阅读说明：本技术 方法、系统和装置 (Method, system and device ) 是由 苏磊 于 2018-01-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种装置包括至少一个处理器和包括计算机程序代码的至少一个存储器,其中至少一个存储器和计算机程序代码被配置为与至少一个处理器一起引起该装置：生成用于另外的装置的至少一个消息,该至少一个消息包括与该装置的至少一个无线电特性相关联的信息；定义至少一个无线电干扰阈值；接收信号值大于至少一个无线电干扰阈值的无线电信号,该无线电信号是源自不同于该装置的无线电系统类型的无线电信号；测量无线电信号以确定至少一个无线电信号特性,其中用于另外的装置的至少一个消息还包括与至少一个无线电信号特性相关联的信息使得另外的装置被引起尝试基于与至少一个无线电信号特性相关联的信息来标识无线电信号。(An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; defining at least one radio interference threshold; receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus; measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.)

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus;

defining at least one radio interference threshold;

receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than the at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus;

measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, caused to generate at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, the apparatus caused to generate the at least one message comprising at least one of:

a device location;

a device radio transmitter frequency; and

device radio transmitter strength.

3. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, caused to define at least one radio interference threshold, the apparatus caused to:

in the case where the device is a radar device, defining at least one return pulse loss threshold; and

in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, a runtime terrestrial noise threshold is defined.

4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the apparatus caused to measure the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic is caused to determine at least one of:

an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and

an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, further caused to generate at least one range message to an interferer determiner, the at least one range message including information associated with an estimate of range of the radio signal, such that the interferer determiner is caused to receive two or more range messages from two or more separate apparatuses and is caused to estimate radio signal position based on the two or more range messages and positions of the two or more separate apparatuses.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, further caused to control use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with radio signals such that the apparatus caused to measure the radio signals to determine at least one radio signal characteristic is caused to measure the radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequencies and/or times.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the apparatus is caused to generate at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, and further comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, the apparatus being caused to:

generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and

generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

8. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source;

generating a database of radios based on the at least one message;

comparing the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios;

based on the received at least one message, generating at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with the database of radios.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, caused to receive at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, the apparatus caused to receive at least one of:

an additional device location;

a further device radio transmitter frequency; and

additional device radio transmitter strength.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 and 8, caused to receive at least one message comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interference source, the apparatus further caused to receive at least one of:

estimated interferer radio signal strength;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency;

an estimated interference source direction;

an estimated interference source distance; and

an estimated interference source location.

11. The apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10, caused to compare the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer with the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios, the apparatus further caused to compare at least one of:

the estimated interference source location and a location within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interference source location;

the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and

the estimated interferer radio signal strength and a transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, caused to generate at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer with the database of radio apparatuses based on the at least one message, the apparatus caused to:

generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on the comparison with the database of radios identifying the interference source; and

generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that failed to identify the interference source.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 8 to 12, further caused to update the database of radios based on the comparison to the database of radios failing to identify the interference source.

14. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the apparatus is caused to receive at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer, the apparatus is caused to receive:

at least one registration and/or update message comprising the information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus; and

at least one interference report message comprising said information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source.

15. A method, comprising:

generating, at an apparatus, at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus;

defining at least one radio interference threshold;

receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than the at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus;

measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein generating at an apparatus at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, comprises generating the at least one message comprising at least one of:

a device location;

a device radio transmitter frequency; and

device radio transmitter strength.

17. The method according to any one of claims 15 and 16, wherein defining at least one radio interference threshold comprises:

in the case where the device is a radar device, defining at least one return pulse loss threshold; and

in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, a runtime terrestrial noise threshold is defined.

18. The method of any of claims 15 to 17, wherein measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic comprises determining at least one of:

an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and

an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

19. The method of any of claims 15 to 18, further comprising generating at the apparatus at least one range message to an interferer determiner, the at least one range message comprising information associated with the estimation of the range of the radio signal, such that the interferer determiner is caused to receive two or more range messages from two or more separate apparatuses and is caused to estimate radio signal position based on the two or more range messages and the positions of the two or more separate apparatuses.

20. The method of any of claims 15 to 19, further comprising controlling use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with radio signals such that measuring the radio signals to determine at least one radio signal characteristic comprises: the radio signal is measured when the device or a radio system comprising the device is active at the same frequency and/or time.

21. The method of any of claims 15 to 20, wherein at the apparatus at least one message is generated for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, the operations comprising:

generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and

generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

22. A method, comprising:

receiving, at an apparatus, at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source;

generating a database of radios based on the at least one message;

comparing the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios;

generating, at the apparatus, at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with the database of radios, based on the received at least one message.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one message is received at a device from at least one further device, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further device, the operations comprising receiving at least one of:

an additional device location;

a further device radio transmitter frequency; and

additional device radio transmitter strength.

24. The method according to any one of claims 22 and 23, wherein receiving at least one message at an apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interference source comprises receiving at least one of:

estimated interferer radio signal strength;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency;

an estimated interference source direction;

an estimated interference source distance; and

an estimated interference source location.

25. The method according to any of claims 22 to 24, wherein the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer is compared to the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios, the operations comprising comparing at least one of:

the estimated interference source location and a location within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interference source location;

the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and

the estimated interferer radio signal strength and a transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

26. The method according to any of claims 22 to 25, wherein generating at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer to the database of radios, based on the at least one message, comprises:

generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on the comparison with the database of radios identifying the interference source; and

generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that failed to identify the interference source.

27. The method of any of claims 22 to 26, further comprising updating the database of radios based on the comparison to the database of radios failing to identify the interference source.

28. The method according to any of claims 22 to 27, wherein receiving at the apparatus at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source, comprises receiving:

at least one registration and/or update message comprising the information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus; and

at least one interference report message comprising said information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

means for generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus;

means for defining at least one radio interference threshold;

means for receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than the at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus; and

means for measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the means for generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, comprises means for generating the at least one message comprising at least one of:

a device location;

a device radio transmitter frequency; and

device radio transmitter strength.

31. The apparatus according to any one of claims 29 and 30, wherein the means for defining at least one radio interference threshold comprises:

means for defining at least one return pulse loss threshold in the case where the apparatus is a radar apparatus; and

means for defining a runtime terrestrial noise threshold if the apparatus is a cellular access point.

