Wireless Device Parallel Base Station Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication devices consume bandwidth to search for and evaluate available base stations, which can disrupt data transfer and is inefficient, as they typically need to request communication breaks from the current base station to perform these scans.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a wireless communication device with multiple transceiver modules and a scanning module that allows for parallel scanning across different communication chains and antennas, enabling efficient scanning without breaking communication with the current base station, using measurement gaps or idle periods within data frames for scanning operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless communication device requests communication breaks from the current base station to scan for available base stations, then the device can evaluate other base stations for potential handoff, but bandwidth is consumed and data transfer is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase station evaluation capabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the scanning function with the existing transceiver modules used for communication, allowing the same hardware to perform both communication and scanning operations. This eliminates the need for separate scanning hardware and allows parallel operation without additional bandwidth consumption for scanning requests

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous communication with the current base station while simultaneously performing scanning operations in parallel. The device does not need to interrupt communication to scan, as multiple transceiver modules allow concurrent communication and scanning activities, maintaining continuous useful action on both fronts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase station evaluation capabilityVSAvoiddata transfer continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the scanning functionality into the existing communication transceiver modules, allowing the device to perform scanning and data transfer simultaneously using the same hardware resources. This integration eliminates the need to choose between scanning and data transfer, as both operations can proceed in parallel without disrupting each other

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous data transfer by allowing scanning operations to occur in parallel with communication activities. The device maintains uninterrupted data transfer while simultaneously evaluating other base stations, ensuring both functions operate continuously without interruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If the wireless communication device uses multiple transceiver modules for parallel scanning, then scanning efficiency is enhanced without breaking communication, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of transceiver modules

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by designing transceiver modules that can perform both communication and scanning operations. Each transceiver module is capable of dual functionality, allowing the device to communicate with the current base station while simultaneously scanning for other base stations using the same hardware resources, thereby enhancing scanning efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the scanning function across multiple transceiver modules, allowing parallel scanning operations on different frequencies or channels. This segmentation enables efficient simultaneous scanning without requiring a single complex scanning system, distributing the scanning load across multiple simpler modules that also handle communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9356757B2Wireless communication device capable of scanning for available base stations using reduced bandwidth

Publication Date: 2016.05.31 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

A wireless communication device is disclosed that includes multiple antennas capable of being used for carrier aggregation, and that uses its additional antennas to scan for available base stations without interfering with connectivity to a current base station and/or while maximizing useable bandwidth. The wireless communication device may scan using multiple of the antennas to maximize scanning results and reduce scan time, and may scan for available base stations using some of its antennas while maintaining its connection to the current base station with its other antennas. The device can also analyze control channel portions of received signals to utilize periods of signal inactivity to scan for available base stations, such as DRX or SPS modes of operation. In addition, the device can measure various parameters to optimize its scanning capabilities.