OFDMA Receiver MRC Processing for Duplicated Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

In OFDMA systems, applying maximum ratio combining (MRC) to duplicated signals is challenging due to the duplication occurring before channel encoding at the transmitter, which complicates the processing order at the receiver, particularly when the natural processing order is reversed.

Innovation Solution

A look-ahead sub-carrier arranging scheme is employed to rearrange sub-carriers and channel estimates into a duplicated format, allowing for MRC combining before de-mapping, which involves reverse-tracing the transmission process and performing de-interleaving prior to equalization and combining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If maximum ratio combining is applied to duplicated signals in OFDMA systems, then signal reliability is improved, but processing complexity increases due to the need to reverse the transmission processing order

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies inversion by reversing the transmission processing order at the receiver. Instead of following the natural reception order, the receiver performs operations in reverse sequence: de-interleaving first, then equalization, and finally MRC combining. This inversion allows the receiver to correctly process duplicated signals that were transmitted in a specific order, resolving the contradiction between maintaining signal reliability and managing processing complexity by systematically inverting the processing sequence to match the transmission structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing de-interleaving before equalization and MRC combining. The receiver first de-interleaves the received duplicated signals to restore the original signal structure, then proceeds with equalization and combining. This preliminary de-interleaving step prepares the signals in advance for the subsequent processing stages, enabling effective MRC combining while managing processing complexity through structured preliminary action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If sub-carrier rearrangement is performed to align with transmitter duplication format, then MRC combining accuracy is improved, but computational overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMRC combining accuracyVSAvoidcomputational overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the sub-carrier arrangement parameters at the receiver to match the duplication format used by the transmitter. The receiver reorganizes sub-carriers according to the specific duplication pattern (e.g., contiguous or distributed duplication), changing the frequency domain parameters to align with the transmission structure. This parameter adjustment improves MRC combining accuracy by ensuring that corresponding duplicated sub-carriers are properly paired, while the computational overhead is managed through efficient reorganization algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If de-interleaving is performed prior to equalization and combining, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing de-interleaving before equalization and MRC combining. The receiver first de-interleaves the received signals to restore the original interleaved structure, which is necessary for accurate channel estimation. This preliminary de-interleaving step, while adding processing time, enables subsequent equalization and combining operations to proceed with higher accuracy by working with properly structured signals, thus trading processing time for improved estimation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2235901B1Methods and apparatus for maximum ratio combining for duplicated signals in OFDMA systems
Publication Date: 2015.07.15 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2235901B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2235901B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2235901B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

In accordance with a method for processing a received orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signal that comprises a duplicated signal, sub-carriers within the OFDMA signal may be arranged into a duplicated format. The OFDMA signal may be equalized and combined after the sub-carriers have been arranged into the duplicated format. The equalizing and combining may be performed in accordance with a maximum ratio combining (MRC) scheme. The OFDMA signal may be demapped after the equalizing and combining is performed.