Unified Time Reference for SDR Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Software defined radio systems face challenges in data transmission due to hardware resource consumption and system instability caused by switching among different clocks and time references for various communication standards.

Innovation Solution

A communication interface comprising a data path and an event table, which maps data to a unified time reference and clock, allowing for efficient data processing and transmission by scheduling a vector processor, thereby avoiding the need for multiple hardware configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple clocks and time references are used for different communication standards, then the system can support multiple communication mechanisms, but hardware resource consumption increases and system stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-standard communication capabilityVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal time reference mechanism that serves multiple communication standards (TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, LTE) simultaneously. A single time reference unit generates time references that are shared across different baseband processing functions, eliminating the need for separate clock systems for each standard and thereby reducing hardware resource consumption while maintaining multi-standard support.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple independent clock and time reference systems into a unified time synchronization system. By combining the time reference generation and distribution functions into a single centralized unit, the system reduces hardware complexity and improves stability while maintaining the ability to support multiple communication standards through software configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple clocks and time references are used for different communication standards, then the system can support multiple communication mechanisms, but hardware resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-standard communication capabilityVSAvoidhardware resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal time reference mechanism that serves multiple communication standards (TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, LTE) simultaneously. A single time reference unit generates time references that are shared across different baseband processing functions, eliminating the need for separate clock systems for each standard and thereby reducing hardware resource consumption while maintaining multi-standard support.

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

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of duplicating physical clock hardware for each communication standard, the patent creates virtual copies of time references through software. The single time reference unit generates master time references that are then distributed and adapted to different standards through software configuration, replacing physical hardware duplication with software-based virtualization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Speed

If data is transmitted without mapping to a unified time reference, then transmission speed may be faster, but data synchronization accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidtime synchronization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary mapping of incoming data to a unified time reference before further processing. The time reference unit pre-generates synchronized time stamps and alignment information that are attached to data packets before they enter the baseband processing pipeline, ensuring that synchronization is established in advance and does not bottleneck subsequent high-speed processing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a unified time reference as an intermediary between the physical layer data transmission and the baseband processing layer. This time reference mechanism acts as a mediator that translates and synchronizes data from different sources and standards into a common temporal framework, enabling high-speed processing while maintaining precise synchronization through the intermediary time reference layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3057364B1Data transmission method and system
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 SANECHIPS TECH CO LTD
  • EP3057364B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3057364B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3057364B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A data transmission method and system, related to the field of communication, resolve the problem of data transmission in a software defined radio (SDR) system. The method includes: a data path mapping data received from an RFC to a preset unified time reference, then collecting data and caching the data obtained from collection; after the data path caches the data obtained from the collection, an event table generating a downlink data processing event, and scheduling a vector processor to perform downlink data processing. The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present invention is applied to the SDR and achieves the data transmission at high utilization rate.