TDMA Super-Frame Multi-Frame Allocation for Voice Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional TDMA communication systems face challenges with latency and data accuracy, particularly in voice communications, due to unused time slots and the introduction of latency when assembling and disassembling data frames, which can disrupt the natural flow of conversation and increase error rates.
Innovation Solution
The system allows one communication link to use multiple frames in a super-frame if the number of active calls is less than the super-frame capacity, enabling the transmission of extra data or additional parity bits to improve link quality and reduce latency by partitioning data into mini-frames and employing hybrid-ARQ and adaptive FEC coding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unused time slots are left empty in conventional TDMA systems, then system capacity is maintained, but latency increases and data accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the parameter of time slot allocation by allowing active communication links to use multiple frames when the number of active calls is less than the super-frame capacity. This transforms the fixed one-frame-per-link allocation into a flexible multi-frame allocation, enabling unused capacity to be utilized for retransmission and error correction purposes, thereby improving data accuracy without proportionally increasing latency.
2Reliability
If multiple frames are allocated to one communication link, then link quality improves through extra data transmission, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic time slot allocation where the number of frames assigned to each communication link varies based on the number of active calls. When active calls are fewer than the super-frame capacity, additional frames are dynamically allocated to active links for enhanced reliability. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the system to adaptively optimize link quality while managing complexity through conditional logic rather than fixed complex structures.
3Loss of time
If data is partitioned into mini-frames, then latency is reduced and error correction is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication data into mini-frames, which are smaller units within the overall frame structure. This segmentation enables reduced latency by allowing faster processing and transmission of smaller data chunks, and improves error correction by isolating errors to specific mini-frames. The processing complexity is managed by organizing these mini-frames within the existing super-frame structure, allowing systematic handling through structured processing rather than unstructured complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with a first aspect, a method, apparatus and system is disclosed for communicating within a TDMA communication system comprising receiving data from a plurality of transmitters in a stream of TDMA super-frames, wherein each transmitter transmits payload data in one particular frame within a defined super-frame, each super-frame comprising M frames, where M is a positive integer greater than one, determining, using a processor, a quality of received data from said transmitters, and if the quality of received data from one of said transmitters is below a quality threshold, granting said one of said transmitters the right to transmit data within a second frame in said super-frames, and collectively processing in a processor said data in both frames of said super-frame assigned to said one of said transmitters to reconstruct said data from said one of said transmitters Also, a method, apparatus and system for processing data received in a TDMA communication system utilizing a stream of TDMA super-frames, each super-frame having a structure comprising M frames, each frame designed to carry data of a duration of Y time units, from a different communication channel, where Y is a positive integer, said method comprising dividing said super-frame into N/M hyper-frames, where N is a factor of M, and partitioning said data from each of said transmitters into mini-frames of duration Y/N and interleaving said mini-frames of data from each of said transmitters into a TDMA transport stream comprising super-frames of M*N mini-frame.