Antenna Sensing for Dynamic Angular Sector Isolation in Shared Spectrum

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication networks face congestion and service disruptions due to increasing data traffic, which existing frequency bands cannot adequately address, necessitating more efficient use of available spectrum while avoiding interference with other wireless traffic such as military, satellite, and broadcasting systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an Authorized Shared Access (ASA) system, which allows mobile networks to share frequency bands with incumbent systems by using a Licensed Shared Access (LSA) framework, utilizing an LSA repository, controller, and regulator to manage spectrum sharing, and employing antenna sensing to dynamically isolate interference zones, ensuring interference-free operation for incumbent systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mobile networks use existing frequency bands to handle increasing data traffic, then network capacity and data rates improve, but interference with incumbent systems (military, satellite, broadcasting) increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidinterference to incumbent systems
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary sensing of the spectrum to detect incumbent systems before mobile networks transmit data. The base station senses the spectrum, identifies incumbent systems in specific angular sectors, and prevents transmission in those directions, thereby avoiding interference before it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different transmission qualities in different spatial directions. By identifying angular sectors containing incumbent systems, the base station transmits with full power in safe directions while isolating or reducing transmission in directions toward incumbent systems, creating location-specific transmission characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If mobile networks share frequency bands with incumbent systems through ASA, then spectrum efficiency improves, but complexity of spectrum management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum sharing capabilityVSAvoidspectrum management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station autonomously performs spectrum sensing, incumbent system detection, angular sector identification, and transmission isolation without requiring complex external coordination. The system serves itself by making real-time decisions based on local spectrum measurements, reducing the need for centralized spectrum management infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters based on real-time spectrum conditions. The base station continuously senses the spectrum, adapts its transmission strategy by isolating angular sectors when incumbents are detected, and returns to normal operation when incumbents are absent, creating a flexible and adaptive spectrum sharing mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If antenna sensing is used to dynamically isolate interference zones, then interference protection for incumbent systems improves, but loss of available spectrum for mobile networks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference-free operationVSAvoidspectrum availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the transmission space into angular sectors based on incumbent system locations. Instead of isolating the entire frequency band when an incumbent is detected, the base station divides the 360-degree space around the antenna and only isolates the specific angular sectors containing incumbents, allowing transmission in other directions to continue uninterrupted

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial isolation rather than complete spectrum shutdown. When incumbent systems are detected in certain angular sectors, the base station performs selective isolation only in those directions while maintaining full spectrum availability in other directions, thus protecting incumbents without unnecessarily sacrificing mobile network spectrum access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2905984B1Interference reduction
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP2905984B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2905984B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4B
  • EP2905984B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~10

AI summary

There is provided a method, comprising: obtaining, by a network apparatus, antenna sensing information with respect to signals received by a base station (110) operating under a shared access -system which allows a licensee system (108) to apply at least a part of an shared access spectrum which is currently unused by an incumbent system (104); detecting, on the basis of the antenna sensing information, that at least one device (105) of the incumbent system (104) is communicating on the shared access spectrum in the coverage area of the base station (110); identifying the angular sector (302) in which the device (105) of the incumbent system (104) is located with respect to the base station (110); and dynamically isolating the identified angular sector (302) from usage by the licensee system (108).