Reception Device for Simultaneous Multicast and Unicast Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems are unable to simultaneously perform multicast and unicast communications without a dedicated reception device for multicast communication, limiting their functionality in environments where both services are provided.

Innovation Solution

A communication system with a reception device that includes multiple signal reception units, allowing it to receive unicast and multicast signals, and a control unit that manages these signals for simultaneous processing, even in the absence of a dedicated multicast reception device, by switching between reception units based on quality and notifying the transmission device of terminal capacity changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dedicated reception device for multicast communication is provided, then multicast communication can be performed reliably, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulticast communication reliabilityVSAvoidreception device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reception device is designed to handle both unicast and multicast communications using the same RF reception unit and baseband processing unit. The control unit dynamically configures the reception unit to operate in different modes (unicast or multicast) based on the communication type, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware for each communication type while maintaining reliable reception of both services

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If the same reception unit is used for both unicast and multicast signals, then device complexity is reduced, but signal reception quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception device complexityVSAvoidsignal reception quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reception device employs dynamic configuration where the control unit adjusts the operating parameters of the RF reception unit and baseband processing unit based on whether unicast or multicast signals are being received. This includes dynamically switching between different processing modes and optimizing parameters such as gain, filtering, and demodulation settings to maintain high reception quality for both communication types using the same hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple signal reception units are used, then simultaneous unicast and multicast reception is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication service capabilityVSAvoidreception device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reception device segments the signal processing function into two independent parts: the RF reception unit that handles signal acquisition and initial processing, and the baseband processing unit that handles demodulation and decoding. The control unit acts as a coordinator that dynamically allocates these segmented functions to handle unicast or multicast communications, enabling flexible simultaneous reception without requiring fully separate hardware paths for each communication type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2299772B1Communication system, reception device, and communication method
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 SHARP KK
  • EP2299772B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2299772B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2299772B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A communication system includes a reception device and at least one transmission device. The transmission device includes: a signal transmission unit which transmits at least one unicast signals and a multicast signal to the reception device. The reception device includes: a plurality of signal reception units which receive at least one the unicast signals and the multicast signal from the transmission device; a first control unit which receives the unicast signals from the transmission device using all of the plurality of signal reception units when only the unicast signals are received; and a second control unit which receives the unicast signals from the transmission device using some of the plurality of signal reception units, and simultaneously receives the multicast signal from the transmission device using another signal reception unit of the plurality of signal reception units, when the unicast signals and the multicast signal are received.