Patent ID: 12207100

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An electronic device such as electronic device10ofFIG.1may contain wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more antennas. The antennas may include phased antenna arrays that are used for handling millimeter wave and centimeter wave communications. Millimeter wave communications, which are sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) communications, involve signals at 60 GHz or other frequencies between about 30 GHz and 300 GHz. Centimeter wave communications involve signals at frequencies between about 10 GHz and 30 GHz. If desired, device10may also contain wireless communications circuitry for handling satellite navigation system signals, cellular telephone signals, local wireless area network signals, near-field communications, light-based wireless communications, or other wireless communications.

Electronic device10may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a virtual or augmented reality headset device, a device embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, a wireless access point or base station, a desktop computer, a keyboard, a gaming controller, a computer mouse, a mousepad, a trackpad or touchpad, equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment. In the illustrative configuration ofFIG.1, device10is a portable device such as a cellular telephone, media player, tablet computer, or other portable computing device. Other configurations may be used for device10if desired. The example ofFIG.1is merely illustrative.

As shown inFIG.1, device10may include a display such as display8. Display8may be mounted in a housing such as housing12. Housing12, which may sometimes be referred to as an enclosure or case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. Housing12may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all of housing12is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.).

Display8may be a touch screen display that incorporates a layer of conductive capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor components (e.g., resistive touch sensor components, acoustic touch sensor components, force-based touch sensor components, light-based touch sensor components, etc.) or may be a display that is not touch-sensitive. Capacitive touch screen electrodes may be formed from an array of indium tin oxide pads or other transparent conductive structures.

Display8may include an array of display pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic display pixels, an array of plasma display pixels, an array of organic light-emitting diode display pixels, an array of electrowetting display pixels, or display pixels based on other display technologies.

Display8may be protected using a display cover layer such as a layer of transparent glass, clear plastic, sapphire, or other transparent dielectric. Openings may be formed in the display cover layer. For example, openings may be formed in the display cover layer to accommodate one or more buttons, sensor circuitry such as a fingerprint sensor or light sensor, ports such as a speaker port or microphone port, etc. Openings may be formed in housing12to form communications ports (e.g., an audio jack port, a digital data port, charging port, etc.). Openings in housing12may also be formed for audio components such as a speaker and/or a microphone.

Antennas may be mounted in housing12. If desired, some of the antennas (e.g., antenna arrays that may implement beam steering, etc.) may be mounted under an inactive border region of display8(see, e.g., illustrative antenna locations6ofFIG.1). Display8may contain an active area with an array of pixels (e.g., a central rectangular portion). Inactive areas of display8are free of pixels and may form borders for the active area. If desired, antennas may also operate through dielectric-filled openings in the rear of housing12or elsewhere in device10.

To avoid disrupting communications when an external object such as a human hand or other body part of a user blocks one or more antennas, antennas may be mounted at multiple locations in housing12. Sensor data such as proximity sensor data, real-time antenna impedance measurements, signal quality measurements such as received signal strength information, and other data may be used in determining when one or more antennas is being adversely affected due to the orientation of housing12, blockage by a user's hand or other external object, or other environmental factors. Device10can then switch one or more replacement antennas into use in place of the antennas that are being adversely affected.

Antennas may be mounted at the corners of housing12(e.g., in corner locations6ofFIG.1and/or in corner locations on the rear of housing12), along the peripheral edges of housing12, on the rear of housing12, under the display cover glass or other dielectric display cover layer that is used in covering and protecting display8on the front of device10, under a dielectric window on a rear face of housing12or the edge of housing12, or elsewhere in device10.

FIG.2is a rear perspective view of electronic device10showing illustrative locations6on the rear and sides of housing12in which antennas (e.g., single antennas and/or phased antenna arrays) may be mounted in device10. The antennas may be mounted at the corners of device10, along the edges of housing12such as edges formed by sidewalls12E, on upper and lower portions of rear housing portion (wall)12R, in the center of rear housing wall12R (e.g., under a dielectric window structure or other antenna window in the center of rear housing12R), at the corners of rear housing wall12R (e.g., on the upper left corner, upper right corner, lower left corner, and lower right corner of the rear of housing12and device10), etc.

In configurations in which housing12is formed entirely or nearly entirely from a dielectric, the antennas may transmit and receive antenna signals through any suitable portion of the dielectric. In configurations in which housing12is formed from a conductive material such as metal, regions of the housing such as slots or other openings in the metal may be filled with plastic or other dielectric. The antennas may be mounted in alignment with the dielectric in the openings. These openings, which may sometimes be referred to as dielectric antenna windows, dielectric gaps, dielectric-filled openings, dielectric-filled slots, elongated dielectric opening regions, etc., may allow antenna signals to be transmitted to external wireless equipment from the antennas mounted within the interior of device10and may allow internal antennas to receive antenna signals from external wireless equipment. In another suitable arrangement, the antennas may be mounted on the exterior of conductive portions of housing12.

A schematic diagram showing illustrative components that may be used in device10is shown inFIG.2. As shown inFIG.2, device10may include storage and processing circuitry such as control circuitry14. Control circuitry14may include storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry14may be used to control the operation of device10. This processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, host processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, etc.

Control circuitry14may be used to run software on device10such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interactions with external equipment, control circuitry14may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using control circuitry14include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as WiFi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol or other WPAN protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocols, cellular telephone protocols, MIMO protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols, etc. Each communication protocol may be associated with a corresponding radio access technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection methodology used in implementing the protocol.

Device10may include input-output circuitry16. Input-output circuitry16may include input-output devices18. Input-output devices18may be used to allow data to be supplied to device10and to allow data to be provided from device10to external devices. Input-output devices18may include user interface devices, data port devices, sensors, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices may include touch screens, displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons, joysticks, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, speakers, status indicators, light sources, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, light sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers or other components that can detect motion and device orientation relative to the Earth, capacitance sensors, proximity sensors (e.g., a capacitive proximity sensor and/or an infrared proximity sensor), magnetic sensors, and other sensors and input-output components.

