Backscatter Signal Pattern Allocation for Conflict-Free Multi-Tag Reading

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Solution Overview

Problem

In backscatter communication systems, simultaneous activation of multiple backscatter devices leads to signal conflicts, reducing reading efficiency and wasting time, frequency resources, and power, and causing extra delays.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that utilizes distinct time ranges and signal granularities for backscatter reference and data signals, along with specific sequence mappings and configurations, to ensure orthogonal signal patterns and prevent conflicts among backscatter devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple backscatter devices are simultaneously activated, then communication capacity is improved, but signal conflicts occur causing reading efficiency to deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of backscatter devicesVSAvoidreading efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time domain into multiple orthogonal time ranges and assigns different backscatter devices to different time ranges for signal reflection. This temporal segmentation allows multiple devices to communicate simultaneously without signal conflicts, resolving the contradiction between increasing device quantity and maintaining reading efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an additional dimension (time range segmentation) to the backscatter communication system. By allocating devices to different time ranges, the system enables multiple devices to operate concurrently without interference, thus improving communication capacity while preventing signal conflicts that would reduce reading efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple backscatter devices reflect signals simultaneously, then communication concurrency is improved, but signal conflicts cause time and frequency resource waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication concurrencyVSAvoidsignal conflict delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time domain into multiple orthogonal time ranges and assigns different backscatter devices to different time ranges for signal reflection. This temporal segmentation allows multiple devices to communicate simultaneously without signal conflicts, resolving the contradiction between increasing device quantity and maintaining reading efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic time-range allocation where backscatter devices reflect signals in designated time ranges that repeat cyclically. This periodic structure ensures that devices take turns in an organized manner, enabling concurrent communication while preventing signal conflicts and optimizing resource utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Quantity of substance

If multiple backscatter devices are activated concurrently, then system capacity is improved, but signal interference increases causing access failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of active backscatter devicesVSAvoidsignal access success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time domain into multiple orthogonal time ranges and assigns different backscatter devices to different time ranges for signal reflection. This temporal segmentation allows multiple devices to communicate simultaneously without signal conflicts, resolving the contradiction between increasing device quantity and maintaining reading efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces time range allocation as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between multiple backscatter devices seeking to communicate concurrently. By acting as a temporal coordinator, this intermediary prevents signal interference while enabling high system capacity, thus maintaining reliable signal access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 and conflict-free communication among multiple backscatter devices by ensuring orthogonal signal patterns, improving reading efficiency and resource utilization.

Implementation Method 1

After receiving the excitation signal, the backscatter device may modulate, to the excitation signal, data that needs to be sent, to obtain a backscatter signal, and send the backscatter signal to the receiver

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBackscatter: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4087204B1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4087204B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4087204B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4087204B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6B

AI summary

This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and discloses a communication method and apparatus, to avoid a problem of a signal conflict caused when a plurality of backscatter devices simultaneously reflect signals. The method includes: A backscatter device receives an excitation signal from an exciter. The backscatter device determines a backscatter signal pattern in a backscatter signal pattern set, where the backscatter signal pattern set includes a plurality of backscatter signal patterns, and backscatter reference signals in the plurality of backscatter signal patterns do not overlap in time domain. The backscatter device modulates a backscatter reference signal and a backscatter data signal on the excitation signal based on the determined backscatter signal pattern, to obtain a backscatter signal. The backscatter device sends the backscatter signal to a receiver.