Abstract: A device, system and method for radio-frequency emissions control is provided. The device comprises: a communication unit configured to communicate via main radio channels and a control channel, the main radio channels contributing to radio-frequency (RF) emissions; and a controller interconnected with the communication unit. The controller is configured to: receive, via the communication unit communicating over the control channel, an RF emissions control command to reduce the RF emissions emitted by the communication unit; and in response to receiving the RF emissions control command, control one or more of the communication unit and activity on the main radio channels to reduce the RF emissions.

Abstract: A device, system and method for radio-frequency emissions control is provided. The device comprises: a communication unit configured to communicate via main radio channels and a control channel, the main radio channels contributing to radio-frequency (RF) emissions; and a controller interconnected with the communication unit. The controller is configured to: receive, via the communication unit communicating over the control channel, an RF emissions control command to reduce the RF emissions emitted by the communication unit; and in response to receiving the RF emissions control command, control one or more of the communication unit and activity on the main radio channels to reduce the RF emissions.

Abstract: A device, system and method for frequency hopping control is provided. The device comprises: a communication unit configured to communicate via main radio channels and a control channel; and a controller interconnected with the communication unit. The controller is configured to: receive, via the communication unit communicating over the control channel, a frequency hopping control command comprising a list of one or more hopping frequencies for frequency hopping; and in response to receiving the frequency hopping control command, control the communication unit to communicate via the main radio channels using frequency hopping according to the one or more hopping frequencies.

Abstract: A method and converged LMR/LTE communications device provide for minimizing interference in the converged LMR/LTE communications device that operates in a land mobile radio (LMR) narrowband communication system and a long term evolution (LTE) broadband communication system. The converged LMR/LTE communications device detects, using an electronic processing device, that the converged LMR/LTE communications device is operating in the first LTE band and the first LMR band. The converged LMR/LTE communications device determines that a first LMR received signal strength indicator (RSSI) at the converged LMR/LTE communications device is less than a first LMR threshold signal strength and disables at least one LTE application based upon the first LMR RSSI being less than the LMR threshold signal strength.

Abstract: A method and converged LMR/LTE communications device provide for minimizing interference in the converged LMR/LTE communications device that operates in a land mobile radio (LMR) narrowband communication system and a long term evolution (LTE) broadband communication system. The converged LMR/LTE communications device detects, using an electronic processing device, that the converged LMR/LTE communications device is operating in the first LTE band and the first LMR band. The converged LMR/LTE communications device determines that a first LMR received signal strength indicator (RSSI) at the converged LMR/LTE communications device is less than a first LMR threshold signal strength and disables at least one LTE application based upon the first LMR RSSI being less than the LMR threshold signal strength.

Abstract: Systems and methods for combined parallel processing of spectral information in a radio frequency environment. One example method includes controlling, with an electronic processor, a wideband receiver coupled to a receive path to scan a band of interest. The method includes receiving, from the wideband receiver, wideband scan data for the band of interest. The method includes identifying, based on the wideband scan data, a spectral region including a signal of interest. The method includes controlling, with the electronic processor, a narrowband receiver coupled to the receive path in parallel with the wideband receiver to collect a sample of the signal of interest.

Abstract: Devices and methods for dynamic management of incident area deployable communications systems. Deployable base stations implement an ad hoc peer-to-peer or master-slave methods of determining activation states and transmission characteristics of plurality of deployable base stations at an incident area. The methods include receiving incident scene information from the plurality of deployable base stations and determining a coverage region for providing wireless communications coverage to one or more mobile communication devices in the incident area. The methods further include determining the activation states of the plurality of deployable base stations and determining transmission characteristics of the plurality of deployable base stations based on the incident scene information and the coverage region. One or more of the deployable base stations are activated in accordance with the determined transmission characteristics.

Abstract: A device and method for radio-frequency site evaluation is provided. The radio-frequency site comprises one or more radio transmitters in communication with one or more transmit antennas, a monitoring radio receiver in communication with a receive antenna through a variable attenuator, and a controller in communication with the one or more radio transmitters, the monitoring radio receiver and the variable attenuator. The controller identifies the one or more radio transmitters which are currently transmitting, and responsively controls the variable attenuator to an attenuation value where a dynamic range of the monitoring radio receiver has a linear response for total power received at the receive antenna, the attenuation value associated with the one or more radio transmitters that are currently transmitting. Thereafter, the controller controls the monitoring radio receiver to scan at least currently active frequencies of the one or more radio transmitters, for example to detect problems at the site.

Abstract: Primary and/or secondary communication groups can be assigned to users with communication devices arranged in a hierarchy (FIG. 4). A set of humans are assigned to a role in a role-based hierarchy. A communication device (404) is assigned to the set of humans for communication over a network. One or more secondary communication groups are determined for the communication device (120). The one or more determined secondary communication groups are primary communication groups of other devices used by one or more other humans assigned roles in the role-based hierarchy. Secondary communication group settings are programmed for the communication device (124), where the group settings are consistent with the determined secondary communication groups.

Abstract: Primary and/or secondary communication groups can be assigned to users with communication devices arranged in a hierarchy (FIG. 4). A set of humans are assigned to a role in a role-based hierarchy. A communication device (404) is assigned to the set of humans for communication over a network. One or more secondary communication groups are determined for the communication device (120). The one or more determined secondary communication groups are primary communication groups of other devices used by one or more other humans assigned roles in the role-based hierarchy. Secondary communication group settings are programmed for the communication device (124), where the group settings are consistent with the determined secondary communication groups.