Input-output circuitry16may include wireless communications circuitry34for communicating wirelessly with external equipment. Wireless communications circuitry34may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas40, transmission lines, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications).

Wireless communications circuitry34may include transceiver circuitry20for handling various radio-frequency communications bands. For example, circuitry34may include transceiver circuitry22,24,26, and28.

Transceiver circuitry24may be wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver circuitry. Transceiver circuitry24may handle 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) communications and may handle the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® communications band.

Circuitry34may use cellular telephone transceiver circuitry26for handling wireless communications in frequency ranges such as a communications band from 700 to 960 MHz, a communications band from 1710 to 2170 MHz, and a communications band from 2300 to 2700 MHz or other communications bands between 600 MHz and 4000 MHz or other suitable frequencies (as examples). Circuitry26may handle voice data and non-voice data.

Millimeter wave transceiver circuitry28(sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) transceiver circuitry28or transceiver circuitry28) may support communications at frequencies between about 10 GHz and 300 GHz. For example, transceiver circuitry28may support communications in Extremely High Frequency (EHF) or millimeter wave communications bands between about 30 GHz and 300 GHz and/or in centimeter wave communications bands between about 10 GHz and 30 GHz (sometimes referred to as Super High Frequency (SHF) bands). As examples, transceiver circuitry28may support communications in an IEEE K communications band between about 18 GHz and 27 GHz, a Kacommunications band between about 26.5 GHz and 40 GHz, a Kucommunications band between about 12 GHz and 18 GHz, a V communications band between about 40 GHz and 75 GHz, a W communications band between about 75 GHz and 110 GHz, or any other desired frequency band between approximately 10 GHz and 300 GHz. If desired, circuitry28may support IEEE 802.11ad communications at 60 GHz and/or 5thgeneration mobile networks or 5thgeneration wireless systems (5G) communications bands between 27 GHz and 90 GHz. If desired, circuitry28may support communications at multiple frequency bands between 10 GHz and 300 GHz such as a first band from 27.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz, a second band from 37 GHz to 41 GHz, and a third band from 57 GHz to 71 GHz, or other communications bands between 10 GHz and 300 GHz. Circuitry28may be formed from one or more integrated circuits (e.g., multiple integrated circuits mounted on a common printed circuit in a system-in-package device, one or more integrated circuits mounted on different substrates, etc.). While circuitry28is sometimes referred to herein as millimeter wave transceiver circuitry28, millimeter wave transceiver circuitry28may handle communications at any desired communications bands at frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz (e.g., in millimeter wave communications bands, centimeter wave communications bands, etc.).

Wireless communications circuitry34may include satellite navigation system circuitry such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry22for receiving GPS signals at 1575 MHz or for handling other satellite positioning data (e.g., GLONASS signals at 1609 MHz). Satellite navigation system signals for receiver22are received from a constellation of satellites orbiting the earth.

In satellite navigation system links, cellular telephone links, and other long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over thousands of feet or miles. In WiFi® and Bluetooth® links at 2.4 and 5 GHz and other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet. Extremely high frequency (EHF) wireless transceiver circuitry28may convey signals over short distances that travel between transmitter and receiver over a line-of-sight path. To enhance signal reception for millimeter and centimeter wave communications, phased antenna arrays and beam steering techniques may be used (e.g., schemes in which antenna signal phase and/or magnitude for each antenna in an array is adjusted to perform beam steering). Antenna diversity schemes may also be used to ensure that the antennas that have become blocked or that are otherwise degraded due to the operating environment of device10can be switched out of use and higher-performing antennas used in their place.

Wireless communications circuitry34can include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links if desired. For example, wireless communications circuitry34may include circuitry for receiving television and radio signals, paging system transceivers, near field communications (NFC) circuitry, etc.

Wireless communications circuitry34may include circuitry for performing communications using multiple different radio access technologies (e.g., using communications protocols associated with each radio access technology). Wireless circuitry34may perform communications using millimeter wave radio access technologies (e.g., RATs associated with signals between 10 GHz and 300 GHz such as a 5G and IEEE 802.11ad radio access technologies) with transceiver circuitry28. Similarly, wireless circuitry34may perform communications using non-millimeter wave radio access technologies (e.g., RATs associated with signals below 10 GHz such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular 3G, and cellular 4G (LTE) radio access technologies) with transceiver circuitry24and26.

Wireless communications circuitry34may include wireless connection management circuitry such as wireless connection manager (CM)30for managing wireless communications across one or more radio access technologies. Connection manager30(sometimes referred to herein as a connection management engine) may be implemented on dedicating processing circuitry or on control circuitry14. Connection manager30may, for example, control antenna beam forming using arrays of antennas40, may control transceiver circuitry20to establish and manage (adjust) wireless links using one or more radio access technologies, and/or may control handover operations within a given radio access technology or across radio access technologies for wireless communications circuitry34.

The control circuitry in device10(e.g., control circuitry14and connection manager30) may be configured to perform operations in device10using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware, and/or software. Software code for performing operations in device10is stored on non-transitory computer readable storage media (e.g., tangible computer readable storage media) in control circuitry14and/or connection manager30. The software code may sometimes be referred to as program instructions, software, data, instructions, or code. The non-transitory computer readable storage media may include non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), one or more hard drives (e.g., magnetic drives or solid state drives), one or more removable flash drives or other removable media, etc. Software stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media may be executed on the processing circuitry of control circuitry16and/or communication manager30. The processing circuitry may include application-specific integrated circuits with processing circuitry, one or more microprocessors, a central processing unit (CPU) or other processing circuitry.

Antennas40in wireless communications circuitry34may be formed using any suitable antenna types. For example, antennas40may include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from stacked patch antenna structures, loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, monopoles, dipoles, helical antenna structures, Yagi (Yagi-Uda) antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, etc. If desired, one or more of antennas40may be cavity-backed antennas. Different types of antennas may be used for different bands and combinations of bands. For example, one type of antenna may be used in forming a millimeter wave wireless links using a millimeter wave RAT and another type of antenna may be used in forming non-millimeter wave links using a non-millimeter wave RAT. Dedicated antennas may be used for receiving satellite navigation system signals or, if desired, antennas40can be configured to receive both satellite navigation system signals and signals for other communications bands (e.g., wireless local area network signals and/or cellular telephone signals). Antennas40can include two or more antennas arranged within one or more phased antenna arrays for handling millimeter and centimeter wave communications.