32. The apparatus according to any of claims 29 to 31, wherein the means for measuring a radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic comprises means for determining at least one of:

an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and

an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

33. The apparatus according to any of claims 29 to 32, further comprising means for generating at least one distance message for an interferer determiner, the at least one distance message comprising information associated with an estimate of the distance of the radio signal, such that the interferer determiner is caused to receive two or more distance messages from two or more separate apparatuses and is caused to estimate radio signal position based on the two or more distance messages and the positions of the two or more separate apparatuses.

34. The apparatus according to any of claims 29 to 33, further comprising means for controlling use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with radio signals such that measuring the radio signals to determine at least one radio signal characteristic comprises measuring the radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequency and/or time.

35. The apparatus according to any one of claims 29 to 34, wherein the means for generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, the means comprising:

means for generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and

means for generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source;

means for generating a database of radios based on the at least one message;

means for comparing the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer with the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios; and

means for generating at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source with the database of radios based on the received at least one message.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the means for receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, the means comprising means for receiving at least one of:

an additional device location;

a further device radio transmitter frequency; and

additional device radio transmitter strength.

38. The apparatus according to any one of claims 36 and 37, wherein the means for receiving at least one message comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interference source comprises means for receiving at least one of:

estimated interferer radio signal strength;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency;

an estimated interference source direction;

an estimated interference source distance; and

an estimated interference source location.

39. The apparatus according to any of claims 36 to 38, wherein the means for comparing the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer with the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios comprises means for comparing at least one of:

the estimated interference source location and a location within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interference source location;

the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and

the estimated interferer radio signal strength and a transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

40. The apparatus according to any of claims 36 to 39, wherein the means for generating at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer to the database of radios, based on the at least one message comprises:

means for generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on the comparison with the database of radios identifying the interference source; and

means for generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that failed to identify the interference source.

41. The apparatus of any of claims 36 to 40, further comprising means for updating the database of radios based on the comparison to the database of radios that failed to identify the interference source.

42. The apparatus according to any of claims 36 to 41, wherein the means for receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer, comprises means for receiving:

at least one registration and/or update message comprising the information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus; and

at least one interference report message comprising said information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source.

43. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to at least:

generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus;

defining at least one radio interference threshold;

receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than the at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus;

measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

44. The computer program of claim 43, wherein generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, causes an apparatus to perform generating the at least one message comprising at least one of:

a device location;

a device radio transmitter frequency; and

device radio transmitter strength.

45. The computer program according to any one of claims 43 and 44, wherein defining at least one radio interference threshold causes an apparatus to perform:

in the case where the device is a radar device, defining at least one return pulse loss threshold; and

in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, a runtime terrestrial noise threshold is defined.

46. The computer program according to any of claims 43 to 45, wherein measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic causes an apparatus to perform determining at least one of:

an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and

an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

47. The computer program of any of claims 43 to 46, further causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: generating at least one range message to an interferer determiner, the at least one range message including information associated with an estimate of range of the radio signal, such that the interferer determiner is caused to receive two or more range messages from two or more separate apparatuses and is caused to estimate radio signal position based on the two or more range messages and positions of the two or more separate apparatuses.

48. The computer program of any of claims 43 to 47, further causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: controlling use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with radio signals such that measuring the radio signals to determine at least one radio signal characteristic causes an apparatus to perform measuring the radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequencies and/or times.

49. The computer program according to any of claims 43 to 48, wherein at least one message is generated for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, the above operations causing an apparatus to perform:

generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and

generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

50. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to at least:

receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source;

generating a database of radios based on the at least one message;

comparing the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios;

based on the received at least one message, generating at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with the database of radios.

51. The computer program of claim 50, wherein at least one message is received from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, the operations causing the apparatus to perform receiving at least one of:

an additional device location;

a further device radio transmitter frequency; and

additional device radio transmitter strength.

52. The computer program according to any of claims 50 and 51, wherein at least one message is received, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source, the above operations causing an apparatus to perform receiving at least one of:

estimated interferer radio signal strength;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency;

an estimated interference source direction;

an estimated interference source distance; and

an estimated interference source location.

53. The computer program according to any of claims 50 to 52, wherein comparing the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer based on the at least one message with the database of radios in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios causes an apparatus to perform comparing at least one of:

the estimated interference source location and a location within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interference source location;

the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and

the estimated interferer radio signal strength and a transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

54. The computer program according to any of claims 50 to 53, wherein generating at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer with the database of radios causes an apparatus to perform:

generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on the comparison with the database of radios identifying the interference source; and

generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that failed to identify the interference source.

55. The computer program of any of claims 50 to 54, further causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: updating the database of radios based on the comparison to the database of radios failing to identify the interference source.

56. The computer program according to any of claims 50 to 55, wherein at least one message is received from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer, the above operations causing the apparatus to perform the receiving:

at least one registration and/or update message comprising the information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus; and

at least one interference report message comprising said information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source.

57. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to at least perform the following:

generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus;

defining at least one radio interference threshold;

receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than the at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus;

measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, causes an apparatus to perform generating the at least one message comprising at least one of:

a device location;

a device radio transmitter frequency; and

device radio transmitter strength.

59. The computer-readable medium according to any one of claims 57 and 58, wherein defining at least one radio interference threshold causes an apparatus to perform:

in the case where the device is a radar device, defining at least one return pulse loss threshold; and

in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, a runtime terrestrial noise threshold is defined.

60. The computer-readable medium according to any of claims 57-59, wherein measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic causes an apparatus to perform determining at least one of:

an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal;

an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and

an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

61. The computer-readable medium of any of claims 57-60, further causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: generating at least one range message to an interferer determiner, the at least one range message including information associated with an estimate of range of the radio signal, such that the interferer determiner is caused to perform receiving two or more range messages from two or more separate apparatuses and estimating radio signal position based on the two or more range messages and positions of the two or more separate apparatuses.

62. The computer-readable medium of any of claims 57-61, further causing the apparatus to perform at least the following: controlling use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with radio signals such that measuring the radio signals to determine at least one radio signal characteristic causes an apparatus to perform measuring the radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequencies and/or times.

