GB2512607A

GB2512607A - Controlled mobile apparatus antenna switching

Info

Publication number: GB2512607A
Application number: GB1305991.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Seppo Rousu; Samuel Vehkalahti; Antti Oskari Immonen; Tero Henttonen; Arto Lehti
Original assignee: Broadcom Corp
Current assignee: Broadcom International Ltd; Broadcom Corp
Priority date: 2013-04-03
Filing date: 2013-04-03
Publication date: 2014-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-03
Also published as: GB201305991D0; GB2512607B

Abstract

A mobile device, such as a UE, comprises first and second antennas and receives a switch request from a network in order to control transmit antenna switching. This appears to fall within the scope of uplink closed loop transmit diversity (CLTD). In one embodiment the mobile device additionally provides receive diversity. In this embodiment a transmitter 24 and a first receiver 34 are connected to an antenna switch 28 over a common connection (not shown) and the antenna switch can switch the common connection between a first antenna, ANT1, and a second antenna, ANT2, and also switch a second receiver 26 to the opposite antenna from the common connection. In another embodiment the mobile device may detect that a switch condition is required on the basis of an evaluation of reception signals received over the first and second receivers respectively. In which case the mobile device signals detection of a switch condition to the network and the network issues a switch request in response. In yet another embodiment the switch request may include a command to adjust the power control of uplink signals.

Description

CONTROLLED MOBILE APPARATUS ANTENNA SWITCHING

DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to mobile communication, and in particular to controlled antenna switching for a mobile apparatus comprising two or more antennae for diversity receiving purposes.

Related background Art

The following meanings for the abbreviations used in this specification apply: ACK acknowledge BB baseband BTS base station 3W bandwidth CPICH Ec/No pilot channel quality energy per chip over total received power spectral density DMRS demodulation reference signal DPDT double pole double throw DL downlink DRX discontinuous reception DTX discontinuous transmission FDD frequency division duplexing FE front end GSM global system for mobile communications HSPA high speed packet access LTE long term evolution LTE-A LTE advanced MIMO multiple input multiple output MPR maximum power reduction NACK non-acknowledge PHR power head room PUCCH physical uplink control channel RAT radio access technology RB resource block RF radio frequency RSCP received signal code power RSRP reference signal received power RSRQ reference signal received quality RSSI received signal strength indication RX receiving signal, reception link, reception path SAR specific absorption rate SNR signal to noise ratio SRS sounding reference signal TDD time division duplexing TPC transmission power control TX transmitting signal, transmission link, transmission path UE user equipment U MTS universal mobile telecommunications system UL uplink V0LTE voice over LTE VSWR forward standing wave ratio Mobile and cellular communication architectures can be categorized as cellular network, public safety network, heterogeneous network, self organizing network and ad-hoc network. In a cellular network such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE_A), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) / HSPA+, device to device, or the like, communication between mobile devices is routed via one or more core network elements.

In urban environments, multipath and large angular spread leads to multipath propagated signals reception. On the other hand, in a rural environment with line of sight condition, diversity / Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) reception of the mobile device based on reception via two or more antennae, each connected with a diversity receiver, may allow a receiving communication even with a radio link at reduced performance. A transmitter of the mobile device is usually operatively bound to one of the diversity receivers. However, if the base station is poorly positioned in relation to the antennae of the mobile device, a transmitting communication link may not be possible, mobile device may drop call, or the communication link may be not optimal. This may lead not only to transmission defects but also to complete communication defects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims at providing an improved communication system in which the above drawbacks are alleviated or overcome.

This is at least in part achieved by the apparatuses and methods as defined in the appended claims. The invention may also be implemented by a computer program product.

to an aspect of the invention, a first apparatus is provided which is for use by a mobile device having a communication link with a network. The first apparatus comprises a switch unit and a processing system. The switch unit is configured to switch a connection of a transmitter from a first antenna to a second antenna. The processing system causes the switch unit to maintain the connection of the transmitter or switch the connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna in accordance with a switch request from the network which may be received in response to a signaled detection of a switch condition that the transmitter needs to transmit via the second antenna.

According to another aspect of the invention, a second apparatus is provided which is for use by the network having the communication link with the mobile device. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to decide the switch request to maintain the connection of the transmitter or to switch the connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna, and signal the switch request to the mobile device. The switch request may be decided based on the switch condition.

In the following the invention will be described by way of embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle provided with a mobile device to which at least one embodiment of the invention may be applied, the mobile device having two antennae each located in side mirrors of the vehicle.

Fig. 2 schematically depicts a mobile device to which at least one embodiment of the invention may be applied, in first use of a user having the mobile device at his ear.

Fig. 3 schematically depicts a mobile device to which at least one embodiment of the invention may be applied, in a second use of a user holding the mobile device in his hand.

Fig. 4 schematically depicts a flow chart of a first process according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention for switching a transceiver.

Fig. 5 schematically depicts a flow chart of a second process according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention for switching a transceiver.

Fig. 6 schematically shows a user equipment according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 schematically shows a network controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Generally, references to certain standards, media and/or resources in this description are rather supposed to be exemplary for the purpose of illustration in order to improve the ease of understanding of the invention. They are not to be understood as limiting the inventive concept. Likewise, the language as well as terms used herein, such as e. g. signal names, device names and the like, are to demonstrate the embodiments only. Use of such language or terms apart from their understanding according to this disclosure shall not be applied to the invention for the purpose of limiting its scope.

Generally, mobile devices may be user equipments (UF) such as cellular phones, smart phones, laptop's, handhelds, tablets, vehicles, machines, or special purpose means with a wireless connection to a communication counterpart, or the like. A mobile device may also be a module, a modem on module, a system in package or a system on chip which can be connected to or inserted in a user equipment. The user equipment may be fixed shape or it may have bendable form factor or it may be used in different form factors.

Although wireless communication is usually established via radio as a transmission resource, it may also be applied to ultrasonic, infrared light or the as transmission resource.

Herein below, however, exemplary aspects of the invention will be described with reference to radio communication as wireless communication medium.

A certain application may provide for car environment that is challenging from antenna point of view. However, similar wireless communication environments may also be affected so that the following may be applied to other environments such as cellular phones, tablets, laptops, buildings, or the like, too.

Some aspects of the invention provide the advantage that a present hardware implementation of the mobile device can be widely maintained so that additional cost for the higher performance implementation solution can be kept small.

Moreover, a platform radio frequency (RF) front end can be used as such for connecting by adding a double pole double throw (DPDT) switch or any special purpose switch or independent antennae. A special purpose switch may have capability connect two or more throws/nodes simultaneously to common interface point or generally alter signal routings. Only a software adaption at the modems side of the mobile device may be sufficient for implementation.

It should especially be noted that the invention is not limited to only two antennae. If more than two antennae are provided, switching of the transmitter and a corresponding first diversity/MINIO receiver to an appropriate antenna may be followed by a further selection of an appropriate antenna of the further antennae for being connected with a second diversity/MIMO receiver.

