CBRS Base Station Grant Renewal via Alternative SAS Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
The communication interruption between Citizens Broadband Radio Services (CBRS) base stations and the Spectrum Access System (SAS) can lead to the base stations shutting down due to unrenewed spectrum grants, resulting in degraded UE experience and increased costs, necessitating a robust alternative communication path.
Innovation Solution
An alternative channel is established using a user equipment (UE) with a connection manager (CM) and a server to directly communicate grant status from the SAS to the base station, enabling grant renewal even when the traditional path is interrupted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the traditional communication path between base station and SAS is used, then the communication structure is simple, but the reliability is reduced due to potential interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
A UE with CM application acts as an intermediary to establish an alternative communication path between the base station and SAS. When the traditional path is interrupted, the CM application on the UE communicates with the CM server, which then communicates with the SAS, bypassing the interrupted traditional path while maintaining grant renewal functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication path is segmented into multiple independent routes: the traditional path (base station - domain proxy - SAS) and the alternative path (base station - UE with CM - CM server - SAS). This segmentation allows the system to switch between paths independently, improving reliability without permanently increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If an alternative communication path is established, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication architecture dynamically switches between the traditional and alternative paths based on path availability. The base station monitors the traditional path and activates the alternative path only when needed, avoiding permanent complexity while ensuring operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The CM application on the UE performs self-service by automatically detecting path interruptions and initiating communication through the alternative path without requiring manual intervention or complex centralized control, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Reliability
If the traditional communication path is interrupted, then the base station can continue operating independently, but the grant renewal fails and spectrum usage is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing the alternative communication path components (UE with CM application, CM server) in advance before path interruptions occur. This ensures that when the traditional path fails, the alternative path is already prepared and can immediately take over for grant renewal, maintaining both reliability and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An alternative channel for communicating information relating to renewal of a spectrum grant from SAS to a base station is implemented. This alternative channel provides a communications path to communicate status of a grant from an SAS to the base station, while the base station's primary communication channel with SAS, which typically involves a domain proxy remains interrupted. The alternative channel includes a UE with a connection manager (CM). An identified UE sends a grant renewal request message to SAS for the base station and receives a grant renewal request response message indicating grant status from the SAS. The grant status is forwarded to the base station, and if the grant is renewed, the base station renews the grant transmit expiration time and continues to transmit. This approach reduces potential service outages at the base station due to lack of awareness of the actual status of the SAS grant.