Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and embodiments of an apparatus for mitigating physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) interference in Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems. In an embodiment, a wireless-communication device receives downlink transport blocks and responsively transmits corresponding acknowledgement messages via the PUCCH. The device determines that an excessive number of unsolicited (i.e., already-acknowledged) retransmitted downlink transport blocks has been received, and responsively: transmits a scheduling-request message via a random access channel (RACH) and obtains a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) scheduling grant, accesses pseudo uplink data, annexes uplink-feedback data to the pseudo uplink data, and transmits the pseudo uplink data and annexed uplink-feedback data via the PUSCH in accordance with the obtained PUSCH scheduling grant.

Abstract: A communication system minimizes inter-cell interference and handover holes by providing for a user equipment (UE) to monitor downlink signals from a serving, boundary eNodeB and one or more neighbor eNodeBs, determine a signal quality metric (SQM) for each monitored signal to produce an SQM associated with each eNodeB, and determine a maximum uplink transmit power level (PMAX) for each eNodeB. Based on the determined SQMs and PMAXs, the UE determines a eNodeB of the one or more neighbor eNodeBs with a best SQM and, in response to determining that the neighbor eNodeB of the one or more neighbor eNodeBs with a best SQM is a high power eNodeB, determines a difference between the SQM associated with the high power ENodeB and the SQM associated with the boundary eNodeB. The UE then sets a PMAX for the UE based on the difference determination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to mitigate radio frequency interference by a broadband mobile device by detecting, at the broadband mobile device, a geographically or physically proximate narrowband uplink transmission, wherein the narrowband uplink transmission is in close enough spectral proximity to at least one bearer channel of the broadband mobile device to result in interference on the narrowband reception when the broadband mobile device is transmitting and a narrowband mobile device is receiving, determining, based on the detected narrowband uplink transmission, a corresponding narrowband downlink frequency, monitoring the determined narrowband downlink frequency, detecting a narrowband downlink transmission at the monitored narrowband downlink frequency, and in response to detecting the narrowband downlink transmission at the monitored narrowband downlink frequency, modifying a broadband uplink transmission to ensure the broadband uplink transmission does not interfere with narrowband downlink reception.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating out of band emissions among user equipment and base stations operating at geographically co-located and spectrally distinct wireless communication systems are provided herein. During operation, a wireless radio will determine potential interferers. Preferably, these interferers comprise user equipment and base stations operating at geographically co-located and spectrally distinct wireless communication systems. Once determined, a channel quality indicator (CQI) will be adjusted accordingly to accommodate for any potential interferer. Because the CQI will take into effect any potential interferer, transmissions to/from the wireless radio will be made more robust, decreasing channel interference.

Abstract: A portable communication device operating of a first WWAN can receive an identifier from a WLAN access point indicating that one or more devices operating on a second WWAN are in the vicinity of the WLAN access point. In response, the portable communication device invokes an interference mitigation process while the identifier indicates that devices operating on the second WWAN are present.