Transmission line paths may be used to route antenna signals within device10. For example, transmission line paths may be used to couple antennas40to transceiver circuitry20. Transmission line paths in device10may include transmission lines such as coaxial cable transmission lines, coaxial probes realized by metalized vias, microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, edge-coupled microstrip transmission lines, edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, waveguide structures, transmission lines formed from combinations of transmission lines of these types, etc.

Transmission lines in device10may be integrated into rigid and/or flexible printed circuit boards. In one suitable arrangement, transmission lines in device10may also include transmission line conductors (e.g., signal and ground conductors) integrated within multilayer laminated structures (e.g., layers of a conductive material such as copper and a dielectric material such as a resin that are laminated together without intervening adhesive) that may be folded or bent in multiple dimensions (e.g., two or three dimensions) and that maintain a bent or folded shape after bending (e.g., the multilayer laminated structures may be folded into a particular three-dimensional shape to route around other device components and may be rigid enough to hold its shape after folding without being held in place by stiffeners or other structures). All of the multiple layers of the laminated structures may be batch laminated together (e.g., in a single pressing process) without adhesive (e.g., as opposed to performing multiple pressing processes to laminate multiple layers together with adhesive). Filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, and other circuitry may be interposed on the transmission lines, if desired.

In devices such as handheld devices, the presence of an external object such as the hand of a user or a table or other surface on which a device is resting has a potential to block wireless signals such as millimeter wave signals. Accordingly, it may be desirable to incorporate multiple antennas or phased antenna arrays into device10, each of which is placed in a different location within device10. With this type of arrangement, an unblocked antenna or phased antenna array may be switched into use. In scenarios where a phased antenna array is formed in device10, once switched into use, the phased antenna array may use beam steering to optimize wireless performance. Configurations in which antennas from one or more different locations in device10are operated together may also be used. In devices with phased antenna arrays, circuitry34may include gain and phase adjustment circuitry that is used in adjusting the signals associated with each antenna40in an array (e.g., to perform beam steering). Switching circuitry may be used to switch desired antennas40into and out of use.

FIG.4shows how antennas40for handling millimeter and centimeter wave communications may be formed in a phased antenna array. As shown inFIG.4, phased antenna array60(sometimes referred to herein as array60, antenna array60, or array60of antennas40) may be coupled to signal paths such as transmission line paths64(e.g., one or more radio-frequency transmission lines). For example, a first antenna40-1in phased antenna array60may be coupled to a first transmission line path64-1, a second antenna40-2in phased antenna array60may be coupled to a second transmission line path64-2, an Nth antenna40-N in phased antenna array60may be coupled to an Nth transmission line path64-N, etc. While antennas40are described herein as forming a phased antenna array, the antennas40in phased antenna array60may sometimes be referred to as collectively forming a single phased array antenna.

Antennas40in phased antenna array60may be arranged in any desired number of rows and columns or in any other desired pattern (e.g., the antennas need not be arranged in a grid pattern having rows and columns). During signal transmission operations, transmission line paths64may be used to supply signals (e.g., radio-frequency signals such as millimeter wave and/or centimeter wave signals) from transceiver circuitry28(FIG.3) to phased antenna array60for wireless transmission to external wireless equipment. During signal reception operations, transmission line paths64may be used to convey signals received at phased antenna array60from external wireless equipment to transceiver circuitry28(FIG.3).

The use of multiple antennas40in phased antenna array60allows beam steering arrangements to be implemented by controlling the relative phases and magnitudes (amplitudes) of the radio-frequency signals conveyed by the antennas. In the example ofFIG.4, antennas40each have a corresponding radio-frequency phase and magnitude controller62(e.g., a first phase and magnitude controller62-1interposed on transmission line path64-1may control phase and magnitude for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna40-1, a second phase and magnitude controller62-2interposed on transmission line path64-2may control phase and magnitude for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna40-2, an Nth phase and magnitude controller62-N interposed on transmission line path64-N may control phase and magnitude for radio-frequency signals handled by antenna40-N, etc.).

Phase and magnitude controllers62may each include circuitry for adjusting the phase of the radio-frequency signals on transmission line paths64(e.g., phase shifter circuits) and/or circuitry for adjusting the magnitude of the radio-frequency signals on transmission line paths64(e.g., power amplifier and/or low noise amplifier circuits). Phase and magnitude controllers62may sometimes be referred to collectively herein as beam steering circuitry (e.g., beam steering circuitry that steers the beam of radio-frequency signals transmitted and/or received by phased antenna array60).

Phase and magnitude controllers62may adjust the relative phases and/or magnitudes of the transmitted signals that are provided to each of the antennas in phased antenna array60and may adjust the relative phases and/or magnitudes of the received signals that are received by phased antenna array60from external wireless equipment. Phase and magnitude controllers62may, if desired, include phase detection circuitry for detecting the phases of the received signals that are received by phased antenna array60from external wireless equipment. The term “beam” or “signal beam” may be used herein to collectively refer to wireless signals that are transmitted and received by phased antenna array60in a particular direction. The signal beam may exhibit a peak gain that is oriented in a particular pointing direction at a corresponding pointing angle (e.g., based on constructive and destructive interference from the combination of signals from each antenna in the phased antenna array). The term “transmit beam” may sometimes be used herein to refer to radio-frequency signals that are transmitted in a particular direction whereas the term “receive beam” may sometimes be used herein to refer to radio-frequency signals that are received from a particular direction.

