Dynamic Frequency Channel Assignment for Mobile Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Fast-moving cellular wireless communication devices often experience quality-of-service degradation due to frequent handoffs between sectors with varying bandwidth channels, leading to inconsistent service as they move in and out of coverage areas.

Innovation Solution

A method where base stations evaluate a user equipment's speed and instruct it to register on a low-bandwidth channel instead of a higher-bandwidth channel if the speed exceeds a threshold, and also consider the availability of nearby base stations offering higher-bandwidth channels to ensure consistent service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If base stations provide higher-bandwidth channels to improve quality of service, then data throughput and service quality are improved, but fast-moving devices experience frequent handoffs and service degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of service consistencyVSAvoiddevice mobility speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the bandwidth parameter of frequency channels assigned to devices based on their detected speed. When a device exceeds a speed threshold, the base station reassigns it from a higher-bandwidth channel to a lower-bandwidth channel, thereby adapting the service parameters to match the device's mobility characteristics and maintaining reliable connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The frequency channel assignment becomes dynamic rather than static. The base station continuously monitors device speed and adjusts channel assignments in real-time, transitioning devices between different bandwidth channels based on their current mobility state, thus maintaining optimal service quality adaptively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If devices use higher-bandwidth channels, then data throughput is increased, but handoff frequency increases for fast-moving devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata throughputVSAvoidhandoff frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts the bandwidth parameter of assigned channels based on device speed measurements. For fast-moving devices exceeding a threshold, the system transitions them from high-bandwidth channels to lower-bandwidth channels, reducing the frequency of handoffs and associated service interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If base stations assign frequency channels without considering device speed, then channel allocation is simple, but service quality degrades for fast-moving devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel allocation simplicityVSAvoidservice quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where base stations detect device speed and use this information to make informed channel assignment decisions. The speed measurement feedback enables the base station to adaptively select appropriate bandwidth channels, ensuring service quality consistency for devices with varying mobility patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The channel allocation process transitions from a static, speed-agnostic approach to a dynamic, speed-aware assignment strategy. The system continuously adapts channel assignments based on real-time speed measurements, making the allocation process responsive to device mobility conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9231748B1Frequency channel assignment based on speed
Publication Date: 2016.01.05 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

A method and corresponding system is provided to help mitigate the potential quality-of-service degradation associated with fast-moving UEs operating in a network that provides higher-bandwidth frequency channels in some but not all wireless coverage sectors. In accordance with the method, a base station may evaluate a UE's current speed and, when that speed exceeds a threshold speed, the base station may instruct the UE to register on a low-bandwidth channel rather than a higher-bandwidth channel. Registering for service on a low-bandwidth channel instead of a higher-bandwidth channel may help ensure that the UE maintains a consistent quality of service as the UE moves from coverage area to coverage area. Further, the base station may also query nearby base stations to determine whether there exists a sufficient number of base stations that operate on higher-bandwidth channels. If so, the base station may instruct the UE to use a higher-bandwidth channel.