Assessing interference environment for wireless communication devices
Disclosed is a device and method to automate the process of measuring RF noise, correlating measured noise with known sources, and making adjustments to the noise-measuring and reporting process. A wireless communication device is coupled to equipment at a fixed location, and transmits data about the operation of the equipment back to an operator, via a provider's network. Examples include fixed wireless terminals. A management entity aboard the wireless communication device performs the measurements via a transceiver, and performs remedial actions when required, without requiring an onsite technician or remote assistance. The management entity may include a spectrum analyzer.
1. A noise-measuring device, comprising:
a processor;
a transceiver in communication with the processor;
a memory in communication with the processor; and
a management logic on the memory, the management logic enabling the noise-measuring device to: measure an ambient signature of a radio-frequency (RF) environment of the device, store the ambient signature, measure a noise signature of an RF band, compare the noise signature with the ambient signature, determine that a threshold is exceeded, and perform a remedial action.
2. The noise-measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the noise signature measurement further comprises a signal strength of a provider's network within the RF band, and an interference measurement from another RF source within the RF band.
3. The noise-measuring device of claim 2 , wherein said another RF source is a third-party network, the noise signature measurement further comprising comparing the interference measurement with a known interference signature for the third-party network.
4. The noise measuring device of claim 3 , wherein the third-party network is one of a GSM, UMTS, LTE, CDMA, WiFi, and WiMax network.
5. The noise measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the threshold comprises any combination of: an error rate, an interference level, and an interference mask.
6. The noise-measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of: adjusting a frequency of noise signature measurement, adjusting a type of noise signature measurement, reporting the noise signature measurement, generating an alarm, and changing an operating band to avoid interference.
7. The noise measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the management logic further enables the noise-measuring device to: de-register from a network, measure the noise signature, and resume communication with the network.
8. The noise measuring device of claim 1 , further comprising: a user interface accessible via a display in communication with the noise measuring device, the user interface enabling a user to review the noise signature measurement, adjust a frequency and a type of noise signature measurement, and extract the comparison results.
9. The noise measuring device of claim 1 , wherein the display is coupled to a remote device across a network in communication with the noise measuring device.
10. A method for measuring noise in a radio-frequency (RF) environment of a device having a transceiver, the method comprising:
measuring an ambient signature of an RF environment of the device, the ambient signature including an interference signature for a known third-party network;
storing the ambient signature;
measuring a noise signature of an RF band in the RF environment;
comparing the noise signature with the ambient signature;
determining that a threshold is exceeded, the threshold including at least one of a signal strength of a provider's network, an error rate, an interference level, and an interference mask; and
performing a remedial action.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the noise signature measurement further comprises a signal strength of a provider's network within the RF band, and an interference measurement from another RF source within the RF band.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said another RF source is a third-party network, the noise signature measurement further comprising comparing the interference measurement with the interference signature for the known third-party network.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of: adjusting a frequency of noise signature measurement, adjusting a type of noise signature measurement, reporting the noise signature measurement, generating an alarm, and changing an operating band to avoid interference.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: de-registering from the provider's network, measuring the noise signature, and resuming communication with the provider's network.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: displaying the noise measurement along with a plurality of user options on a user interface on a display.
16. A non-transitory computer readable medium for measuring noise in a radio-frequency (RF) environment of a device having a processor and a transceiver, the computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for:
measuring an ambient signature of a radio-frequency (RF) environment of the device, the ambient signature including an interference signature for a known third-party network;
storing the ambient signature;
measuring a noise signature of an RF band in the RF environment;
comparing the noise signature with the ambient signature;
determining that a threshold is exceeded, the threshold including at least one of a signal strength of a provider's network, an error rate, an interference level, and an interference mask; and
performing a remedial action.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the noise signature measurement further comprises a signal strength of a provider's network within the RF band, and an interference measurement from another RF source within the RF band.
18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein said another RF source is a third-party network, the noise signature measurement further comprising comparing the interference measurement with the interference signature for the known third-party network.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of: adjusting a frequency of noise signature measurement, adjusting a type of noise signature measurement, reporting the noise signature measurement, generating an alarm, and changing an operating band to avoid interference.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising: de-registering from the provider's network, measuring the noise signature, and resuming communication with the provider's network.