Layered Wireless Modulation for Low-Power High-Rate Reception

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in achieving high data rates while minimizing power consumption, particularly in low-power reception scenarios, due to the trade-offs between single-carrier and multi-carrier signals in terms of power efficiency and spectral efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a layered modulation scheme that combines keying modulation for the first layer and frequency modulated continuous waveform (FMCW) modulation for the second layer, allowing simultaneous transmission and reception of independent data streams, where the first layer indicates significant information for a wider range of devices and the second layer provides specific information only to intended receivers, thereby optimizing power consumption and data rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If single-carrier modulation is used for low-power reception, then power consumption is reduced, but data rate and spectral efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication signal is segmented into two independent layers: a first layer using keying modulation for low-power reception and a second layer using FMCW modulation for high data rate transmission. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve low power consumption and high data rate by serving different layers with different modulation schemes optimized for their respective requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a layered modulation dimension where multiple data streams are transmitted simultaneously at different modulation levels. The first layer operates at a lower modulation level for power efficiency while the second layer operates at a higher level for spectral efficiency, effectively adding a dimension to the communication space that resolves the trade-off between power consumption and data rate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If FMCW modulation is used for high data rate transmission, then spectral efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The communication signal is segmented into two independent layers: a first layer using keying modulation for low-power reception and a second layer using FMCW modulation for high data rate transmission. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve low power consumption and high data rate by serving different layers with different modulation schemes optimized for their respective requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using FMCW modulation for the entire signal, the patent applies FMCW only to the second layer for high data rate transmission, while using simpler keying modulation for the first layer. This partial application of complex modulation only where needed (for the data layer rather than control layer) reduces overall power consumption while maintaining high spectral efficiency for the data portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If layered modulation with multiple layers is implemented, then data rate is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata rateVSAvoidmodulation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication signal is segmented into two independent layers: a first layer using keying modulation for low-power reception and a second layer using FMCW modulation for high data rate transmission. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve low power consumption and high data rate by serving different layers with different modulation schemes optimized for their respective requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preliminary action through the first layer using keying modulation to convey control information and wake-up signals before the second layer is processed. This allows receiving devices to first determine whether they need to process the more complex second layer, thereby reducing overall system complexity by enabling conditional processing based on the simpler first layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12476851B2Layered modulation communication

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a first network entity may encode first information using keying modulation. The first network entity may encode second information using frequency modulated continuous waveform (FMCW) modulation. The first network entity may transmit a communication that includes a first layer indicating the first information and a second layer indicating the second information. Numerous other aspects are described.