OFDM Ranging Signaling for Communication Pathway Characterization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in accurately determining operational parameters for communication pathways between devices, particularly in terms of transmission power and timing, due to limitations in ranging signal processing and parameter selection.
Innovation Solution
The use of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signaling for ranging and data transmission, where communication devices generate OFDM symbols with both data and ranging information in the frequency domain, allowing for efficient conversion to the time domain and processing to determine communication pathway characteristics, enabling precise selection of operational parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional ranging signal processing is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of communication pathway characteristics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ranging information and data information into a single unified OFDM symbol structure. The ranging preamble is integrated with data subcarriers in the same frequency domain representation, allowing simultaneous transmission and processing of both functions without requiring separate signal paths or processing chains, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The OFDM symbol structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it carries ranging information for pathway characterization, data information for communication, and maintains compatibility with existing OFDM processing frameworks. This multi-functionality allows the system to extract communication pathway characteristics while transmitting actual data, improving measurement accuracy without requiring dedicated separate ranging transmissions that would increase overall system complexity
2Productivity
If separate ranging and data transmission is used, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity of communication protocol deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges ranging and data transmission into a single unified protocol step. By embedding ranging information within the data transmission frame structure (specifically in the OFDM symbol preamble and subcarrier allocation), the system eliminates the need for separate ranging and data transmission phases, thereby improving productivity without significantly complicating the transmission process
Solution Approach 2:
The ranging information is prepared and embedded in the OFDM symbol structure before transmission. The frequency domain representation is pre-configured with designated subcarriers for ranging purposes, allowing the receiver to extract pathway characteristics simultaneously with data reception, thus improving protocol efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through pre-planned signal structure
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device is operative to generate and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol that includes one or more data and ranging modulation symbols. The data and ranging modulation symbols may be included within different sub-carriers of the OFDM symbol. The OFDM symbol is used to generate an OFDM symbol pair in the frequency domain (FDOM). After conversion from the FDOM to the time domain (TDOM), the OFDM symbol pair may then undergoes post-processing in the TDOM before transmission. Such post-processing may include the addition of cyclic prefix (CP) and cyclic suffix (CS) to the OFDM symbol pair in the TDOM as well as filtering using a window function. The OFDM symbol may be generated as an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) symbol, and two were more OFDM symbols or OFDMA symbols may be arranged in a frame.