Dual-Function Wireless Terminal for WLAN and WiMAX Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless terminals face challenges in seamlessly switching between WLAN and WiMAX networks due to differences in medium access control protocols, leading to resource conflicts and interference, particularly in shared circuit components, which affects communication quality and power efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The development of wireless terminals equipped with RF receiver circuits and baseband processing components that can downconvert and demodulate signals from both WLAN and WiMAX networks using programmable MAC controllers, allowing simultaneous operation and efficient handover between networks while minimizing resource conflicts and maintaining quality of service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If wireless terminals use shared circuit components for both WLAN and WiMAX networks, then device complexity is reduced, but resource conflicts and interference occur affecting communication quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit componentsVSAvoidcommunication quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The baseband processing circuit is divided into separate first and second processing components, each dedicated to processing signals from specific networks (WLAN or WiMAX). This segmentation prevents resource conflicts and interference between different network types while sharing the same RF hardware, thereby maintaining communication quality without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If wireless terminals simultaneously support multiple network protocols, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork protocol supportVSAvoidprocessing components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The RF receiver circuit and baseband processing circuit are designed with multi-functionality to handle both WLAN and WiMAX networks. The processing components can be configured to support different network protocols, allowing a single terminal to adapt to various network types without requiring completely separate dedicated hardware for each protocol, thus balancing versatility with complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If wireless terminals perform frequent network switching, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to handover interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork switchingVSAvoidhandover interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs preliminary actions by maintaining concurrent connections to both WLAN and WiMAX networks and pre-configuring the baseband processing components. This allows the terminal to switch between networks more smoothly by having both connections ready in advance, reducing the time loss during handover while maintaining the ability to adapt to different network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables seamless roaming between WLAN and WiMAX networks without interrupting application-level functions, reducing power consumption, and minimizing interference, thereby enhancing communication quality and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an RF receiver circuit, which is coupled to receive first and second radio frequency (RF) signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks and carry first and second data modulated in accordance with different, first and second network protocols, and which is arranged to downconvert the first and second RF signals so as to output first and second downconverted signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency downconversion:

Implementation Method 2

a baseband processing circuit, including processing components that are coupled to receive and process the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract the first and second data from the signals, the processing components having a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDemodulation:

Data Source

PatentUS7542728B2Dual-function wireless data terminal

Publication Date: 2009.06.02 ALTAIR SEMICON LTD

AI summary

Apparatus for communication includes at least one RF receiver circuit, which is coupled to receive and downconvert first and second RF signals that are transmitted respectively over different, first and second wireless networks in accordance with different, first and second network protocols, so as to output first and second downconverted signals. A baseband processing circuit includes processing components that are coupled to receive and process the first and second downconverted signals so as to extract first and second data from the signals. The processing components have a first configuration for demodulating the first downconverted signals in accordance with the first network protocol and a second configuration for demodulating the second downconverted signals in accordance with the second network protocol.