Multi-carrier Modulation for TETRA 12.5 kHz Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital mobile radio communications systems are not efficiently adaptable to different frequency channel arrangements, limiting their ability to operate in regions with varying frequency band specifications and hindering spectral efficiency and interoperability with other systems.

Innovation Solution

A digital mobile communications system using a 4-slot TDMA arrangement and a multi-sub-carrier modulation scheme that encodes at least 4 bits per symbol, allowing operation in 12.5 kHz channels with enhanced spectral efficiency and compatibility with TETRA 1 systems, while maintaining compatibility with existing TETRA transmission formats and structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing TETRA systems use 25 kHz channels with 4-slot TDMA, then they achieve basic digital mobile radio communication, but they cannot operate efficiently in 12.5 kHz channels and have limited spectral efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different frequency channel arrangementsVSAvoidinteroperability with existing TETRA systems
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the 12.5 kHz channel into multiple sub-carriers (e.g., 4 sub-carriers of 2.7 kHz each) to carry different slots of the TDMA frame. This segmentation allows the system to fit into narrower bandwidth while maintaining the 4-slot TDMA structure required for TETRA interoperability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-carrier modulation to multi-carrier modulation (OFDM), adding a frequency dimension to the transmission. Multiple sub-carriers are used in parallel to transmit different portions of the data, enabling efficient utilization of 12.5 kHz channels while maintaining compatibility with TETRA's 4-slot TDMA framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If systems use higher data rates to increase capacity, then spectral efficiency improves, but compatibility with existing TETRA 1 systems is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidcompatibility with TETRA transmission formats
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the modulation parameter from traditional TETRA's π/4-DQPSK to higher-order modulation schemes such as 16-QAM or 64-QAM. This allows 4 or more bits per symbol, doubling or quadrupling the data rate within the same symbol duration, thereby achieving higher spectral efficiency while maintaining TETRA compatibility through appropriate framing and synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If existing systems are designed for specific frequency channel arrangements, then they achieve optimized performance for that arrangement, but they cannot be deployed in regions with different frequency allocations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance optimization for specific channel arrangementVSAvoiddeployability in different regional frequency arrangements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal communication system that can operate in both 25 kHz and 12.5 kHz channels using the same multi-carrier modulation technique. The system adapts its sub-carrier configuration based on the available channel bandwidth, making it universally deployable across different regional frequency arrangements while maintaining optimized performance for each specific arrangement.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2957061B8Tetra-based digital mobile radio communication system with multi-carrier modulation
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 SEPURA

AI summary

A modulation scheme for use in a digital mobile radio communications system. The modulation scheme uses a four slot time-division multiple access scheme with 12.5kHz channels. Each 12.5kHz channel contains plural sub-carriers and each sub-carrier is modulated with a modulation scheme that encodes at least 4 bits per symbol. The modulation scheme can be used in a standalone mobile radio communications system, or in a hybrid mobile radio communications system that also uses standard TETRA modulation schemes.