Backscatter IoT FDD Trigger Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently enabling IoT devices to initiate communication, especially for low-latency sensing applications and high IoT device densities.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves configuring a network node or reader device to transmit specific frequency range indications to a backscatter-capable device, allowing it to initiate traffic by transmitting an UL trigger. This configuration enables the device to backscatter a CW DL transmission, incorporating information and using a frequency shift for FDD operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If backscatter-capable devices are used for IoT communication, then power consumption is reduced, but the ability to initiate communication and transmit information is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidability to initiate communication

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The network device pre-configures the backscatter device with frequency range indications (DL, UL, and trigger frequency ranges) and timing information before the device needs to communicate. This preliminary configuration enables the device to autonomously initiate communication when needed without requiring continuous power consumption for monitoring or complex processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a trigger mechanism where the backscatter device can send a simple trigger signal to the network device to initiate full communication. The network device acts as an intermediary that receives this trigger and then establishes the complete communication session, allowing the power-constrained device to initiate communication without bearing the full complexity of communication initiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If frequency division duplexing is implemented for ambient IoT devices, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the frequency spectrum into distinct segments: downlink frequency range, uplink frequency range, and trigger frequency range. Each segment serves a specific purpose in the FDD operation. The network device and backscatter device are configured with these segmented frequency ranges, allowing efficient frequency-division multiplexing while keeping individual device functions simple and well-defined

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the backscatter device actively transmit on multiple frequencies (which would increase complexity), the invention inverts the approach: the network device transmits CW signals on the downlink frequency, and the backscatter device passively backscatters these signals. The active frequency management is performed by the network device rather than the constrained backscatter device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient data reporting for ambient IoT devices, reduces power consumption in IoT devices, and supports low-latency communication, thereby addressing the limitations of existing technologies in handling high IoT device densities and low-latency applications.

Implementation Method 1

a wireless device such as a backscatter device (e.g., a user equipment (UE) capable of backscattering a received signal) configured to receive, from a network device, a first indication of a first frequency range associated with a DL transmission

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBackscattering: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

capable of backscattering a continuous wave (CW) transmission from a reader device with a frequency shift for a frequency division duplexing (FDD) operation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency shift: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20250038841A1Frequency division duplexing operation of ambient internet of things device

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

The apparatus may be a network node configured to transmit, to a backscatter-capable device, a first indication of a first frequency range associated with a downlink (DL) transmission, a second indication of a second frequency range associated with an uplink (UL) communication from the backscatter-capable device, and a third indication of a third frequency range associated with an UL trigger from the backscatter-capable device. The apparatus may further be configured to receive, via the third frequency range, the UL trigger indicating that the backscatter-capable device has information to transmit. The apparatus may also be configured to transmit, based on receiving the UL trigger and via the first frequency range, a CW DL transmission for backscattering from the backscatter-capable device and receive, via the second frequency range, the information from the backscatter-capable device via the CW DL transmission backscattered by the backscatter-capable device.