63. The computer-readable medium according to any of claims 57-62, wherein generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message including information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further including information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, causes an apparatus to perform:

generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and

generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

64. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to at least perform the following:

receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source;

generating a database of radios based on the at least one message;

comparing the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios;

generating at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer based on the received at least one message with the database of radios.

65. The computer-readable medium according to claim 64, wherein at least one message is received from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message including information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, the operations causing the apparatus to perform receiving at least one of:

an additional device location;

a further device radio transmitter frequency; and

additional device radio transmitter strength.

66. The computer-readable medium according to any one of claims 64 and 65, in which at least one message is received, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source, the above operations causing an apparatus to perform receiving at least one of:

estimated interferer radio signal strength;

an estimated interferer radio signal frequency;

an estimated interference source direction;

an estimated interference source distance; and

an estimated interference source location.

67. The computer-readable medium according to any of claims 64 to 66, wherein comparing the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer with the database of radios based on the at least one message in order to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios causes an apparatus to perform comparing at least one of:

the estimated interference source location and a location within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interference source location;

the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and

the estimated interferer radio signal strength and a transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

68. The computer-readable medium according to any one of claims 64-67, wherein generating at least one message based on the comparison of the information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of a determined interferer to the database of radios causes an apparatus to perform:

generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on the comparison with the database of radios identifying the interference source; and

generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that failed to identify the interference source.

69. The computer-readable medium of any of claims 64-68, further causing the apparatus to perform at least the following: updating the database of radios based on the comparison to the database of radios failing to identify the interference source.

70. The computer-readable medium according to any of claims 64-69, wherein at least one message is received from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer, the above operations causing the apparatus to perform receiving:

at least one registration and/or update message comprising the information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus; and

at least one interference report message comprising said information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source.

Technical Field

The present application relates to a method, apparatus and computer program and in particular, but not exclusively, to a method, apparatus and computer program relating to the identification of abnormal or interfering wireless sources across multiple systems.

Background

The radio spectrum is a crowded space and is typically heavily regulated to prevent interference from one system from interfering with other systems. For example, typically a radar system will operate in a first frequency range, a cellular communication system will operate in a further frequency range, and licensed and unlicensed radio communication and data systems (such as emergency services systems, public or citizen band radios, UAV/drone remote control data) will operate in other frequency ranges.

In theory, each system is designed not to interfere with each other. However, an abnormal wireless signal due to equipment failure or other causes may cause interference to be received in the radio equipment that normally uses that frequency.

For an interferer and an interfering device in the same technical specification system, the location of the interferer can typically be determined and appropriate action taken by querying any information, such as the location of the device within the system. Thus, for example, interference between radars may be detected and reported or controlled. Similarly, in a cellular communication system, interference between base stations may be detected and allowed and/or controlled.

However, for an interferer and an interfering device that do not belong to the same technical specification, the type and location of the interferer must be determined so that appropriate further measures can be taken subsequently. For example, interference between the radar and the base station is determined and an appropriate report is generated to enable the radar to repair and cease interference to the base station, and vice versa.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; defining at least one radio interference threshold; receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus; and measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

Means caused to generate at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, may be caused to generate at least one message comprising at least one of: a device location; a device radio transmitter frequency; and device radio transmitter strength.

The apparatus caused to define at least one radio interference threshold may be caused to: in the case where the device is a radar device, defining at least one return pulse loss threshold; and in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, defining a runtime terrestrial noise threshold.

The apparatus caused to measure the radio signal to determine the at least one radio signal characteristic may be caused to determine at least one of: an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal; an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

The apparatus may also be caused to generate at least one range message to the interferer determiner, the at least one range message including information associated with the estimate of the range of the radio signal such that the interferer determiner is caused to receive two or more range messages from the two or more separate apparatuses and is caused to estimate the radio signal location based on the two or more range messages and the locations of the two or more separate apparatuses.

The apparatus may be caused to control use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with radio signals such that the apparatus caused to measure radio signals to determine at least one radio signal characteristic is caused to measure radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequencies and/or times.

The apparatus caused to generate at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further comprising information associated with at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus caused to attempt to identify a radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic may be caused to: generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

According to a second aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer; generating a database of radios based on the at least one message; comparing information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to a database of the radio based on the at least one message to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of the radio; and generating, based on the received at least one message, at least one message based on a comparison of information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with a database of radios.

The apparatus caused to receive at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, may be caused to receive at least one of: an additional device location; a further device radio transmitter frequency; and additional device radio transmitter strength.

The apparatus caused to receive at least one message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source may further caused to receive at least one of: estimated interferer radio signal strength; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency; an estimated interference source direction; an estimated interference source distance; and an estimated interference source location.

The apparatus caused to compare information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer based on the at least one message to a database of radios in an attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios may also be caused to compare at least one of: the estimated interference source location and a location within a database of radios to identify a radio at or near the estimated interference source location; the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and the estimated interferer radio signal strength and the transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

The apparatus caused to generate at least one message based on a comparison of information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with a database of radio apparatuses may be caused to: generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on a comparison with a database of radios that identifies an interference source; and generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that fails to identify the interference source.

The apparatus may also be caused to update the database of the radio based on a comparison with the database of the radio that fails to identify the interference source.

The apparatus caused to receive at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source, may be caused to receive: at least one registration and/or update message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of at least one further apparatus; and at least one interference report message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method comprising: generating, at an apparatus, at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; defining at least one radio interference threshold; receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus; and measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

Generating, at an apparatus, at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, may comprise generating at least one message comprising at least one of: a device location; a device radio transmitter frequency; and device radio transmitter strength.

Defining at least one radio interference threshold may comprise: in the case where the device is a radar device, defining at least one return pulse loss threshold; and in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, defining a runtime terrestrial noise threshold.

Measuring the radio signal to determine the at least one radio signal characteristic may comprise determining at least one of: an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal; an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

The method may also include generating, at the apparatus, at least one range message to an interferer determiner, the at least one range message including information associated with the estimate of the range of the radio signal such that the interferer determiner is caused to receive two or more range messages from two or more separate apparatuses and is caused to estimate the radio signal location based on the two or more range messages and the locations of the two or more separate apparatuses.

