Cellular-GNSS Direct Interface Reducing Latency and Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communications devices face challenges in providing accurate and efficient frequency corrections and power management due to high latency and increased power consumption when communicating between cellular communications modules and GNSS modules, which affects the quality of navigation and location-based services.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a multi-chip module (MCM) that combines cellular RFIC and GNSS modules with a shared clock circuitry, using a direct communication channel interface to bypass the application processor and reduce latency, and implementing a communication channel interface for efficient data exchange and power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If cellular communications module and GNSS module communicate through application processor, then data can be exchanged between modules, but latency increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated communication channel interface as an intermediary between the cellular communications module and GNSS module. This interface includes a first communication channel interface in the cellular module and a second communication channel interface in the GNSS module, enabling direct data exchange without routing through the application processor, thereby reducing latency and power consumption while maintaining modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into independent functional modules (cellular communications module, GNSS module, and application processor) with dedicated communication channels. The first communication channel interface and second communication channel interface are separated from the application processor, allowing low-latency direct communication between modules while keeping the processor in sleep mode
2Measurement precision
If frequent frequency corrections are performed, then timing accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shared clock circuitry performs preliminary frequency and time corrections in advance, providing corrected timing signals to both the cellular communications module and GNSS module before they are needed. This preliminary correction action eliminates the need for frequent real-time frequency adjustments, thereby maintaining timing accuracy while significantly reducing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The shared clock circuitry serves multiple functions by providing frequency corrections to both the cellular communications module and GNSS module simultaneously. This single multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require separate correction mechanisms, reducing overall system power consumption while maintaining precision for both modules
Data Source
AI summary
A communications device having a communication channel interface between a cellular communications module and a Global Navigation system (GNSS) module is provided. The communication channel interface can be used to forward one or more of: a frequency offset correction message, a fine time assistance (FTA) message, and an assisted-GNSS (A-GNSS) message from the cellular communications module to the GNSS module; to forward timing and frequency information from the GNSS module to the cellular communications module to enable a delayed sleep mode wake up of the cellular communications module; to enable hybrid data fusion between the cellular communications module and the GNSS module; and/or to offload processes from the GNSS module to the cellular communications module.