Although embodiments of the invention will be explained exemplary in the following with reference to vehicle-mounting, the invention is not restricted to vehicle-mounting but may also be applied to other mobile devices, cellular devices, consumer electronics, public safety devices, or the like as will become

apparent from the description of the embodiments.

Usually, the roof of the car is the most desired place for an arrangement of an antenna, since this location may provide for omnidirectional radiation pattern.

Omnidirectional radiation pattern of such antennae is desired because, during of the mobile device, a communication link to a certain base station of the core network, which is usually stationary, may vary, especially, in view of direction. An omnidirectional radiation pattern of an antenna may allow nearly independence from direction.

However, this location has usually undesired impact to industrial car design.

Often, any additional overhang, especially on the roof, will look awkward.

Therefore, technology related to antennae is supposed to be invisible for customers and hidden into an industrial design.

Related to car design, the antenna may be provided as two antennae, each located at each of two opposite side mirrors of the car so as to reduce the effect related to the car industrial design, as shown in Fig. 1. This arrangement may result in a limited antenna radiation pattern, as become apparent from the following discussion.

This invention may be used to control a transmitting antenna change and/or swap of a UE, or other like apparatus, based on signal information extracted, detected, computed, and/or received. Without being limited to the description, a described embodiment refers to a car vehicle environment mobility which is one exemplary embodiment causing variation of signaling conditions.

Mobile car with active data connection using e.g. diversity and/or MIMO reception and a transmitter via two antennae may cause one of the antennae being in worse signaling conditions in transmitting frequency when e.g. side mirror antennae are considered. Mobility of the car may cause the radio propagation environment change rapidly, especially, when considering antennae radiation patterns looking at different directions.

E.g. in vehicles, it is presented to place diversity RX antennas to side mirrors of car such as technology hidden in industrial design, e.g. no shark fins or corresponding. At urban conditions, a single side antenna may be continuously operational due to dense network base stations and scattered fading environment with reflections. In rural areas, the data connection may drop if an UL antenna is continuously fixed at a predefined side. As a conclusion, a TX antenna switching is provided according to uplink conditions. An eNB can evaluate a link to a UE via several parameters, e.g. uplink quality can be monitored via SRS, UL DMRS and PHR sent by the UE.

When antenna switching decision is done according to a control algorithm, there may be a better UL path available via a new antenna with certain probability when a BTS is at new antenna radiation pattern range as may be supposed e.g. with RSCP, DL CPICH Ec/No, DL SNR, DL RSRP, DL RSRQ or DL RSSI an antenna environment information, a sensor information, a current consumption information which may be used for antennae swap decision making.

After having provided antennae swap, the BTS may have wrong channel estimates for the UL signal from new antenna, and the TX signal power from the new antenna may be far too much for new UL propagation path. This is because the car chassis may attenuate signal by e.g. 20.30 dB, wherein this attenuations between the antenna and the BTS does not exist between the new antenna and the BTS.

When the UE makes the decision and there is huge gain difference between the side antennae, this may cause noise hotspots in a wireless communication network and, consequently, a network capacity may be reduced.

This can escalate when multiple UEs, such as those installed on vehicles or the like, swap antennae at certain road sections. This can happen at a border between two neighboring cells, urban canyons, tunnels, or corresponding street sections or corners where antenna decision making needs to be done.

Earlier implementations have focused on making the decision to swap antennae inside handheld size mobile device based on e. g. reception parameters, a transmitter power, an antenna VSWR, proximity sensors, grip sensors, using the received signal quality and the delta as the deciding factor.

When making this kind of swap in uncontrolled manner, the data throughput is momentarily interrupted until the link is recovered. When this happens without control, the data throughput may be affected, e. g. substantially interrupted.

As an exemplary embodiment, Fig. 1 depicts a vehicle 10 having two side mirrors 12, 14 arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle 10. One side mirror, the side mirror 12 on the right side of the vehicle 10, has an antenna designated as main, that is, this antenna is used for receiving and transmitting purposes as well. The second antenna of mirror 14 on the left side of the vehicle 10 is used for receiving purposes only and is designated as div. Both antennae are integrally formed with the corresponding mirrors or mirror housings 12, 14 or other assembly part of apparatus. E.g., the antennae can be in embedded in a silver layer of the mirrors or the like. Processing of the receiving signals of both of the antennae establishes diversity and/or MTN'lO reception in view of the receiving communication link or downlink (DL), respectively.

Each of the antennae in the mirrors 12, 14 has a certain communication range 20, 22 caused by a limited antenna radiation pattern. E.g., a receiving signal 18 (B51 radio tower) transmitted from a first base station, not shown, is received by the antenna of the mirror 14 and by the antenna of the mirror 12. A receiving signal 16 (BS2 radio tower) transmitted from a second base station not shown, is received by the antenna of the mirror 12 and by the antenna of the mirror 14. In this constitution, each of the both antennae, main and div1 is connected via a connection with a corresponding diversity receiver. For instance, a single BTS signal may be received by two or more diversity/MIMO receivers. Moreover, signals may be sent from two BTS towers and received with two or more antennae. The transceiver/receiver may have a communication link simultaneously to one or more base station radio towers. Operation is preferably adapted to allow receiving signals (RX) over one or both of the antennae main, div.

Another exemplary embodiment is schematically depicted in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 shows a mobile device 74 as a user equipment UE in a transverse sectional view, which can be a smart phone, a cellular phone, a tablet, a altering Form factor capable communication device or the like. The mobile device 74 has a switch unit 76 which is in communication connection with a processing unit 78, presently formed by a controller such as a microprocessor. The microprocessor 78 includes a transmitter 84, a first receiver 86 and a second receiver 88. The transmitter 84 and the first receiver 68 are commonly connected to the switch unit 76. Apart thereof, the second receiver 88 is connected with the switch unit 76. Further components including user interfaces necessary to enable the mobile device 74 operating as a phone are omitted for the ease of understanding.

The switch unit 76 is further connected with a first antenna ANT 1 and, apart thereof, with a second antenna ANT 2. In an idle status, the switch unit 76 provides connection between the transmitter 84 and the first receiver 86 and the antenna ANT 1, whereas, on the other hand, it provides connection between the second receiver 88 and the antenna ANT 2. The microprocessor 78 is adapted to provide for diversity reception by use of the two receivers 86, 88. Moreover, the switch unit 76 can, upon command from the microprocessor 78, switch over the both connections together so that the transmitter 84 and the first receiver 86 are connected with the antenna ANT 2, whereas, in turn, the second receiver 88 is connected with the antenna ANT 1. This recites a switched-over status. For this purpose, the switch unit 76 is formed as a double-pole double-throw switch.

