Frequency Scanning Patents (Class 455/161.1)
  • Patent number: 7860197
    Abstract: Spectrum-sensing algorithms and methods may be provided for use in cognitive radios and other applications. The spectrum-sensing algorithms and methods may include receiving an input spectrum having a plurality of channels, performing a coarse scan of the plurality of channels of the input spectrum to determine one or more occupied candidate channels and vacant candidate channels, where the coarse scan is associated with a first resolution bandwidth and a first frequency sweep increment, performing a fine scan of the occupied candidate channels and the vacant candidate channels to determine actually occupied channels and actually vacant channels, where the fine scan is associated with a second resolution bandwidth and a second frequency sweep increment, and storing an indication of the actually occupied channels and the actually vacant channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics
    Inventors: Youngsik Hur, Chang-Ho Lee, Jeongsuk Lee, Kihong Kim, Haksun Kim
  • Patent number: 7856217
    Abstract: A receiver contains a demodulator system that can extract digital data from wireless radio frequency signal. The digital data contains two sets of compressed digital audio data corresponding to two audio programs. The receiver also contains two decompressors. If a user selects a first audio program, a first compressor is used to decompress a first set of compressed digital audio data. If a user selects a second audio program, a second decompressor is used to decompress a second set of compressed digital audio data. The wireless radio frequency signal can be transmitted using a transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Hark C. Chan
  • Publication number: 20100311370
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radio wave receiver including an antenna to receive a radio wave, a tuning unit to switch a frequency characteristic of the antenna in a stepwise fashion, an oscillation unit to oscillate the antenna and a circuit section of the tuning unit, a receiving process unit to carry out a signal process by extracting a signal of a desired wave among received signals which are received from the antenna, a search control unit in which the oscillation unit is made to generate an oscillation signal at the circuit section and in which the oscillation signal searches a setting condition of the tuning unit which is extracted in the receiving process unit by switching a setting of the tuning unit and a search range deciding unit to selectively decide an adjustable range in which the switching of the setting of the tuning unit is carried out by the search control unit so as to be a specific adjustable range which is a portion of an entire adjustable range of the tuning unit corresponding to a frequency of the d
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki ABE, Hideo Abe
  • Patent number: 7844237
    Abstract: Systems and methods of position sensing for a receiver, via employing an ability thereof to receive signals in a broader range than what such receiver is initially tuned for. A frequency skip component can skip channel frequencies such that the spectrum range is scanned without a typical requirement of tuning to all the channels during such scan. Accordingly, the subject innovation enables the entire spectrum of interest to be scanned at a substantially reduced amount of time. Location interpolation for the receiver and time stamping of received signals can be implemented as part of the position sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Cheung, Christopher Ross Jordan
  • Patent number: 7835712
    Abstract: Various embodiments for providing multi-band operation in a mobile computing device are described. In one or more embodiments, a mobile computing device may be arranged to support quad-band GSM communication in the GSM-850, GSM-900, GSM-1800, and GSM-1900 frequency bands. The mobile computing device may be arranged to determine a starting frequency band based on the home country and home network. By using the determined starting frequency band associated with the home country and home network of the user, fewer and/or shorter delays may be experienced when searching for and acquiring an available frequency. Once a network search is completed, the mobile computing device may be arranged to determine whether a network can be found in current frequency band pair for normal service, to disconnect from the acquired network if normal service is not supported, and to intelligently search for an available frequency in a different frequency band. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianxiong Shi, Isabel Mahe
  • Patent number: 7822396
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a radio receiver and a method for detecting carrier waves which make it possible to detect carrier waves for an IBOC type hybrid broadcast reliably. A radio receiver for receiving carrier waves for hybrid broadcasts which are arranged so as to be adjacent to and located on both sides of carrier waves for analog broadcasts in frequency bands includes a tuner for tuning to a broadcast frequency, and a controller for setting a center frequency of shift frequency in a range where carrier waves for an analog broadcast can be detected and allowing the tuner to tune to the set shift frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Mino
  • Patent number: 7822397
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for medium access control in a receiver is shown, involving frequency hopping through each of a plurality of channel frequencies for the receiver, monitoring a baseband section of the receiver using a data quality detector (DQD) circuit configured to assert a DQD signal when valid data is sensed at the output of a demodulator of the receiver, waiting a first preset period of time after changing the channel frequency for each frequency hop and monitoring whether the DQD signal is asserted, resuming frequency hopping if the DQD signal is not asserted within the first preset period of time, and maintaining a current channel frequency in order to receive a data packet if the DQD is asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Vince András Horváth, Krisztián Kovács, Miklós Lukács, András Hegyi, Tibor Keller
