band processor can include a tuning control for adjusting the first operating frequency if the first operating frequency and the second operating frequency are within a pre-determined range.
In one arrangement, an inter-processor (IPC) message can be sent from an application processor to a baseband processor identifying a transmit frequency and a receive frequency of the second oscillator. The baseband processor can receive the IPC message, compare the first operating frequency with the transmit frequency and the receive frequency in the IPC message, and adjusting the first operating frequency if the first operating frequency is within a predetermined offset of the transmit frequency or the receive frequency. The method can include determining whether a transmit frequency is an interferer to the first oscillator, or determining if a receive frequency is an interferer to the first oscillator.
The features of the system, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The embodiments herein, can be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the method, system, and other embodiments will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present method and system are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments of the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the embodiment herein.
The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
Referring to
Briefly, the controller 130 adjusts an operating point 120 of the first chip set 110 to avoid interference with a communication of the second chip set 150. In practice the controller 130 can control the operating point 120 of the first chipset 110 and the operating point 140 of the second chipset 150. However, in certain implementations, one of the chip sets may not expose a control to the operating point. In such regard, the controller 150 passively assess an operating point of the non-controlled chipset and adjusts the operating point of the controllable chipset. For example, in the foregoing, the second chipset 150 can be considered the non-controlled communication module, and the first chipset 110 will be considered the controlled communication module. That is, the controller evaluates an operating point of the second chipset 150, and accordingly adjusts the operating point of the first chipset 110.
The first chip set 110 and the second chip set 150 can operate independently of one another. For purposes of illustration, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
At step 201, the method 200 can start. The method 200 can start in a state wherein a mobile device is operating in two or more communication modes. For example, the mobile device may be using a first communication module in packet mode to receive presence information over a wi-fi connection. The mobile device may also be using a second communication module operating over a circuit switched network for receiving or handling a phone call. The two communication modules allow a user to simultaneously receive packet data while simultaneously processing a voice call. Notably, the method 200 is not limited to dual mode communication, and can include multiple mode communication. That is, multiple communication modules can be included, each having separate operating points for providing one aspect of a seamless communication experience.
At step 202, a first operating frequency of a first chipset can be identified. The first operating frequency may be a carrier frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in the first chipset. For example, the VCO may control transmit and receive modems. Referring back to
At step 204, a second operating frequency of the second chipset can be identified. The second operating frequency may be a carrier frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in the second chipset. For example, the VCO may control transmit and receive modems. Referring back to
At step 206, the first operating frequency can be adjusted if the first the first operating frequency and the second operating frequency are within a predetermined range. For example, referring back to
Referring to
In practice, referring to
Referring to
In practice, referring to
Referring to
At step 302, an inter-processor (IPC) message containing a transmit frequency and a receive frequency of a second oscillator can be sent from an Application Processor (AP) to a Base Processor (BP). Referring to
Notably, the AP 240 can oversee operational aspects of the first chipset 110 and the second chip 150. The AP can also provide top layer applications that are not directly visible through the BP 230. The BP 230 performs the physical layer signaling and data layer signaling, and may not have access to the operating points. In operation, the AP can identify the operating frequencies of the first chipset 110 and the operating frequencies of second chipset 150. In particular, the AP 240 can receive a message 243 from chipset 150 identifying its transmit operating frequency 255. The AP 240 can also receive a message 242 from chipset 110 identifying its transmit operating frequency 250. The AP 240 can send an interprocessor message 235 to the BP identifying the first transmit frequency 250 and the second transmit frequency 255.
Returning back to
At step 306, the BP can adjust the first operating frequency to mitigate interference with the second operating frequency. Referring to
iDEN VSO frequency=((iDEN TX frequency)/NUD)*3
where iDEN is the first chipset 110, NUD is a near-unity device value, and the factor 3 is chosen for scaling. In practice, the BP 230 computes the difference for each transmit cycle. The BP can then relay the difference to the tuning controller 130 to adjust the first transmit frequency 250 to a location that mitigates interference with the second transmit frequency.
If the first operating frequency is within a specified offset of the second operating frequency, the first chipset NUD value can be modified to a different setting. Briefly, the NUD is available through the tuning controller 130 since it sets the operating frequency. Notably, the BP 230 determines the amount of adjustment to the first operating frequency, and the tuning controller 130 carries out the task of setting the operating frequency. The following pseudo code reveals the control logic when VCOB of transmitter (TX B 255) of chipset B (150) is the interferer to the VCOA of transmitter (TX A 250) of chipset A (110):
Notably, the pseudo code is presented in accordance with the configuration 210 of
Referring to
Referring to
Notably, the AP 240 can oversee operational aspects of the first chipset 110 and the second chip 150. In particular, the AP 240 can receive a message 243 from second chipset 150 identifying its receive operating frequency 257. The AP 240 can also receive a message 242 from first chipset 110 identifying its transmit operating frequency 250. The AP 240 can send an interprocessor message 235 to the BP identifying the first transmit frequency 250 and the second receive frequency 257.
The BP 230 can determine a difference between the first operating frequency 250 and the second operating frequency 257. In practice, the BP 230 computes the difference for each receive cycle. The BP 230 can then relay the difference to the tuning controller 130 to adjust the first transmit frequency 250 to a location that mitigates interference with the second receive frequency 257. If the first transmit frequency 250 is within a specified offset 155 (See
Similarly, the offsets can be saved in a look-up table 270 of a code plug. Having the look-up tables in the code plug facilitates tuning operations, such as tweaking the parameters during code development.
In summary, embodiments of the invention provide for adjusting of a first operating frequency in a first chipset in view of a second operating frequency, or an adjusting in view of an interference due to a communication of a second chipset. This allows the first chipset to compensate for fixed known interference sources, or changing interference sources.
Where applicable, the present embodiments of the invention can be realized in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein are suitable. A typical combination of hardware and software can be a mobile communications device with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, can control the mobile communications device such that it carries out the methods described herein. Portions of the present method and system may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein and which when loaded in a computer system, is able to carry out these methods.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the embodiments of the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present embodiments of the invention as defined by the appended claims.