Wireless Symbol Boundary Detection Using Correlation and Phase Differences

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in achieving high-speed synchronization, leading to increased time requirements for symbol boundary detection, reduced accuracy in channel estimation, and higher resource consumption, which affects communication performance and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for high-speed synchronization in wireless communication devices that utilize correlation values and phase differences to detect symbol boundaries, enabling simultaneous time and frequency synchronization, reducing the time needed for synchronization and improving channel estimation accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional synchronization methods are used, then symbol boundary detection can be performed, but the time required for synchronization increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization timeVSAvoidsymbol boundary detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing coarse symbol boundary detection using correlation values before conducting fine detection using phase differences. This two-stage approach prepares the system in advance with rough estimates, enabling faster convergence to accurate symbol boundaries and reducing overall synchronization time while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical search-based symbol boundary detection with a computational approach using correlation values and phase differences. This substitution of mechanical scanning with mathematical processing enables parallel computation and faster convergence, significantly reducing synchronization time while preserving detection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If conventional synchronization methods are used, then symbol boundaries can be detected, but channel estimation accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary channel estimation using correlation values obtained during coarse symbol boundary detection before refining the estimation with phase differences from fine detection. This preliminary action enables early channel characterization, improving overall estimation accuracy while avoiding the need to wait for complete fine synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuous channel estimation throughout the synchronization process, using available correlation values and phase differences at each stage rather than waiting for complete synchronization. This continuous useful action improves channel estimation accuracy by accumulating information over time without interruption, while reducing the effective synchronization time needed for reliable estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If conventional synchronization methods are used, then time synchronization can be achieved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization speedVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the synchronization process into distinct stages: coarse symbol boundary detection using correlation values, and fine detection using phase differences. Each segment uses computational resources appropriate to its precision requirements, avoiding the excessive resource consumption of applying fine-detection algorithms throughout the entire synchronization process while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by using only the necessary amount of computational processing for each synchronization stage. Correlate- based coarse detection uses minimal resources for initial alignment, while phase-difference based fine detection uses enhanced resources only when needed for precision, optimizing the balance between synchronization speed and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12562950B2Apparatus and method for high-speed synchronization in wireless communication

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method includes calculating first correlation values corresponding to a first symbol duration based on input samples, the input samples being generated from a received signal; calculating phase differences respectively corresponding to the input samples based on the first correlation values and second correlation values corresponding to a second symbol duration preceding the first symbol duration; updating accumulative phase differences respectively corresponding to the input samples based on the phase differences; and detecting a symbol boundary based on the updated accumulative phase differences.