Programmable Baseband Pipeline for Multiprotocol Radio Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional baseband systems are inflexible and require significant redesign to process different radio protocols, making them unsuitable for evolving radio standards and increasing development time, as they are hard-wired and not programmable.
Innovation Solution
A baseband architecture with a processor subsystem that generates a common time reference to align and schedule radio data symbols across multiple wireless protocols, allowing simultaneous multiprotocol processing using a common pipeline, comprising wireless interfaces, a scheduler, and an event processor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional baseband systems use hard-wired pipeline stages implemented with multiple devices (FPGA, ASIC, DSP), then specific protocol processing is achieved, but the system cannot be easily modified to process different protocols and requires significant redesign effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal baseband architecture where a single programmable device (FPGA/ASIC/DSP) can perform multiple protocol processing functions through software configuration. The pipeline stages are designed to be reconfigurable, allowing the same hardware to handle different radio protocols (3G, 4G, LTE, etc.) by loading appropriate processing algorithms, thereby eliminating the need for separate hard-wired devices for each protocol
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic reconfiguration capabilities where the baseband processing pipeline can be dynamically adjusted between different protocols. The programmable device allows runtime modification of processing parameters and pipeline stage configurations, enabling adaptive switching between 3G, 4G, LTE and other radio standards without physical hardware changes
2Reliability
If baseband systems are designed with multiple devices for each protocol, then dedicated protocol processing is achieved, but development time increases and architectural changes become difficult once deployed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses software-based protocol implementations that can be copied and loaded onto the programmable baseband device. Instead of developing separate hardware architectures for each protocol, the system copies and adapts processing algorithms through software, significantly reducing development time and enabling rapid deployment of new radio standards
3Productivity
If hard-wired pipeline stages are used for each protocol, then specific transmission functions are achieved, but the system cannot support evolving radio standards without significant redesign
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains high transmission efficiency by optimizing processing parameters and pipeline configurations for each radio protocol through software. The programmable device allows dynamic adjustment of processing parameters (coding rates, modulation schemes, frame structures) to match evolving radio standards while maintaining the same efficient pipeline architecture
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for simultaneous multiprotocol processing of different radio standards using a common pipeline. In an exemplary embodiment an apparatus includes a plurality of wireless interfaces that transmit radio data symbols, a scheduler that outputs scheduled events that control transmission of the radio data symbols using any wireless interface type and any radio protocol, and an event processor that processes the transmission events to transport the radio data symbols to selected wireless interfaces for over the air transmission using selected radio protocols.