If, for example, phase and magnitude controllers62are adjusted to produce a first set of phases and/or magnitudes for transmitted millimeter wave signals, the transmitted signals will form a millimeter wave frequency transmit beam as shown by beam66ofFIG.4that is oriented in the direction of point A. If, however, phase and magnitude controllers62are adjusted to produce a second set of phases and/or magnitudes for the transmitted millimeter wave signals, the transmitted signals will form a millimeter wave frequency transmit beam as shown by beam68that is oriented in the direction of point B. Similarly, if phase and magnitude controllers62are adjusted to produce the first set of phases and/or magnitudes, wireless signals (e.g., millimeter wave signals in a millimeter wave frequency receive beam) may be received from the direction of point A as shown by beam66. If phase and magnitude controllers62are adjusted to produce the second set of phases and/or magnitudes, signals may be received from the direction of point B, as shown by beam68.

Each phase and magnitude controller62may be controlled to produce a desired phase and/or magnitude based on a corresponding control signal58received from control circuitry14ofFIG.3or other control circuitry in device10(e.g., the phase and/or magnitude provided by phase and magnitude controller62-1may be controlled using control signal58-1, the phase and/or magnitude provided by phase and magnitude controller62-2may be controlled using control signal58-2, etc.). If desired, control circuitry14may actively adjust control signals58in real time to steer the transmit or receive beam in different desired directions over time. Phase and magnitude controllers62may provide information identifying the phase of received signals to control circuitry14if desired.

When performing millimeter or centimeter wave communications, radio-frequency signals are conveyed over a line of sight path between phased antenna array60and external wireless equipment. If the external wireless equipment is located at point A ofFIG.4, phase and magnitude controllers62may be adjusted to steer the signal beam towards point A (e.g., to steer the pointing direction of the signal beam towards point A). If the external equipment is located at location B, phase and magnitude controllers62may be adjusted to steer the signal beam towards direction B. In the example ofFIG.4, beam steering is shown as being performed over a single degree of freedom for the sake of simplicity (e.g., towards the left and right on the page ofFIG.4). However, in practice, the beam is steered over two or more degrees of freedom (e.g., in three dimensions, into and out of the page and to the left and right on the page ofFIG.4).

Device10may communicate with multiple external wireless devices during operation.FIG.5is a diagram of a communications system94in which device10may perform communications with multiple external wireless devices. As shown inFIG.5, communications system (network)94may include external wireless equipment that operates using a millimeter wave radio access technology (e.g., using signals between 10 GHz and 300 GHz) such as one or more external millimeter wave devices70. In the example ofFIG.5, communications system94includes a first external millimeter wave device70-1and a second external millimeter wave device70-2. Communications system94may also include external wireless equipment that operates using non-millimeter wave radio access technologies such as one or more external non-millimeter wave devices72. External millimeter wave devices70-1and70-2and external non-millimeter wave deice72may each be wireless access points or wireless base stations in one suitable arrangement that is sometimes described herein as an example.

In general, external devices70-1,70-2, and72may each include other electronic devices such as an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a pendant device, a headphone or earpiece device, a virtual or augmented reality headset device, a device embedded in eyeglasses or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display that does not contain an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is mounted in a kiosk or automobile, a desktop computer, a keyboard, a gaming controller, a computer mouse, a mousepad, a trackpad or touchpad.

As shown inFIG.5, device10may initially be located at location (position)74in communications system94. From location74, communication manger30(FIG.3) may control phased antenna array60to sweep over different beam angles (e.g., pointing angles associated with corresponding beam indices) until external millimeter wave device70-1is found. Device10and external millimeter wave device70-1may subsequently convey radio-frequency signals at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies over signal beam80. This beam sweeping operation (sometimes referred to herein as a beam scanning operation) may involve device10transmitting probe signals over a sequence of different beam directions with phased antenna array60, waiting for a feedback response from an external device (e.g., external millimeter wave device70-1) in response to the probe signals, and selecting a beam direction for subsequent communications based on the response (e.g., a beam direction that exhibits a maximum signal strength). This process may take a relatively long amount of time, which can increase the risk of loss or interruption to the wireless data conveyed by device10, particularly in scenarios where device10undergoes motion.

For example, device10may be rotated or may move to another location. If external millimeter wave device70-1remains within the field of view of phased antenna array60, phased antenna array60may continue to convey radio-frequency signals with external millimeter wave device70-1. For example, device10may move to location (position)76ofFIG.5, as shown by arrow88. Once device10has moved to location76, communication manager30(FIG.3) may control phased antenna array60to sweep over different beam angles until external millimeter wave device70-1is found. Device10and external millimeter wave device70-1may subsequently convey radio-frequency signals over beam82.

Regularly sweeping over different beam angles to ensure that a wireless link between device10and external millimeter wave device70-1is maintained as device10moves is a relatively slow process and may introduce excessive latency into communications system94. This latency may serve to degrade or interrupt communications between the devices. If desired, sensor data gathered by device10may be used to help determine where to steer the signal beam as device10moves over time (e.g., to minimize the amount of time spent beam sweeping). This sensor data may include motion sensor data (e.g., accelerometer data and/or gyroscope data), magnetometer data (e.g., compass data), millimeter wave spatial ranging information (e.g., spatial ranging data generated using transceiver circuitry28ofFIG.3), satellite navigation data (e.g., location data generated by GPS receiver circuitry22ofFIG.3), and/or sensor data generated by other sensors in input-output devices18ofFIG.3.

For example, the sensor data may identify that device10has moved to location76(e.g., with a particular orientation). Device10may use this information in combination with the previous known beam direction (e.g., the direction of beam80) to determine the new direction towards external millimeter wave device70-1after device10has moved to location76. Device10may subsequently steer phased antenna array60towards this new direction (e.g., as shown by beam82), thereby eliminating the need to scan over all beam angles until external millimeter wave device70-1is found. This may reduce the amount of time required to steer the beam towards external millimeter wave device70-1and may serve to reduce or minimize latency in communications system94.

