Methods and apparatus for controlling multiple-input and multiple-output operation in a communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295447-A1
Application number	US-201514734556-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for controlling multiple-input and multiple-output operation in a communication device includes communicating data using multiple-input and multiple-output operation, determining a set of parameters that indicate quality of service associated with communicating the data to another device, and comparing the set of parameters to a set of thresholds. When one or more parameters in the set of parameters exceed one or more thresholds in the set of thresholds, the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for controlling multiple-input and multiple-output operation in a communication device, the method comprising:
communicating data using multiple-input and multiple-output operation; determining a set of parameters that indicate quality of service associated with communicating the data to another device; comparing the set of parameters to a set of thresholds; disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation when one or more parameters in the set of parameters exceed one or more thresholds in the set of thresholds.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the determining and comparing comprises determining bit error rate and comparing the bit error rate to a bit error rate threshold; and the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled when the bit error rate exceeds the bit error rate threshold.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the determining and comparing comprises determining packet error rate and comparing the packet error rate to a packet error rate threshold; and the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled when the packet error rate exceeds the packet error rate threshold.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the determining and comparing comprises determining packet loss and comparing the packet loss to a packet loss threshold; and the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled when the packet loss exceeds the packet loss threshold.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the determining and comparing comprises determining packet retransmission rate and comparing the packet retransmission rate to a packet retransmission rate threshold; and the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled when the packet retransmission rate exceeds the packet retransmission rate threshold.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the determining and comparing comprises determining retransmission timer results and comparing the retransmission timer results to a timer threshold; and the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled when the retransmission timer results exceed the timer threshold.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the determining and comparing comprises at least two of:
determining bit error rate and comparing the bit error rate to a bit error rate threshold;
determining packet error rate and comparing the packet error rate to a packet error rate threshold;
determining packet loss and comparing the packet loss to a packet loss threshold;
determining packet retransmission rate and comparing the packet retransmission rate to a packet retransmission rate threshold; or
determining retransmission timer results and comparing the retransmission timer results to a timer threshold; and
the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled when at least two of:
the bit error rate exceeds the bit error rate threshold;
the packet error rate exceeds the packet error rate threshold;
the packet loss exceeds the packet loss threshold;
the packet retransmission rate exceeds the packet retransmission rate threshold; or
the retransmission timer results exceed the timer threshold.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises multiple transceiver paths each having a transmit path and a corresponding receive path, and wherein disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation comprises disabling the transmit path of a first transceiver path of the multiple transceiver paths while leaving active the corresponding receive path of the first transceiver path.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation comprises partially disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein when none of the parameters in the set of parameters exceeds the one or more thresholds in the set of thresholds, and wherein the data is communicated data using the multiple-input and multiple-output operation for a first data rate and a second data rate, the method further comprising:
determining a battery level of the communication device; determining whether the battery level is below a first battery level threshold when the data rate is the first data rate; determining whether the battery level is below a second battery level threshold when the data rate is the second data rate; disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation for the first data rate when the battery level is below the first battery level threshold; disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation for the second data rate when the battery level is below the second battery level threshold.

11 . A method for controlling multiple-input and multiple-output operation in a communication device, the method comprising:
communicating data using multiple-input and multiple-output operation for a first data rate and a second data rate; determining a battery level of the communication device; determining whether the battery level is below a first battery level threshold when the data rate is the first data rate; determining whether the battery level is below a second battery level threshold when the data rate is the second data rate; disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation for the first data rate when the battery level is below the first battery level threshold; disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation for the second data rate when the battery level is below the second battery level threshold.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first data rate is lower than the second data rate, and the first battery level threshold is higher than the second battery level threshold.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first data rate supports one of 802.11 HT40 or 802.11 HT20, and the second data rate supports 802.11 HT80.

14 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:
determining whether the communication device is externally powered, and
continuing to communicate the data using the multiple-input and multiple-output operation while the communication device is externally powered.

15 . The method of claim 11 further comprising, when the battery level exceeds the first and second battery level thresholds:
determining a set of parameters that indicate quality of service associated with communicating the data to the other device;
comparing the set of parameters to a set of thresholds;
disabling the multiple-input and multiple-output operation when one or more parameters in the set of parameters exceed one or more thresholds in the set of thresholds.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the determining and comparing comprises at least one of:
determining bit error rate and comparing the bit error rate to a bit error rate threshold;
determining packet error rate and comparing the packet error rate to a packet error rate threshold;
determining packet loss and comparing the packet loss to a packet loss threshold;
determining packet retransmission rate and comparing the packet retransmission rate to a packet retransmission rate threshold; or
determining retransmission timer results and comparing the retransmission timer results to a timer threshold; and
the multiple-input and multiple-output operation is disabled when at least one of:
the bit error rate exceeds the bit error rate threshold;
the packet error rate exceeds the packet error rate threshold;
the packet loss exceeds the packet loss threshold;
the packet retransmission rate exceeds the packet retransmission rate threshold; or
th

Assignees

• Motorola Mobility Llc

Inventors

• Braun Mark
• Gillella Santhosh Kumar
• Gupta Ranjeet
• Hor-Lao Mary
• Vissa Sudhir C

Classifications

• H04B7/0413

  MIMO systems · CPC title

• H04B7/0686

  Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission · CPC title

• H04W28/0242

  Determining whether packet losses are due to overload or to deterioration of radio communication conditions · CPC title

• H04W28/0236

  radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay · CPC title

• H04B7/0426

  Power distribution · CPC title