Method and device for attenuating an interferer from a communication signal

Abstract

The method and device attenuate an interferer of substantially known spectrum in a communication signal which has been transmitted through a transmission channel and processed through a signal-processing receiver chain. In these method and device, the substantially known spectrum is used to generate, independently of the communication signal, at least one image representative of a replica of the interferer after processing through the signal-processing receiver chain. The generated image is subtracted from the processed communication signal to produce a subtraction signal, and quality-indicative parameters of the processed communication signal and the subtraction signal(s) are calculated. Finally, the quality-indicative parameters are used to select one of the processed communication signal and subtraction signal(s) for further processing through the receiver. When a plurality of images are generated, these images have different features, for instance different amplitudes or phases. At least one image can be feedback controlled in relation to the quality-indicative parameter of the subtraction signal corresponding to this image, in view of improving the quality-indicative parameter of this subtraction signal. This feedback control can also be responsive to the signal selection to improve the quality-indicative parameter of the subtraction signal until the latter signal is selected for further processing through the receiver.