Lightweight Radio Core with Application Launcher for SCA Waveforms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lightweight Software Communications Architecture (SCA) implementations face issues such as high data passing delays, increased storage footprint, and inability to initiate or start applications independently, failing to meet commercial and military end-user requirements for software defined radio systems.

Innovation Solution

A reconfigurable communications architecture (RCA) system with a configured Object Request Broker (ORB) process for inter-process communication and an Application Launcher process for requesting, accepting, and starting RCA compliant applications, implemented using a subset of the RCA core framework that complies with SCA specifications, allowing for efficient operation of compliant waveforms and applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If conventional lightweight SCA implementations are used, then the system size is reduced, but data passing delays increase and application independence is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem sizeVSAvoiddata passing delays

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent components: a lightweight radio core with minimal SCA framework and an external host system with full SCA framework. The radio core contains only essential elements (ORB process, Application Launcher, subset of core framework) while the host system provides comprehensive support functions. This segmentation allows the radio core to remain small and efficient while the host handles complex operations, resolving the contradiction between small system size and low data passing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An Object Request Broker (ORB) process serves as an intermediary between the lightweight radio core and the external host system. The ORB enables efficient inter-process communication and coordination, allowing the Application Launcher on the radio core to request and execute applications from the host system without significant delays. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between the minimal radio core and the full-featured host system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If conventional lightweight SCA implementations are used, then memory requirements are reduced, but the ability to independently initiate applications is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory requirementsVSAvoidapplication initiation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The application initiation and management capabilities are extracted from the radio core and placed in the external host system. The radio core retains only the essential Application Launcher process that can request applications from the host. This extraction allows the radio core to use minimal memory while still maintaining the ability to independently initiate applications through the host system's comprehensive application repository and management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The host system pre-configures and maintains a repository of available applications and their metadata before the radio core needs them. The Application Launcher on the radio core can quickly request applications from this pre-prepared repository without needing to store extensive application information locally. This preliminary action by the host system enables the lightweight radio core to independently initiate applications with minimal memory requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If full SCA framework is implemented in lightweight radio, then application compatibility is improved, but processor requirements and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication compatibilityVSAvoidprocessor requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The SCA framework is segmented between the radio core and host system. The radio core implements only the minimal subset of SCA framework elements necessary for basic operation and application execution. The host system implements the complete SCA framework with all its complexity for application compatibility. This segmentation allows full application compatibility through the host while keeping the radio core's processor requirements and complexity minimal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The host system serves as a universal platform that can run any SCA-compliant application and provide comprehensive SCA framework support. The lightweight radio core with its minimal framework and Application Launcher can access this universal capability through the ORB communication interface. This multi-functionality of the host system provides full application compatibility without requiring the radio core to implement the complete SCA framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8677378B2Lightweight, high performance, remote reconfigurable communications terminal architecture

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 OBJECTIVE INTERFACE SYSTEMS

AI summary

A software defined radio system having at least one radio core that has the ability to request or accept the delivery of a Reconfigurable Communications Architecture (RCA) compliant application(s), store the application(s), and has the minimum parts of the RCA framework necessary to run the application(s).