The method may further comprise controlling the use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with the radio signals such that measuring the radio signals to determine the at least one radio signal characteristic comprises measuring the radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequencies and/or times.

Generating, at the apparatus, at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further comprising information associated with at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify a radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, may comprise: generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving, at an apparatus, at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source; generating a database of radios based on the at least one message; comparing information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to a database of the radio based on the at least one message to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of the radio; generating, at the apparatus, at least one message based on the received at least one message based on a comparison of information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source with a database of radio apparatuses.

Receiving, at an apparatus, at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, may comprise receiving at least one of: an additional device location; a further device radio transmitter frequency; and additional device radio transmitter strength.

Receiving, at an apparatus, at least one message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source, may comprise receiving at least one of: estimated interferer radio signal strength; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency; an estimated interference source direction; an estimated interference source distance; and an estimated interference source location.

Comparing information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to a database of radios to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios may include comparing at least one of: the estimated interference source location and a location within a database of radios to identify a radio at or near the estimated interference source location; the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and the estimated interferer radio signal strength and the transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

Generating the at least one message based on a comparison of the information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with a database of radios may include: generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on a comparison with a database of radios that identifies an interference source; and generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that fails to identify the interference source.

The method may also include updating the database of the radio based on a comparison with the database of the radio that fails to identify the interference source.

Receiving, at the apparatus, at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source, may comprise: at least one registration and/or update message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of at least one further apparatus; and at least one interference report message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source.

According to a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; means for defining at least one radio interference threshold; means for receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus; and means for measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

Means for generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, may comprise means for generating at least one message comprising at least one of: a device location; a device radio transmitter frequency; and device radio transmitter strength.

The means for defining at least one radio interference threshold may comprise: means for defining at least one return pulse loss threshold in the case where the apparatus is a radar apparatus; and in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, means for defining a runtime ground noise threshold.

The means for measuring the radio signal to determine the at least one radio signal characteristic may comprise means for determining at least one of: an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal; an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

The apparatus may also include means for generating at least one range message to an interferer determiner, the at least one range message including information associated with an estimate of range of the radio signal such that the interferer determiner is caused to receive two or more range messages from two or more separate apparatuses and is caused to estimate a radio signal location based on the two or more range messages and locations of the two or more separate apparatuses.

The apparatus may further comprise means for controlling the use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with the radio signals such that measuring the radio signals to determine the at least one radio signal characteristic comprises measuring the radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequencies and/or times.

Means for generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further comprising information associated with at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify a radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, may comprise: means for generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and means for generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

According to a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source; means for generating a database of radios based on the at least one message; means for comparing information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer with a database of radios based on the at least one message to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios; and means for generating, at the apparatus, at least one message based on a comparison of the information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with a database of radio devices based on the received at least one message.

Means for receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, may comprise means for receiving at least one of: an additional device location; a further device radio transmitter frequency; and additional device radio transmitter strength.

Means for receiving at least one message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source, may comprise means for receiving at least one of: estimated interferer radio signal strength; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency; an estimated interference source direction; an estimated interference source distance; and an estimated interference source location.

The means for comparing information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer with a database of radios to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios may comprise means for comparing at least one of: the estimated interference source location and a location within a database of radios to identify a radio at or near the estimated interference source location; the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and the estimated interferer radio signal strength and the transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

The means for generating, based on the at least one message, the at least one message based on a comparison of the information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer with a database of radios may comprise: means for generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on a comparison with a database of radios that identifies an interference source; and means for generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that failed to identify the source of interference.

The apparatus may also include means for updating a database of the radio based on a comparison with the database of the radio that fails to identify the interference source.

Means for receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interference source, may comprise means for receiving: at least one registration and/or update message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of at least one further apparatus; and at least one interference report message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source.

According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to at least: generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; defining at least one radio interference threshold; receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus; measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

Generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, may cause the apparatus to perform generating at least one message comprising at least one of: a device location; a device radio transmitter frequency; and device radio transmitter strength.

Defining at least one radio interference threshold may cause an apparatus to perform: in the case where the device is a radar device, defining at least one return pulse loss threshold; and in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, defining a runtime terrestrial noise threshold.

Measuring the radio signal to determine the at least one radio signal characteristic may cause the apparatus to perform determining at least one of: an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal; an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

The computer program may further cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: generating at least one range message to an interferer determiner, the at least one range message including information associated with an estimate of range of the radio signal such that the interferer determiner is caused to receive two or more range messages from two or more separate devices and is caused to estimate radio signal position based on the two or more range messages and the positions of the two or more separate devices.

The computer program may further cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: controlling use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with radio signals such that measuring radio signals to determine at least one radio signal characteristic causes an apparatus to perform measuring radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequencies and/or times.

Generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further comprising information associated with at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify a radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, may cause the apparatus to perform: generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

According to an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to at least: receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer; generating a database of radios based on the at least one message; comparing information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to a database of the radio based on the at least one message to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of the radio; generating, based on the received at least one message, at least one message based on a comparison of information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with a database of radios.

Receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, may cause the apparatus to perform receiving at least one of: an additional device location; a further device radio transmitter frequency; and additional device radio transmitter strength.

Receiving at least one message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source, may cause the apparatus to perform receiving at least one of: estimated interferer radio signal strength; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency; an estimated interference source direction; an estimated interference source distance; and an estimated interference source location.

Comparing, based on the at least one message, information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer with a database of radios to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios may cause the apparatus to perform comparing at least one of: the estimated interference source location and a location within a database of radios to identify a radio at or near the estimated interference source location; the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and the estimated interferer radio signal strength and the transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

Generating, based on the at least one message, the at least one message based on a comparison of the information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer with a database of radio devices may cause the devices to perform: generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on a comparison with a database of radios that identifies an interference source; and generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that fails to identify the interference source.

The computer program may further cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: the database of the radio is updated based on a comparison with the database of the radio that fails to identify the interference source.

Receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer, may cause the apparatus to perform receiving: at least one registration and/or update message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of at least one further apparatus; and at least one interference report message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source.

