OFDMA Signal Embedding for M2M Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current OFDMA-based wireless radio access technologies are not cost-efficient or energy-effective for mass-market wide-area machine-to-machine (M2M) communications due to high complexity and energy consumption, limited range, and unsuitable Quality-of-Service demands, necessitating a dedicated air interface for M2M signals.
Innovation Solution
Embedding a low-rate spread-spectrum M2M waveform into the bandwidth range of the OFDMA signal, allowing efficient transportation over existing wireless radio access networks, leveraging existing infrastructure and applying advanced signal processing techniques to minimize cross-layer interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If existing OFDMA-based cellular air interface is used for M2M communications, then coverage range and infrastructure reuse are improved, but device complexity, energy consumption, and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two independent parts: existing OFDMA infrastructure for coverage and a new simplified M2M air interface for device communication. This allows M2M devices to operate with reduced complexity while leveraging existing cellular infrastructure for network coverage and backhaul connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing OFDMA infrastructure is made multi-functional by enabling it to support both traditional cellular communications and M2M communications simultaneously. The network infrastructure serves dual purposes: providing wide-area coverage for M2M devices while maintaining its original cellular services.
2Length of moving object
If existing OFDMA-based cellular air interface is used for M2M communications, then coverage range is improved, but energy consumption increases due to heavy signal processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates M2M communication functions from the complex OFDMA protocol stack, creating a lightweight independent air interface. This segmentation allows M2M devices to communicate with minimal energy consumption while the heavy signal processing is offloaded to the network side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces simplified, low-cost M2M-specific protocol layers that replace expensive complex processing in battery-powered devices. The complexity is shifted to the network infrastructure, allowing M2M devices to be energy-efficient and cost-effective.
3Device complexity
If dedicated M2M air interface is created, then device complexity and energy consumption are reduced, but infrastructure reuse and coverage range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the new simplified M2M air interface with the existing OFDMA infrastructure at the network side. M2M devices communicate using the simple air interface, while the network infrastructure provides wide-area coverage and connectivity, combining the advantages of both approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing cellular infrastructure acts as an intermediary between M2M devices and the core network. The simplified M2M air interface handles device-to-network access, while the OFDMA infrastructure provides backhaul and core network connectivity, enabling extended coverage without increasing device complexity.
4Device complexity
If M2M signal is transmitted as separate dedicated signal, then signal processing is simplified at device level, but spectrum efficiency and infrastructure utilization decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines M2M signals with existing OFDMA signals in the same spectrum resources. The network side performs joint processing to separate and decode both signal types, achieving spectrum efficiency while keeping device processing simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The network infrastructure acts as an intermediary that performs sophisticated signal processing and separation. The simple M2M device transmits with minimal processing, while the network side handles the complexity of separating M2M signals from cellular signals, maintaining spectrum efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for transporting a machine-to-machine, M2M, signal (7) over a wireless radio network (1) using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access, OFDMA, signal (5), the method comprising: embedding the M2M signal (7) as a spread-spectrum waveform into the bandwidth range of the OFDMA signal (5), and transporting the OFDMA signal (5) containing the M2M signal (7) over the wireless radio access network (1). The invention also relates to a transmission device (2), to a receiving device (2), and to a wireless communication network (1) adapted for implementing the method.