Software-Configurable Signal Processing for Wireless Protocol Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cellular networks face high processing capacity requirements and costs due to the thick-client approach, while the thin-client paradigm increases bandwidth needs and reintroduces processing constraints, limiting flexibility and efficiency across different wireless protocols.
Innovation Solution
A system with a Receiving Antenna Unit (RAU) that digitizes and compresses analog RF signals, sending them to a shared, software-configurable Received Signal Processing Unit (RSPU) for processing, and a Transmitting Antenna Unit (TAU) that decompresses and converts digital signals back to analog for transmission, reducing bandwidth and processing equipment needs, and allowing protocol flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a thick-client approach is used at the BTS for signal processing, then processing capacity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to expensive DSPs and ASICs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex signal processing functions from the BTS (base transceiver station) and relocates them to a centralized network controller. This removes the need for expensive DSPs and ASICs at each BTS while maintaining processing capacity through centralized resource pooling and sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized network controller is designed to handle multiple wireless protocols (CDMA, GSM, WiMax, etc.) and serve multiple BTS units, making it a universal processing platform that replaces protocol-specific hardware at each base station.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a thin-client paradigm is used with separated antenna unit and base station unit, then adaptability to different protocols is improved, but bandwidth requirements increase requiring optical fiber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary compression device that compresses digital signals before transmission over the backhaul link. This mediator enables the use of lower-bandwidth transmission media (copper, wireless) instead of requiring optical fiber, while maintaining the benefits of protocol flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of signal representation by applying compression algorithms to reduce the bandwidth requirements of digital signals transmitted between antenna units and the base station unit.
3Quantity of substance
If decimation filters are used to filter unwanted channels, then bandwidth requirements are reduced, but the antenna unit becomes protocol constrained and loses thin-client status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies compression at the antenna unit before signal transmission, which is a preliminary action that reduces bandwidth requirements without introducing protocol constraints. This preliminary compression enables efficient signal transmission while maintaining the antenna unit's protocol independence.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and system for multiple access wireless communication system using transmitter-receivers supported by remote, software-configured, signal processing devices. An illustrative embodiment of the downlink transmission system includes a method and for receiving signals from the internet, PSTN, or other networks and assigning the signal to one of several shared, software configured, signal processing devices that processes these signals, digitizes them, and compresses them before forwarding them to a thin client transmitter. This thin client transmitter system decompresses the received signals, and transmits it to remote users using the appropriate wireless protocol. The embodiment also comprises an uplink transmission system that includes: an antenna for receiving analog RF signals transmitted by remote users; an analog to digital convertor that converts these analog signals into digital signals; a method for compressing the digital signals; and a method and for transporting the compressed digital signals to a remotely located, software configured, shared signal processing system. The shared remote signal processing system decompresses these signals; assigns the decompressed signal to one of several shared, software configurable signal processing devices that processes these signals and transmits the signals onwards via the internet, switched telephone, or other networks.