Fairness Evaluation for Wireless Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless networks face challenges in ensuring fair resource allocation and coexistence among heterogeneous wireless networks, particularly in unlicensed frequency bands like TV white spaces, where interference and resource utilization need to be managed to avoid disrupting primary users.
Innovation Solution
A method for wireless resource sharing that involves evaluating resource allocations across neighboring networks to ensure fairness, using quality factors, spread factors, and width factors to determine if allocations are fair, and adjusting resource distribution accordingly to maintain coexistence without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If resource allocation is performed in shared frequency bands without fairness evaluation, then resource distribution speed is improved, but allocation fairness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the fairness evaluation unit continuously monitors resource allocation outcomes and feeds this information back to the resource allocation unit. This closed-loop system allows the network to dynamically adjust allocations based on fairness metrics (quality factor, spread factor, width factor) while maintaining efficient resource distribution. The feedback ensures that rapid allocation does not compromise fairness by enabling real-time corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary fairness evaluation before finalizing resource allocations. By calculating fairness metrics (quality factor, spread factor, width factor) in advance and comparing them against threshold values, the system can pre-determine whether an allocation is fair before committing resources. This preliminary action prevents unfair allocations from being made and reduces the need for post-allocation corrections, thereby maintaining both speed and fairness.
2Reliability
If fairness evaluation is performed for all neighboring networks, then allocation fairness is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing fairness evaluation only on relevant neighboring networks that actually share resources with the served network. Instead of uniformly evaluating all neighboring networks, the system identifies and evaluates only those networks in the same frequency band or with overlapping resource usage. This localized approach maintains allocation fairness for affected networks while significantly reducing computational complexity by excluding irrelevant networks from the evaluation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by selectively applying fairness evaluation only when necessary - specifically when resource allocations are made in shared bands where coexistence issues may arise. The system uses conditional logic to determine whether fairness evaluation is needed based on network type, frequency band, and resource sharing status. This partial application of fairness evaluation maintains reliability where needed while avoiding unnecessary computational overhead in situations where fairness concerns are minimal.
3Stability of the object's composition
If resource allocations are adjusted to ensure fairness, then coexistence stability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where fairness parameters (quality factor, spread factor, width factor) and their threshold values can be adjusted in real-time based on network conditions, traffic demand, and coexistence requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize both stability and efficiency by adapting allocation strategies to current conditions rather than applying static fairness rules that would always prioritize stability over efficiency. The dynamic thresholds enable the system to be more aggressive in resource utilization when conditions permit while maintaining stability when needed.
4Measurement precision
If spectrum sensors are used to detect primary user signals, then interference detection capability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a database of incumbent user information as an intermediary that provides pre-collected spectrum usage data. Instead of relying solely on real-time spectrum sensing by individual devices, the system uses this database to inform allocation decisions. The database acts as a mediator that consolidates the complex task of primary user detection, allowing individual networks to make informed decisions without each device needing full sensing capabilities. This reduces device complexity and energy consumption while maintaining detection capability through the centralized information repository.
Data Source
AI summary
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for wireless resource sharing between heterogeneous wireless networks to enable coexistence of secondary networks. An example embodiment of the invention includes a method, comprising: allocating available resources for a wireless network served by an apparatus, the served wireless network requesting resources, the allocation of available resources including allocation for each of one or more wireless networks neighboring the served wireless network; and determining whether the served wireless network and each of the one or more neighboring wireless networks has at least one of resources corresponding with the requested resources, or a fair portion of available resources to operate, based on analyzing resource allocations for the served wireless network and each of the one or more neighboring wireless networks.