Other challenges may arise when device10has moved to a location and/or orientation such that external millimeter wave device70-1no longer lies in the field of view of phased antenna array60. In the example ofFIG.5, device10may move from location74to location (position)78, as shown by arrow90. At location78, external millimeter wave device70-1may lie outside the range and/or field of view of phased antenna array60. Connection manager30(FIG.3) may subsequently scan through beam angles of phased antenna array60until another external millimeter wave device such as device70-2is found. Device10and external millimeter wave device70-2may subsequently convey radio-frequency signals at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies over signal beam96. Device10may also use sensor data to help reduce the latency associated with establishing beam96in the direction of external millimeter wave device70-2. For example, device10may identify the location of external millimeter wave device70-2(e.g., relative to device10) using the sensor data and may use the identified location to produce beam96. If desired, device10may perform a finer beam sweep around the location identified in the sensor data until a beam angle exhibiting maximum signal strength is found (e.g., without sweeping over the entire field of view of the array).

Sensor data may also be used by device10to perform other operations associated with establishing and maintaining wireless links with external wireless equipment in communications system94. For example, device10may use the sensor data to perform handover (handoff) operations as device10moves over time. In these scenarios, device10conveys a stream of wireless data (e.g., wireless audio data, wireless video data, or other wireless data traffic that includes a corresponding sequence or stream of data packets). Each of external devices70-1,70-2, and72may be coupled to each other and/or other networks (e.g., the internet) over wired and/or wireless links. In performing device handover operations, device10may be conveying a stream of wireless data with one of external devices70-1,70-2, or72, and may switch to conveying the stream of wireless data with another one of external devices70-1,70-2, and72without noticeably interrupting the wireless data flow (e.g., to provide device10with a continuous stream of wireless data such as audio, voice, or video data as device10moves over time). External devices70-1,70-2, and72may communicate with each other and/or other networks (e.g., a service provider network, operator network, the internet, etc.) to ensure that the wireless data conveyed with device10reaches a desired end host of the network.

Consider an example in which device10moves from location74to location76. Device10may use the sensor data to determine that external millimeter wave device70-2lies within the field of view of phased antenna array60at location76(e.g., that device10will likely exhibit superior link quality with external millimeter wave device70-2than with external millimeter wave device70-1due to the closer proximity of device70-2, etc.). Device10may convey data to external millimeter device70-1indicating that device10is going to begin performing communications with external millimeter wave device70-2(e.g., over beam82). Device10may then begin communications with external millimeter wave device70-2over beam84(e.g., without data or packet loss associated with the stream of wireless data that was initially being conveyed between devices70-1and10). This type of handover operation may sometimes be referred to as intra-RAT handover operations, because the handover operations are performed between two external wireless devices operating under the same RAT (e.g., a millimeter wave RAT).

Device10may also use the sensor data to perform inter-RAT handover operations between different radio access technologies. For example, device10may convey wireless data with external millimeter wave device70-1over beam80at location74. If device10moves from location74to location78and the sensor data indicates that either external millimeter wave device70-2is not within the field of view of phased antenna array60or that device10would likely exhibit superior wireless link quality with external non-millimeter wave device72, device10may perform intra-RAT handover operations from the millimeter wave RAT used to communicate with external millimeter wave device70-1to the non-millimeter wave RAT used to communicate with external non-millimeter wave device72. Device10may switch from conveying the wireless data stream using millimeter wave transceiver circuitry28(FIG.3) to conveying the wireless data stream using non-millimeter wave transceiver circuitry (e.g., transceiver circuitry24or26ofFIG.3) with external non-millimeter wave device72, as shown by wireless link86. Device10may convey the wireless data stream over wireless link86using one or more non-millimeter wave antennas40′ that are separate from phased antenna array60, as an example.

In another suitable arrangement, device10may use the sensor data to help maintain simultaneous wireless links with multiple external devices. For example, when device10is at location76, device10may be capable of maintaining separate wireless links with external millimeter wave devices70-1and70-2(e.g., over beams82and84). Device10may maintain separate wireless links with external millimeter wave devices70-1and70-2using the same phased antenna array or using two or more separate phased antenna arrays, for example. As another example, when device10is at location78, device10may be capable of maintaining separate wireless links with external millimeter wave device70-1and external non-millimeter wave device72(e.g., over beam96and wireless link86). The sensor data may, for example, identify when it is possible to begin performing wireless communications with multiple different external devices (e.g., devices of the same RAT such as external millimeter wave devices70-1and70-2or devices of separate RATs such as external millimeter wave device70-2and external non-millimeter wave device72), may identify when such dual connections need to be dropped in favor of a single connection, or may be used to adjust connection settings associated with each link, as examples.

In one example, when the sensor data identifies that device10has moved from location76to location78, as shown by arrow92, communications manager30(FIG.3) may switch from performing concurrent wireless communications with two external millimeter wave devices (e.g., external millimeter wave devices70-1and70-2over beams82and84) to performing concurrent wireless communications with one external millimeter wave device70-2and one external non-millimeter wave device72(e.g., over beam96and wireless link86).

The sensor data may be used to help expedite establishment or maintenance of one or more wireless links between device10and one or more of external devices such as external devices70-1,70-2, and72after device10has stopped moving (e.g., after device10has arrived at locations74,76, or78ofFIG.5). In another suitable arrangement, the sensor data may be used to predict a future location/orientation of device10(e.g., while device10is moving or when the sensor data indicates that device10is likely to begin moving) and thus a future external wireless device and/or beam orientation that will be used for communications. For example, the sensor data may identify a velocity or rotation of device10that can be used to predict future locations of device10for updating the wireless link(s) between device10and one or more of the external devices. This may allow device10to begin adjusting the wireless links in advance, thereby further reducing latency.

As another example, satellite navigation data (e.g., location data) in the sensor data may identify that device10is in a geographic location without coverage by an external millimeter wave device such as external millimeter wave devices70-1and70-2. Device10may subsequently establish a non-millimeter wave communications link such as wireless link86with external non-millimeter wave device72, thereby eliminating processing resources and time that would otherwise be used scanning the beam angle of phased antenna array60in search of external millimeter wave devices. The sensor data may also include statistical information about the typical or expected location of device10that is used to help predict how to adjust the wireless communications circuitry. For example, statistical information about repetitive motions may be used to rule out motion requiring handover (e.g., if the motion identified in the sensor data is a repetitive motion expected to return the device to a particular location, is associated with device10resting in the user's pocket, etc.). By using sensor data to help establish and maintain one or more wireless links in communications system94, device10may ensure that continuous wireless communications are performed even as device10is moved over time without introducing excessive system latency associated with scanning through all possible beam angles using phased antenna array60at each device location.