  • Patent number: 7822418
    Abstract: Implementations related to media playback and storage devices are presented herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Eklund, Michael Lewis
  • Patent number: 7809013
    Abstract: A method of operation in a communications node is disclosed. The method of operation includes the communications node scanning a plurality of channels simultaneously during a period of time, with the communications node selecting for signal processing a first signal, in a first channel in the plurality of channels, in a first sub-period of time in the period of time. The method of operation includes the communications node selecting for signal processing a second signal, in a second channel in the plurality of channels, in a second sub-period of time in the period of time. Embodiments of the present invention include but are not limited to communications nodes and devices, subsystems, and systems equipped to operate in the above described manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Shay Waxman
  • Publication number: 20100240333
    Abstract: A method for progressively scanning channels first checks whether all channel scanning tasks are completed so as to determine a channel that will be scanned first. During the scanning process, the method records a channel as a last scanned channel after completing a channel scanning task for the channel. In addition, the method scans a channel with a valid service set identifier to increase the possibility of detecting hidden access points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: RALINK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: SUNG CHIEN TANG
  • Publication number: 20100240334
    Abstract: A broadcast receiver includes a tuner circuit and a demodulator circuit. The tuner circuit tunes a radio frequency (RF) signal to output an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The demodulator circuit demodulates the IF signal from the tuner circuit and outputs a command signal based on the quality of the IF signal, for changing a take over point (TOP) value, preset in the tuner circuit, at which one amplitude gain control (AGC) stopping and another taking over. A method for regulating a broadcast receiver is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: HIMAX MEDIA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Shin-Shiuan Cheng, Guo-Hau Gau, Shan-Tsung Wu, Shih-Chuan Lu, Tien-Ju Tsai
  • Patent number: 7801497
    Abstract: A radio modulator and method with a radio band scan function. The apparatus consists of a frequency selectable RF signal transmitter, a switch that couples the RF signal to an antenna, and a demodulator coupled to mix a received antenna signal with the RF signal to produce an indicia of signal strength at the receive frequency resulting from that mix. A channel memory is coupled to store plural indicia of signal strength values corresponding to plural receive frequencies. A controller is coupled to the transmitter, the switch, the channel memory, and a display. In operation, the controller enables the frequency scan function by decoupling the switch, tuning the transmitter RF signal to plural frequencies, which causes the demodulator to receive plural receive frequencies within the radio band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: RadioShack, Corporation
    Inventor: Alan M. L. Lam
  • Publication number: 20100234063
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a mobile radio communication device is provided. The mobile radio communication device may include a receiver configured to receive radio pilot information via a predefined physical radio channel according to a radio communication technology family, wherein the radio pilot information includes availability information about the availability of at least one radio communication technology of at least one other radio communication technology family. The mobile radio communication device may further include a radio communication protocol controller configured to provide at least one radio communication protocol of the at least one radio communication technology of the at least one other radio communication technology family based on the received pilot information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Markus Mueck, Martin Hans
  • Patent number: 7792507
    Abstract: A system and methods perform an automatic TV signal/tuner setup in a tuner device (e.g., a PC, a personal video recorder, a set-top box, etc.) that has one or more tuners. The setup identifies the number of tuners in the device, whether the tuners are analog or digital, and what broadcast standard each tuner supports. The geographic region in which the device will be receiving TV signals is identified, and tuners supporting that region are identified. Digital tuners are reported as being digital, while analog tuners are scanned to locate valid TV signals, and to determine the source of any valid TV signals (e.g., an antenna, a cable provider, a set-top box).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Scott D. Sanders, Mark D. Schwesinger
  • Patent number: 7787842
