Low-Power Collaborative Synchronization with Chirp-Based RF Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing synchronization techniques in low-power modes of wireless communication devices, such as those in 5G NR and expected in 6G, involve high power consumption due to beam sweeping and digital baseband processing, which are inefficient and complex.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing a chirp signal for synchronization in the RF analog domain, allowing devices in low-power mode to receive and process synchronization signals from proximate devices, reducing the need for beam sweeping and digital processing, and enabling accurate estimation of synchronization offsets with minimal power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If beam sweeping and digital baseband processing are used for synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces digital baseband processing with RF analog domain processing for synchronization operations. By performing correlation detection and synchronization offset estimation directly in the RF domain using analog circuits, the system achieves synchronization accuracy comparable to digital methods while dramatically reducing power consumption, as the analog processing avoids the high energy consumption of ADCs and digital signal processors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the beam sweeping operation from the synchronization process by using a proximate device to transmit synchronization signals. This removes the need for the UE to perform power-consuming beam sweeping while maintaining synchronization accuracy through the use of a nearby signal source that provides strong, stable synchronization signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Area of stationary object

If beam sweeping is performed for synchronization, then coverage is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the beam sweeping operation from the synchronization process by leveraging a proximate device that transmits synchronization signals in a stationary manner. This eliminates the complex beamforming and sweeping mechanisms while maintaining coverage through the proximity-based signal transmission, thereby reducing device complexity significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If digital baseband processing is used for synchronization, then synchronization precision is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization offset estimation accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes digital baseband processing with RF analog domain processing for synchronization operations. By performing correlation detection and synchronization offset estimation directly in the RF domain using analog circuits, the system achieves synchronization accuracy comparable to digital methods while dramatically reducing power consumption, as the analog processing avoids the high energy consumption of ADCs and digital signal processors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If proximate device is used for synchronization signal transmission, then time-of-flight estimation accuracy is improved, but device proximity constraints are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime-of-flight estimation accuracyVSAvoiddevice placement flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the synchronization system by introducing a proximate device constraint. This parameter change enables accurate time-of-flight estimation and synchronization offset measurement while the system adapts to the new constraint by designing RF analog processing circuits that operate optimally with nearby signal sources, thus maintaining versatility through parameter adaptation rather than structural rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250212144A1Methods, system, and apparatus for low-power mode collaborative synchronization

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to using a chirp signal in a synchronization procedure of a wireless communication system. A synchronization chirp signal is received and processed, for synchronization purposes, by a user equipment (UE) in a low-power mode. The use of the synchronization chirp signal allows for low-complexity processing in the radio frequency (RF) analog domain. After the UE has interacted with the device that transmits the synchronization signal, the device that transmits the synchronization signal may report measurements to the network. As a consequence of receiving the measurement report, the network may be enabled to estimate timing advance for the UE.