Shared Correlation Bank for Cell Search and Channel Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telecommunication systems, particularly those based on the 3GPP TDD standard, require complex hardware and significant memory and power resources for cell-search and channel-estimation procedures, leading to increased computational complexity and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that simplifies the processing circuits and reduces memory requirements by recycling data and sharing hardware resources, allowing for a more compact and efficient implementation of cell-search and channel-estimation procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate correlation subsystems are used for cell-search and channel-estimation procedures, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cell-search correlation subsystem and channel-estimation correlation subsystem into a single integrated correlation subsystem. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant hardware components while maintaining the ability to perform both functions through shared correlation operations with different code groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The correlation subsystem is designed to be multi-functional, serving both cell-search operations (using secondary synchronization codes) and channel-estimation operations (using midambles). This universal subsystem can be configured to perform different correlation functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated hardware for each function.
2Measurement precision
If large memory allocation is provided for correlation operations, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the memory resources of separate correlation subsystems into a shared memory structure. This consolidation reduces total memory allocation requirements while maintaining sufficient memory for accurate correlation operations, thereby reducing the energy required for memory access and data storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recycles correlation results and intermediate data between cell-search and channel-estimation operations. By reusing computed values and maintaining data in shared memory rather than allocating separate memory for each operation, the system reduces overall memory requirements and associated energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If separate correlation subsystems are used for cell-search and channel-estimation procedures, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate correlation subsystems into a single integrated unit that performs both cell-search and channel-estimation correlations. This merging eliminates redundant computational operations and shared memory access conflicts, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision through coordinated operation of the unified subsystem.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to perform, according to a received signal (r), a channel-estimation procedure and a cell-search procedure in cellular communication systems, there are executed at least one first operation of correlation of said received signal (r) with secondary synchronization codes (SSC) and a second operation of correlation of said received signal (r) with known midamble codes (mid, MPL, MPS), whilst said channel-estimation procedure comprises a third operation of correlation of at least part of said received signal (r) with known midamble codes (mid, MPL, MPS), said first, second, and third correlation operation being executed by sending at least part (emidamble) of said received signal (r) to an input of a correlation bank. There are envisaged the operations of: sending, in a first time interval, the received signal (r) to said correlation bank for executing the first operation of correlation of said received signal (r) with secondary synchronization codes (SSC); sending, in a second time interval, at least part (emidamble) of said received signal (r) to said same correlation bank for executing the second operation of correlation of said received signal (r) with known midamble codes (mid, MPL, MPS); sending, in a second time interval, the received signal (r) to said same correlation bank for executing the third operation of correlation of at least part (emidamble) of said received signal (r) with known midamble codes (mid, MPL, MPS). Possible application is in mobile communication systems based upon standards such as UMTS, CDMA2000, IS95 or WBCDMA.