Packet Detector for Concurrent Wireless Streams

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packet-based wireless receivers struggle to reliably detect multiple concurrent transmitted streams, particularly in IEEE 802.11 wireless communication systems, where performance degrades with increased transmission streams.

Innovation Solution

A packet detector is introduced, comprising a correlation unit and a pseudo-magnitude calculator, which provides a correlation function based on acquisition fields from multiple streams and calculates a packet detection metric, enabling reliable detection of concurrently transmitted packets using a receive antenna.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a packet-based wireless receiver employs multiple concurrent transmitted streams, then the data transmission capacity is improved, but the reliability of packet detection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidpacket detection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The packet detector is segmented into specialized functional units: a correlation unit that computes correlation values between received signals and expected acquisition fields, and a pseudo-magnitude calculator that processes these correlation values. This segmentation allows each unit to handle specific aspects of multi-stream detection, improving overall detection reliability while maintaining multi-stream capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The correlation function acts as an intermediary between the received multi-stream signals and the packet detection decision. By computing correlation values that measure similarity between received signals and expected acquisition fields, the correlation unit provides a reliable metric for detecting packets even in the presence of multiple concurrent streams.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If conventional packet detection methods are used with multiple concurrent streams, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of packet detection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection algorithm complexityVSAvoidpacket detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple energy-based detection mechanisms with a correlation-based detection mechanism. The correlation unit computes correlation values by comparing received signals with expected acquisition fields, providing more precise detection accuracy. The pseudo-magnitude calculator then processes these correlation values to make reliable detection decisions, achieving high precision without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7746962B2Apparatus and method of detection for a packet-based wireless receiver employing multiple, concurrent transmitted streams

Publication Date: 2010.06.29 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

The present invention provides a packet detector for use with a packet-based wireless receiver employing a receive antenna for P concurrently transmitted streams, where P is at least two. In one embodiment, the packet detector includes a correlation unit coupled to the single receive antenna and configured to provide a correlation function based on P acquisition fields corresponding to the P concurrently transmitted streams. Additionally, the packet detector also includes a pseudo-magnitude calculator coupled to the correlation unit and configured to calculate a packet detection metric based on the correlation function.