    Abstract: A radio broadcast receiver includes: a frequency conversion circuit for receiving a radio broadcast wave and for outputting a reception signal; a detection circuit for detecting the reception signal of an analog radio broadcast wave and for outputting a detection signal; an automatic tuning device for searching a broadcast frequency; and a noise amplifier for amplifying a noise component in the detection signal and for outputting a noise detection signal. The automatic tuning device selects the broadcast frequency when the reception signal level is equal to or larger than a predetermined electric field intensity threshold value and a noise detection signal level is equal to or smaller than a predetermined noise determination threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7778614
    Abstract: A receiver contains a demodulator system that can extract digital data from wireless radio frequency signal. The digital data contains at least three sets of compressed digital audio data each corresponding to an audio program. At least two of the three sets of compressed digital audio data are stored in storage. Each of the stored sets of compressed digital data is associated with a set of index data. The receiver contains an output device allowing a user to perceive the sets of index data. The receiver also contains a digital to analog converter. If a user selects one of the sets of compressed digital audio data, the selected compressed digital audio data is decompressed and converted to analog audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Hark C. Chan
  • Publication number: 20100197253
    Abstract: While sequentially changing the selected channel, a digital broadcast judgment part collects level value VW of a signal extracted on a wide band, a bandwidth suitable for reproduction of an analog broadcast, reported from a reproduction processing unit as the level detection result, and a signal level value VN extracted on a narrow bandwidth of about ?F for which, in an IBOC system, it is likely that neither a digital nor analog broadcast component is present. This digital broadcast judgment part searches for a channel upon which hybrid broadcasting performed by sequentially judging, for three successive channels, whether the first and second adjacent channel conditions, and a central channel condition are satisfied, only on the basis of the signal level values VW and VN. Accordingly, when receiving a radio broadcast according to the IBOC system, it is possible to decide promptly whether or not a digital broadcast is included therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100184395
    Abstract: An approach and apparatus for adaptive scanning for detection and classification of an RF signal. Time-domain and frequency-domain information are acquired and processed over a broad band of frequencies segmented into channels to produce signal features. The signal features are classified using a signal classifier into signal discriminants, from which a signal of interest is located and identified. Subsequent channel scans then place an increased relative or absolute dwell time on the channel believed to contain the signal of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Nils Bagge, Ben Jones
  • Patent number: 7756086
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to methods for communicating in a dual-mode communication protocol. A representative embodiment of the present invention comprises: enabling communication in a spread-spectrum communication protocol, comprising: receiving a first portion of a communication frame at a first frequency channel, wherein the first portion of the communication frame comprises a data channel index that indicates a second frequency channel for receiving a second portion of the communication frame; switching to the second frequency channel; and receiving the second portion of the communication frame at the second frequency channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sipco, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Petite, Richard Huff, David P. Aldoretta
  • Patent number: 7756546
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for incorporating fixed terminal devices within an integrated wireless system using a fixed terminal adaptor, and to indicate the capabilities of the fixed terminal adaptor. In accordance with one embodiment, a fixed terminal adaptor is enabled to indicate its capabilities to the network controller of the integrated wireless system. For one such embodiment, the network controller is able to select the appropriate bearer mechanisms to support the expected fixed terminal services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kineto Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajeev Gupta
  • Patent number: 7751817
    Abstract: Scanning neighboring base stations in a wireless access system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of scanning neighboring base stations for assessing channel quality includes receiving from a serving base station information associated with at least one neighboring base station, and transmitting a scanning request message from a mobile subscriber station to the serving base station, wherein the scanning request message comprises a requested scan duration and a requested scan iteration, the requested scan iteration being associated with a requested number of iterations of the scanning of the at least one neighboring base station. The method also includes receiving a scanning response message from the serving base station, wherein the scanning response message comprises an allowed scan duration and an allowed scan iteration, the allowed scan iteration being associated with an allowed number of iterations of the scanning of the at least one neighboring base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Ho Kim, Ki Hyoung Cho
  • Patent number: 7747232
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a radio reception system, which comprises a plurality of receivers assigned to a common output device, in which one of the receivers is designated as audio receiver and is tuned to a frequency of a radio transmitter, and outputs a signal received from the transmitter to the output device. At least one second receiver is designated as search receiver, and continuously searches its own reception frequency band for a frequency of the same transmitter. The system changes to a frequency of this transmitter, which was found by the search receiver, if the quality of the signal received by the audio receiver falls below a certain limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Gierl