However, any other kind of suitable switch can be used as a switch unit.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, a head 70 of a user (not referenced) having two ears 72 is schematically shown. As can be further derived from Fig. 2, the antennae ANT 1 and ANT 2 of the mobile device 74 are arranged at opposite surfaces of the mobile device 74 and are offset against each other in a longitudinal direction.

The microprocessor 78 is arranged at one lower end 90 of the mobile device 74.

At the opposite end of the mobile device 74, an ear detector 82 is located so as to detect an ear such as the ear 72 in Fig. 2 in close proximity to the antenna ANT 2. The ear detector 82 is in communication with the microprocessor 78.

According to one embodiment, the ear detector 82 is configured to detect the ear based on at least one of e. g. photo-sensing, capacitive sensing, thermo-sensing, or any other suitable technology for detecting an ear.

Still referring to Fig. 2, the mobile device 74 is arranged such that the antenna ANT 2 is close to the ear 72 of the user. The ear detector 82 detects the ear 72 and provides corresponding signaling to the microprocessor 78. In turn, the microprocessor 78 causes the switch unit 76 to maintain the before-mentioned status. Consequently, the exposure of the head 70 with radio energy can be limited and attenuation caused by the head 70 and the ear 72 can be reduced as well, since the transmitter transmits over the first antenna ANT 1 and thus improving communication link and reducing the specific absorption rate (SAR).

Turning now to Fig. 3, there is shown schematically the mobile device 74 as of Fig. 2 but now hold in a hand of the user. Shown in Fig. 3 is the palm 82 of the hand and three of five fingers 80. The hand grips the mobile device 74 at the lower end 90 close to the antenna ANT 1. The ear detector 82 detects absence of an ear and provides corresponding signaling to the microprocessor 78. Tn turn, the microprocessor 78 causes the switch unit 76 to switch from the idle status to the switched-over status so that the transmitter 84 transmits via the second antenna ANT 2. This allows limiting the exposure of the hand with radio energy and reducing attenuation caused by the hand as well thus improving communication link.

If the conditions change again, e. g. because the ear detector 82 detects an ear again, the microprocessor 78 will cause the switch unit 76 to switch back to the idle status, as detailed above.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the at least first and second receivers are MIMO receivers or diversity receivers. The term diversity receiver such as for e. g. the 2G, 3G standard is used for a receiver capable of receiving single signal for DL during signal fading conditions to improve single signal reception. The term MIMO receiver (LTETM, LTE-A, WiFiTM) is used for a receiver capable of receiving multiple different data streams as a DL method to improve data throughput. Consequently, the MIMO receiver is adapted to operate in a MIMO communication system and employs reception of multiple signals (MIMO mode) whereas a diversity receiver is adapted to operate in a diversity mode in order to employ diversity reception. The first and the second receiver can also be adapted to operate in both modes, wherein the receivers can change their mode, preferably together, e. g. by switching between the modes, or the like. The connection may be preferably an electric connection such as an electric conductor, an electric line, an electric wire, or the like. The connection provides electric connection between those components electrically connected therewith.

Since usually one transmitter transmitting signals (TX) is provided and this transmitter forms an integral unit with one of the diversity/MIMO receivers, so as to form e. g. a transceiver, a transmitting link or uplink (UL), respectively, is possible over the main antenna which the combination unit formed or the transceiver, respectively, is connected with. The integral unit, especially, the transmitter and the corresponding first receiver may be connected with the antenna via a common connection. Under such conditions, a transmitting link may become disrupted and the overall communication link may be affected in an undesired way, although data receiving may be still possible because of the diversity operation of the receivers.

For example, according to closed loop transmit diversity (CLTD) in HSPA, the following modes are provided: a) CLTD b) ANT 1 only c) ANT 2 only In CLTD, the UE does not report any performance parameters to the network in addition to those that are present already in legacy. In other words, the network has to autonomously, without UE information, make a decision about a mode change. In mode a), CLTD has two UL pilots. Modes b) and c) are preformed with a single UL, and thus antenna swap is done blindly without any information of the propagation channel from the other antenna. If CLTD mode b) or c) should be optimized, then UE UL antenna swap has to be piloted with antenna swap try and error method.

In order to provide an improvement, the invention proposes a new scheme of antennae management of mobile devices in a communication network. This invention covers how a mobile device such as a user equipment UE controls to be implemented with switching UL/DL diversity/MIMO antennae. Each of the antennae can be used in a dual mode, that is, it can be used for the purpose of transmission and reception as well. Antennae may share functionality of one or more other signals which may be originated from one or more communication Fig. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a first process according to an embodiment of the invention. The first process may be executed by a mobile device having a communication link to the communication network. For example, a UE has a communication link with a communication counterpart via an antenna system and the UE is using a first antenna for uplink. The communication counterpart may be e.g. network, BTS, eNB, network controller.

In step 541, the UE receives a switch request from the network controller.

The switch request may have been triggered by a switch condition, detected by the UE, that a transmitter needs to transmit via a second antenna. In other words, a need to switch a connection of the transmitter to a first antenna to a connection of the transmitter to the second antenna is detected. According to an exemplary embodiment, the connection is a common connection of the transmitter and a first receiver to the first antenna, and a need is detected to switch the common connection to the first antenna and a connection of a respective second receiver to the second antenna to a common connection of the transmitter and the first receiver to the second antenna and a connection of the respective second receiver to the first antenna. During a switching period the transmitter may reduce power of transmission or discontinue transmission to protect circuitries during switching.

For example, the UE detects a need to change UL TX from the first antenna to the second or an alternate TX antenna (the switch condition), based on received signal quality parameters between alternate antennas or based on another event or combinations thereof. The received signal quality parameters may be at least one of DL SNR, DL RSRP, DL RSRQ, DL RSSI, DL RSCP or DL CPTCH Ec/No. The need to change the first antenna for uplink may be a drastic change in some of the abovementioned parameters, e.g. side mirror suddenly blocked so that the other one cannot be in worse position. The need to change the first antenna for uplink may be based on channel estimate parameters of the UE antennas. The other event may be e.g. a number of carriers, current consumption, antenna environment conditions, sensor information, running application, application status change, positioning receiver activity, interoperability, satellite or network positioning, or the like.

There may be a predefined threshold limit or predefined threshold margins for antennae performance parameters and other events. If the predefined threshold limit or the predefined threshold margins are exceeded, the UE may detect the switch condition. If the predefined threshold limit or the predefined threshold margins are not exceeded, the UE will not detect the switch condition.

Detection of the switch condition is signaled to the network. For example, the UE signals the need to change the first antenna for uplink to the network controller.

The network controller may signal ACK for the need and signal a list of requested parameters for the UE. Alternatively, the network controller may also signal NACK for the need, if antenna swap is not allowed by the network controller serving as scheduler of the network, during next period of time. This may be e.g due to network load or interferences, for example.