FIG.6is a diagram of wireless connection manager30ofFIG.3. As shown inFIG.6, wireless communication manager30may include a beam steering engine such as physical layer (Layer 1 or L1) beam management engine100, dual connectivity engine102, inter-RAT handover engine104, and intra-RAT handover engine106. Engines100,102,104, and106may be implemented using dedicated hardware and/or software operating on wireless communications circuitry34and/or control circuitry14ofFIG.3, for example. Engines100,102,104, and106may perform wireless link management operations based on sensor data108.

Sensor data108may include any desired sensor data generated by input-output devices18(FIG.3). For example, sensor data108may include motion sensor data such as accelerometer data generated by accelerometer110and gyroscope data generated by gyroscope112. Motion sensors such as accelerometer110and gyroscope112may generate sensor data indicative of how device10is moving or rotating and/or sensor data indicative of a present orientation of device10(e.g., relative to the ground). Sensor data108may include magnetometer data generated by magnetometer114(e.g., compass data indicative of the orientation of device10relative to the Earth's magnetic field).

Sensor data108include data generated by other components such as millimeter wave ranging circuitry116and GPS receiver circuits22. For example, sensor data108may include location data generated by GPS receiver circuits22that identifies the geographic position of device10. Sensor data108may also include millimeter wave ranging data (e.g., millimeter wave RADAR data) generated by millimeter wave ranging circuitry116. Millimeter wave ranging circuitry116may transmit radio-frequency signals using transceiver circuitry28(FIG.3), may receive a reflected version of the transmitted radio-frequency signals that have been reflected off of external objects, and may process the transmitted and received signals to identify a range between device10and the external objects. These types of sensor data and other sensor data108may be used by wireless connection manager30in managing wireless links with one or more millimeter wave external devices and/or one or more non-millimeter wave external devices.

L1 beam management engine100may use sensor data108to adjust the beam steering of the phased antenna array. The sensor data may, for example, identify how device10has moved or rotated over time (e.g., sensor data from accelerometer110, gyroscope112, magnetometer114, GPS receiver circuits22, and/or millimeter wave ranging circuitry116). L1 beam management engine100may use this information to update beam steering to point towards an external millimeter wave device (e.g., external millimeter wave devices70-1or70-2ofFIG.5) before, during, or after device10has stopped moving. This may allow device10to continue communications with a particular external millimeter wave device without having to spend time scanning over all possible beam angles despite the motion of device10. L1 beam management engine100may perform rate adaptation operations based on sensor data108if desired.

Dual connectivity engine102may use sensor data108to establish, maintain, or stop using multiple concurrent wireless links with two external millimeter wave devices or with one external millimeter wave device and one external non-millimeter wave device. The sensor data may, for example, identify when device10has moved or is going to move to a location where concurrent wireless links are possible (e.g., when device10has moved to location76where concurrent wireless links over beams82and84or when device10has moved to location78where concurrent wireless links over beam96and wireless link86are possible, as shown inFIG.5). Dual connectivity engine102ofFIG.6may establish concurrent wireless links when the sensor data indicates that such operations are possible, for example. The sensor data may also identify when concurrent wireless links are or will no longer possible (e.g., when device10has moved away from locations76or78ofFIG.5). Dual connectivity engine102may stop using one of the concurrent wireless links when the sensor data indicates that concurrent wireless links are no longer possible. Dual connectivity engine102may perform other adjustments associated with concurrent wireless links such as frequency adjustments to one or both links, transmit power level adjustments to one or both links, etc.

Intra-RAT handover engine106may use sensor data108to perform handover operations between different external millimeter wave devices (e.g., external millimeter wave devices70-1and70-2ofFIG.5). For example, when the sensor data indicates that device10has moved or will move to location76and that a wireless link with external millimeter wave device70-2ofFIG.5is likely to have superior link quality than a wireless link with external millimeter wave device70-1, engine106may perform intra-RAT handover operations to switch from performing wireless communications with external millimeter wave device70-1to performing wireless communications with external millimeter wave device70-2(e.g., without noticeably interrupting the conveyed wireless data). Intra-RAT handover engine106may also perform intra-RAT handover operations by changing the operating frequency used by phased antenna array60(e.g., with the same external millimeter wave device or with a new external millimeter wave device). Performing intra-RAT handover operations in this way may, for example, allow for a new wireless link to be established more rapidly and with less data loss than in scenarios where device10first scans over all beam angles using phased antenna array60before determining that external millimeter wave device70-2should be used for further communications instead of external millimeter wave device70-1.

Inter-RAT handover engine104may use sensor data108to perform handover operations between an external millimeter wave device and an external non-millimeter wave device. For example, when the sensor data indicates that device10has moved to location78ofFIG.5and that an external millimeter wave device is not within the range or field of view of phased antenna array60(or that a millimeter wave link will likely exhibit a lower data rate than a non-millimeter wave link), engine104may perform inter-RAT handover operations to switch from performing wireless communications with the external millimeter wave devices to performing wireless communications with external non-millimeter wave device72(e.g., using non-millimeter wave antenna40′ and wireless link86ofFIG.5). If desired, engine104may perform inter-RAT handover operations to switch to non-millimeter wave communications when the relatively high data rate supported by a millimeter wave link is no longer needed, or to switched to millimeter wave communications when the relatively high data rate is needed (e.g., based on the wireless data requirements of processing operations being performed on device10). For example, engine104may switch from performing 5G communications to 4G communications or may switch from performing IEEE 802.11ad communications to Wi-Fi communications based on sensor data108. This inter-RAT handover operation may be performed without significant losses in the wireless data stream being conveyed by device10. Performing inter-RAT handover operations in this way may, for example, allow for a new wireless link to be established more rapidly and with less data loss than in scenarios where device10first scans over all beam angles using phased antenna array60before determining that no external millimeter wave devices are available (reachable) and that a non-millimeter wave link should be used instead.

