Digital Remote Antenna Coordinator for V2X Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems with two remote antennas face challenges in achieving reliable omnidirectional coverage due to the limitations of coaxial cables, including high cost, weight, and handling issues, as well as the complexity of achieving high signal bandwidth and low latency with digital connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A coordinator module is introduced to synchronize the operation of two remote antennas using digital connectivity, enabling concurrent future transmission scheduling, CCA state exchange, and duplicate packet prevention, thereby ensuring synchronized transmission and minimizing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coaxial cables are used to connect two remote antennas, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but cost, weight, and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical coaxial cable system with a digital connectivity system using twisted pair cables and digital signal processing. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy coaxial cables while maintaining communication reliability through digital signal transmission and processing at both antenna ends.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the signal transmission parameters from analog RF signals over coaxial cable to digital signals over twisted pair cable. This parameter change enables the use of lighter cabling while achieving comparable or superior performance through digital signal processing, including modulation/demodulation and error correction.
2Reliability
If digital connectivity with modulated data exchange is used between remote antennas, then optimal diversity is achieved, but signal bandwidth requirements and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hybrid approach where antennas can operate in either modulated data mode (for optimal diversity) or un-modulated data mode (for lower latency). This partial application of modulated data exchange allows the system to achieve diversity when needed while avoiding excessive bandwidth requirements and latency when simple data exchange suffices.
3Quantity of substance
If un-modulated data exchange is used between remote antennas, then bandwidth requirements are reduced, but transmission synchronization becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator as an intermediary device that manages synchronization between the two remote antennas. The coordinator receives un-modulated data from both antennas, handles timing alignment, and manages data combination, thereby eliminating the need for complex distributed synchronization protocols between the antennas themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where each antenna independently performs local signal processing and conditioning before transmitting un-modulated data. This distributed preprocessing reduces the synchronization burden on the coordinator and simplifies the overall timing requirements.
4Reliability
If indirect digital connectivity through switches is used, then antenna isolation is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the digital connectivity path into dedicated point-to-point links between each antenna and the coordinator, eliminating the need for switching infrastructure. This segmentation provides inherent isolation between antenna channels while minimizing transmission latency through direct digital connections.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, and in particular for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications. The apparatus comprises two remote antennas positioned in a vehicle and communicatively coupled by digital connectivity and a coordinator communicatively coupled to the two remote antennas and operative to synchronize operation of the two remote antennas.