Arbiter Coordinates Multi-RAT Radio Activities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in coordinating radio activities across different radio access technologies (RATs) sharing a single antenna, leading to potential radio activity collisions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a first and second RAT module, and an arbiter that synchronizes transceiving timings using separate clocks for each cellular network, with the arbiter coordinating radio activities using a third clock to prevent collisions by converting and storing start times and durations onto a common time scale to determine collision risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple RAT modules share a single antenna to provide diverse wireless services, then service versatility is improved, but radio activity collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an arbiter as an intermediary component that coordinates radio activities between multiple RAT modules sharing a single antenna. The arbiter receives radio activity requests from different RAT modules, determines potential collisions, and grants access permissions to prevent simultaneous transmissions, thereby resolving the contradiction between service versatility and collision risk.
2Reliability
If separate clocks are used for each cellular network to maintain synchronization, then network synchronization reliability is improved, but timing coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts timing parameters from different clock domains into a unified time scale. The arbiter transforms absolute times and durations from various RAT modules' respective clock systems into a common time reference, enabling consistent collision detection and coordination without sacrificing the synchronization reliability provided by separate network clocks.
3Reliability
If radio activities are coordinated through a centralized arbiter, then collision prevention is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coordination function into a dedicated arbiter module that operates independently from the RAT modules. This segmentation allows the arbiter to focus solely on collision detection and resolution using a unified time scale, while RAT modules maintain their own network synchronization, thereby distributing system complexity in a manageable way.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for coordinating radio activities of different radio access technologies (RATs) includes a first RAT module, a second RAT module and an arbiter. The first RAT module receives and transmits radio frequency (RF) signals from and to a first cellular network through an antenna, and synchronizes transceiving timings with the first cellular network using a first clock. The second RAT module receives and transmits RF signals from and to a second cellular network through the antenna, and synchronizes transceiving timings with the second cellular network using a second clock. The arbiter coordinates a first radio activity requested by the first RAT module and a second radio activity requested by the second RAT module to avoid radio activity collision by using a third clock.