Dynamic Time-Frequency Resource Allocation for Synchronization and Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication networks face challenges in optimally allocating shared resources between synchronization and communication purposes, leading to over-reservation of synchronization resources when the network is not at maximum load, which reduces available communication resources and affects bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic allocation method that adjusts time and frequency resources based on network load by reserving blocks of time-frequency units for synchronization and communication, with the number of units allocated for synchronization determined by the number of connected users, allowing flexible reallocation of resources as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synchronization slots are reserved for each carrier to ensure network synchronization, then synchronization reliability is improved, but communication resources are reduced due to over-reservation when network load is not at maximum

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication resource availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic allocation of time-frequency units, where the number of units reserved for synchronization adapts based on the number of connected users. When user count is low, fewer units are reserved for synchronization, freeing resources for communication. When user count increases, more units are allocated to synchronization. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making synchronization resource reservation flexible rather than static, ensuring reliability only when necessary while maximizing communication resources during low-load periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the number of carriers per frame is increased to improve link budget, then communication coverage is improved, but available resources become scarcer due to proportionally more synchronization slots required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink budgetVSAvoidavailable communication resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of synchronization resource allocation from a fixed per-carrier basis to a dynamic basis determined by the total number of connected users. This parameter change allows the system to support multiple carriers for improved link budget while not proportionally increasing synchronization overhead, as the total number of synchronization units is capped based on user count rather than carrier count, thereby preserving communication resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If fixed time-frequency units are allocated to synchronization for each carrier, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but resource flexibility is reduced when network load varies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidresource allocation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the allocation of time-frequency units dynamic by linking the number of synchronization units to the number of connected users. This dynamic approach maintains synchronization accuracy by ensuring sufficient units are allocated when needed (high user count) while providing resource flexibility during low-load periods when fewer units are reserved, allowing the same resources to be reallocated for communication purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2725721B1Method for dynamic allocation of shared resources in a time-frequency plane and related device
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 THALES SA
  • EP2725721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2725721B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2725721B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The method involves reserving a block of a number of time-frequency units, which are dynamically allocated to a user for communication or for synchronization on carrier frequency of a frame. Ratio between frequency variation between the carrier frequency of the block and last carrier frequency on which the user is communicated and a time interval between the last time-frequency unit used by the user for communication and the time-frequency unit reserved for synchronization to be allocated is calculated for the user connected to a network. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a satellite communication management device (2) a device for dynamically allocating shared resources for communication and synchronization of user terminals in a communication network.