Unit Sequence Signal Identification for Atmospheric Ducting Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing signal source identification methods in telecommunications fail to accurately identify interference sources when network devices operate with varying bandwidths and frequency carriers due to atmospheric ducting, leading to remote interference.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that transmit and detect unit sequences with bandwidths as common divisors of overlapping system bandwidths, allowing unique identification of devices, enabling interference source determination without requiring all devices to use the same bandwidth and frequency carriers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network devices use varying bandwidths and frequency carriers to operate independently, then device adaptability and flexibility are improved, but signal source identification accuracy deteriorates due to atmospheric ducting interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice bandwidth flexibilityVSAvoidsignal source identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces unit sequences as intermediary signals that are transmitted across the network. These unit sequences serve as unique identifiers that can be detected and correlated even when devices operate with varying bandwidths and frequency carriers. The unit sequence acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between diverse device configurations and the need for accurate signal source identification, allowing remote devices to identify interfering sources despite atmospheric ducting conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If all network devices use the same bandwidth and frequency carriers to enable accurate signal identification, then signal source identification accuracy is improved, but network device adaptability and versatility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal source identification accuracyVSAvoiddevice bandwidth flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the identification problem into two parts: (1) devices can operate with varying bandwidths and frequency carriers for normal communication, and (2) a separate identification mechanism using unit sequences is implemented. The unit sequences are transmitted in dedicated resources and can be independently detected. This segmentation allows the network to maintain device flexibility while ensuring accurate signal source identification through the specialized unit sequence mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If unit sequences with bandwidth as common divisor of overlapping system bandwidths are used, then unique device identification is achieved across varying bandwidths, but signal processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identification accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the bandwidth parameter of unit sequences to be the greatest common divisor of all overlapping system bandwidths in the network. This parameter change ensures that unit sequences fit within any device's bandwidth allocation, enabling universal transmission and detection. While this requires calculating the GCD of bandwidths, once determined, the unit sequences can be efficiently processed using standard correlation techniques, and the complexity is centralized in the configuration phase rather than ongoing signal processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4035450B1Signal source identification and determination
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP4035450B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4035450B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4035450B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage media for signal source identification and determination. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, in response to detecting a signal, a device identifies at least one unit sequence from the signal. A bandwidth of each unit sequence is a common divisor of overlapping system bandwidths among a plurality of devices. The at least one unit sequence uniquely identifies a further device transmitting the signal. The device determines, based on the at least one unit sequence, the further device from the plurality of devices. As such, a device suffering interference due to atmospheric ducting can find out an interference source and perform an action to avoid the interference.