Patent ID: 7796948
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A radio device comprising: a sensor operable to sense a environmental quantity relating to the environment of the radio device to produce a sensor signal; an inference unit responsive to the sensor signal and operable to infer a probability of the radio device being inside a building, the inference being dependent upon the environmental quantity, wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor to measure a level of light of the sensor signal, and the inference unit is operable to infer that the radio device is inside the building by comparing the measured level of light with an outdoor level of light expected at a corresponding time of a day; and a processor operable to control the modulation mode of the radio device, dependent upon the probability of the radio device being inside a building, to optimize performance of the radio device, wherein the processor selects a lower operating frequency, with better in-building penetration, from available frequencies associated with a wide area network when the radio device is inside the building and a wide area network connection is required, and the processor selects a higher operating frequency, having less interference, from available frequencies associated with a local device when the radio device is inside the building and a connection with the local device is required.