Method and apparatus in a wireless communication system for adding a second channel that overlaps a guard band used by a first channel

A controller in a wireless communication system for sending a first transmission over a first channel to a first receiver that requires a transmission-free guard band during a tuning period, and further for accommodating a second transmission on a second channel that overlaps with spectrum occupied by the guard band, the second transmission sent concurrently with the first transmission, the controller comprising:

• a network interface for receiving messages sent in the first and second transmissions;
• a processing system coupled to the network interface for processing the messages;
• and a base station interface coupled to the processing system for controlling a base station to generate the first and second transmissions,
• wherein the processing system is programmed, during the tuning period, to:
• disallow the second transmission;
• and
• rely upon the first receiver to:
• adjust a pass band of a radio frequency (RF) filter in the first receiver such that the pass band includes the guard band;
• and
• thereafter, tune itself to the first channel, and
• wherein the processing system is further programmed, during a time other than the tuning period, to:
• rely upon the first receiver to readjust the pass band of the RF filter such that the pass band excludes the guard band;
• and
• allow the second transmission.

A receiver in a wireless communication system, the receiver for receiving a first transmission over a first channel, wherein the receiver requires a transmission-free guard band during a tuning period, the receiver further for accommodating a second transmission on a second channel that overlaps with spectrum occupied by the guard band, the second transmission sent concurrently with the first transmission from a controller, the receiver comprising:

• a receiver element for receiving the first transmission, the receiver element comprising an adjustable radio frequency (RF) filter for controlling a pass band of the receiver element;
• a processing system coupled to the receiver element for processing information sent in the first transmission;
• and
• a user interface coupled to the processing system for interfacing with a user,
• wherein the processing system is programmed, during the tuning period, to:
• rely upon the controller to disallow the second transmission;
• adjust the pass band of the RF filter such that the pass band includes the guard band;
• and
• thereafter, tune the receiver to the first channel, and
• wherein the processing system is further programmed, during a time other than the tuning period, to
• readjust the pass band of the RF filter such that the pass band excludes the guard band, thereby enabling the receiver to receive the first transmission whether or not the second transmission is present.

A receiver in a wireless communication system, the receiver for receiving a first transmission over one of at least one first channel also used by an additional receiving device that requires transmission-free guard bands during a tuning period, the receiver further for receiving a second transmission on a second channel that overlaps with spectrum occupied by one of the guard bands, the second transmission sent concurrently with the first transmission, the receiver comprising:

• a receiver element for receiving the first and second transmissions;
• a processing system coupled to the receiver element for processing information sent in the first and second transmissions;
• and
• a user interface coupled to the processing system for interfacing with a user,
• wherein the processing system is programmed, during the tuning period, to:
• tune the receiver element to the one of the at least one first channel, and
• minimize a tuning error of the receiver element by monitoring the first transmission, and
• wherein the processing system is programmed, during a time other than the tuning period, to:
• tune the receiver element to the second channel;
• and
• process the information sent in the second transmission.