  • Patent number: 7738846
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described relating to sharing scanning operations among nodes in a wireless network, such as a WiMedia ultra-wideband (UWB) network. In an example embodiment, a message may be sent from a first node to one or more other nodes in a wireless network indicating that the first node is configured to perform a scanning operation on a wireless medium in substitution of scanning the wireless medium at the one or more other nodes. The wireless medium may be scanned, for example, by the first node to obtain scanning results for the one or more other nodes. The scanning results may be sent, for example, by the first node, to the one or more other nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Harald Kaaja, Juha Salokannel, Janne Tervonen
  • Patent number: 7715782
    Abstract: A channel mapping system has a data source containing data indicative of the geographic range of channels broadcast in at least one selected region and a channel determination module that uses data indicative of a location in conjunction with the data source to determine a preferred channel. The preferred channel may be an FM channel. A transmitter is used with a portable media player to broadcast audio data contained on or received by the portable media player over the preferred channel. The media can be received by a corresponding receiver set to the same preferred channel. Adjustments to the channel settings can be determined repeatedly so that, as a preferred channel changes with location, an automated process or a user facilitated process can be used to change the channel settings on each of the transmitter and the receive. A location identification system such as GPS can be used to identify the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Arthur Anthonie van Hoff, Mark Andrew Ross
  • Patent number: 7711348
    Abstract: An RF radio and a method of monitoring warning alert data is provided. The RF radio includes a radio receiver for receiving broadcast radio wave signals, and a tuner adjustable for selecting radio wave signal channels within AM and FM radio bands and radio wave signal channels within a weather band. The weather band is adapted to provide warning alert data. The radio also includes a controller for controlling the tuner to select a radio wave signal channel within the AM or FM radio band. The controller controls the tuner to periodically switch to the weather band and determines presence of warning alert data. The controller further initiates receipt of the warning alert data when such warning alert data is determined to be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel T. Altizer
  • Publication number: 20100087158
    Abstract: An adjusting method for a smart antenna is provided. The adjusting method divides all possible reading directions of the smart antenna into a plurality of scanning directions and a plurality of idle directions by a first form. In searching for the optimal parameters of each of a plurality of communication channels, the adjusting method firstly adjusts the reading direction according to the plurality of scanning directions, and then adjusts the reading direction according to the plurality of idle directions. Further, the first form remain updated in accordance the process of searching for the optimal parameters of each of the communication channels, thus effectively saving the time spent on the full frequency scanning process. Further, the optimal parameters of each of the communication channels are recorded in a second form, so that the smart antenna is regulated according to the second form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: ALi Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Tsun Chen, Tien-Hsin Kuo
  • Patent number: 7689185
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating an initial frequency offset in a mobile communication system in which a user equipment (UE) performs initial cell search in order to identify a Node B with which the UE can exchange data is provided. The apparatus comprises a memory for storing a plurality of pulse duration modulation (PDM) hypotheses and storing the PDM hypotheses therein; a step#1 cell searcher for performing a step#1 cell search on each of the PDM hypotheses through a primary synchronization channel and outputting the cell search result to the memory; and an initial frequency offset estimator for determining an initial frequency offset estimation value from the cell search results for the PDM hypotheses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-Ho Hur
  • Patent number: 7684467
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving data corresponding to a portion of an incoming radio frequency (RF) spectrum, determining a set of estimates including one or more pairs of a channel frequency estimate and a symbol rate estimate from the data via a linear spectrum analysis, and determining a refined set of estimates from the set of estimates via at least one non-linear spectrum analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Junsong Li, Yan Zhou
  • Patent number: 7684472
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments may relate to a method and apparatus for performing a correlation with respect to a received signal. A first correlator may correlate for a real part of a first characteristic of the received signal to produce a first real correlated signal. A second correlator may correlate for an imaginary part of the first characteristic of the received signal to produce a first imaginary correlated signal. A third correlator may correlate for a real part of a second characteristic of the received signal to produce a second real correlated signal. A fourth correlator may correlate for an imaginary part of the second characteristic of the received signal to produce a second imaginary correlated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Louis Robert Litwin, Alton Shelborne Keel, Wen Gao