According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to at least: generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; defining at least one radio interference threshold; receiving a radio signal having a signal value greater than at least one radio interference threshold, the radio signal being a radio signal originating from a radio system type different from the apparatus; measuring the radio signal to determine at least one radio signal characteristic, wherein the at least one message for the further apparatus further comprises information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

Generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus, may cause the apparatus to perform generating at least one message comprising at least one of: a device location; a device radio transmitter frequency; and device radio transmitter strength.

Defining at least one radio interference threshold may cause an apparatus to perform: in the case where the device is a radar device, defining at least one return pulse loss threshold; and in the case where the apparatus is a cellular access point, defining a runtime terrestrial noise threshold.

Measuring the radio signal to determine the at least one radio signal characteristic may cause the apparatus to perform determining at least one of: an estimated interferer radio signal strength based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency based on the received radio signal; an estimated interferer direction based on the received radio signal; an estimated interference source distance based on the received radio signal; and an estimated interference source location based on the received radio signal.

The computer readable medium may also cause an apparatus to perform at least the following: generating at least one range message to an interferer determiner, the at least one range message including information associated with an estimate of range of the radio signal such that the interferer determiner is caused to perform receiving two or more range messages from two or more separate devices and estimating a radio signal position based on the two or more range messages and the positions of the two or more separate devices.

The computer readable medium may also cause an apparatus to perform at least the following: controlling use of radio frequencies and/or times associated with radio signals such that measuring radio signals to determine at least one radio signal characteristic causes an apparatus to perform measuring radio signals when the apparatus or a radio system comprising the apparatus is active at the same frequencies and/or times.

Generating at least one message for a further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus and further comprising information associated with at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify a radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic, may cause the apparatus to perform: generating a first registration and/or update report message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the apparatus; and generating a separate further interference report message comprising information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic such that the further apparatus is caused to attempt to identify the radio signal based on the information associated with the at least one radio signal characteristic.

According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to at least: receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer; generating a database of radios based on the at least one message; comparing information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer to a database of the radio based on the at least one message to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of the radio; generating, based on the received at least one message, at least one message based on a comparison of information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interferer with a database of radios.

Receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus, may cause the apparatus to perform receiving at least one of: an additional device location; a further device radio transmitter frequency; and additional device radio transmitter strength.

Receiving at least one message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source, may cause the apparatus to perform receiving at least one of: estimated interferer radio signal strength; an estimated interferer radio signal frequency; an estimated interference source direction; an estimated interference source distance; and an estimated interference source location.

Comparing, based on the at least one message, information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer with a database of radios to attempt to identify whether the determined interferer is known to the database of radios may cause the apparatus to perform comparing at least one of: the estimated interference source location and a location within a database of radios to identify a radio at or near the estimated interference source location; the estimated interferer radio signal frequency and a frequency within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer frequency; and the estimated interferer radio signal strength and the transmitter strength within the database of radios to identify radios at or near the estimated interferer strength.

Generating, based on the at least one message, the at least one message based on a comparison of the information associated with the at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer with a database of radio devices may cause the devices to perform: generating at least one control and/or reporting message based on a comparison with a database of radios that identifies an interference source; and generating at least one report message based on the comparison with the database of radios that fails to identify the interference source.

The computer readable medium may also cause an apparatus to perform at least the following: the database of the radio is updated based on a comparison with the database of the radio that fails to identify the interference source.

Receiving at least one message from at least one further apparatus, the at least one message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of the at least one further apparatus and comprising information associated with at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the determined interferer, may cause the apparatus to perform receiving: at least one registration and/or update message comprising information associated with at least one radio characteristic of at least one further apparatus; and at least one interference report message comprising information associated with the determined at least one estimated radio signal characteristic of the interference source.

The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs.

In another aspect, there is provided a computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program comprising program code for providing any of the above methods.

In another aspect, a computer program product for a computer is provided, the computer program product comprising software code portions for performing the steps of any of the aforementioned methods when said product is run.

A computer program may be provided comprising program code means adapted to perform the method(s). The computer program may be stored and/or otherwise embodied by means of a carrier medium.

Many different embodiments have been described above. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be provided by a combination of any two or more of the above embodiments.

Many different embodiments have been described above. It is to be understood that further embodiments may be provided by a combination of any two or more of the above embodiments.

Drawings

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example communication system including a base station and a plurality of communication devices including an aircraft communication device;

fig. 2a shows a schematic diagram of an example radio system device;

FIG. 2b shows a schematic diagram of an example location server database;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example radar system interference determiner, in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example radar system interference location determiner, in accordance with some embodiments;

fig. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example cellular communication system interference determiner, in accordance with some embodiments;

fig. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example interference source database, in accordance with some embodiments;

fig. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an overview of a multi-system interference determination operation in accordance with some embodiments; and

fig. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of registration/update and generation of interference reports at a device within a multi-system interference determination system, in accordance with some embodiments.

Detailed Description

The concept, which will be discussed in further detail below, is a system designed to detect and characterize an interferer and its location even if the interferer is of a different type than the system that detected the interferer. In some embodiments, this may be achieved by an apparatus or device of a first system type configured to detect interfering signals from sources of different system types. Comparing the detected characteristics of the interference source with the characteristics of the devices stored in the device database, attempts to identify the type and location of the interference source may be performed and appropriate action taken.

FIG. 1 illustrates a general system in which embodiments may be implemented. The system 100 shown in fig. 1 includes a cellular-based wireless communication system and other wireless systems, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and radar systems, but the system may include any wireless communication or data network.

Within a system 100 such as that shown in fig. 1, a cellular communication system is shown to include conventional mobile communication devices or User Equipment (UE)102, 104, 105, which may be provided with wireless access via at least one base station or similar wireless transmission and/or reception node or point. The base stations (BTS, NodeB (NB), enhanced NodeB (enb), new generation NodeB (gnb)) may typically be controlled by at least one suitable controller means, such that their operation and management of the mobile communication devices communicating with the base stations is achieved. The controller device may be located in a radio access network (e.g., the wireless communication system 100) or a Core Network (CN) (not shown) and may be implemented as one central device, or its functionality may be distributed over several devices. The controller means may be part of the base station and/or provided by a separate entity such as a Radio Network Controller (RNC). In fig. 1, the control means 108 and 109 are shown as controlling the respective macro base stations 106 and 107. The control means of the base station may be interconnected with other control entities. The control device is typically provided with memory capacity and at least one data processor. The control means and functions may be distributed between a plurality of control units. In some systems, the control means may additionally or alternatively be provided in a radio network controller or Base Station Controller (BSC).

