Technique for reducing interference to radio operations on a computing device

Abstract

During a telephony session, a determination is made on a mobile computing device that one or more designated conditions exist by which radio interference generated from the mobile computing device is to be reduced. In response, a power state of a set of one or more components of the mobile computing device is lowered. This reduces radio interference from those components. The set of components are ancillary to the mobile computing device's ability to maintain the telephony session, so that the telephony session is not affected by the reduction of power to the components.

1 . A method for operating a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
 detecting the mobile computing device engaged in a telephony session over a radio-frequency medium; and   determining that one or more designated conditions exist during the telephony session for reducing radio interference generated from the mobile computing device; and   in response to determining that the one or more designated conditions exist, reducing a power state of a set of one or more components of the mobile computing device, wherein the set of components are ancillary to the mobile computing device maintaining the telephony session.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the mobile computing device engaged in a telephony session includes detecting a cellular telephony session. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that one or more designated conditions exist includes determining that a designated duration of time has passed while the telephony session has been ongoing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that one or more designated conditions exist includes determining one or more of (i) a state of a speakerphone function of the mobile computing device while the telephone call is connected, and (ii) whether a headset is connected on the mobile computing device while the telephony session is ongoing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that one or more designated conditions exist during the telephony session for reducing radio interference generated from the mobile computing device includes:
 determining that a speakerphone function of the mobile computing device is not in use;   determining that the mobile computing device is not connected to a headset; and   determining that a designated duration of time has passed while the telephony session has been ongoing   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reducing a power state of the set of one or more components of the mobile computing device includes automatically switching the set of components to a low power state. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reducing a power state of a set of one or more components of the mobile computing reducing a power state of one or more components selected from a group consisting of a display, one or more keys of a keypad, an image capturing device, and a touchpad. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reducing a power state of a set of the one or more components of the mobile computing includes maintaining an operational power state of at least a group of components that consist of a microphone, a speaker, one or more radio hardware components for enabling the connected telephone call. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that one or more designated conditions exist during the communication session for reducing radio interference generated from the mobile computing device includes:
 determining that a speakerphone function of the mobile computing device is not in use;   determining that the mobile computing device is not connected to a headset; and   determining that one or more attributes of a wireless connection used for the communication session satisfy a designated condition for reducing radio interference.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining that one or more attributes of a wireless connection used for the communication session satisfy a designated condition includes determining one or more of (i) a signal quality of the wireless connection, (ii) a signal strength of the wireless connection, or (iii) the signal quality and the signal strength of the wireless connection. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that one or more designated conditions exist during the communication session for reducing radio interference generated from the mobile computing device includes making a determination as to a proximity of a user's face. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein making a determination as to a proximity of a user's dacc includes using an input provided by a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after reducing the power state, detecting one or more designated conditions that indicate an increase of radio interference is acceptable; and   in response to detecting the one or more designated conditions, increasing the power state of at least one of the components in the set of one or more components of the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein detecting one or more designated conditions that indicate an increase of radio interference is acceptable includes detecting that a signal quality of a wireless connection for the communication session is above a designated threshold. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein detecting one or more designated conditions that indicate an increase of radio interference is acceptable includes detecting that a signal strength of the wireless connection for the communication session is above a designated threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein detecting one or more designated conditions that indicate an increase of radio interference is acceptable includes detecting that a signal strength of the wireless connection for the communication session has increased a designated threshold amount as compared to a prior instance during when the power state of the of the one or more components of the mobile computing device was reduced. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein detecting one or more designated conditions that indicate an increase of radio interference is acceptable includes detecting a signal strength of the wireless connection has increased from an instance prior to or during when the power state to the one or more components was reduced. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein detecting one or more designated conditions includes detecting one or more signal attributes satisfying a designated signal criteria for a duration of time that exceeds a given threshold. 
     
     
         20 . A computing device comprising:
 a radio subsystem comprising one or more radio devices for enabling cellular telephony;   one or more processors, including a central processor coupled to the radio subsystems; and   a set of components that are ancillary to the one or more devices and the one or more processors performing operations for cellular telephony;   wherein during a cellular telephony session, the one or more processors are configured to reduce radio frequency interference generated by the set of components by reducing a power state of the set of components.