Radio Frequency Interference Identification Using Probabilistic Band Activation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for estimating interference in radiofrequency systems, such as those used in autonomous vehicles and Communication-Based Train Control, face challenges in accurately determining the activation rate of interferers across multiple transmission bands, particularly in cases where interferers can be active on contiguous channels and may overlap, leading to sub-optimal solutions and potential interference issues.

Innovation Solution

A method using computer means to estimate interference by determining all possible configurations of transmission band occupation, building a matrix from measurements, and computing probabilities to determine the activation rate of each transmission band, involving a non-linear optimization problem with constraints to maximize the log-likelihood of channel transitions, while accounting for non-overlapping conditions and potential overlapping cases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional interference estimation methods are used, then the system can operate with simpler measurement approaches, but the accuracy of activation rate estimation deteriorates when interferers overlap across multiple transmission bands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation rate estimation accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement and processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the interference estimation problem by considering each transmission band separately and constructing a matrix where each column represents a specific band occupation configuration. This allows the system to handle overlapping interferers by breaking down the complex multi-band problem into manageable segmental configurations that can be processed systematically through probabilistic computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the system accounts for all possible interferer configurations across multiple bands, then the accuracy of interference detection improves, but the computational complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference detection reliabilityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining and storing all possible transmission band occupation configurations in a matrix structure before actual interference measurement occurs. This pre-computation of the configuration space allows the system to quickly map measured interference patterns to known configurations, reducing real-time computational complexity while maintaining high detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by focusing computational resources on the most likely band occupation configurations rather than exhaustively analyzing all possible interferer arrangements. By identifying and prioritizing relevant configuration patterns that match measured interference characteristics, the system achieves reliable detection without the full computational burden of exhaustive analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses a fixed measurement approach for interference estimation, then the implementation is simpler, but it cannot adapt to different interferer patterns and overlapping scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different interferer patternsVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by creating an adaptive measurement approach where the system evaluates multiple possible band occupation configurations and selects the most probable one based on measured interference data. This dynamic evaluation process allows the system to automatically adapt to different interferer patterns and overlapping scenarios while maintaining operational simplicity through automated probabilistic selection of the optimal configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3716506B1Improved WIFI interference identification for a use in a public frequency hopping system
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC R&D CENTRE EUROPE BV
  • EP3716506B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3716506B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3716506B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for estimating interference on a radiofrequency system using a set of channels (CHi), said interference being caused by interferers of an interfering system using a set of transmission bands (TBi), each of said transmission band extending on a plurality of contiguous channels of said set of channels. The method comprises: - Determining a set of all possible configurations of occupation or non-occupation of said set of transmission bands, defined as a set of possible vectors, - Building a matrix from a stacking of all the possible vectors, - Obtaining measurements of occupation of at least a part of said set of channels, at respective time instants, - Computing probabilities using a channel transition function so as to determine, for each transmission band, an estimated activation rate, on the basis of said measurements, said estimated activation rate corresponding to an occupation rate of a transmission band by an interferer within said given observation time window, and the probabilities computations comprise an iterative resolution of a non-linear optimization problem with a constraint derived from the Gibbs' inequality.