FIG.7is a diagram showing how device10may gather sensor data using millimeter wave ranging circuitry116ofFIG.6. As shown inFIG.7, the millimeter wave ranging circuitry may use one or more phased antenna arrays60to transmit millimeter wave ranging signals118. Device10may receive a reflected version120of the transmitted signals118that have been reflected off of external object122. Device10may process signals118and120to identify a distance (range) R between device10and external object122(e.g., by comparing the time at which signals120are received with a timestamp in transmitted signals118, etc.). This range information may form a part of sensor data108ofFIG.6.

FIG.8is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed by device10(control circuitry14ofFIG.3) in maintaining one or more wireless links using communication manager30ofFIG.6. At step124, control circuitry14may calibrate the sensors on device10. This may, for example, ensure that the sensors (e.g., accelerometer110, gyroscope112, magnetometer114, ranging circuitry116, and receiver circuits22ofFIG.6) generate reliable sensor data. The calibration operations of step124may be performed during manufacture of device10or may be formed during regular operations of device10in the field. The calibration operations may produce calibration data stored at control circuitry14. The calibration data may include offset values or other calibration data that is to be applied to the sensor data. The calibration data may include information identifying how certain values of sensor data108correlate with different beam patterns (directions) for phased antenna array60. If desired, device10may periodically perform calibration operations to update the calibration data stored on control circuitry14over time.

At step126, device10may gather sensor data. For example, accelerometer110, gyroscope112, magnetometer114, ranging circuitry116, and/or receiver circuits22ofFIG.6may generate sensor data108.

At step128, wireless connection manager30(FIG.6) may adjust the wireless connection settings of wireless communications circuitry34(FIG.3) based on the gathered sensor data. For example, L1 beam management engine100may perform beam steering adjustments or other physical layer (L1) adjustments to the beam based on sensor data108(at step130). Dual connectivity engine102may perform dual connectivity operations such as the establishment, adjustment, or cessation of multiple concurrent wireless links with multiple external millimeter wave devices and/or with an external millimeter wave device and an external non-millimeter wave device based on sensor data108(at step132). Inter-RAT handover engine104may switch between transceiver circuitry28and transceivers circuitry26and/24(FIG.3) to perform an inter-RAT handover between an external millimeter wave device and an external non-millimeter wave device based on sensor data108(at step134). Intra-RAT handover engine106may perform handover operations between two different external millimeter wave devices and/or between frequency bands based on sensor data108(at step136). Different combinations of steps130-136may be performed based on sensor data108if desired (e.g., device10may adjust beam steering over two concurrent millimeter wave links, device10may cease concurrent operations over two millimeter wave links and switch to a single non-millimeter wave link, etc.). One or more of steps130-136may be omitted. Steps130-136may be performed in any desired order. Two or more of steps130-136may be performed concurrently if desired. Device10may continuously or semi-continuously repeat the steps ofFIG.8to continue to gather sensor data and update wireless link settings over time (e.g., as device10moves over time).

L1 beam management engine100(FIG.6) may perform beam steering adjustments based on sensor data108without affecting the standardized L1 beam scanning operation performed by engine100. As shown inFIG.9, the L1 beam management engine may perform a physical layer (L1) beam forming operation140. Operation140(sometimes referred to herein as algorithm140) may be based on active measurements of the link quality of the wireless link handled by phased antenna array60. Operation140may, for example, include gathering signal-to-noise ratio information using transceiver circuitry28(FIG.3), identifying changes in the signal-to-noise ratio information, and performing coarse or fine-step beam sweeping based on the magnitude of the change in signal-to-noise ratio information. This process may be performed to update the beam direction after detecting a reduction in link quality (signal-to-noise ratio).

The L1 beam management engine may concurrently perform sensor-based beam tracking operation138. Operation138may involve processing sensor data108to determine whether the sensor data indicates that a beam steering adjustment needs to be made or that a beam steering adjustment will need to be made in the future (e.g., because device10has moved from its original location or because device10is moving towards a particular location with a particular velocity). Operation138is performed independently from L1 beam forming operation140. When sensor data108indicates that the beam direction will need to be updated, the L1 beam forming engine may provide an updated beam vector142as an input to L1 beam forming operation140. L1 beam forming operation140may then steer the beam using beam vector142. L1 beam forming operation140may subsequently measure signal-to-noise ratio at this new beam vector and perform coarse and/or fine adjustments based on the magnitude of the signal-to-noise ratio. In this way, L1 beam forming may be proactively (predictively) updated (initialized) using sensor data108rather than waiting until a drop in signal-to-noise ratio is measured before the beam is steered to a new location. In addition, L1 beam forming algorithm140may continue to execute so that corrective measures may be taken if there is a measured decreased signal-to-noise ratio (e.g., so that the beam may be scanned as necessary even if sensor data108does not identify that an updated beam vector is to be used).

FIG.10is a circuit diagram of exemplary components that may be provided within wireless communications circuitry34for performing operations140and138ofFIG.9. As shown inFIG.10, wireless communications circuitry34may include host processor144that provides data (e.g., a stream of data packets DATA) for transmission to baseband processor150. Baseband processor150may convey the data to transceiver circuitry28over path154. Transceiver circuitry28may transmit radio-frequency signals that include the data using phased antenna array60and transmission line path64(e.g., the radio-frequency signals transmitted by phased antenna array60may include wireless data packets DATA).

Baseband processor150may control the beam steering of phased antenna array60using control signals provided to phased antenna array60over path152(e.g., control signals58ofFIG.4). The control signals may configure phased antenna array60to produce a signal beam in a particular pointing direction. Each of the pointing directions may be labeled with a corresponding beam index. A codebook at baseband processor150may be used to map beam indexes to pointing directions, for example.

Baseband processor150may provide information on the current beam being used by phased antenna array60(e.g., a current beam index) to motion processor148over path160. Motion processor148may be used to implement L1 beam management engine100ofFIG.6, for example. Motion processor148may receive calibration data or other stored information from memory146. Baseband processor150may also measure link quality information associated with the current beam such as signal-to-noise ratio information that is provided to motion processor148over path156. Motion processor148may perform L1 beam forming operation140ofFIG.9using the link quality information and current beam index received from baseband processor150. While performing operation140, motion processor148may control baseband processor150(over path158) to update the beam of phased antenna array60using a new beam index (e.g., to steer the beam to the pointing angle associated with the new beam index when a change in signal-to-noise ratio is detected).

