Pilot Tone Synchronization in Point-to-Multipoint Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In point-to-multipoint communication systems, maintaining synchronicity between upstream and downstream components is challenging, especially when noise affects downstream components differently, leading to performance losses and increased jitter due to the dynamic nature of pilot tone assignment and bandwidth redistribution.

Innovation Solution

The system implements a method where each CPE selects a limited number of pilot tones within its assigned frequency band, with the DPT blacking out tones used by other CPEs when a new device joins, allowing for dynamic bandwidth redistribution while minimizing the total number of pilot tones to maintain efficient data transfer and reduce crosstalk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If pilot tones are assigned dynamically to multiple CPEs in a P2MP system, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but synchronization stability deteriorates due to noise affecting downstream components differently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidsynchronization stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the frequency spectrum into distinct frequency bands, with each CPE assigned to a specific band. Within each band, pilot tones are allocated exclusively to that CPE, preventing interference from other CPEs. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing multiple CPEs to utilize different portions of the bandwidth while maintaining stable synchronization within each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by customizing the pilot tone allocation and frequency band assignment for each individual CPE based on its specific requirements and channel conditions. Each CPE receives optimized pilot tones within its assigned band, ensuring that synchronization stability is maintained locally for each CPE while the overall system achieves high bandwidth utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the number of pilot tones is increased to support more CPEs, then system capacity is improved, but crosstalk between CPEs increases leading to performance losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidcrosstalk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the frequency spectrum into separate bands and allocates specific pilot tones to each CPE within its assigned band. This segmentation ensures that pilot tones for different CPEs do not overlap, eliminating crosstalk while maintaining high system capacity to support multiple CPEs simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each CPE is assigned a dedicated frequency band with locally optimized pilot tone allocation. This local quality approach ensures that pilot tones are configured specifically for each CPE's channel characteristics, maximizing system capacity while preventing harmful crosstalk between different CPEs through proper frequency separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If frequency bands are redistributed dynamically to accommodate new CPEs, then adaptability is improved, but synchronization stability deteriorates due to changes in pilot tone assignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic connectivityVSAvoidsynchronization stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the frequency spectrum into reusable bands that can be dynamically allocated to different CPEs. When a new CPE joins, the system assigns it an available frequency band with dedicated pilot tones, ensuring that existing CPEs are not affected. This segmentation enables dynamic adaptability while maintaining synchronization stability for all CPEs independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary allocation of frequency bands and pilot tones to each CPE before data transmission begins. This preliminary action ensures that each CPE has its dedicated resources established in advance, allowing dynamic connectivity changes without disrupting the synchronization stability of existing connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3873021B1Method and system for pilot tone synchronization in point-to-multipoint systems
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 INTEL CORP
  • EP3873021B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP3873021B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D
  • EP3873021B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An apparatus for pilot tone synchronization in point-to-multipoint (P2MP) communication is described, including a transceiver configured to send a downstream transmission including pilot tones to one or more customer premises equipments (CPEs) in a P2MP group. A method for pilot tone synchronization in point-to-multipoint (P2MP) communication is described, including sending a downstream transmission including pilot tones to one or more customer premises equipments (CPEs) in a P2MP group.