Hardware Logic Circuit Synchronization for MIMO DSP Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current synchronization methods in multi-antenna MIMO systems, relying on software-based inter-process communication, face high latency issues, making it difficult to meet the real-time synchronization requirements of high-speed data processing in wireless communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A hardware-based synchronization method using logic circuits and counters synchronized by a GPS clock, where operate indication signals are set and decided upon using logical AND operations to ensure synchronized operation among distributed modules, reducing synchronization time overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If software-based inter-process communication is used for synchronization, then the system is easier to implement and maintain, but the synchronization latency increases to several milliseconds to tens of milliseconds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidsynchronization latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces software-based inter-process communication with a hardware-based synchronization mechanism using logic circuits. The operate indication signals are transmitted through dedicated hardware logic circuits instead of software protocols, reducing synchronization latency from milliseconds to nanoseconds while maintaining ease of implementation through standardized hardware design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces logic circuits as intermediary hardware components between distributed modules. These logic circuits receive operate indication signals from various modules and perform logical operations to determine synchronized operation, acting as a hardware mediator that eliminates the need for software-based coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If hardware-based synchronization with logic circuits is used, then the synchronization speed increases to real-time operation, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization speedVSAvoidhardware circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the synchronization system into independent distributed modules, each with its own operate indication signal generation capability. Each module operates autonomously and contributes to the overall synchronization through its logic circuit, allowing the system to scale without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs universal logic circuits that can be applied to any distributed module in the system. The same logic circuit architecture serves multiple functions: receiving operate indication signals, performing logical operations, and determining synchronized operation status, reducing overall device complexity through component reuse.

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

3Productivity

If the number of distributed modules to be synchronized is increased, then the processing capacity of the MIMO system increases, but the synchronization time overhead increases with software-based methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidsynchronization time overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having each distributed module continuously generate and transmit its operate indication signal through the hardware logic circuit. The synchronization status is determined in advance through continuous hardware evaluation, eliminating the need for periodic software coordination and allowing the system to maintain real-time synchronization regardless of the number of modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2391032B8Synchronization method and device for real-time distributed system
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

In order to solve the technical problem that in the current real-time distributed systems such as multi-antenna MIMO system, the implementation of synchronization between distributed modules by means of software is of a large time overhead, the invention proposes a synchronization method and device for the real-time distributed system, the distributed module determines if the present module is able to operate synchronously, at a synchronization start time that is unified with the other distributed modules; sets the present module's operate indication signal in a logic circuit, based on the determining result; and decides whether the present module is to operate synchronously, following a rule unified with the other distributed modules, based on the present module's operate indication signal along with the operate indication signals in the logic circuit set by the other modules. The invention implements real-time synchronization between distributed modules by means of hardware logic circuit with small operation time overhead, and preferably it only needs several-bit logic circuit and several cascaded logic gates, the structure is concise, efficient, and easy to implement and extend.