TDMA Handover Packet Timing Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In TDMA systems, handovers between time slots often result in irregularities in the output stream due to abrupt timing differences, leading to suboptimal quality, especially when the new slot is positioned before or after the old slot, causing alignment issues and potential signal degradation.

Innovation Solution

Generating a handover packet of length N + Δ bits, where Δ accounts for the timing difference between the first and second time slots, allowing for a more sophisticated handover mechanism that adapts to timing differences and uses data from either time slot or concealment packets to optimize output stream quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a handover is performed abruptly from the first time slot to the second time slot, then the handover speed is improved, but the output stream quality deteriorates due to timing misalignment and irregularities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover speedVSAvoidoutput stream quality
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by generating the handover packet in advance during the handover process. The handover packet is prepared before the actual switch occurs, containing pre-calculated timing adjustments and data portions that will bridge the gap between the first and second time slots. This ensures that when the handover executes, the timing alignment is already optimized, maintaining output stream quality while achieving fast switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of packet length dynamically during handover. The handover packet is generated with a specific length (N + Δ bits) that accounts for the timing difference Δ between the first and second time slots. This parameter adjustment ensures that the handover packet perfectly fills the timing gap, aligning the output stream without irregularities while maintaining rapid handover execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If data portions from the first and second time slots are directly concatenated, then the handover process is simplified, but timing misalignment causes irregularities in the output stream

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover process complexityVSAvoidoutput stream quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - the handover packet - that mediates between the data portions from the first and second time slots. Instead of directly concatenating the time slot data, the handover packet acts as a bridge, containing timing adjustment information and intermediate data that smoothly transitions the output stream from the first time slot to the second, eliminating misalignment irregularities while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adjusts the parameter of packet length to N + Δ bits, where Δ represents the timing difference between time slots. This parameter change ensures that the handover packet perfectly compensates for the timing misalignment, creating a seamless transition in the output stream without requiring complex synchronization mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the handover packet length is set to exactly N bits, then the data transmission is efficient, but the timing difference between time slots causes alignment issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidtiming alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the packet length parameter from the standard N bits to N + Δ bits, where Δ specifically accounts for the timing difference between the first and second time slots. This parameter adjustment ensures that the handover packet perfectly fills the timing gap, achieving precise timing alignment in the output stream while maintaining high data transmission efficiency through the optimized packet structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2355578B1Performing a handover in a TDMA system from a first time slot to a second time slot
Publication Date: 2013.03.20 DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR BV
  • EP2355578B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2355578B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2355578B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for performing a handover in a TDMA system from a first time slot to a second time slot. The method comprises: a) receiving data portions comprising N bits in a first time slot (1) and using these data portions to generate a first part of an output stream (7); b) performing a handover from the first time slot to the second time slot, c) receiving data portions comprising N bits in a second time slot (3) and using these data portions to generate a second part of the output stream (7). Action b) comprises generating a handover packet (30, 30') to be part of the output stream (7) in between the first and second part of the output stream (7). The handover packet comprising N + Δ bits, where Δ takes into account a timing difference between the first time slot (1) and the second time slot (3).