OFDM Subcarrier Modulation Patterns for Bandwidth-Efficient Encoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current modulation techniques in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) struggle to optimize data transmission and reception, particularly in efficiently utilizing bandwidth and distinguishing between different information encodings.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dividing information into multiple portions and allocating different modulation types to OFDM subcarriers based on an index or grammar, allowing for inter-carrier and intra-carrier modulation to encode and decode information effectively across various domains, such as frequency, time, and spatial domains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single modulation scheme is used for all OFDM subcarriers, then the system is simple to implement, but bandwidth utilization and data transmission efficiency are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidmodulation allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the information into multiple portions and assigns different modulation schemes to different OFDM subcarriers based on channel conditions and information priority. This segmentation allows each subcarrier to be optimized independently, improving overall data transmission efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured allocation rules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different modulation types (e.g., QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM) are allocated to different subcarriers based on local channel quality indicators. Subcarriers with better channel conditions receive higher-order modulation schemes to maximize throughput, while those with poorer conditions use more robust lower-order schemes, optimizing bandwidth utilization across the entire frequency spectrum

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If all OFDM subcarriers are used for data transmission, then bandwidth utilization is maximized, but signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates in poor channel conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidsignal-to-noise ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically changes modulation parameters (order, type) for different subcarriers based on channel quality feedback. When channel conditions deteriorate, the system transitions from high-order modulations (64-QAM) to lower-order modulations (QPSK, BPSK) or even zero symbols, maintaining reliable transmission while still utilizing available bandwidth efficiently through adaptive parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple modulation types are allocated to different subcarriers, then data transmission efficiency increases, but difficulty in detecting and measuring modulation types increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidmodulation type detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitting end pre-configures and signals the modulation type allocation pattern to the receiving end before data transmission begins. This preliminary action allows the receiver to have prior knowledge of which modulation scheme to expect on each subcarrier, significantly reducing detection complexity and enabling efficient demodulation of the multi-modulation signal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A control signal or pilot sequence acts as an intermediary between the transmitter and receiver, carrying information about the allocated modulation types. This intermediary enables the receiver to accurately identify and detect the modulation scheme on each subcarrier without having to perform complex blind detection, thus reducing measurement difficulty while maintaining high data transmission rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2476210B1Encoding method by conveying coded bit information on patterns of different modulation schemes on orthogonal resource units
Publication Date: 2016.01.27 THE UNIV COURT OF THE UNIV OF EDINBURGH
  • EP2476210B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2476210B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3G
  • EP2476210B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4I

AI summary

A method and apparatus for communicating information comprising dividing the information into at least a first information portion and a second information portion; modulating a plurality of domain resources to encode the first information using an index or grammar; and encoding the second information by modulation of domain resources. Optionally, the plurality of domain resources may be modulated to encode the first information by allocating at least two different modulation types to a plurality of sub-carriers. The modulation type is allocated to domain resources according to the index or grammar, which applies meaning to which modulation type is allocated to which domain resource. Modulating the plurality of domain resources to encode the first information may comprises encoding part of the first information portion using one or more domain resources of a first domain and another part of the first information portion is encoded using one or more domain resources of a second domain and optionally encoding at least a further part of the first information portion using one or more domain resources of a third domain. The first, second and/or third domains may comprise the frequency, time and/or spatial domains and/or the domain resources comprise sub-channels of a frequency domain, beams arranged in a spatial domain and/or time slots in a time domain. Values are associated with domain resources of at least one domain and at least part of the first information portion is encoded by providing a signal using a domain resource indicative of the value of the portion of the data.