Devices and methods for generalized multi-carrier frequency division multiplexing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current radio access network solutions are unable to meet the diverse requirements of future radio access, including different traffic types with varying quality of service, spectrum usage, and equipment capabilities, due to the use of a single transmitter/receiver for each radio link access technology.

Innovation Solution

Generalized multi-carrier frequency division multiplexing (GMFDM) adapts waveform parameters dynamically to accommodate different communications equipment capabilities and requirements by selecting values for signaling frequency factor, digital pulse shaping, spreading factor, overlay factor, and spreading sequence type, allowing flexible waveform adaptation across multiple devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single transmitter/receiver is used for each radio link access technology, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to diverse communication requirements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to diverse communication requirementsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal transmitter and receiver architecture that can perform multiple radio link access technologies (OFDMA, SCMA, FBMC, DFT-S-OFDM) through configurable waveform parameters. This allows a single device to handle diverse communication requirements including different traffic types, QoS requirements, and spectrum usage patterns without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each technology, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts waveform parameters such as signaling frequency factor, digital pulse shaping, spreading factor, and overlay factor based on real-time communication requirements. This dynamic configuration enables the transmitter and receiver to optimize performance for different scenarios (e.g., varying traffic types, QoS demands, spectrum conditions) while maintaining a fixed hardware design, thereby achieving high adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If waveform parameters are fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but spectral efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes key waveform parameters including signaling frequency factor, digital pulse shaping type, spreading factor, and overlay factor to optimize spectral efficiency for different communication scenarios. By allowing these parameters to be configured based on traffic types, QoS requirements, and spectrum conditions, the system achieves higher spectral efficiency without requiring complex hardware modifications, thus resolving the contradiction between spectral efficiency and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If guard bands are increased to support different bandwidths, then adaptability to bandwidth requirements is improved, but loss of frequency spectrum resource worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to bandwidth requirementsVSAvoidloss of frequency spectrum resource
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses configurable guard band parameters to adapt to different operating bandwidths while minimizing spectrum waste. By dynamically adjusting guard band sizes based on specific bandwidth requirements and communication standards (e.g., 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 20 MHz configurations), the system achieves flexible bandwidth adaptation with reduced frequency spectrum loss compared to fixed guard band designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3703327B1Devices and methods for generalized multi-carrier frequency division multiplexing
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3703327B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3703327B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3703327B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for operating a device includes determining adaptation criteria for a waveform to be transmitted by a transmitting device over a communications channel towards a receiving device (blocks 605 - 615), and adjusting a generalized multi-carrier multiplexing parameter (GMMP) of the waveform in accordance with the adaptation criteria (block 620). The method also includes transmitting an indicator of the adjusted GMMP to at least one of the transmitting device and the receiving device (block 625).