Centralized Controller for Multi-Node LBT Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly for 5G NR, determining a fair mechanism for assigning shared spectrum resources among multiple operators is challenging due to increased competition, which affects the efficient operation of multi-node listen before talk (LBT) functionality.
Innovation Solution
A centralized controller is introduced to identify and instruct scheduling entities to perform LBT evaluations, controlling which scheduled entities are served based on these evaluations, ensuring fair resource allocation and coordination among multiple operators using LBT protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple operators compete for shared spectrum resources using LBT protocols, then spectrum utilization increases, but coordination difficulty and interference management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized controller as an intermediary entity that coordinates LBT operations across multiple scheduling entities. The controller receives LBT evaluation results from various scheduling entities, makes centralized decisions about resource allocation, and provides coordination information back to the scheduling entities. This mediator approach resolves the coordination complexity by centralizing the decision-making process while enabling multiple operators to efficiently share spectrum resources.
2Ease of operation
If each scheduling entity performs independent LBT evaluations, then autonomous operation is maintained, but resource allocation fairness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where scheduling entities report their LBT evaluation results to the centralized controller, which then provides coordination information and resource allocation decisions back to the scheduling entities. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain autonomous LBT operations at the entity level while ensuring fair resource allocation through centralized oversight and coordination based on the collected evaluation data.
3Reliability
If centralized coordination is implemented for multi-node LBT, then resource allocation fairness improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the LBT coordination function into separate components: individual scheduling entities perform local LBT evaluations autonomously, while the centralized controller handles high-level coordination and resource allocation decisions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve fair resource allocation through centralized coordination without requiring every node to implement complex coordination logic, thereby managing system complexity through functional decomposition.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects directed towards facilitating multi-node listen before talk (LBT) functionality via a centralized controller are disclosed. In one example, for each of a plurality of scheduled entities, a corresponding set of scheduling entities is identified, and each scheduling entity of the set of scheduling entities is instructed to perform at least one LBT evaluation. This example then further includes controlling whether any of the plurality of scheduled entities is served by a corresponding one or more scheduling entities of the set of scheduling entities based on the at least one LBT evaluation performed by each scheduling entity.