US 11,818,631 B2
Communication device for detecting messages based on signal strength
Carl L. Haas, Walkersville, MD (US); Padam Dhoj Swar, Clarksburg, MD (US); Brian Kurz, Thurmont, MD (US); Richard S. Klemanski, Walkersville, MD (US); James Cowan, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Daniel McGee, Alexandria, VA (US)
Assigned to Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
Filed by Transportation IP Holdings, LLC, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/510,823.
Prior Publication US 2023/0128650 A1, Apr. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. H04W 4/12 (2009.01); H04B 17/318 (2015.01); H04W 24/10 (2009.01); H04W 24/08 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 4/12 (2013.01) [H04B 17/318 (2015.01); H04W 24/08 (2013.01); H04W 24/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
18. A communication device, comprising:
a tuner circuit configured to independently monitor at least a first frequency channel and a second frequency channel;
a detector circuit; and
a controller comprising one or more processors, the controller configured to:
control the tuner circuit to measure a signal strength of radio frequency (RF) energy received on the first frequency channel during first time intervals and a signal strength of RF energy received on the second frequency channel during second time intervals;
measure a first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value over time representing the signal strength of the RF energy received on the first frequency channel;
measure a second RSSI value over time representing the signal strength of the RF energy received on the second frequency channel;
select or modify a step change threshold for the first and second RSSI values based on one or more of a time of day, a time of year, a location of a vehicle on which the communication device is disposed, or an ambient signal level of the RF energy received on at least one of the first frequency channel or the second frequency channel;
detect receipt of a leader portion of a message on the first frequency channel by an antenna of the radio receiver responsive to determining that a change in the first RSSI value exceeds the step change threshold within a designated period of time; and
extract, via the detector circuit, message data from a carrier wave of the message.