The UE may signal to the network controller the received signal quality parameters, e.g. at least one of DL SNR, DL RSRP, DL RSSI, DL RSCP, DL RSRQ and DL CPTCH Ec/No. These quality parameters may also be reported separately for each antenna. The UE may also signal channel estimate parameters of the antennae, move information of a vehicle on which the UE is mounted, such as e.g. speed, direction, route, and an antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction of the vehicle. This information may be used as a parameter for an antenna swap TPC estimation with BTS locations of base stations to receive transmission from the second/other antenna when the first antenna is changed to the second/other antenna.

The UE may also report a timing difference between antennae including information on which antenna port receives a signal first, and a reception multipath propagation characteristics, e.g. LOS (line of sight) profile or one or more predefined non-LOS profiles or other special purpose characteristics, such as: i. Line of sight (LOS) scenario.

U. One or more not line of sight (NLOS) scenarios: 1. One or more Rayleigh fading scenarios which is most applicable when there is no dominant propagation along a line of sight between transmitter and receiver.

2. One or more Rician fading scenarios, when the signal arrives at the receiver by several different paths (hence exhibiting multipath interference), and at least one of the paths is changing (lengthening or shortening). Rician fading occurs when one of the paths is much stronger than the others.

Ui. Received signal direction or dispersion thereof, which can be defined with direction finding methods with signal phase information from multiple antennae.

iv. Received signals power or dispersion thereof.

v. Received signal delay or spread/dispersion thereof.

vi. Received signal Doppler frequency or dispersion thereof.

vii. Received signal polarization or dispersion thereof.

viii. Received signal small-scale fading or dispersion thereof.

The UE may signal the information parameters according to a predefined list or according to a network controller query.

The network controller receives the UE signaling containing some of the UE DL characteristics, which is used as a trigger for the network controller to synchronize UE to swap antennae.

The UE may receive a request and license from the network controller to start steps to swap antennae. The UE may receive timing information from the network controller to swap antennae. The UF may receive, from the network controller, an antenna swap TPC power command when swapping from first antenna to the second/other antenna.

The network controller may signal the UE to send pilot signal or pilot signals via the second/other antenna. Second/other antenna pilot signals may be e.g. PUCCH, and pilot signals may be sent with predefined time intervals or sequence.

As a synchronization process, the UE may be requested by the network controller to send e.g. PUCCH over the second/other antenna for piloting new antenna propagation path. PUCCH may be sent one or multiple times via the second/other antenna. Alternatively, PUCCH may be sent with predefined steps via second/other antenna and first antenna. When a base station to handle the uplink transmission is adapted to the second/other antenna radio channel, the network controller commands the UE to swap antennae.

In step S42, in accordance with a switch request from the network received in response to the signaled detection of the switch condition, the connection of the transmitter to the first antenna is maintained or the connection is switched so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna.

In case the UE is commanded to swap the ULTX from the first antenna into the second/other antenna, if UL quality is not within a predefined range within a predefined time period, then the network controller may request the UE to swap back to the first antenna.

Fig. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating a second process according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The second process may be executed by at least one of a network, BTS, eNB and network controller of a communication network having a communication link with a mobile device. The mobile device comprises a switch unit configured to switch a connection of a transmitter from a first antenna to a second antenna. According to an exemplary embodiment, the connection is a common connection, and the switch unit can switch the common connection of the transmitter and a first receiver from the first antenna to the second antenna and a connection of a respective second receiver from the second antenna to the first antenna.

In step 551, a switch request is decided to maintain the connection of the transmitter or to switch the connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna. The switch request may be decided based on a processed switch condition detected by the mobile device. In step 552, the switch request is signaled to the mobile device.

The network controller may signal ACK for the need to switch connections in case of a detected switch condition. The network controller may signal a list of requested parameters for the UE. In other words, the network controller may query the UE to signal to the network controller e.g. received signal quality parameters such as DL SNR, DL RSRP, DL RSSI, DL RSCP, DL RSRQ and DL CPICH Ec/No. These quality parameters may be reported separately for each antenna. Further, the network controller may query the UE for channel estimate parameters of the UE antennae, move information of a vehicle on which the UE is mounted, such as e.g. speed, direction, route, and an antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction of the vehicle. This information may be used as a parameter for an antenna swap TPC estimation with BTS locations of base stations to receive transmission from the second/other antenna when the first antenna is changed to the second/other antenna.

The network controller may also query the UF to report a timing difference between antennae including information on which antenna port receives a signal first, multipath propagation characteristics and a reception fading profile, e.g. LOS (line of sight) profile or one or more predefined non-LOS profiles or other special purpose characteristics, such as: i. Line of sight (LOS) scenario.

ii. One or more not line of sight (NLOS) scenarios: 1. One or more Rayleigh fading scenarios which is most applicable when there is no dominant propagation along a line of sight between transmitter and receiver.

iii. Received signal direction or dispersion thereof, which can be defined with direction finding methods with signal phase information from multiple antennae.

iv. Received signals power or dispersion thereof.

v. Received signal delay or spread/dispersion thereof.

vi. Received signal Doppler frequency or dispersion thereof.

vii. Received signal polarization or dispersion thereof.

viii. Received signal small-scale fading or dispersion thereof.

Hence, the network controller may receive UE signaling containing some of the UE DL characteristics.

For example, the network controller may signal NACK for the switch condition detected by the mobile device as switch request, if antenna swap is not allowed during next period of time e.g. due to network load or interferences between the mobile device and the network.

In case antenna swap is allowed basically, the switch condition detected by the UE may be used as a trigger for the network controller to synchronize the UE to swap antennae. The network controller may use information of base station signal reception for UE antennae swap criteria. The information of base station signal reception may be related to the UE UL signals such as SRS, UL DMRS, PHR as mentioned above. The information of base station signal reception may be related also to other UE5 at same geographical area as the UE. Other UE5 at predefined geographical area may be defined using network positioning (e.g. OTDOA) or satellite positioning.

The network controller can signal a request and license as switch request for the UE to start steps to swap antennae. The network controller may signal timing information for the UE to swap antennas, and/or the timing information may be included in the switch request.

Moreover, the network controller may signal an antenna swap TPC power command (included in the switch request) for the UE when swapping from the first antenna to second/other antenna. The antenna swap TPC command may be based on UF signaled UF DL characteristics. The antenna swap TPC command may be adjusted with a ratio according to other UE5 at a predefined geographical area in order to reduce interference. Furthermore, antenna swap may be a combination of the antenna swap TPC command and radio resources, channel, 3W, modulation, number of carriers, number of receivers, number of transmitters, data class, MIMO class, antenna directivities, radio activity/inactivity period, etc. The network controller may signal (in the switch request) the UE to send a pilot signal or pilot signals via the second/other antenna. Second/other antenna pilot signals may be e.g. PUCCH, and pilot signals may be sent with predefined time intervals or sequence. As synchronization process, the network controller may request the UE to send e.g. PUCCH over the second/other antenna for piloting a second/other antenna propagation path. PUCCH may be requested to be sent one or multiple times via the second/other antenna. Alternatively, PUCCH may be requested to be sent with predefined steps via second/other antenna and first antenna. When a base station receiving transmission from the second/other antenna is adapted to the second/other antenna radio channel, the network controller commands the UE to swap antennas e.g. by signaling a switch command.

