Method and device for maintaining the performance quality of a communication system in the presence of narrow band interference

1. A method, comprising:

analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified frequency bands;

measuring signal power levels received in the specified frequency bands;

determining an average composite wideband power level from less than all of the signal power levels;

determining an adaptive threshold from the average composite wideband power level;

detecting interference according to the adaptive threshold; and

configuring a filter to suppress at least a portion of the interference.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the specified frequency bands has a bandwidth that is smaller than the wide frequency band, and wherein the adaptive threshold has a power level that exceeds the average composite wideband power level.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specified frequency bands comprise narrow frequency bands.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adaptive threshold is configured for hysteresis.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adaptive threshold comprises more than one threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the interference according to the adaptive threshold comprises detecting a plurality of interferers having power levels that exceed the adaptive threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the filter comprises a plurality of sub-filters, and wherein the configuring the filter comprises configuring each of the plurality of sub-filters to suppress at least the portion of the plurality of interferers.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the filter has a variable stop band, and wherein at least one of the plurality of sub-filters comprises a notch filter.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by a base station.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the base station comprises a cellular base station, or a wireless access point.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising repeating steps of the method.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the average composite wideband power level comprises not utilizing a subset of the signal power levels in the determination of the average composite wideband power level.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the subset of the signal power levels have higher signal strengths than other signal power levels measured in the specified frequency bands.

14. A device, comprising:

a radio frequency receiver;

a filter; and

a circuit coupled to the radio frequency receiver and the filter, wherein execution of instructions by the circuit cause the circuit to perform operations comprising:

scanning a wide frequency band;

measuring power levels in frequency bands from signals provided by the radio frequency receiver;

determining an average power level from less than all of the power levels measured in the frequency bands;

determining a threshold from the average power level;

detecting interference from the signals based on the threshold; and

suppressing at least a portion of the interference.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the device comprises a base station.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the base station comprises a cellular base station or a wireless access point.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the filter comprises a variable stop band filter.

18. The device of claim 14 , wherein the operations comprise repeating at least a portion of the steps performed by the circuit.

19. A memory device, comprising instructions, wherein responsive to a circuit executing the instructions, the circuit performs operations comprising:

measuring power levels in frequency bands of signals provided over a wide frequency band;

calculating an average power level from less than all of the power levels;

determining a threshold from the average power level, a plurality of the power levels measured, or a combination thereof;

detecting from the signals, interference based on the threshold; and

suppressing at least a portion of the interference.

20. The memory device of claim 19 , wherein the threshold has a power level that exceeds the average power level.