Dynamic Spectrum Sharing for Broadcast and Cellular

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The proliferation of wireless communications leads to a scarcity of frequency spectrum, as different radio technologies have varying usage patterns, resulting in underutilization of frequency resources, necessitating dynamic spectrum sharing between cellular and broadcast communications.

Innovation Solution

A broadcast base station is configured to discontinue broadcasting in a particular frequency band during scheduled intervals to allow cellular base stations to perform bi-directional packet-switched communications, while mobile devices can switch between frequency bands to utilize shared spectrum, maintaining connectivity through control signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If broadcast base station continuously uses a frequency band for broadcasting, then broadcast service reliability is improved, but spectrum utilization efficiency deteriorates due to underutilization during low broadcast demand periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadcast service reliabilityVSAvoidspectrum utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic spectrum sharing where the frequency band allocation between broadcast and cellular services is not fixed but changes over time based on demand. The broadcast base station discontinues broadcasting during scheduled time intervals to allow cellular communications, creating a dynamic time-division multiplexing scheme that adapts to varying service requirements and optimizes spectrum utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic time-division multiplexing where the frequency band is alternately allocated to broadcast and cellular services in scheduled intervals. This periodic switching allows both services to share the same spectrum resource systematically, improving overall spectrum utilization while maintaining reliable service delivery through predictable allocation patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If cellular base station uses a frequency band for packet-switched communications, then cellular service quality is improved, but broadcast service availability deteriorates when broadcast content needs to be transmitted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecellular service qualityVSAvoidbroadcast service availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches the frequency band usage between cellular and broadcast services based on scheduled time intervals and service requirements. This dynamic allocation allows the same frequency band to serve different purposes at different times, ensuring both cellular service quality and broadcast service availability without requiring dedicated separate bands for each service.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The frequency band is designed to serve multiple functions - it can be used for broadcast communications during certain time intervals and for cellular packet-switched communications during other intervals. This multi-functionality allows a single frequency band to support both broadcast and cellular services, improving resource efficiency while maintaining service availability through time-division multiplexing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If mobile devices continuously monitor multiple frequency bands for shared spectrum opportunities, then spectrum access flexibility is improved, but device power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum access flexibilityVSAvoiddevice power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The base station transmits control signaling in advance that informs mobile devices about upcoming frequency band availability and scheduled time intervals for cellular communications. This preliminary information allows devices to proactively adjust their monitoring and operation modes, switching to low-power states during known broadcast-only intervals rather than continuously monitoring all bands, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining spectrum access flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where base stations provide scheduling information and frequency band status updates to mobile devices through control signaling. This feedback enables devices to adapt their power consumption levels based on actual network conditions and scheduled allocations, allowing them to enter power-saving modes during periods when their frequency bands are not available, thereby reducing overall power usage while maintaining flexible spectrum access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3796724A1Shared spectrum access for broadcast and bi-directional, packet-switched communications

Publication Date: 2021.03.24 HYPERX HOLDINGS LLC

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4

AI summary

Techniques are disclosed relating to spectrum sharing between different radio access technologies. In some embodiments, a broadcast base station is configured to wirelessly broadcast audio and video data to a plurality of broadcast receiver devices using a particular frequency band. In these embodiments, the broadcast base station is configured to discontinue broadcasting in the particular frequency band during a scheduled time interval, to enable one or more cellular base stations to perform bi-directional packet-switched wireless data communications using the particular frequency band.