In some cases, a TX antenna swap may be aligned with a cell change of the UF.

Rather seldom, the UE has equal signal propagation path distance to an old serving cell and a new serving cell. Hence, a difference in signal propagation path distance will cause a different signal propagation delay to the old serving cell and to the new serving cell. This means that a timing advance to the old serving cell and the new serving cell will be different.

The network needs to take into account the UEs timing advance for the antenna swap. For example, the network, e.g. an eNB, can calculate the timing advance based on Rx-Tx time difference measurements: Timing advance (TADV) type 1 is defined as the time difference TADV = (eNB Rx -Tx time difference) + (UE Rx -Tx time difference), where the eNB Rx -Tx time difference corresponds to the same UF that reports the UE Rx -Tx time difference.

Timing advance (TADV) type 2 is defined as the time difference TADV = (eNB Rx -Tx time difference), where the eNB Rx -Tx time difference corresponds to a received uplink radio frame containing PRACH from the respective UE.

is when the UE has swapped UL TX from the first antenna into the second/other TX antenna, if UL quality is not within a predefined range within a predefined time period, then the network controller may request the UE to swap back to first antenna e.g. by signaling a respective command to the UE.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for a network/network controller to control and synchronize switching of UE ULTX antenna. In the method, UE channel estimate parameters are signaled from the UE to the network controller, which will synchronize the swap so that the switching and gain adjustments are done during a guard period of 2Ous (LTE) or Thus (3G). when doing the antenna swap controlled by the network the communication disruptions remain minimal. The network controller may also control and synchronize the operations according to network load.

with respect to CLTD, when doing the antenna swap controlled by the network the communication disruptions remain minimal because swap is not done with try and error method.

According to an aspect of the invention, information related to receiving, such as receiving parameters or the like, is used to enable decision by a network, network controller, base station, eNB, or the like, that an antenna is to be connected with the transmitter. Moreover, it can be provided that, according to a further aspect of the invention, receiving information is supplied to the transmitter and/or both of the diversity receivers (may be two or more), respectively, to enable substantially continuous data transmission and reception.

Especially, at urban conditions, a single antenna such as a single side antenna of a car may be continuously operational due to dense network base stations and scattered fading environment with reflections. However, in rural areas, the data connection may drop if an UL antenna, that is the antenna used for transmission, is continuously fixed at predefined side. As a conclusion, the invention proposes that the TX antenna is switched according to uplink and/or downlink conditions.

In some exemplary embodiment, transmitter related information may trigger the antenna swap. Criteria for triggering antenna swap may be that the highest transmitter power level was achieved; predefined highest power levels are used for a predefined time period; or the like. Alternatively, triggering may occur because UL quality is poor via used antenna based on ACK/NACK feedback from BTS or a predefined amount of retransmission exceeded. Alternatively, triggering criteria may be any of transmitter-related information and/or receiver-related information, sensor information, grip sensor information, antenna environment information, running application information, interoperability information, positioning receiver information, power consumption, alternate RAT sharing antenna, mechanical form factor related information, or any combination thereof.

According to a certain aspect of at least an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when main receiver modem and diversity receiver modem antennae are swapped, the transmitter and both of the receivers are provided with corresponding information, especially, parameters so that their operation can preferably be continued substantially without interruption or substantially without data throughput degradation.

According to one aspect of at least an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one method to implement a transmission link or transmission path, respectively, (TX) antenna swap between two antennae, namely, a main antenna (ANT 1) and a div antenna (ANT 2), is presented in Fig. 1 with further reference to Fig. 6. The antenna ANT 1 may be located in right mirror or mirror housing 12 and the antenna ANT 2 may be located in left mirror or mirror housing 14 of the vehicles 10. Instead of mirror housing, the antennae may be located to any other kind of assembly part of the apparatus, service part of the apparatus or after sales part of the apparatus. In mobile phone, antennae may be located in top part and bottom part of device taking account variations in form factor and use cases with different applications and radios.

Fig. 6 shows a mobile device such as a user equipment UE that also may be referred to as modeml and that may be arranged in the vehicle 10 or the mobile phone 74. The user equipment UE is in communication with a vehicle communication unit 58. However, in the case of the mobile device 74, the vehicle communication unit 58 is to be omitted. As also depicted in Fig. 6, the user equipment UE comprises an apparatus 32. The apparatus 32 may be configured as a semiconductor chip, a hardware circuitry, a processing unit, combinations thereof, or the like. The apparatus 32 comprises a processing system which is, in this embodiment, formed by a controller 36 which, in turn, communicates with a switch unit 28. Moreover, the user equipment UE comprises a transmitter 24 and a first diversity receiver 34 that are connected via a common connection and the switch unit 28 with the antenna ANT 1. The switch unit 28 may be a hardware switch such as DPDT or may be provided by a special purpose circuitry controlled by the controller 36. The switch unit 28 may be comprised by the apparatus 32 in order to form an integral unit with the apparatus 32, or it may be a separate component, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Moreover, a second diversity receiver 26 is provided by the user equipment UE which is connected via a connection and the switch unit 28 with the antenna ANT 2. Additionally referring to Fig. 6, the antennae ANT 1 and ANT 2 are each connected with the switch unit 28 via a corresponding connection, too. In the embodiment according to Fig. 6, the antennae ANT 1 and ANT 2 are external of the user equipment UE. However, the user equipment UE or module or package may also include such antennae.

The switch unit 28 is controlled by the controller 36 controlling at least the operation related to switching. Alternatively, the switch unit 28 may be connected to the controller 36.

Moreover, the controller 36 is in communication connection with a memory module 38. Likewise, the switch unit 28 is in communication connection with the memory module 38.

The user equipment UE further comprises a baseband modem (Modem 66) which is in communication with the controller 36. In this embodiment, the Modem BB and the apparatus 32 including the controller 36 are integral with each other.

The user equipment UE also includes a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) and a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC), both in communication with the controller 36 and further operating with the transmitter 24, and the two diversity receivers 26, 34. Tn some embodiment, the controller 36 functionality may be included to modem 66 or other special purpose processor.