  • Publication number: 20100060786
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for scanning channels of a broadcast receiver are provided. The channel scanning method includes determining whether to perform an entire channel scanning operation or a partial channel scanning operation in response to a channel scan command, if the entire channel scanning operation is determined to be performed, performing the entire channel scanning operation by scanning all channels and storing channel information regarding a channel in which a broadcast signal exists in a channel map, and if the partial channel scanning operation is determined to be performed, performing the partial channel scanning operation by scanning a channel which is not registered in a pre-created channel map, and storing channel information regarding the non-registered channel in which a broadcast signals exists in the non-registered channel map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon-soo Kim, Hae-joo Jeong, Young-jin Lee
  • Publication number: 20100029231
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the performance of RF devices having a transmitter and an antenna that function at multiple frequencies. Due to regulatory limits on radiation output, and because antenna gain varies with frequency, transmitter power has been constrained by the highest efficiency point of the antenna. According to the present invention, the optimal power setting is empirically determined for each frequency, and stored in a data table. When an operational frequency is selected for the RF device, the data table is consulted to determine the appropriate power setting for the transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Demian Martin
  • Patent number: 7657239
    Abstract: A system and methods (300, 400) are disclosed for conserving energy in a multimode communication device (106). A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a multimode wireless transceiver (202) for accessing a plurality of wireless access technologies (103), and a controller (214) for managing operations of the multimode wireless transceiver. The controller is programmed to enable (300) scanning for a select one of the wireless access technologies when the communication device is near a known location of a wireless access point. An embodiment for a network management system (100) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Anil Doradla, David Wolter, J. Bradley Bridges
  • Patent number: 7643848
    Abstract: A transceiver system includes a first section coupled to a first antenna, a second section coupled to a second antenna, and a radio frequency (RF) unit. The first section includes a transmit path and a first receive path for a first (e.g., GSM) wireless system, a transmit path and a first receive path for a second (e.g., CDMA) wireless system, and a transmit/receive (T/R) switch that couples the signal paths to the first antenna. The second section includes a second receive path for the first wireless system and a second receive path for the second wireless system. The first and second receive paths for the first wireless system are for two frequency bands. The first and second receive paths for the second wireless system are for a single frequency band and provide receive diversity. The transceiver system may include a GPS receive path coupled to a third antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert Lloyd Robinett
  • Patent number: 7634243
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which utilize a relatively low cost first IF filter in a dual conversion tuner circuit. A preferred embodiment first IF filter is provided using a filter arrangement having a relatively high tolerance. Accordingly, preferred embodiment systems are designed such that they can accommodate the range of first IF frequencies that the large tolerance filter may provide. One aspect of this accommodation may include providing a means by which the system may detect the location of the passband of the IF filter in the spectrum. Another aspect of the accommodation for the range of first IF frequencies may include adjusting the first IF frequency utilized by the dual conversion tuner to match the passband of the IF filter. Additionally or alternatively, the passband of the first IF filter itself may be tuned, such as to provide a passband more near a desired IF frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventors: Jose L. Esquivel, R. William Ezell, Jan-Michael Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20090298452
    Abstract: A receiver according to the present invention has a reception unit which receives reception signals; a storage unit which stores a band table, in which a plurality of frequency bands serving as scanning targets are registered so that the frequency bands correspond to band identifiers, respectively, and a link table, in which any number of the band identifiers registered in the band table are registered so that the band identifiers correspond to a link identifier; a control unit which, when the link identifier is specified, refers to the band table and the link table, obtains the frequency bands corresponding to the link identifier, carries out scanning within the frequency band for each of the frequency bands, and sequentially sets reception frequencies of the reception signals; and a frequency synthesizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: ICOM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Futoshi Ota
  • Publication number: 20090275299
