Frequency Bias Estimation in Digital Telecommunications

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In digital telecommunications, especially in wireless systems, frequency biases in received digital signals due to frequency drifts and Doppler effects lead to degraded data extraction performance, and existing methods require training sequences or complex calculations, which are inefficient, especially in low bit rate systems with few symbols.

Innovation Solution

A method for estimating frequency bias in digital signals without training sequences, by sampling the analog signal to obtain multiple samples per symbol, calculating phase differences between pairs of samples, and using these estimates to compensate for frequency bias, allowing for low-cost and efficient data extraction in low bit rate systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If training sequences are inserted in the symbol frame to estimate frequency bias, then the frequency bias estimation accuracy is improved, but the data exchange efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency bias estimation accuracyVSAvoiddata exchange efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the frequency bias estimation function from the traditional training sequence-based method and implements it through a blind estimation algorithm that processes only the data-carrying symbols. This removes the need for separate training sequences while maintaining estimation capability, thereby preserving data exchange efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The blind frequency bias estimation algorithm serves multiple functions: it estimates frequency bias accurately while simultaneously processing the data-carrying symbols without requiring separate training sequences. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the same signal serve both estimation and data transmission purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If training sequences are inserted for frequency bias estimation, then the frequency bias can be estimated, but the number of useful data symbols per frame is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency bias estimation capabilityVSAvoidnumber of useful data symbols
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the training sequence component entirely and extracts the frequency bias estimation capability from it, implementing instead a blind estimation method that operates directly on the data-carrying symbols. This extraction eliminates the trade-off between estimation capability and data quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The data-carrying symbols serve themselves dual purposes: they both convey information and enable frequency bias estimation. The algorithm processes the received symbols to simultaneously recover data and estimate frequency bias, making the data symbols self-sufficient for both functions without requiring separate training sequences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If complex calculation methods are used for frequency bias estimation, then the estimation accuracy is improved, but the computational complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency bias estimation accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the estimation approach from complex iterative algorithms to a simplified closed-form solution based on phase differences between samples. By transforming the problem parameters and using a direct calculation method, the algorithm achieves adequate estimation accuracy with significantly reduced computational complexity suitable for low-bit rate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The algorithm uses simple, computationally inexpensive operations (phase difference calculations and averaging) that can be implemented with minimal processing resources. This approach prioritizes practical implementability in resource-constrained devices over theoretically optimal but computationally intensive methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Measurement precision

If the sampling period is reduced to obtain multiple samples per symbol, then the frequency bias estimation precision is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency bias estimation precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential phase difference information from the multiple samples and discards redundant data through averaging. This extraction of critical information maintains estimation precision while reducing the effective processing burden compared to using all sample data individually.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The algorithm uses a subset of the available sample information (phase differences between specific sample pairs) rather than processing all samples individually. By applying partial action on the sampled data, it achieves sufficient precision without the full processing time that would be required to utilize every sample detail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2732592B1Method and module for frequency bias estimation in a system for digital telecommunications
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 SIGFOX
  • EP2732592B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2732592B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6c
  • EP2732592B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (30) for estimating frequency bias negatively affecting a digital signal representative of a symbol frame, wherein said method (30) comprises the steps of: (300) generating the digital signal at a sampling period Te that is shorter than a predefined period of each of the symbols of the frame; (302) calculating values for a plurality of pairs of samples of the digital signal, each value being representative of a phase difference between the samples of a pair; (304) estimating the frequency bias negatively affecting the digital signal on the basis of the values calculated for Np pairs of samples selected such that a plurality of said Np pairs belong strictly to a single symbol in the frame. The present invention also relates to a module (217) for implementing the estimation method (30), as well as to a telecommunication method (40) and system (1).