Boosted Noncoherent Modulation for SNR Enhancement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing the impact of amplified noise on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in noncoherent modulation schemes like differential phase shift keying (DPSK), particularly in low SNR conditions, which degrades signaling performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of boosted noncoherent modulation by applying a boosting factor to signals during mapping to time and frequency resources, using a resource element mapper to distribute the boosting factor across subcarriers, and incorporating silent subcarriers to maintain total energy, thereby enhancing the SNR and reducing noise coherence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If noncoherent modulation schemes like DPSK are used, then ease of operation is improved, but signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates due to amplified noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodulation scheme operationVSAvoidsignal-to-noise ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a boosting factor to the modulated signal in the frequency domain, changing the amplitude parameter of the signal to increase SNR. The boosting factor is applied as: boosted_signal = scaling_factor × modulated_signal, where the scaling factor compensates for noise amplification effects in noncoherent modulation schemes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If signal boosting is applied to increase SNR, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial boosting by using a boosting factor that is greater than 1 but not excessively large. The boosting factor is designed to provide sufficient SNR improvement while avoiding excessive energy consumption. The factor is applied selectively to maintain the balance between reliability and energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If silent subcarriers are added to maintain total energy, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but spectral efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidspectral efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency resources into active subcarriers carrying data and silent subcarriers used for boosting. This segmentation allows the system to maintain total energy while improving SNR on active subcarriers. The silent subcarriers are strategically placed and their number is optimized to balance SNR improvement with spectral efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4144054B1Boosted noncoherent modulation
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4144054B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4144054B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4144054B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A transmitting device may encode a set of data bits on a set of sub carriers based on a boosting factor, and map the set of encoded data bits to a resource block including a first subset of subcarriers corresponding to the set of encoded data bits and a second subset of sub carriers corresponding to a set of null bits. The transmitting device may generate and transmit a signal including the set of encoded data bits. A receiving device may receive a modulated signal on a set of sub carriers, and de-map the modulated signal to a first subset of subcarriers and a second subset of subcarriers based on a boosting factor. The receiving device may decode the first subset of sub carriers to a first set of data bits and the second subset of sub carriers to a second set of data bits.