Radio Circuit Event Scheduling via Baseband Commands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio circuitry lacks flexibility and efficiency in scheduling events, leading to increased complexity and power consumption, particularly due to the reliance on dedicated strobe signals for timing control, which limits scheduling flexibility and adds to interface complexity.
Innovation Solution
A radio circuit with an event-scheduling unit that receives event-request commands from a digital baseband circuit, schedules events accurately based on a local time-reference unit synchronized with the baseband circuit, allowing for flexible and timely execution of events without the need for dedicated strobe signals, thereby enhancing scheduling flexibility and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated strobe signals are used for timing control, then timing accuracy is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timing control function from dedicated strobe signal lines and relocates it to the data communication channel. Event-request commands carrying timing information are transmitted through the existing communication link between baseband circuit and radio circuit, eliminating the need for separate strobe signal paths and reducing interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication link between baseband circuit and radio circuit is made multi-functional by using it for both data transfer and timing control. The same communication channel that carries event data also conveys timing information through event-request commands, allowing one interface to serve multiple purposes and reducing the number of dedicated signal lines.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated strobe signals are used for timing control, then timing accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timing control function is extracted from continuous strobe signal transmission and implemented through event-based commands. Timing information is conveyed only when needed through event-request commands, eliminating continuous power consumption associated with dedicated strobe signal lines and reducing overall power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous strobe signal transmission, the patent employs periodic or event-triggered timing commands. The baseband circuit sends timing information only when events need to be scheduled or synchronized, converting continuous power consumption into periodic or on-demand signaling that reduces energy usage while maintaining timing accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If reconfigurability is increased for flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfigurability where the radio circuit can be reconfigured based on operational modes and event requirements. The event-scheduling mechanism allows the circuit to adapt its behavior and configuration dynamically without requiring complex hardwired reconfiguration paths, using software-controlled event commands to modify operation on-the-fly.
Solution Approach 2:
The baseband circuit prepares and sends event-request commands in advance, specifying future events and their timing. This preliminary scheduling allows the radio circuit to be reconfigured proactively before operations begin, reducing the need for complex real-time reconfiguration logic and simplifying the overall control architecture.
4Adaptability or versatility
If scheduling flexibility is improved, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The event-request command structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it conveys event type information, timing data, scheduling priorities, and configuration parameters all through a single communication interface. This multi-functional command structure provides high scheduling flexibility without requiring multiple dedicated control lines or complex interface protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio circuit comprises an interface unit for communicating data and commands over a communication link between a digital baseband circuit and the radio circuit. Furthermore, the radio circuit comprises an event-scheduling unit, a local time-reference unit, a synchronization unit, and an execution-control unit. The event-scheduling unit is arranged to receive event-request commands specifying an event to be executed in the radio circuit and a time instant at which the specified event is to be executed, from the digital baseband circuit. Furthermore, the event-scheduling unit is arranged to, in response to receiving an event request-command, schedule the specified event to be executed on the specified time instant. The execution-control unit is arranged to issue execution of each scheduled event at the scheduled time instant based on time information from the local time reference unit. The local time-reference unit is synchronized with a time-reference unit in the digital baseband circuit in response to a synchronization command, from the synchronization unit.