    Abstract: A method and device for transmitting audio data and text data to an RDS capable radio receiver by a wireless device is disclosed. The device includes a receiver for scanning a frequency range to detect an available radio frequency based on predetermined criteria. The device also includes a transmitter for transmitting data on a detected frequency that comprises RDS message data. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Steffen Buch, Stefan van Waasen, Tim Schonauer, Jurgen Wondra
  • Patent number: 7613437
    Abstract: If a sub broadcast is unavailable so a reception means receives the main broadcast instead of the sub broadcast, reception of the sub broadcast is booked. When the sub broadcast is booked and the sub broadcast becomes available, the reception means automatically receives the sub broadcast booked instead of the main broadcast. Accordingly, reception of the sub broadcast can start automatically when the sub broadcast starts, without inputting instructions to select the sub broadcast repeatedly, whereby operation performed by a user can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: ONKYO Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Sugihara, Koji Harada
  • Patent number: 7610010
    Abstract: A broadcast receiver for receiving a broadcasting of a prescribed channel transmitted from a broadcasting station by a directivity switching antenna capable of switching directivity to a plurality of preset directions, includes a control unit for controlling the directivity switching antenna to switch a directive direction, a memory for storing channel information showing the prescribed channel and direction information showing the directive direction of the directivity switching antenna, and an instructing unit for allowing a user to instruct the prescribed channel to be set as a receiving channel. When the instructing unit instructs the user to set the prescribed channel as the receiving channel, the control unit stores only the channel information of the prescribed channel in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Onomatsu, Shusuke Narita
  • Publication number: 20090247098
    Abstract: A system for receiving signals and performing autoranging is disclosed. The system includes an adjustable attenuator at an input. A mixer combines the input signal with a tuning frequency to generate a mixed signal. The mixed signal is filtered to generate a component of the input signal at the tuning frequency. A signal detector detects the signal level of the input signal and the adjustable attenuator is adjusted in response to the signal level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gray, Robert Buck
  • Patent number: 7596371
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system of selectively scanning a wireless communication band. In some demonstrative embodiments the method may include, for example, selectively scanning in response to a request to scan a wireless communication band, at least part of the wireless communication band based on a user-customized scanning profile. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Boris Ginzburg, Max Fudim
  • Patent number: 7596360
    Abstract: A CPU confirms a receivable channel while sequentially changing channel numbers set to an analog front-end unit and specifies an area in which the receivable channel can be received and an area adjacent thereto by referring a receiving channel table by area and an adjacent area table after confirming the receivable channel. After this, the CPU confirms the receivable channel while sequentially setting the channel numbers receivable in the adjacent areas to the front-end unit to specify areas matching with the confirmation result. When the number of specified areas becomes one, the CPU assigns channel numbers to each switch formed of a channel switch group of a user interface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20090227220
    Abstract: An improved channel detecting apparatus is provided for detecting a channel. The channel detecting apparatus comprises a channel search circuit (3). When a certain frequency is detected through a search sweep using a frequency sweep signal for a channel, the channel search circuit determines whether or not the detected frequency falls within a frequency range associated with the channel. The channel search circuit (3) comprises a controller (32). The controller can comprise a sweep stop timing circuit (320) and a sweep resume timing circuit (322). The sweep stop timing circuit (320) stops the search sweep when the output of the channel is generated in response to the search sweep using a frequency sweep signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: LEADER ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Ishida, Hideharu Tsunemoto
  • Patent number: 7580682
    Abstract: Embodiments of a link assessment and frequency monitoring system for use in wireless sensor networks are described. In one embodiment, each frequency utilized by links coupling two or more nodes in the network is sampled to determine a noise measure for each frequency. A correlation measure based on the distance between the noise measures for each pair of frequencies is determined. The frequencies are then clustered into a number of groups of frequencies based on the correlation measure between each pair of frequencies, such that the number of groups is less than the total number of frequencies. A representative frequency for each group of frequencies is selected, and a link quality assessment for each pair of nodes in the network is performed for the representative frequency of each group of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dhananjay Lal, Abtin Keshavarzian
  • Patent number: 7577410
