Dynamic Grant Switch for Supplemental Downlink Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In small-scale and large-scale networks, the revocation of a primary grant in a shared-access-license (SLA) band of frequencies can lead to the degradation or interruption of service, as secondary grants dependent on the primary grant also go down, disrupting supplemental downlink carrier aggregation.
Innovation Solution
A radio node dynamically switches or redefines a secondary grant as the primary grant upon receiving a grant termination message for the primary grant, ensuring continuity of service by maintaining the supplemental downlink carrier aggregation active and allowing for re-establishment of the primary grant after the initial portion's use is revoked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a radio node uses a primary grant for supplemental downlink carrier aggregation, then communication performance is improved, but service reliability deteriorates when the primary grant is revoked by the SAS
Solution Approach 1:
The radio node identifies and prepares a candidate secondary grant in advance, monitoring its quality metrics continuously. When the primary grant is revoked, the switch to the pre-identified candidate secondary grant can occur rapidly, minimizing service interruption. This preliminary preparation of backup resources resolves the contradiction by ensuring service continuity while maintaining communication performance through the pre-vetted candidate grant.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the role parameter of grants, transitioning a secondary grant to become the new primary grant when the original primary grant is revoked. This parameter change enables the radio node to maintain supplemental downlink carrier aggregation functionality by reconfiguring the grant hierarchy, thereby preserving service reliability while adapting to the revoked primary grant situation.
2Productivity
If the SAS revokes a primary grant, then spectrum allocation efficiency is improved, but communication service stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The radio node autonomously performs the grant switch operation without requiring SAS intervention. Upon detecting primary grant revocation, the radio node automatically identifies a candidate secondary grant, validates its quality metrics, and executes the switch to maintain service stability. This self-service capability allows the SAS to efficiently revoke grants for spectrum reallocation while the radio node independently ensures service continuity, resolving the contradiction between spectrum allocation efficiency and service stability.
3Reliability
If a radio node switches from a revoked primary grant to a secondary grant, then service continuity is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a simple quality metric threshold check for candidate secondary grants rather than complex optimization algorithms. The candidate grant selection based on basic quality metrics (such as signal strength or interference levels) provides sufficient service continuity while avoiding the computational complexity of advanced grant optimization, thus resolving the contradiction between service continuity and system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
During operation, a radio node may receive, from a computer, approval and authorization to use a first grant for a first portion of an SLA band of frequencies, and approval and authorization to use a second grant for a second portion of the SLA band of frequencies, where the first grant is a primary grant and the second grant is a secondary grant in a supplemental downlink carrier aggregation. Then, the interface circuit may receive, from the computer, a heartbeat response that includes a grant termination message for the first grant, where the grant termination message includes a warning that indicates that the use of the first portion of the SLA band of frequencies is revoked after a time interval. In response to the grant termination message, the interface circuit may define the second grant as the primary grant for the supplemental downlink carrier aggregation.