Although some of the before-mentioned modules and units are not part of the apparatus 32 of the user equipment UE (Fig. 6), the apparatus 32 may be adapted to comprise further units and modules such as the transmitter 24, the first and the second diversity receivers 34, 26, the memory module 38, the switch unit 28, and the like. In some embodiment, the user equipment UE may have two or more RFIC5, two or more transmitters and two or more receivers, alternate modem receiver/s and transmitter/s, positioning receivers, alternate radio access technology and the like. Furthermore mobile phone or UE may contain at least one or more application processor, user interface, display, touch display, camera, projector, keypad, microphone, speaker, sensors, user interface, battery, wired connections, wireless connections etc. The switch unit 28 is interconnected between the transmitter 24 and the first diversity receiver 34 as well as the second diversity receiver 26, on the one hand, and the two antennae ANT 1 and ANT 2, on the other hand. The controller 36 controls the switch unit 28 to cause the transmitter 24 and the first diversity receiver 34 to be switchable connected with one of the two antenna ANT 1 and ANT 2 and the second diversity receiver 26 to be switchable connected with another one of the two antenna ANT 1 and ANT 2. Preferably, in an idle status, the transmitter 24 and the first diversity receiver 34 are connected with the antenna ANT 1, and the second diversity receiver 26 is connected with the antenna ANT 2. The switch unit 28 can have a switch of the type double pole double throw DPDT or special purpose switch suited for routing radio frequency RF.

In Fig. 6, the antennae ANT 1 and ANT 2 are for dual use that is transmission and reception as well. The switch unit 28 can comprise active and passive parts, one or more of frequency selective components, switches, controllers, control powering, a diversity switch in order to enable the dual use, carrier aggregation use, or multi modem use.

The controller 36 may be a separate component of the user equipment UE.

However, it also may be integral with at least one of the Modem BB, the RFIC, the PMIC, the vehicle controller unit, and the memory module 38. Controls and information may be originated by one or more of the before-mentioned components.

Turning to Fig. 1, user equipment modem data path controlling with switching uplink (UL) / downlink (DL) diversity antennae ANT 1, ANT 2 is described in more detail according to an exemplary embodiment. When the transmission path TX is switched to alternate antenna there is also impact to reception links, reception paths, respectively (RX). Switching may impact a data reception throughput/data connection when the common connection of the transmitter 24 in combination with the first diversity receiver 34, and the connection of the second diversity receiver 26 are swapped with respect to the connections of the antennae ANT 1 and ANT 2. Furthermore, a reception problem can be that reception signal levels in the different antennae may vary with side mirror antennas ANT 1 and ANT 2, which have directivity to different directions. An improved controlling is desired to maintain the data reception throughput! connection reliability.

The problem is not only initiated from automobile environment but also from corresponding reception performance problems that may be met with radio apparatuses in different use case scenarios. Switching timing selection, transmission power ramp up/down profile/timing with Radio Frequency (RF) Front End (FE) DPDT switch implementation may need to take into account breaks in the RX and/or TX data stream of Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) and/or Time Division Duplexing (TDD) radio communication systems, activity periods of V0LTE data, DTX, DRX, or just do brutal switching when needed taking account components reliability.

If the transmission path TX is switched alone between the antennae ANT 1 and ANT 2, a main RX modem, namely, diversity receiver 34, and a diversity RX modem of the diversity receiver 26 reception will not be impacted. However, this embodiment suffers from a high TX insertion loss, cost due to duplicated front end, and an extra (research and development) R&D platform hardware work.

The processing system or controller 36, respectively, is configured to control the transmitter 24 and may control at least two diversity receivers 34, 26, wherein the first antenna ANT 1 is assigned to said transmitter 24 and may be assigned to the first diversity receiver 34 and the respective second antenna ANT 2 may be assigned to the respective second diversity receiver 26 in an idle status. The controller 36 is further configured to receive a switch request from a communication counterpart, e.g. a network controller, and switch the transmitter 24 to transmit via the second antenna ANT 2, and may exchange reception parameters, channel estimates, or the like that may include channel interference parameters between the at least two diversity receivers 34, 26. The controller 36 is further connected with the memory module 38 so that data such as the parameters can be stored in or retrieved from the memory module 38.

As mentioned above, the user equipment UE has a communication link with at least one counterpart as e. g. a network component, such as a base station BTS, via the antenna system comprising the antennae ANT 1 and ANT 2. In some communication embodiment, the user equipment UE may have a communication link with two or more communication counterparts such as e. g. base stations BTS. Antenna selection criteria can also take account to alternate a transmitter or modem communication uplink and /or downlink quality.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 36 is further configured to receive at least two diversity reception signals, evaluate a communication link between said apparatus 32 and a communication counterpart, and, based on the detection of a switch condition such as the evaluation of the communication link, decide that the transmitter 24 needs to be assigned to transmit via the second diversity antenna ANT 2, i.e. detects a switch condition, signals detection of the switch condition to the network, and receives the switch request from the network in response to the signaled detection of the switch condition.

The controller 36 may adjust the power of the transmitter according to a transmission power control command included in the switch request from the network. The transmission power control command may be related to at least one of radio resources, channel, BW, number of carriers, modulation, number of receivers, number of transmitters, data class, NITMO class, antenna directivities, radio activity/inactivity period, etc. controller 36 further is configured to cause the switch unit 28 to switch the common connection of the transmitter and the first receiver so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna at a time indicated in the switch request.

The controller 36 further is configured to cause at least the second antenna to send at least one pilot signal in response to the switch request, and cause the switch unit 28 to switch the common connection of the transmitter and the first receiver so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna in response to receiving a switch command from the network.

In an alternate exemplary embodiment that may employ MIMO, the diversity receivers 26, 34 can both be provided as MIMO receivers instead.

Fig. 7 schematically shows a network controller 101 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The network controller 101 comprises processing circuitry 111, memory circuitry 121 and interface circuitry 131, which are connected via a link 141. The memory circuitry 121 may store a program comprising computer program code. The network controller 101 is configured to execute processes described above with reference to Fig. 5, using the processing circuitry 111, memory circuitry 121 and interface circuitry 131. The interface circuitry 131 comprises a modulator/demodulator commonly known as a modem for communication with a (mobile) device, e.g. the UE 1 of Fig. 6.

The network controller 101 has a communication link with a mobile device, e.g. the UE 1 shown in Fig. 6, comprising a switch unit configured to switch a connection of a transmitter from a first antenna to a second antenna.

The memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to decide a switch request to maintain the connection of the transmitter or to switch the connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna, and signal the switch request to the mobile device.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to process a switch condition detected by the UE 1, that the transmitter needs to transmit via the second antenna, and decide the switch request based on the processed switch condition.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to evaluate a load of the network and/or interferences between the mobile device and the network, and decide the switch request based on a result of evaluation.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to obtain at least one of the following parameter information from the UE 1: -signal quality information of a communication link via the first and the second antennae, -movement information of the UE 1, -antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction, -timing difference between the antennae, -multipath propagation characteristics, and -reception fading profile, and decide the switch request based on at least one of the obtained parameter information.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to query at least one of the parameter information from the UE 1.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to decide the switch request based on base station reception signals related to uplink signals of the UE 1 and/or related to uplink signals of other mobile devices located at same geographical area as the UE 1.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to decide a timing to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna, and indicate the timing in the switch request.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to decide a transmission power control for adjusting the power of the transmitter of the UF 1 based on at least one of signal quality information of a communication link via the first and the second antennae, obtained from the UE 1, and information on other mobile devices at a predefined geographical area, and include the decided transmission power control in the switch request as transmission power control command.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to decide the transmission power control for at least one of radio resources, channel, BW, modulation, number of receivers, number of carriers, number of transmitters, data class, MINIO class, antenna directivities, radio activity/inactivity period, etc., and/or decide the transmission power control based on antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction and a location of a base station to receive transmission from the second antenna.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to include, in the switch request, a request to send at least one pilot signal via the second antenna and/or via the first and second antennae, and decide to signal a switch command to the UE 1 to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna based on the at least one pilot signal received from the UE 1.

to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to evaluate base station reception signals related to uplink signals of the UE 1 via the second antenna, and decide to signal a command to the UE 1 to switch back the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the first antenna.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the memory circuitry 121 and the computer program code are configured to, with the processing circuitry 111, cause the network controller 101 to decide the timing to switch the connection based on a guard period, V0LTE (voice over long term evolution) inactive periods, a discontinuous transmission scheme, a discontinuous reception scheme, a value of a timing advance of the mobile device, etc. According to an exemplary embodiment, modem information is used for a processor to make a decision about an antenna UL antenna selection in order to improve the UL data throughput in good Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) I Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) I Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) conditions and to improve cell coverage in weak signal conditions as may e. g.

appear at radio shadow, cell edges or the like. According to the decision or the network synchronization, optimal antenna selection controls are generated and convoyed for signal path selection. For control generation, an embodiment has a processor for control generation with above information. The processor may have a control algorithm in order to control the UE UL antenna and the reception parameters in radio waves reception of the mobile device. According to an embodiment, the processor is part of the processing circuitry 111.

Other systems can also benefit from the principles presented herein as long as they have identical or similar properties such as mobile communication in any communication band.

Advantage: Network capacity degradation can be avoided or reduced due to reduction of noise hot spots, which may impact all active data links in a cell and other neighbor cells. Cell coverage in weak signal conditions such as e. g. at cell edges, radio wave shadow conditions, or the like can be improved. Network controlled antenna swap improves single UE operation in weak signal conditions, and the specific absorption rate (SAlt) is reduced. Antenna swap with try and error method is avoided. Further, UE operational time between battery charging increases.

Embodiments of the present invention may be used with FDD and TDD communication radio link, intra band carrier aggregation, inter band carrier aggregation, contiguous and non-contiguous carrier aggregation, or the like.

Furthermore, the user equipment UE radio communication links may use the same or different radio communication protocol/system and may have communication link to same or different communication counterpart.

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in software, hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware and application logic. The software, application logic and/or hardware generally reside on control modules of terminal devices or network devices.

In an example embodiment, the application logic, software or an instruction set is maintained on any one of various conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any media or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer or smart phone, or user equipment.

The present invention can advantageously be implemented in user equipments or smart phones, or personal computers connectable to such networks. That is, it can be implemented as/in chipsets, modem on modules, system on chip, system on chip to connected devices, and/or modems thereof.

As used in this application, the terms "unit", "module", "processing system", and "circuitry" refer to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only and/or digital circuitry) and (b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) to a combination of processor(s) or (ii) to portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and (c) to circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition applies to all uses of those terms in this application, including in any claims.

As a further example, as used in this application, the terms "unit", "module", "processing system", and "circuitry" would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The terms "unit", "module", "processing system", and "circuitry" would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other network device.

If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be performed in a different order and/or concurrently with each other. Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional or may be combined.

Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims. Especially, the embodiments described may be combined in various manners so as to adapt the invention to individual requirements without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense.

Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An apparatus for use by a mobile device, the mobile device having a communication link with a network, the apparatus comprising: a switch unit configured to switch a connection of a transmitter from a first antenna to a second antenna; and a processing system configured to cause the switch unit to maintain the connection of the transmitter or switch the connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna in accordance with a switch request from the network.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection is a common connection of the transmitter and a first receiver, the switch unit is configured to switch the common connection from the first antenna to the second antenna and a connection of a respective second from the second antenna to the first antenna, and the processing system is configured to cause the switch unit to maintain the common connection of the transmitter and the first receiver or switch the common connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna in accordance with the switch request from the network.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing system is configured to detect a switch condition that the transmitter needs to transmit via the second antenna, signal detection of the switch condition to the network, and receive the switch request from the network in response to the signaled detection of the switch condition.
4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processing system is configured to adjust the power of the transmitter according to a transmission power control command included in the switch request from the network.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transmission power control command is related to at least one of radio resources, channel, bandwidth, modulation, number of receivers, number of carriers, number of transmitters, data class, multiple input multiple output class, and antenna directivities, radio activity/inactivity period.
6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processing system is configured to signal at least one of the following parameter information to the network: signal quality information of a communication link via the first and the second antennae, movement information of the mobile device, antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction, timing difference between the antennae multipath propagation characteristics, and reception fading profile.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processing system is configured to signal the at least one of the parameter information to the network in accordance with a predefined list, or in response to a query of the network, and/or wherein the processing system is configured to signal the signal quality information separately for the first antenna and the second antenna.
8. The apparatus of claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the processing system is configured to receive at least two reception signals from the first and the second receivers, in response to receiving of the at least two reception signals, evaluate the communication link via the first and the second antennae, and based on the evaluation of the communication link, detect the switch condition.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communication link evaluated is at least one of an uplink and/or a downlink.
10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the processing system is configured to cause the switch unit to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna at a timing indicated in the switch request.
11. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the processing system is configured to cause at least the second antenna to send at least one pilot signal in response to the switch request, and cause the switch unit to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna in response to receiving a switch command from the network.
12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the switch unit comprises a double pole double throw switch or a special purpose switch.
13. An apparatus for use by a network having a communication link with a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a switch unit configured to switch a connection of a transmitter from a first antenna to a second antenna, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: deciding a switch request to maintain the connection of the transmitter or to switch the connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna, and signaling the switch request to the mobile device.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: processing a switch condition detected by the mobile device, that the transmitter needs to transmit via the second antenna, deciding the switch request based on the processed switch condition.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, the deciding comprising: evaluating a load of the network and/or interferences between the mobile device and the network, and deciding the switch request based on a result of evaluation.
16. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 15, the deciding comprising: obtaining at least one of the following parameter information from the mobile device: signal quality information of a communication link via the first and the second antennae, movement information of the mobile device, antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction, timing difference between the antennae, reception fading profile, multipath propagation characteristics, and deciding the switch request based on at least one of the obtained parameter information.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, the deciding comprising: querying at least one of the parameter information from the mobile device.
18. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 17, the deciding comprising: deciding the switch request based on base station reception signals related to uplink signals of the mobile device and/or related to uplink signals of other mobile devices located at same geographical area as the mobile device.
19. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 18, the deciding comprising: deciding a timing to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna, and indicating the timing in the switch request.
20. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 19, the deciding comprising: deciding a transmission power control for adjusting the power of the transmitter of the mobile device based on at least one of signal quality information of a communication link via the first and the second antennae, obtained from the mobile device, and information on other mobile devices at a predefined geographical area, and including the decided transmission power control in the switch request as transmission power control command.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, the deciding comprising: deciding the transmission power control for at least one of radio resources, channel, bandwidth, modulation, number of receivers, number of transmitters, number of carriers, data class, multiple input multiple output class, antenna directivities, radio activity/inactivity period, and/or deciding the transmission power control based on antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction and a location of a base station to receive transmission from the second antenna.
The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 21, the deciding comprising: including, in the switch request, a request to send at least one pilot signal via the second antenna and/or via the first and second antennae, and deciding to signal a switch command to the mobile device to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna based on the at least one pilot signal received from the mobile device.
23. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 22, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform evaluating base station reception signals related to uplink signals of the mobile device via the second antenna, and deciding to signal a command to the mobile device to switch back the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the first antenna.
24. The apparatus of claim 19, the deciding comprising: deciding the timing to switch the connection based on at least one of a guard period, V0LTE (voice over long term evolution) inactive periods, a discontinuous transmission scheme, a discontinuous reception scheme, and a value of a timing advance of the mobile device.
25. A method for use by a mobile device, the mobile device having a communication link with a network, the method comprising: acquiring a switch request from the network; and causing a switch unit, which switches a connection of a transmitter from a first antenna to a second antenna, to maintain the connection of the transmitter or switch the connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna in accordance with the switch request.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the connection is a common connection of the transmitter and a first receiver, the switch unit switches the common connection from the first antenna to the second antenna and a connection of a respective second receiver from the antenna to the first antenna, and the method comprises causing the switch unit to maintain the common connection of the transmitter and the first receiver or switch the common connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna in accordance with the switch request from the network.
27. The method of claim 25 or 26, comprising: detecting a switch condition that the transmitter needs to transmit via the second antenna; signaling detection of the switch condition to the network; and receiving the switch request from the network in response to the signaled detection of the switch condition.
28. The method of any one of claims 25 to 27, comprising: adjusting the power of the transmitter according to a transmission power control command included in the switch request from the network.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the transmission power control command is related to at least one of radio resources, channel, bandwidth, modulation, number of receivers, number of carriers, number of transmitters, data class, multiple input multiple output class, and antenna directivities, radio activity/inactivity period.
30. The method of any one of claims 25 to 29, comprising signaling at least one of the following parameter information to the network: signal quality information of a communication link via the first and the second antennae, movement information of the mobile device, antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction, timing difference between the antennae multipath propagation characteristics, and reception fading profile.
The method of claim 30, comprising signaling the at least one of the parameter information to the network in accordance with a predefined list, or in response to a query of the network, and/or signaling the signal quality information separately for the first antenna and the second antenna.
32. The method of claim 27 when dependent on claim 26, comprising: receiving at least two reception signals from the first and the second receivers; in response to receiving of the at least two reception signals, evaluating the communication link via the first and the second antennae; and based on the evaluation of the communication link, detectiing the switch condition.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the communication link evaluated is at least one of an uplink and/or a downlink.
34. The method of any one of claims 25 to 33, comprising: causing the switch unit to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna at a timing indicated in the switch request.
35. The method of any one of claims 25 to 34, comprising: causing at least the second antenna to send at least one pilot signal in response to the switch request; and causing the switch unit to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna in response to receiving a switch command from the network.
36. A method for use by a network having a communication link with a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a switch unit configured to switch a connection of a transmitter from a first antenna to a second antenna, the method comprising: deciding a switch request to maintain the connection of the transmitter or switch the connection so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna; and signaling the switch request to the mobile device.
37. The method of claim 36, comprising: processing a switch condition detected by the mobile device, that the transmitter needs to transmit via the second antenna; and deciding the switch request based on the processed switch condition.
38. The method of claim 36 or 37, the deciding comprising: evaluating a load of the network and/or interferences between the mobile device and the network, and deciding the switch request based on a result of evaluation.
39. The method of any one of claims 36 to 38, the deciding comprising: obtaining at least one of the following parameter information from the mobile device: signal quality information of a communication link via the first and the second antennae, movement information of the mobile device, antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction, timing difference between the antennae, reception fading profile, multipath propagation characteristics, and deciding the switch request based on at least one of the obtained parameter information.
40. The method of claim 39, the deciding comprising: querying at least one of the parameter information from the mobile device.
41. The method of any one of claims 36 to 40, the deciding comprising: deciding the switch request based on base station reception signals related to uplink signals of the mobile device and/or related to uplink signals of other mobile devices located at same geographical area as the mobile device.
The method of any one of claims 36 to 41, the deciding comprising: deciding a timing to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna, and indicating the timing in the switch request.
43. The method of any one of claims 36 to 42, the deciding comprising: deciding a transmission power control for adjusting the power of the transmitter of the mobile device based on at least one of signal quality information of a communication link via the first and the second antennae, obtained from the mobile device, and information on other mobile devices at a predefined geographical area, and including the decided transmission power control in the switch request as transmission power control command.
44. The method of claim 43, the deciding comprising: deciding the transmission power control for at least one of radio resources, channel, bandwidth, modulation, number of receivers, number of transmitters, number of carriers, data class, multiple input multiple output class, antenna directivities, radio activity/inactivity period, and/or deciding the transmission power control based on antennae directivity gain difference in a predefined direction and a location of a base station to receive transmission from the second antenna.
45. The method of any one of claims 36 to 44, the deciding comprising: including, in the switch request, a request to send at least one pilot signal via the second antenna and/or via the first and second antennae, and deciding to signal a switch command to the mobile device to switch the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the second antenna based on the at least one pilot signal received from the mobile device.
46. The method of any one of claims 36 to 45, comprising: evaluating base station reception signals related to uplink signals of the mobile device via the second antenna; and deciding to signal a command to the mobile device to switch back the connection of the transmitter so that the transmitter transmits via the first antenna.
47. The method of claim 42, the deciding comprising: deciding the timing to switch the connection based on at least one of a guard period, V0LTE (voice over long term evolution) inactive periods, a discontinuous transmission scheme, a discontinuous reception scheme, and a value of a timing advance of the mobile device.
48. A computer program product including a program for a processing device, comprising software code portions for performing the steps of any one of claims 13 to 47 when the program is run on the processing device.
49. The computer program product according to claim 48, wherein the computer program product comprises a computer-readable medium on which the software code portions are stored.
50. The computer program product according to claim 48, wherein the program is directly loadable into an internal memory of the processing device.