    Abstract: An audio apparatus is provided that permits selection of either analog or digital audio signals in execution of a scan operation. A radio receiver 300 comprises a tuner 320 capable of receiving carrier wave signals including at least an analog audio signal and a digital audio signal, a microcomputer 380 for controlling the tuner to search for a receivable broadcast station in sequence, and to receive the carrier wave signal from the broadcast station searched for during a certain period of time, a switch 350 for selecting one audio signal from the analog audio signal and the digital audio signal sent from the tuner 320 during the scan operation, and a speaker 390 for reproducing the audio signal selected by the switch 350.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20090197550
    Abstract: A user equipment senses a plurality of wireless signals it receives; estimates cyclic correlation of the received signals using a multi-variate sign function; determines from the estimated cyclic correlation which ones of the signals are detected based on cyclostationarity present at known cyclic frequencies; and a frequency resource is selected for opportunistic communications based on the frequencies over which were received the signals that were determined to be detected. In specific embodiments, the multi-variate sign function is bivariate; the detected signals are primary user signals and the selected frequency resource avoids frequencies on which they were received; and/or the detected signals are secondary user signals and the selected frequency resource can either avoid those frequencies on which they were received or use those frequencies for the UE's own opportunistic communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Anu HUTTUNEN, Visa KOIVUNEN, Jarmo Rafael LUNDEN
  • Patent number: 7542745
    Abstract: In measurement of wireless channels in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN), in the case of multi-channel measurement as in North America in which eight wireless channels Ch1 through Ch8 are available, channel measurement according to a predetermined algorithm is made in which odd-numbered channels Ch1, Ch3, Ch5 and Ch7 are first measured, and if radio interference occurs in channel Ch5, channels Ch4 and Ch6 adjacent to channel Ch5 are measured. This shortens the measurement time that conventionally corresponds to measurement of the eight channels to the time of six channels, i.e., the sum of the measurement time for the odd-numbered channels and that for the channels adjacent to the interference-occurring channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsui, Taro Mikami, Tadao Inoue
  • Patent number: 7529530
    Abstract: A wireless reception apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a scan unit for periodically scanning favorite channels which are selectable as a playing channel, and recording broadcasting signal properties of each favorite channel; an evaluation value calculating module for calculating an evaluation value of each favorite channel according to the broadcasting signal properties thereof; a channel selection module for selecting one of the favorite channels as a playing channel according to the evaluation values; and a signal receiving unit for receiving radio signals in the playing channel. A wireless reception method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiao-Guang Li, Kuan-Hong Hsieh, Wen-Chuan Lian
  • Publication number: 20090102981
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to detect a broad class of signals including Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) digital television (DTV) and wireless microphone signals. This signal detection method performs in Gaussian noise, employing Higher Order Statistics (HOS). Signals are processed in time and frequency domains as well as by real and imaginary components. The spectrum sensing employed also supports Denial of Service (DoS) signal classification. The method can include parameters that may be tailored to adjust the probability of detection and false alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEM INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM INTEGRATION INC.
    Inventor: Apurva N. Mody
  • Publication number: 20090068969
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for operating a multi-mode wireless communications device to select a radio access technology (RAT) requiring the lowest energy consumption by the device for a desired operating mode. An exemplary method comprises scanning a plurality of frequency bands to determine a set of available radio access technologies that support the desired operating mode, and evaluating, for each available RAT, RAT-specific system parameters and RAT-specific operating conditions. Based on the evaluation, the RAT requiring the lowest energy consumption by the wireless device for the desired operating mode is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Bengt Lindoff, Jacobus Cornelis Haartsen, Anders Wallen
  • Publication number: 20090068970
    Abstract: A method, information processing system, and wireless device are disclosed for managing network scanning intervals. The method includes detecting a new wireless network coverage area (130). At least one local dynamic scanning profile (110) is analyzed in response to the determining. The at least one local dynamic scanning profile (110) is determined to include identification information (306) associated with the new wireless network coverage area (130). A network scanning interval for identifying wireless sub-networks (112) within the new wireless network coverage area is dynamically adjusted in response to the determining that the at least one local dynamic scanning profile 110 includes the identification information (306). The adjustment is based on a scanning interval (312) indicated by the at least one local dynamic scanning profile 110 for the new wireless network coverage area (130).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Mohammed M. Ahmed, Kashyap Kamdar, Amol Tuli, Edgardo L. Promenzio, Patrick A. Baumann, Ajaykumar R. Idnani, Edward J. Keating