Antenna Resource Negotiation for Multi-Module Radio Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communications technologies face challenges in managing limited radio resources between multiple radio modules, leading to decreased data transmission throughput, especially in scenarios with increased data transmission demands such as multiple Base Station or multiple access point applications.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a communications apparatus with multiple radio modules and an antenna array, where one radio module negotiates the use of antennas with a peer communications device, allowing the other module to use the remaining antennas, employing mechanisms like spatial multiplexing power save, antenna selection, and re-association to optimize antenna usage and improve throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If TDD solutions are used to share radio resources between multiple radio modules, then hardware cost is reduced, but data transmission throughput is downgraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna resources into different groups that can be dynamically assigned to different radio modules. Instead of time-division multiplexing all antennas, the system divides antennas into multiple sets and allocates specific sets to specific radio modules simultaneously, allowing parallel operation without time slicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic antenna group configuration where the antenna-to-radio-module mapping is not fixed but can be adjusted based on current communication needs. The system can dynamically reconfigure which antennas serve which radio modules, optimizing resource utilization for different traffic conditions and application scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If time is granted to one radio module for using shared radio resources, then the other radio module(s) must sacrifice time, but this time sacrifice leads to throughput downgrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments antennas into multiple independent groups that can be simultaneously allocated to different radio modules. This spatial segmentation replaces temporal segmentation, allowing multiple radio modules to operate concurrently with dedicated antenna sets rather than taking turns accessing shared antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from time-domain resource allocation to spatial-domain resource allocation. Instead of dividing radio resources along the time dimension (TDD), the system divides them along the spatial dimension by creating separate antenna groups, enabling parallel operation in the spatial domain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the amount of data transmission for a radio module is greatly increased, then throughput requirements increase, but TDD solutions cause more serious throughput downgrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna group configuration that can adapt to varying data transmission requirements. When a radio module experiences increased data transmission demands, the system can dynamically allocate more antennas or larger antenna groups to that module, optimizing throughput for high-traffic scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the allocation parameters from time-based to antenna-count-based. Instead of limiting throughput by time slot allocation, the system adjusts the number of antennas assigned to each radio module, providing a more flexible parameter for scaling throughput to match data transmission demands.
Data Source
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AI summary
Communications apparatus includes first and second radio modules and an antenna array coupled to the first and the second radio modules and includes multiple antennas. When the first and the second radio modules operate at the same time, the first radio module negotiates with a first communications device an amount of antenna(s) to be used by a first message, so that the first radio module operates with the amount of the antenna(s) and second radio module operates with at least one of the remaining antenna(s).