However, without the provision of an RNC, the system can be considered to have a so-called "flat" architecture; instead, (e) the NB communicates with a system architecture evolution gateway (SAE-GW) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME), which may also be pooled, meaning that multiple such nodes may serve multiple (e) NBs. Each UE is served by only one MME and/or S-GW at a time, and (e) the NB keeps track of the current association. The SAE-GW is an "advanced" user plane core network element in LTE, which may consist of an S-GW and a P-GW (serving gateway and packet data network gateway, respectively). The functions of the S-GW and the P-GW are separate and they do not require co-location.

In fig. 1, base stations 106 and 107 are shown connected to a wider communications network 113 via a gateway 112. Further gateway functionality may be provided to connect to another network.

Smaller base stations 116, 118 and 120 may also be connected to the network 113, for example, through separate gateway functions and/or via controllers of macro-level stations. Base stations 116, 118, and 120 may be pico or femto base stations, and the like. In this example, stations 116 and 118 are connected via gateway 111, while station 120 is connected via controller device 108. In some embodiments, smaller stations may not be provided. The smaller base stations 116, 118, and 120 may be part of a second network (e.g., a WLAN) and may be WLAN aps.

As previously discussed, the system 100 may also include a (unmanned aerial vehicle) aerial vehicle (UAV) 151. In some embodiments, the UAV may be equipped with user equipment, mobile station, or communication device capabilities. Further, in some embodiments, the UAV 151 may be equipped with radio range and direction (radar) capabilities. As such, UAV 151 (having wireless communication system capabilities and/or radar capabilities) may interfere with the previously described cellular communication systems as well as other radar systems, such as radar system 161 shown in fig. 1.

The UAV 151 may be any suitable AV. For example, UAVs may be lighter-than-air vehicles, such as airships or flyable balloons, or heavier-than-air vehicles, such as airplanes or helicopters. In some embodiments, the AV is manned, and in some embodiments may be controlled autonomously or partially autonomously.

The system 100 as shown in fig. 1 may also include one or more fixed or mobile radar systems, shown in fig. 1 by reference numeral 161. The radar system may be any suitable radar system, such as a continuous wave system, a pulsed system, etc.

As shown in fig. 1, there are many different possible sources of interference, from: interference between UAV 151 and base stations 106, 107, interference between base station 120 and radar system 161, interference between radar system and head-mounted device or UE 102. For example, in fig. 1, potential interference between radios is shown by the heavy arrows.

Also shown in the system according to some embodiments is a location server database 171. The location server database 171 may be any suitable device or devices configured to communicate directly with the radio system devices, through a direct coupling between the location server database 171 and the radar system 161 as shown in fig. 1, or indirectly with the radio system devices, such as through an indirect coupling between the base station 106/107 and the location server database 171 via the core network portion 112 of the communication system as shown in fig. 1.

A possible schematic diagram of a radio system or wireless device (e.g. a mobile communication device or UE, a UAV, an access point or base station, a radar system) according to some embodiments is shown in fig. 2 a. Such a radio system device 200 may be provided by any device capable of transmitting and receiving radio signals.

The radio system device 200, when implemented as a UAV 151, for example, may provide information to enable the UAV 151 for data communications to carry communications such as voice, electronic mail (email), text messages, multimedia, AV telemetry, AV captured images, control signals for controlling the AV, and so forth. Non-limiting examples of services provided by communications include data communications (e.g., telemetry and/or images) from the UAV to a remote operator, and controls or commands issued by the remote operator to the UAV for controlling the UAV.

The radio system apparatus 200 may receive signals over the air or radio interface 207 via appropriate means for receiving (e.g., a receiver) and may transmit signals via appropriate means for transmitting radio signals (e.g., a transmitter). In fig. 2a, the transceiver device is schematically represented by block 206. The transceiver device 206 may be provided, for example, by means of a radio part and an associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged inside or outside the radio system device 200. The antennas may be mechanically or electronically steered and may be omnidirectional or directional in nature.

The radio system device 200 may be provided with at least one data processing entity 201, at least one memory 202 and possibly other components 203 for performing tasks it is designed to perform with the aid of software and hardware. For example, when the radio system device is a radar system (static or mobile, e.g. implemented with a UAV), the task involves pulse/wave shaping and signal processing of the received signals to determine radar-based direction and range values. Similarly, the UAV radio system device may include controls for access to and communications with access systems and other communications devices. Data processing, storage and other related control means may be provided on an appropriate circuit board and/or in a chipset. This feature is denoted by reference numeral 204. The radio system device 200 may also be controlled by means of suitable interfaces such as input/output ports 205 and 215. For example, the radio system device 200 may be controlled via voice commands, a touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof, and the like. In some embodiments, the radio system device 200 may be equipped with a display 208, a speaker, and a microphone.

Fig. 2b illustrates an example implementation of a location server database apparatus 250, e.g., to be coupled to the radio system device 200 and/or for receiving information from the radio system device 200, according to some embodiments. Location server database 250 may be implemented as a single node or distributed nodes of a network. The location server database 250 comprises at least one memory 251, at least one data processing unit 252, 253 and an input/output interface 254. The control means may be coupled to the receiver and the transmitter via the interface, for example to communicate with the radio system device 200.

As mentioned above, the concept discussed in further detail below is to effectively identify and classify intersystem interference sources where possible.

The concept discussed in detail below is based on initially defining or setting a suitable interference threshold for the radio system device. Thus, in some embodiments, when the radio system device is a radar implementation, a return pulse loss threshold is defined for the radar system. When the radio system device is a base station/access point implementation, a ground noise threshold is defined for the base station/access point.

After suitable interference thresholds have been defined for the radio system device, the concept to be discussed in detail is to measure the interferer in case the radio system device is not transmitting in order to be able to determine interferer parameters, such as direction and/or distance with respect to the radio system device.

Thus, for example, the radar system is configured during periods of radar wave transmission intermittency to use the echo signal strength, the interference frequency and the antenna tilt to calculate the range and altitude and/or azimuth of the interference source.