Abstract: A communication system minimizes inter-cell interference and handover holes by providing for a user equipment (UE) to monitor downlink signals from a serving, boundary eNodeB and one or more neighbor eNodeBs, determine a signal quality metric (SQM) for each monitored signal to produce an SQM associated with each eNodeB, and determine a maximum uplink transmit power level (PMAX) for each eNodeB. Based on the determined SQMs and PMAXs, the UE determines a eNodeB of the one or more neighbor eNodeBs with a best SQM and, in response to determining that the neighbor eNodeB of the one or more neighbor eNodeBs with a best SQM is a high power eNodeB, determines a difference between the SQM associated with the high power ENodeB and the SQM associated with the boundary eNodeB. The UE then sets a PMAX for the UE based on the difference determination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting interference between spectrally distinct wireless communication networks. A first base station in a first network communicates with a first mobile device at a first frequency, and a second base station communicates at a second frequency with a second mobile device geographically co-located with the first mobile device. The power level of an interfering signal received at the first base station from the second mobile device may be estimated by sharing information between the two networks through an interoperability gateway. The path loss of a reference signal transmitted from the first mobile device to its base station is communicated to the gateway, along with a parameter associated with the transmit power level of the interfering signal. Based on this parameter and the reference signal path loss, the received power level of the interfering signal may be inferred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating out of band emissions among user equipment and base stations operating at geographically co-located and spectrally distinct wireless communication systems are provided herein. During operation, a wireless radio will determine potential interferers. Preferably, these interferers comprise user equipment and base stations operating at geographically co-located and spectrally distinct wireless communication systems. Once determined, a channel quality indicator (CQI) will be adjusted accordingly to accommodate for any potential interferer. Because the CQI will take into effect any potential interferer, transmissions to/from the wireless radio will be made more robust, decreasing channel interference.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting interference between spectrally distinct wireless communication networks. A first base station in a first network communicates with a first mobile device at a first frequency, and a second base station communicates at a second frequency with a second mobile device geographically co-located with the first mobile device. The power level of an interfering signal received at the first base station from the second mobile device may be estimated by sharing information between the two networks through an interoperability gateway. The path loss of a reference signal transmitted from the first mobile device to its base station is communicated to the gateway, along with a parameter associated with the transmit power level of the interfering signal. Based on this parameter and the reference signal path loss, the received power level of the interfering signal may be inferred.

Abstract: A method for transmitting packets in a wireless communication network includes taking into consideration an antenna mode prior to transmission. The method includes determining a transmit antenna mode for a transmission between the node and at least one other node; when the transmit antenna mode is omni-directional, broadcasting a transmission schedule for the transmission omni-directionally; and when the transmit antenna is beamforming directional, broadcasting a transmission schedule for the transmission directionally on one or more transmitter beams. The method optionally can also take into consideration an antenna mode of a receive antenna between the node.

Abstract: A method (10 or 40) or system (200) of predictive sensing of periodic intermittent interference (PII) can include the measuring (12) of energy on a channel for an indication of PII, determining (14) if a channel is currently in a PII on-cycle, and adjusting (16) a clear channel assessment threshold to a new threshold for improved sensitivity of the PII on-cycle. If a current energy level on the channel is below the new threshold and if a previous on-energy characteristic suggests that the current energy level will remain below the new threshold for a predetermined minimum period of time, then a clear channel indication can be provided (20). A busy channel indication is provided (45) when either the current energy level is above the new threshold or the previous on-energy characteristic suggests the current energy level will not remain below the threshold for predetermined minimum period of time.

Abstract: A method for transmitting packets in a wireless communication network includes taking into consideration an antenna mode prior to transmission. The method includes determining a transmit antenna mode for a transmission between the node and at least one other node; when the transmit antenna mode is omni-directional, broadcasting a transmission schedule for the transmission omni-directionally; and when the transmit antenna is beamforming directional, broadcasting a transmission schedule for the transmission directionally on one or more transmitter beams. The method optionally can also take into consideration an antenna mode of a receive antenna between the node.

Abstract: Each node in a wireless communication network adds information in hello messages wherein the information comprises the number of hello messages received at the node from a plurality of nodes. Also, the nodes are configured to determine the node density based on additional information extracted from the received hello messages. For example, a first node in the wireless communication network receives a hello message from a second node, wherein the hello message comprises additional information indicating at least a number of hello messages received by the second node from a plurality of nodes in the wireless communication network. The first node extracts the additional information from the received hello message and based on the extracted additional information, the first node determines at least one channel performance metric. Based on the at least one channel performance metric the first node determines density of neighboring nodes in the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A receiver configured for: a) receiving (410) a first OFDM symbol and generating a plurality of demodulated symbols for the first OFDM symbol; b) generating (420) decoder output code symbols corresponding to a subset of the plurality of demodulated symbols; c) determining (430) that a set of the decoder output code symbols make up a set of reference symbols corresponding to at least a portion of the subset of the plurality of demodulated symbols; d) generating (440) the set of reference symbols; e) generating (450) a set of channel estimates based on the set of reference symbols and the at least a portion of the subset of the plurality of demodulated symbols, for use in decoding a current OFDM symbol; and f) repeating steps b-e until a channel estimate for each demodulated symbol corresponding to the first OFDM symbol has been generated.

