Dual Carrier Modulation for Millimeter-Wave Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless communication networks face challenges in maintaining high data transmission rates and reliability due to frequency selectivity and spatial diversity issues, particularly in the 60 GHz band, where signal blockage can lead to data loss and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a space-frequency transmit diversity scheme that uses dual carrier modulation techniques, such as Staggered Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (SQPSK) and Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying (QPSK), to map data symbols across multiple spatial streams and sub-bands, providing both spatial and frequency diversity gains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If single carrier modulation is used in mmWave communication, then device complexity is reduced, but frequency selectivity causes signal blockage and data loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodulation complexityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency spectrum into multiple sub-bands and uses multiple carriers (first and second carriers) to transmit different spatial streams. This segmentation allows the system to bypass frequency-selective fading by distributing data across multiple frequency segments, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces frequency diversity as an additional dimension for transmission by using multiple carriers at different frequencies. Instead of relying solely on spatial diversity, the system maps first spatial streams to first carriers and second spatial streams to second carriers, creating a two-dimensional transmission approach (space-frequency) that enhances reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If spatial diversity is increased to combat signal blockage, then communication reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial diversity gainVSAvoidspatial stream processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the spatial streams into multiple groups, where each group is associated with a specific carrier. First spatial streams are mapped to first carriers while second spatial streams are mapped to second carriers. This segmentation simplifies the processing complexity by organizing spatial diversity transmission in a structured manner.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines spatial diversity and frequency diversity into a unified transmission scheme. By merging the benefits of multiple spatial streams with multiple carriers, the system achieves enhanced reliability through both spatial and frequency diversity gains simultaneously, rather than treating them as separate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If data is transmitted across multiple frequency bands, then frequency diversity gain is achieved, but susceptibility to frequency selectivity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency diversity gainVSAvoidfrequency selectivity impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of frequency selectivity into a benefit by deliberately transmitting different spatial streams on different carriers that experience different fading conditions. What would normally be seen as interference or degradation (frequency selectivity) is transformed into a diversity mechanism, where the system benefits from the frequency-dependent channel characteristics by assigning streams to carriers based on their respective channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the frequency parameter by using multiple carriers at different frequency offsets. This parameter change allows the system to exploit frequency diversity while managing the impact of frequency selectivity through intelligent mapping of spatial streams to appropriate carriers based on their frequency characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10305570B2Apparatus, system and method of dual carrier modulation with first and second spatial streams

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 INTEL CORP

AI summary

For example, a wireless station may be configured to modulate a plurality of data bit sequences into a plurality of constellation points in first and second spatial streams according to a DCM, a data bit sequence of the plurality of data bit sequences includes a sequence of a plurality of data bits, modulating the plurality of data bit sequences includes modulating the sequence of the plurality of data bits into a first constellation point in the first spatial stream and a second constellation point in the second spatial stream, the second constellation point is a complex conjugate of the first constellation point; and to transmit an OFDM transmission over a wireless communication channel in a frequency band above 45 GHz, the OFDM transmission based on the plurality of constellation points in the first and second spatial streams.