Auxiliary WLAN Receiver Chain for Parallel Channel Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current WLAN communication systems lack efficient methods for parallel channel monitoring and switching without disrupting primary channel communication, limiting their ability to adapt to changing network conditions or enhance data throughput.
Innovation Solution
A WLAN device with primary transmission/reception chains for standard communication and an auxiliary reception chain for parallel monitoring on secondary channels, using physical-layer processing to receive and analyze frames without interfering with primary channel operations, allowing for channel selection and potential double-bandwidth communication modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary reception chain is added for parallel channel monitoring, then the ability to monitor multiple channels and adapt to network conditions is improved, but the device complexity and hardware cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the auxiliary reception chain with the primary TX/RX chains by sharing common RF components including the local oscillator, mixers, and signal processing circuitry. This allows the auxiliary chain to monitor additional channels while reusing existing hardware infrastructure, thereby reducing the increase in device complexity while maintaining enhanced channel monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary reception chain is designed with multi-functionality to perform both channel monitoring and potential data reception tasks. By making the auxiliary chain universal in its capabilities and integrating it with shared hardware resources across multiple functions, the patent reduces overall hardware requirements and device complexity while improving adaptability for various wireless communication scenarios
2Productivity
If an auxiliary reception chain operates in parallel with primary chains, then the productivity and data throughput are improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the auxiliary reception chain with primary TX/RX chains by sharing power-intensive RF components such as the local oscillator, mixers, and baseband processing units. This merging approach allows parallel channel monitoring and potential dual-bandwidth operation that improves productivity and data throughput while significantly reducing the additional power consumption that would result from completely separate hardware chains
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary reception chain is designed to serve multiple functions including channel monitoring, interference detection, and potential data reception. By making the auxiliary chain universal and capable of being activated only when needed for specific tasks, the system improves productivity through selective dual-chain operation while minimizing power consumption by keeping the auxiliary chain dormant during periods when only primary channel communication is required
3Reliability
If the auxiliary RX chain uses separate RF components, then the reception capability on auxiliary channels is improved, but the hardware cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the auxiliary RX chain with existing primary TX/RX chains by sharing common RF components including the local oscillator, mixers, and signal processing circuitry. This integration maintains reliable reception capability on auxiliary channels while avoiding the increased hardware complexity and cost that would result from completely separate RF components for the auxiliary chain
Data Source
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AI summary
A method includes communicating in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) device on a first communication channel using one or more primary transmission/reception (TX/RX) chains. Concurrently with communicating on the first communication channel using the primary TX/RX chains, WLAN communication is received on one or more second communication channels using an auxiliary reception (RX) chain whose input signal is provided from an output of a receive amplifier in one of the primary TX/RX chains.