RF Chain Retuning via Measurement Gaps for Wideband Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining seamless connectivity during retuning of radio frequency chains for wide and very wide bandwidth communications, leading to potential interruptions and performance degradation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing dynamic radio resource management schemes that include centralized or distributed algorithms to adjust radio network parameters, allowing for retuning of RF chains while minimizing interruptions by using measurement gaps and coordinating retuning processes to meet specific interruption requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If retuning of RF chains is performed for wide bandwidth communications, then communication bandwidth is improved, but connection interruption and performance degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication bandwidthVSAvoidconnection continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs measurement and retuning operations in advance during designated measurement gaps before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary action ensures that RF chains are properly retuned to wide bandwidth frequencies before communication starts, preventing interruptions during active data transfer while maintaining connection continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic measurement gaps at predetermined intervals during which RF chains can be retuned. These periodic interruptions are scheduled in advance and do not affect continuous data transmission, allowing the system to maintain wide bandwidth communication while periodically adjusting RF parameters without causing performance degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If measurement gaps are introduced for RF chain retuning, then retuning accuracy is improved, but communication interruption time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretuning accuracyVSAvoidcommunication interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs measurements and retuning operations to a sufficient degree of accuracy during measurement gaps, rather than attempting continuous perfect tuning. This partial action approach achieves the necessary retuning precision for wide bandwidth communication while accepting brief, scheduled interruptions rather than attempting uninterrupted tuning that would be impossible to achieve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3603265B1Methods and arrangements for wide bandwidth communications
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 APPLE INC
  • EP3603265B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3603265B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3603265B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6A

AI summary

Logic may receive an initial communication from a user device, the initial communication comprising capabilities. Logic may determine when the capabilities indicate a requirement for measurement gaps. Logic may determine, when the capabilities for the user device indicate a requirement to implement measurement gaps, a gap pattern to assign to the user device to re-tune one or more radio frequency chains to a wide bandwidth carrier frequency during communications. Logic may transmit information about the gap pattern to the user device. Logic may transmit an initial communication to a base station, the initial communication comprising capabilities. Logic may receive a communication from the base station comprising information about a gap pattern. Logic may receive a synchronization signal to synchronize a wide bandwidth, radio frequency chain. And logic may retune the radio frequency chain during one or more measurement gaps defined by the gap pattern.