Common Hardware Architecture for Multi-Standard Lower MAC Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for running multiple wireless standards, such as 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi, on a single hardware platform require dedicated hardware accelerators for each standard and direction, leading to high area, power consumption, and complex implementation due to excessive hardware interfaces.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a common hardware architecture for lower MAC protocol processing across multiple wireless standards and radios, leveraging commonalities in components and processing flows to improve hardware resource utilization and power efficiency, with support for partial data processing, switching, and context saving/restoring across flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated hardware accelerators are implemented for each wireless standard and direction, then processing capability and reliability are improved, but hardware area, power consumption, and implementation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal hardware accelerator that can process multiple wireless standards (4G, 5G, Wi-Fi) and both RX/TX directions using a single unified architecture. The common data path and configurable processing units enable the same hardware to adapt to different protocols through software configuration rather than requiring dedicated hardware for each standard, thereby reducing implementation complexity while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges previously separate hardware accelerators for different wireless standards into a single combined hardware unit. By consolidating the data paths and processing units for 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi into one shared infrastructure, the patent reduces hardware area and interconnection complexity while preserving the processing capabilities needed for reliable multi-standard operation.
2Reliability
If dedicated hardware accelerators are implemented for each wireless standard and direction, then processing capability is improved, but hardware area and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The universal hardware accelerator uses configurable processing units that can be dynamically allocated to different wireless standards based on demand. Instead of having fixed dedicated hardware for each standard, the same processing resources are shared across 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi, significantly reducing the total hardware area required while maintaining full processing capability for each standard.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation where hardware resources are not statically assigned but dynamically configured based on which wireless standard is currently active. This dynamic approach allows the hardware area to be efficiently utilized across different standards without requiring permanent dedicated structures for each protocol.
3Reliability
If dedicated hardware accelerators are implemented for each wireless standard and direction, then processing capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple dedicated accelerators into a single shared hardware unit, the patent eliminates redundant power-consuming components such as separate memory interfaces, data path logic, and control units for each wireless standard. The unified architecture processes multiple standards through common infrastructure, significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal accelerator uses configurable processing units that can be dynamically activated based on which wireless standard is in use. Instead of having all hardware components continuously powered for each standard, the system activates only the necessary processing units for the current standard, reducing power consumption while preserving full processing capability when needed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless standards are run on a single hardware platform, then hardware resource utilization and power efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases due to excessive hardware interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data path and processing infrastructure that can handle multiple wireless standards through a single set of hardware interfaces. Instead of requiring separate interfaces for 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi, the unified architecture uses one common interface framework that adapts to different protocols through configurable processing units, thereby improving resource utilization while reducing interface complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
With advanced compute capabilities and growing convergence of various wireless standards, it is desired to run multiple wireless standards on a single hardware together. Embodiments are disclosed for lower MAC protocol processing across multiple wireless standards and multiple radios. A common hardware may be used for processing lower MAC flows across multiple wireless standards, e.g., Wi-Fi, LTE, or 5G NR, multiple radios within a wireless standard, multiple users within a wireless standard, and/or different directions of radio. The implementation may support partial data processing of a flow, switching across flows, and context saving/restoring of flows. Furthermore, for better performance, looking ahead of flows and prefetching of context and data may also be implemented. Embodiments of the present patent disclosure may result in a very area-efficient and power-efficient hardware implementation for lower MAC protocol processing.