Overhead Information Transmission for Wireless Data Stream Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices face significant battery power consumption when continuously demodulating and decoding multiple data streams, as they need to process composite signals and control channels, which shortens their operational time and increases complexity.
Innovation Solution
The transmission of overhead information is optimized by using composite and embedded overhead information, where composite information is sent periodically to indicate the time-frequency location of data channels, and embedded information is transmitted with the payload to allow devices to quickly acquire and switch between channels with minimal power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the base station multiplexes all data streams onto one composite stream prior to transmission, then the wireless device can receive all streams in a single signal, but the device must continuously demodulate and decode the composite stream to extract specific data streams of interest, consuming significant battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overhead information into two distinct parts: composite overhead information (containing time-frequency location of all MLCs) and embedded overhead information (containing specific data stream identifiers). This segmentation allows the wireless device to first acquire composite information to locate MLCs, then use embedded information to extract only the specific data streams of interest, avoiding continuous full-stream demodulation and decoding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by transmitting composite overhead information at predetermined times (e.g., at the beginning of each super-frame) before the actual data transmission. This allows the wireless device to pre-acquire the time-frequency location information of all MLCs and prepare for selective reception, reducing the need for continuous processing during data transmission periods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple data streams are transmitted separately with dedicated control channels, then each data stream can be independently controlled, but the wireless device must continuously decode multiple control channels and data streams simultaneously, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control information for multiple data streams into a single composite overhead information structure that indicates the time-frequency location of all MLCs. Instead of requiring separate dedicated control channels for each data stream, the composite overhead information provides a unified view of all MLC positions, allowing the device to control and extract multiple data streams with a single control information set, thereby reducing decoding complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite overhead information serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides time-frequency location for all MLCs, enables identification of specific data streams of interest, and facilitates selective reception without requiring separate control channels. This multi-functionality reduces the overall control structure complexity while maintaining adaptability for receiving multiple data streams.
3Reliability
If the wireless device continuously monitors and decodes control information for multiple data streams, then it can maintain readiness to receive any stream, but this continuous operation depletes battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by transmitting composite overhead information at regular intervals (e.g., at the beginning of each super-frame) rather than continuously. The wireless device can monitor these periodic transmissions to update its knowledge of MLC locations, maintaining reception readiness only during these periodic intervals. Between intervals, the device can enter lower-power states, significantly reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliability for receiving data streams.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for transmitting overhead information to facilitate efficient reception of individual data streams are described. A base station may transmit multiple data streams on multiple data channels (or MLCs). The MLCs may be transmitted at different times and on different frequency subbands. The time-frequency location of each MLC may change over time. The overhead information indicates the time-frequency location of each MLC and may be sent as “composite” and “embedded” overhead information. The composite overhead information indicates the time-frequency locations of all MLCs and is sent periodically in each super-frame. A wireless device receives the composite overhead information, determines the time-frequency location of each MLC of interest, and receives each MLC at the indicated time-frequency location. The embedded overhead information for each MLC indicates the time-frequency location of that MLC in the next super-frame and is transmitted along with the payload of the MLC in the current super-frame.