Abstract: A method for selection of the association access point for a station in an infrastructure mesh network based on received signal strength and one or more “association bias” weights received from neighboring access points. Each weight corresponds to a packet length category. In one embodiment, stations measure received signal strength for received signals and decode the association bias information field(s) and corresponding packet length category thresholds that are received in management frames such as beacons. Stations use this information to select an access point for association that will minimize the overall mesh resource utilization for the traffic (i.e. packet lengths) being transmitted. The method includes three elements: network assistance, access point actions, and station actions.

Abstract: A method (10, 40 or 70) or system (200) of detecting periodic intermittent interference (PII) can include indirect detection by tracking (14) retransmission statistics of isochronous traffic or alternatively tracking channel probe request failures corresponding to temporal characteristics of microwave oven interference. Such tracking can be done in a number of ways including tracking (16) retransmission statistics by tracking MAC layer statistics or by tracking retransmission statistics for Voice over WLAN or by tracking a number of retransmission attempts required per transmission opportunity. In another alternative, the method can track (18) success and failures of probe requests for data traffic. The tracking schemes can use correlation. The method can further introduce (28) hysteresis in the detection of the PII to prevent rapid entering and exiting from a current detection mode. The method can further operate (29) in a direct PII detection mode if the indirect detection mode indicates PII.

Abstract: A method (10 or 40) or system (200) of predictive sensing of periodic intermittent interference (PII) can include the measuring (12) of energy on a channel for an indication of PII, determining (14) if a channel is currently in a PII on-cycle, and adjusting (16) a clear channel assessment threshold to a new threshold for improved sensitivity of the PII on-cycle. If a current energy level on the channel is below the new threshold and if a previous on-energy characteristic suggests that the current energy level will remain below the new threshold for a predetermined minimum period of time, then a clear channel indication can be provided (20). A busy channel indication is provided (45) when either the current energy level is above the new threshold or the previous on-energy characteristic suggests the current energy level will not remain below the threshold for predetermined minimum period of time.

Abstract: The invention can establish a default retransmission algorithm and an interference retransmission algorithm. The default retransmission algorithm can be a Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) based algorithm implemented in a MAC layer in conformance with an IEEE 802.11 based standard. The minimum cumulative back-off time for the default transmission algorithm can be less a minimum cumulative back-off time for the interference retransmission algorithm. The minimum cumulative back-off time for the interference retransmission algorithm can be greater than an on-cycle of the PII and less than a sum of the one and off-cycles of the PII (e.g., between ˜8.3 ms and ˜16.7 ms for microwave oven generated PII). A determination can be made whether periodic intermittent interference is present. If so, the default retransmission algorithm can be automatically utilized for wireless data conveyances. When PII is present, the interference retransmission algorithm can be automatically utilized.

Abstract: A method (10, 40, 50 or 55) or system (200) of detecting and avoiding periodic intermittent interference (PII) can include monitoring (12) for PII on a current channel which can include monitoring (14) by tracking retransmission statistics of isochronous traffic or by tracking channel probe request failures corresponding to temporal characteristics of microwave oven interference where PII is detected if the retransmission statistics exceed a predetermined threshold or if the probe failure requests exceed another predetermined threshold. The method can further include selecting (16) a channel or an adjacent channel with a highest level of PII when PII is detected on the current channel which can optionally include selecting (18) a preset channel known for PII interference or adaptively selecting by directly measuring energy levels on a plurality of channels. The method can switch (20) to a preferred channel when PII is no longer detected on the current channel.

Abstract: A system that includes a receiver (100) that is configured for: selecting (210) a set of demodulator output samples and a corresponding set of reference symbols; generating (220) a set of raw channel estimates based on the set of demodulator output samples and the corresponding set of reference symbols; subdividing (230) the set of raw channel estimates into a plurality of subsets; assigning and applying (240) a corresponding reference symbol magnitude quantization scheme to each subset; determining (250) a set of filter coefficients that is based on the quantization schemes applied to the subsets of raw channel estimates; and combining (260) the set of raw channel estimates with the set of filter coefficients to generate a channel estimate.