Further, examples with respect to access points/base stations are configured to use disturbed Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) when the PRBs are not in use in order to measure the strength and frequency of the interfering signal.

After measuring the interfering signal, the radio system device may then calculate the location of the interference source from the measurement results. The location of the interference source may then be determined, for example, by the distance and height of the interference source measured by the two radar systems. Similarly, the base station may determine the location of the interferer based on the strength and frequency of the interfering signal.

The radio system devices (e.g., base stations and radar systems) may then be configured to upload the measured locations of the interference sources and the query radii of the corresponding locations to a location server database. The location server database is configured to store a list of radio system devices (and associated information such as type, controllability, etc.) and locations of the radio system devices, and to be able to identify and classify interference sources from the location server database. For example, the location server database 171 may receive reports from the radio system devices 161, 106 and obtain the device type of the interference source by data matching based on the location information.

In some embodiments where location server database 171 is unable to identify an interferer, an unknown interferer may be identified and information collected on the unknown interferer. For example, in military operations, radar jamming sources of unknown type in the database are likely to be hostile equipment.

This concept can be further extended to the following embodiments: wherein any fixedly located radio device should report its device type and physical location to the device management database after installation is complete in order to effectively monitor and manage the use of radio frequencies by the location server database 171. Similarly, in some embodiments, a mobile radio system device may be configured to report its own position/location and device type in real time by acquiring its own position using a satellite (GPS) or any other positioning system.

Referring to fig. 3, a schematic diagram of an example radar system 161 is shown, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, radar system 161 may include a return pulse loss determiner 301, a return pulse strength determiner 303, a return pulse frequency determiner 305, an antenna direction determiner 307, and an interference distance/direction/height determiner 309.

In some embodiments, the return pulse loss determiner 301 is configured to define a return pulse loss threshold of the radar system in accordance with the decoding performance of the radar receiver. This means that the radar system is configured such that it cannot measure the time difference between the transmitted pulse and the echo pulse when the echo pulse loss exceeds a threshold value. In some embodiments, the threshold return pulse loss value is set to 25%, but it should be understood that the loss value may be any suitable value.

In some embodiments, the echo pulse strength determiner 303 is configured to determine or estimate a disturbance signal strength occurring within an expected echo window period.

Similarly, in some embodiments, the echo pulse frequency determiner 305 is configured to determine or estimate the frequency of the interfering signal occurring within an expected echo window period.

The antenna direction determiner 307 may be configured to determine a mechanical or electrical direction of the antenna receiving the interfering signal. In some embodiments, the antenna direction determiner 307 is configured to determine the azimuth and/or elevation of the antenna.

The interference distance/direction/height determiner 309 may be configured to perform interference source parameter estimation based on at least one of the determined interference signal strength, the determined interference signal frequency and the determined antenna direction.

For example, in the event that the radar system detects a loss of return pulses that exceeds a threshold, the "return" determiner 303, 305 may be used to configure the radar system to initiate a time window for interference measurements. During the window, the radar system is configured not to emit or transmit any signal. Further, using the determined interfering signal strength, frequency and antenna direction, the interfering distance/direction/height determiner 309 may be configured to calculate the distance and/or height of the interfering signal source using a Free Space Path Loss (FSPL) method. For example, the following formula may be used:

distance (m) ═ 10^ ((27.55- (20 × log10 (frequency (MHz))) + Signal level (dbm))/20)

Height is Sin (radar antenna inclination angle) distance

In some embodiments, the interference distance/direction/altitude determiner 309 may also be configured to calculate or estimate an azimuth direction of the interference source. With knowledge of the location of the radar system, the azimuth direction of the interferer, and the range of the interferer, the location of the interferer can be determined and reported.

However, in the following example, the radar system cannot determine the azimuth direction, only the elevation or elevation component. In such an example, the source location may be determined by checking determinations from multiple radar systems in a manner such as that shown in fig. 4.

FIG. 4 shows a system configured to receive radar signals from a pair of radar systems 161₁And 161₂Receiving interference sourceThe distance and altitude values of (a) interfere with the location determiner 163. Although two radar systems are shown in fig. 5, there may be more than two systems in communication with the radar system interference location determiner 163.

In some embodiments, the interference localization determiner 163 is physically located at one or the other of the radar systems, or at another location or locations. The interference location determiner 163 is configured to receive the distance and altitude values and the radar system position information and determine from these an estimated position of the interference source. For example, in some embodiments, the location determiner is configured to triangulate the location of the information source based on the intersection of circles centered on the location of the radar system, and wherein each circle has a radius defined by the determined distance of the interference source.

In some embodiments, this information is then passed to location server database 171.

Referring to fig. 5, a schematic diagram of an example base station or radio access point 108 is shown, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the base station 108 may include a ground noise threshold determiner 351, an interference strength determiner 353, an interference frequency determiner 355, and an interference distance/direction/location determiner 357.

In some embodiments, the ground noise threshold determiner 351 is configured to define runtime ground noise thresholds for different Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs).

The interference strength determiner 353 may be configured such that the interference strength determiner 353 is not enabled if the received ground noise is below a ground noise threshold, but determines or estimates the interfering signal strength occurring within an expected window period of a PRB when the ground noise is greater than the threshold of the PRB. Furthermore, when the received signal strength exceeds a configured runtime terrestrial noise threshold on a PRB, the disturbed PRBs may be reserved and not allocated to any UE within the cell during a time window for interference-only measurements.

In some embodiments, the interference frequency determiner 355 is similarly configured to determine or estimate the frequency of the interfering signal that occurs within the expected PRB window period.

The interference distance/direction/location determiner 357 may be configured to perform interference source parameter estimation based on at least one of the determined interference signal strength, the determined interference signal frequency and any implicit base station antenna direction. In some embodiments, the distance and direction values may be determined in a manner similar to that described with respect to radar system interference determination. Thus, for example, free space path loss distance determination may be performed and the location or position of the interferer may be estimated by combining more than one distance estimate.

With respect to fig. 6, an example functional diagram of location server database 171 is shown, according to some embodiments. Location server database 171 may include a series of inputs for receiving information from various radio-based systems. Thus, for example, as shown in fig. 6, location server database 171 includes separate inputs for receiving radio system a (e.g., radar system 161) information and receiving radio system B (e.g., base station 108) information. In some embodiments, location server database 171 includes a single input for receiving all radio system information.