Abstract: A method of retaining channel use by a secondary system is described. A secondary channel used during periods of normal communication between a secondary transmitter and receiver is split into sub-bands for use during a quiet period containing quiet phases. During the quiet period, while the transmitter communicates with the receiver on one sub-band, the receiver simultaneously senses for incumbent devices on another sub-band, as well as vice-versa. Transmission and sensing do not occur simultaneously on the same sub-band and transmission is limited to only one of the sub-bands. Transmission and sensing are performed by both the transmitter and the receiver on every sub-band over the course of the quiet period. The locations of secondary receivers are determined and employed during scheduling such that devices sufficiently separated from each other transmit during different quiet phases and transmit and sense in sub-bands separated by another sub-band.

Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating at least one antenna (1,1-1,3. 1,j). At least a first antenna (1,4) within a first antenna array (102) can be selected as a primary reference antenna. At least one antenna (4,3) that is not within the first antenna array can be selected as a secondary reference antenna. At least a first signal propagation characteristic (122) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the primary reference antenna and the secondary reference antenna. At least a second signal propagation characteristic (118) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the secondary reference antenna and at least a second antenna (1,2) within the first antenna array. At least a first calibration coefficient can be determined for the second antenna.

Abstract: A method of retaining channel use by a secondary system is described. A secondary channel used during periods of normal communication between a secondary transmitter and receiver is split into sub-bands for use during a quiet period containing quiet phases. During the quiet period, while the transmitter communicates with the receiver on one sub-band, the receiver simultaneously senses for incumbent devices on another sub-band, as well as vice-versa. Transmission and sensing do not occur simultaneously on the same sub-band and transmission is limited to only one of the sub-bands. Transmission and sensing are performed by both the transmitter and the receiver on every sub-band over the course of the quiet period. The locations of secondary receivers are determined and employed during scheduling such that devices sufficiently separated from each other transmit during different quiet phases and transmit and sense in sub-bands separated by another sub-band.

Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating at least one antenna (1,1-1,3. 1,j). At least a first antenna (1,4) within a first antenna array (102) can be selected as a primary reference antenna. At least one antenna (4,3) that is not within the first antenna array can be selected as a secondary reference antenna. At least a first signal propagation characteristic (122) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the primary reference antenna and the secondary reference antenna. At least a second signal propagation characteristic (118) can be measured based on at least one signal wirelessly communicated between the secondary reference antenna and at least a second antenna (1,2) within the first antenna array. At least a first calibration coefficient can be determined for the second antenna.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for performing over-the-air calibration routines in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. An antenna array of a transceiver (e.g., transceiver of a base station) comprises a re-configurable antenna having two switchable configuration states. The antenna exhibits different degrees of electromagnetic coupling to other antennas of the array in a first state than in a second state. The reference antenna is switched to the first state for performing uplink/downlink calibrating transmissions and switched to the second state during uplink and downlink communications or channel sounding calibrating transmissions.

Abstract: A baseband detector includes a complex differential detector, a constellation point computer, and a phase shift keying (PSK) decoder. The complex differential detector outputs complex values in response to digitized samples derived from a received baseband signal. The PSK decoder generates decoded bits representing information symbols by determining in minimum distance between the complex values and plural constellation points provided by the constellation point computer. The constellation point computer can adaptively generate the constellation points based on a training sequence of information symbols and their corresponding complex valued outputs from the complex differential detector. The baseband detector can be used for frequency shifting keying (FSK) and differential phase shift keying (DPSK) demodulation in direct conversion receivers (DCRs).

Abstract: A baseband detector includes a complex differential detector, a constellation point computer, and a phase shift keying (PSK) decoder. The complex differential detector outputs complex values in response to digitized samples derived from a received baseband signal. The PSK decoder generates decoded bits representing information symbols by determining in minimum distance between the complex values and plural constellation points provided by the constellation point computer. The constellation point computer can adaptively generate the constellation points based on a training sequence of information symbols and their corresponding complex valued outputs from the complex differential detector. The baseband detector can be used for frequency shifting keying (FSK) and differential phase shift keying (DPSK) demodulation in direct conversion receivers (DCRs).

Abstract: A communication system (100) that includes a base unit (101) and a subscriber unit (e.g., 103) employs a method (400) and apparatus (101) for mitigating interference (135) therein. The base unit (101) receives an uplink communication signal from the subscriber unit (103) at an uplink frequency and conveys a downlink communication signal to the subscriber unit (103) at a downlink frequency. Upon receiving (403) an uplink communication signal from the subscriber unit (103), the base unit (101) determines (405) a quality metric for the uplink frequency. When the quality metric is below a quality threshold (407), the base unit (101) and the subscriber unit (103) transfer (415) the communication signal to an alternate uplink frequency, while the downlink frequency remains unchanged.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method/protocol (400, 800) and device (600; 700) for transmitting a synchronous stream of information, in a wireless, centrally controlled communication system. The method includes the steps of parsing the synchronous stream of information into a plurality of predetermined fixed sized blocks and transmitting/retransmitting each fixed size block in a predetermined window of time until one of: reception of each fixed size block is positively acknowledged and each corresponding predetermined window of time has elapsed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a communications system (100) for providing communications units (134) access to the communications system (100). The communications. system (100) includes a cable distribution network (106) with an base communications unit (102) and a number of downstream communications units (134) all connected to the cable distribution network (106). A plurality of channels are used to transmit data between the base communications unit (102) and the downstream communications units (134). A first set of channels are used primarily for access the communications system (100) and a second set of channels are used for transmitting data within the communications system (100) after access to the communications system (100) has been gained. The base communications unit (102) sends a first type of data transmission including an identification of access channels used for requesting access to the communications system (100).