Motion processor148may receive sensor data108. Motion processor148may process sensor data108to perform sensor-based beam tracking operation138ofFIG.9(e.g., while processing step130ofFIG.8). Motion processor148may identify an updated beam vector to use (e.g., beam vector142ofFIG.9) based on sensor data108, may use the updated beam vector as an input to operation140(FIG.9), and/or may provide the beam index associated with the updated beam vector to baseband processor150over path158. Baseband processor150may use this beam index to adjust the beam of phased antenna array60. In this way, motion processor148may perform both L1 beam forming operations and independent sensor-based beam tracking for L1 beam management engine100(FIG.6). The example ofFIG.10is merely illustrative. In general, any desired computational split architecture and interfacing architecture may be used.

Device10may continuously or semi-continuously identify the locations of external wireless devices relative to device10over time. Device10may later use this information with sensor data108to determine when wireless link adjustments are to be made (e.g., without scanning the beam of phased antenna array60over its entire field of view).FIG.11is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be performed by device10to establish a wireless link with either an external millimeter wave device or an external non-millimeter wave device based on sensor data108.

At step162, device10may identify the locations of each external millimeter wave device around (e.g., within a line of sight with) device10. For example, as device10moves, rotates, or scans over different beam angles, device10may track angles (locations) where there are no external millimeter wave devices present and where there are external millimeter wave devices presence (e.g., using the sensors on device10and/or using information about beam angles at which successful communications were performed with external millimeter wave devices). Device10may continue to gather and track information for different angles around the device during normal device operation (e.g., during normal communications operations until the angles around substantially all of device enough angles around device10have been characterized). Device10may gather this information for different locations (e.g., as device10moves within a room or between different locations). In this way, device10may accumulate and store a virtual representation of the space around device10and the locations (directions) within that space where there are external millimeter wave devices present. Device10may store information identifying which external electronic device exhibits the best signal quality (signal strength) for each position and/or orientation of device10.

After device10has changed positions (e.g., by being moved, rotated, carried to another location, etc.), processing may proceed to step164. Device10may gather sensor data108(FIG.6) that identifies this change in positions (e.g., that identifies a new position or orientation for device10). At step164, device10may determine whether any external millimeter wave devices are reachable (e.g., within the field of view) for phased antenna array60after the position change. Device10may perform this determination based on the locations of the external millimeter wave devices identified while processing step162and the gathered sensor data108. For example, if device10determines that an external millimeter wave device is located at 30 degrees with respect to an arbitrary axis (while processing step162) and identifies that device10has rotated by 15 degrees such that the external device still lies within the field of view of phased antenna array60, device10may determine that the external millimeter wave device is reachable. If device10determines that device10has moved to a location where no external millimeter wave devices are located within the field of view of phased antenna array60, device10may determine that no external millimeter wave devices are reachable.

If one or more external millimeter wave devices are reachable, processing may proceed to step168as shown by path166. At step168, device10may establish a wireless link with one or more of the reachable external millimeter wave devices (e.g., by steering the beam of phased antenna array60towards the external device). If desired, device10may establish the wireless link with the external millimeter wave device having the best signal quality for that position/orientation of device10. If no external millimeter wave devices are reachable, processing may proceed to step172, as shown by path170.

At step172, device10may establish a wireless link with one or more external non-millimeter wave devices (e.g., external non-millimeter wave device72ofFIG.5). In general, external millimeter wave devices may support higher data rates than external non-millimeter wave devices. Maintaining communications with the external millimeter wave devices may allow continued communications at these high data rates. However, if no devices are available, communications may be continued over a non-millimeter wave link. While the non-millimeter wave link may not exhibit the same data rate as a millimeter wave link, the non-millimeter wave link may allow device10to continue conveying a stream of wireless data uninterrupted with the communications network (e.g., system94ofFIG.5). By performing the operations ofFIG.11using sensor data108, device10need not scan over all possible beam angles for phased antenna array60after changing positions before identifying that no external millimeter wave devices are available. This may allow device10to revert to non-millimeter wave communications with less latency and less risk of loss in the wireless data stream. In addition, device10may simply compare its current orientation and/or position to pre-characterized information about its surroundings (e.g., information generated while processing step162) to determine which external device will exhibit the best signal quality for its current orientation and/or position. Wireless communications circuitry34may be updated accordingly (e.g., by steering the beam towards this external device, by performing handover operations, adjusting dual connectivity settings, etc.). Because these operations are augmented using sensor data108, the operations may be performed without scanning the phased antenna array over all beam steering angles each time device10moves, thereby minimizing the risk of data loss or interruption.

As described above, one aspect of the present technology is the gathering and use of data available from various sources to improve the operation of wireless communications circuitry in performing wireless communications with other wireless devices. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may include personal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data can include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID's, home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or any other identifying or personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users. For example, the personal information data can be used to establish, maintain, and/or adjust one or more wireless communications links. Accordingly, use of such personal information data enables users to interact with electronic devices having satisfactory wireless communications performance. Further, other uses for personal information data that benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.

The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personal information data private and secure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and should be updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving the informed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to such personal information data and ensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhere to their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particular types of personal information data being collected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards, including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US, collection of or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained for different personal data types in each country.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates embodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to, personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, in the case of wireless communications, the present technology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” of participation in the collection of personal information data during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example, users can select not to perform wireless communications or other operations that gather personal information data. In yet another example, users can select to limit the length of wireless communications performed using gathered personal information data. In addition to providing “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use of personal information. For instance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that their personal information data will be accessed and then reminded again just before personal information data is accessed by the app.

Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and handled in a way to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once it is no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, when appropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use of personal information data to implement one or more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, wireless communications may be performed based on non-personal information data or a bare minimum amount of personal information, such as the content being requested by the device associated with a user, other non-personal information available to the display system, or publicly available information.

The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.