Wireless Relay Single Transceiver Chain Time-Division Duplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless relay technologies face noise amplification and feedback isolation issues due to the requirement of dual RF transceiver chains, particularly in analogue and digital FDD relays, which limits their effectiveness in extending network coverage.
Innovation Solution
A wireless relay method utilizing a single transceiver chain that switches between different frequency bands and transceiver types during specific time slots, allowing for efficient communication by reconfiguring the transceiver to behave like either a user equipment or a base station transceiver, thereby eliminating the need for dual receive and transmit chains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dual RF transceiver chains are used in conventional relays, then communication capability is improved, but device complexity and noise amplification increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of two separate RF transceiver chains into a single transceiver chain by implementing time-division duplexing. The single chain alternates between receiving and transmitting modes across different time slots, combining the capabilities of what would traditionally require dual chains while reducing hardware complexity and eliminating noise amplification issues associated with analogue relays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action through time-division duplexing, where the single transceiver chain operates in periodic cycles of receiving and transmitting. During specific time slots, the chain receives signals on one frequency band, and during other time slots, it transmits signals on a different frequency band. This periodic switching enables full-duplex communication functionality using a single chain that would traditionally require dual chains.
2Adaptability or versatility
If in-band relaying is used, then frequency band utilization is improved, but feedback isolation and noise amplification worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing time-division duplexing where the relay operates in alternating time slots for receiving and transmitting. This temporal separation prevents the feedback isolation and noise amplification problems inherent in continuous in-band relaying, while still utilizing the same frequency bands for both uplink and downlink communications through time-multiplexed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces time-division multiplexing as an intermediary mechanism that separates receiving and transmitting operations in time. This intermediary approach allows the system to use in-band frequencies for both directions while avoiding direct feedback loops and noise amplification by ensuring that transmission and reception occur at different times rather than simultaneously.
3Device complexity
If TDD in-band relaying is used, then hardware complexity is reduced, but time slot coordination and reconfiguration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a reconfigurable single transceiver chain that can dynamically switch between different operational modes and frequency bands. The system dynamically adjusts the transceiver's receiving and transmitting characteristics based on the current time slot requirements, enabling flexible adaptation to different communication scenarios while maintaining a simplified hardware architecture with only one transceiver chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the operational parameters of the single transceiver chain according to the time slot type. During first time slots, the transceiver is configured with specific receiving and transmitting parameters for communicating with user equipment, while during second time slots, the parameters are changed to communicate with the base station. This dynamic parameter adjustment enables the single chain to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate dedicated chains.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and Methods are provided for relaying wireless signals bi-directionally between user equipment (UE) and base station transceivers (BTS). Various slot types are defined during which a relay node takes on the personality of either the UE or the BTS. In order to implement the relay node with a single transceiver chain, a first switching matrix is used to switch high band and low band RF bandpass filters between receive and transmit paths, and a second switching matrix is used to switch two frequency sources between the receive and transmit path. In this way, a single receive path can function both in the UE and BTS personality, as can the single transmit path.