The system information received from the various systems may be interference reports, such as estimates of the strength, frequency, and location of the interfering sources. In some embodiments, the system information may also include a system registration report or a system update report identifying the location, type, and transmission power (and/or other parameters used to identify the transmitter of the radio system).

In some embodiments, location server database 171 includes source database 603. In some embodiments, the source database is configured to receive system registration reports and system update reports from the radio system and store them in a suitable storage, such as a local, remote, or distributed repository.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, location server database 171 includes an interference source determiner 601. In some embodiments, the interferer determiner 601 is configured to receive the interference reports and information about the interferer (e.g., estimated location, estimated strength, and estimated frequency of the interferer). The interference source determiner 601 is then configured to search the source database 603 to determine whether there is a match between the interference source and the parameters stored in the source database.

For example, the interference source determiner 601 may determine with the help of the source database 603 whether the location of the interference source is close to a known radio system and thus try to identify the interference source as a radio system within the source database 603.

Similarly, in some embodiments, the interferer determiner 601 may determine, with the help of the source database 603, whether the frequency of the interferer is close to a radio system frequency or close to a harmonic of a frequency, where there are multiple radio systems operating near the estimated interferer location in order to attempt to identify the interferer.

The interference source determiner 601, having identified potentially interfering radio sources, may be configured to perform some type of response. For example, where the identified source is capable of being remotely controlled (e.g., a base station within a cellular system), an appropriate control message may be generated or a control entity controlling the identified radio system may be notified. If the identified source is not remotely controllable, an appropriate report may be generated and forwarded for further investigation.

In some embodiments where the source of interference cannot be identified from the source database 603, it is likely to be an illegal radio (e.g., "pirate" broadcasts) or an enemy device (e.g., the radar system of an aircraft in the home airspace) because there is no registered radio system at or near the estimated location of the source of interference. In such an example, the interference source determiner 601 may be capable of generating an appropriate output to identify the source as an unidentified wireless power source. For example, a report is generated for further investigation. Additionally, in some embodiments, these unidentified wireless power sources may then be input into a source database to determine whether there is an identified regularity of the interference source. For example, whether the unidentified wireless power source is present at a regular and predictable time and/or location.

With respect to fig. 7, a flowchart illustrates operation of an example location source database.

The first operation is to build/train a source database. This may include, for example, receiving system registration reports and system update reports from the radio system and storing them in a suitable storage device. In some embodiments, this is a one-time initialization operation. In other embodiments, the setup/training is performed periodically or in response to an update report.

The operation of building/training a source database is illustrated in fig. 7 by step 701.

Upon receiving the interference report, the following operations may occur.

The operation of receiving an interference report is illustrated in fig. 7 by step 703.

After receiving the interference report, the next operation is to determine or attempt to identify the interference source based on the source database information.

The operation of attempting to identify an interference source based on the source database information is illustrated in fig. 7 by step 705.

When an interferer is positively identified, an appropriate report/control may be generated for the determined interferer.

The generation of a suitable report/control when an interferer is positively identified is illustrated in fig. 7 by step 707.

When an interferer is not positively identified, then an appropriate report/control may be generated for the unidentified interferer.

The generation of suitable reports/controls for unidentified interference sources is illustrated in fig. 7 by step 709.

Further, with respect to fig. 8, the operation of the radio system in generating appropriate registration/update reports and interferer reports, which may be forwarded to the location source database, is illustrated.

In some embodiments, upon initialization and/or update (e.g., when mobile location or changes transmitter strength/frequency, etc.), the radio system is configured to generate an appropriate system registration/update report to forward to the location source database. For example, the report may be configured to report device type and location.

The operation of generating and forwarding the appropriate system registration/update report to the location source database is illustrated in fig. 8 by step 801.

The radio system may then be configured to define or set a suitable interference threshold. Such as a return pulse loss value of the radar system, a ground noise threshold of the access node, etc. The operation of defining the interference threshold of the system is illustrated in fig. 8 by step 803.

The following operations are operations of the system to detect an interference source based on an interference threshold. The operation of detecting an interferer based on the interference threshold is illustrated in fig. 8 by step 805.

After the interference is detected, the next operation is to start an interference measurement window. The window may be, for example, during reception of only a portion of the radar system or a portion of a reserved physical resource block of an access point, such as a base station.

The initiation of the interference measurement window is illustrated in fig. 8 by step 807.

The next operation is the operation of determining the characteristics associated with the interference source by means of measurements of radio parameters. For example, the operation of determining the distance of the interfering source (e.g., using free space path loss estimation) is illustrated in fig. 8 by step 809. Further, in some embodiments, the interferer direction (which may be an azimuth and/or elevation determination) is determined, as shown in step 811 in fig. 8. Further, in certain embodiments, the interference source location is determined, such as shown in step 813 of fig. 8.

Although the examples shown herein show separate registration/update reporting message and interference reporting message operations in some embodiments, the registration/update and interference reporting messages may be part of the same message or data stream from one system or device to another.

After various characteristics of the interference source are determined from the measurements of the radio parameters, a report may be generated and transmitted, for example, to a location source database. The report may include the determined characteristics, such as location, distance, intensity, frequency, and the like. The operation of generating and transmitting an interference report is illustrated in fig. 8 by step 815.

In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the invention may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of a mobile device, such as in a processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Computer software or programs (also referred to as program products) including software routines, applets and/or macros can be stored in any device-readable data storage medium and they include program instructions for performing particular tasks. The computer program product may include one or more computer-executable components that, when the program is run, cause the embodiments to be performed. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or a portion thereof.

Further in this regard it should be noted that any block of the logic flow as in the figures may represent a program step, or an interconnected logic circuit, block and function, or a combination of a program step and a logic circuit, block and function. The software may be stored on physical media such as memory chips or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard or floppy disks, and optical media such as, for example, DVDs and data variants thereof, CDs. The physical medium is a non-transitory medium.

The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processor may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include, by way of non-limiting example, one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FPGAs, gate level circuits, and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture.

Embodiments of the invention may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is generally a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiments of this invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention, which is defined in the appended claims. Indeed, there are additional embodiments that include a combination of one or more embodiments with any other embodiments previously discussed.