Scalable DigRF Architecture with Compliance Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Digital Radio Frequency (DigRF) systems lack flexibility, particularly when integrated into a single package or chip, where power consumption becomes a limiting factor, and they fail to efficiently support both DigRF v3 and v4 protocols without increased complexity and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A communication entity with a compliance layer that adapts to both DigRF v3 and v4 protocols, allowing for selective operation and compensating for differences between the two versions, enabling a compact and power-efficient design by omitting physical layers and providing a protocol-physical interface for direct connection of protocol layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional DigRF system is designed to support both DigRF v3 and v4 protocols, then protocol compatibility is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
A compliance layer is introduced as an intermediary between the physical layer and higher protocol layers. This compliance layer acts as a mediator that translates between DigRF v3 and v4 protocol requirements, allowing the system to support both versions without duplicating entire protocol stacks. The compliance layer handles version-specific adaptations while presenting a unified interface to upper layers, thereby reducing complexity compared to implementing separate complete protocol implementations.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol architecture is segmented into distinct layers: a version-agnostic upper protocol layer and a version-specific compliance layer that interfaces with the physical layer. This segmentation allows the upper layers to remain simple and universal, while the compliance layer handles the complexity of protocol version differences. By dividing the protocol handling into modular segments, the system achieves multi-version support without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If physical layers are omitted for compact design, then area requirements are reduced, but interoperability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The compliance layer serves as an intermediary that compensates for the absence of dedicated physical layer implementations for each protocol version. By introducing this intermediate layer with version-specific adaptation logic, the system maintains interoperability without requiring separate physical layer hardware for DigRF v3 and v4, thus achieving compact design while preserving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The compliance layer is designed with multi-functionality to handle both DigRF v3 and v4 protocol requirements through a single unified interface. This universal layer can adapt its behavior based on the target protocol version, eliminating the need for multiple specialized physical layer implementations. The multi-functional compliance layer ensures that a single compact design can reliably interoperate with both protocol versions.
3Productivity
If DigRF v4 is implemented for higher data rates, then productivity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic protocol version selection where the compliance layer can adapt between DigRF v3 and v4 operations based on current requirements. When high data rates are needed, the system dynamically switches to DigRF v4 mode through the compliance layer's adaptation mechanisms. When power consumption is more critical, it can operate in DigRF v3 mode. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize between productivity and power consumption based on real-time conditions rather than being locked into a single protocol version.
Data Source
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AI summary
An embodiment of the invention provides a communication device (500, 800) which comprises a communication entity (502, 802) and a further communication entity (504, 804) communicatively coupled to the communication entity (502, 802) in accordance with a Digital Radio Frequency protocol. The communication entity (502, 802) comprises a protocol layer (516), the further communication entity (504, 804) comprises a protocol layer (514), and the protocol layers (516, 514) of the communication entity (502, 802) and of the further communication entity (504, 804) are connected via a protocol-physical interface (512, 513) which provides for a parallel bidirectional signal interfacing. The protocol-physical interface (512, 513) is adapted for selectively connecting the protocol layers (516, 514) directly or via physical layers (503, 508).