Satellite-band spectrum utilization using receiver filters to reduce interference

Abstract

A first and/or a second communications system may provide communications service over a geographic area. A method of operating the first and/or the second communications systems may include generating a measure of aggregate interference reaching a satellite of the second communications system substantially from devices of the first communications system. The measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system may be transmitted to an element of the first communications system.

1 . A radioterminal comprising:
 an antenna;   a receiver coupled to the antenna, the receiver comprising a filter configured to attenuate frequencies outside a band of frequencies used for communication with the radioterminal; and   a controller coupled to the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control a characteristic and/or coupling of the filter responsive to a location of the radioterminal, a level of interference at the radioterminal and/or an input of a user of the radioterminal;   wherein the controller is further configured to enable the filter responsive to interference received at the radioterminal exceeding a threshold so that the filter attenuates the frequencies outside the band of frequencies used for communications with the radioterminal, and to disable the filter responsive to interference received at the radioterminal being less than a threshold so that the filter does not significantly attenuate the frequencies outside the band of frequencies used for communications with the radioterminal.   
     
     
         2 . A radioterminal according to  claim 1  wherein the receiver further includes a low noise amplifier coupled to the filter and wherein the filter is coupled between the antenna and the low noise amplifier. 
     
     
         3 . A radioterminal according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is further configured to change a characteristic and/or coupling of the filter responsive to a change in location of the radioterminal, a change in an input of a user of the radioterminal and/or a change in interference received at the radioterminal. 
     
     
         4 . A radioterminal comprising:
 an antenna;   a receiver coupled to the antenna, the receiver comprising a filter configured to attenuate frequencies outside a band of frequencies used for communication with the radioterminal; and   a controller coupled to the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control a characteristic and/or coupling of the filter responsive to a location of the radioterminal, a level of interference at the radioterminal and/or an input of a user of the radioterminal;   wherein the controller is further configured to enable the filter responsive to determining that the radioterminal is in a first location so that the filter attenuates the frequencies outside the band of frequencies used for communications with the radioterminal, and to disable the filter responsive to determining that the radioterminal is in a second location so that the filter does not significantly attenuate the frequencies outside the band of frequencies used for communications with the radioterminal, wherein the first and second locations are different.   
     
     
         5 . A radioterminal according to  claim 4  wherein the receiver further includes a low noise amplifier coupled to the filter and wherein the filter is coupled between the antenna and the low noise amplifier. 
     
     
         6 . A radioterminal according to  claim 4  wherein the controller is further configured to change a characteristic and/or coupling of the filter responsive to a change in location of the radioterminal, a change in an input of a user of the radioterminal and/or a change in interference received at the radioterminal. 
     
     
         7 . A radioterminal comprising:
 an antenna;   a receiver coupled to the antenna, the receiver comprising a filter configured to attenuate frequencies outside a band of frequencies used for communication with the radioterminal; and   a controller coupled to the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control a characteristic and/or coupling of the filter responsive to a location of the radioterminal, a level of interference at the radioterminal and/or an input of a user of the radioterminal;   wherein the receiver further includes a low noise amplifier coupled to the filter and wherein a first component of the filter is coupled between the antenna and an input of the low noise amplifier and a second component of the filter is coupled between an output of the low noise amplifier and one other receiver component.   
     
     
         8 . A radioterminal according to  claim 7  wherein the receiver further includes a low noise amplifier coupled to the filter and wherein the filter is coupled between the antenna and the low noise amplifier. 
     
     
         9 . A radioterminal according to  claim 7  wherein the controller is further configured to change a characteristic and/or coupling of the filter responsive to a change in location of the radioterminal, a change in an input of a user of the radioterminal and/or a change in interference received at the radioterminal.