CBRS Spectrum Reassignment via Temporary RF Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CBRS architectures lack mechanisms for maintaining session continuity during frequency changes, leading to service disruptions and user dissatisfaction, particularly for commercial services relying on unlicensed spectrum like CBRS GAA.
Innovation Solution
The method involves communicating between SAS entities and CBSDs to revoke existing channels and instantiate new ones seamlessly, using temporary or ephemeral channels as 'bridge' channels to ensure continuous data sessions, employing 3GPP-compliant signaling for UE communication and maintaining RF carrier reassignment through a pool of available carriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If frequency reconfiguration is performed in CBRS networks, then spectrum utilization is optimized, but session continuity is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a temporary RF carrier before revoking the existing one. The SAS sends a first message to the CBSD to establish the temporary carrier, and only after confirmation does it send a second message to revoke the existing carrier. This ensures that a replacement frequency is ready before the old one is discarded, maintaining session continuity during spectrum reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a temporary RF carrier as an intermediary between the old and new frequency allocations. This temporary carrier acts as a bridge that maintains service continuity during the transition. The SAS coordinates the establishment and revocation of this intermediary carrier to ensure seamless handover without disrupting user sessions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing channels are revoked to allocate new frequencies, then spectrum flexibility is improved, but service disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary establishment of a temporary RF carrier before revoking the existing channel. The SAS sends a first message to establish the temporary carrier and waits for confirmation before sending the second message to revoke the existing carrier. This preliminary action ensures spectrum flexibility while preventing service disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by maintaining a temporary RF carrier as a buffer during the channel transition. This temporary carrier cushions against potential service disruption by providing a ready-made alternative frequency. The SAS coordinates the timing to ensure the temporary carrier is in place before the existing carrier is revoked, thus cushioning the transition from disruption.
3Ease of operation
If seamless handover is implemented during frequency changes, then user experience is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a temporary RF carrier as an intermediary to enable seamless handover. This intermediary simplifies the user experience by maintaining continuous service during frequency transitions. The SAS manages the complexity of coordinating the temporary carrier's establishment and revocation, shielding the CBSD and end users from the underlying system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the CBSD confirms to the SAS when the temporary RF carrier is successfully established. The SAS sends a first message to establish the temporary carrier and receives confirmation before proceeding to revoke the existing carrier. This feedback loop ensures seamless handover while managing system complexity through structured communication and state tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for providing quasi-licensed intra-cell spectrum reassignment. In one embodiment, the quasi-licensed spectrum utilizes 3.5 GHz CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum, and a “seamless” reassignment of wireless spectrum without disruption or loss of continuity to existing data sessions of the CBSD is provided via a pool of temporary RF carriers which act as substitutes for the currently allocated (granted) carriers. The served user devices (e.g., UEs) are instructed by the CBSD to migrate to a new “final” carrier via the substitutes, either directly or via one or more intermediary hops. In one variant, existing 3GPP signaling mechanisms between the UE and CBSD/eNodeB obviates any changes to extant UEs. Communications between the CBSD and its cognizant SAS/DP include new information objects which direct the CBSD to implement the handover functionality. In a further variant, inter-CBSD sector and frequency handovers are provided for using CBRS-plane and 3GPP signaling.