Access Prioritization for Private LTE in CBRS Spectrum

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current CBRS spectrum utilization rules do not effectively prioritize access to private LTE networks based on enterprise group affiliations, leading to inefficient network resource allocation and potential connectivity issues for high-priority users.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that associates user equipment with functional groups and uses a Digital Network Architecture (DNA) appliance to determine access priority based on these groups and cell traffic loads, allowing for preferential access and traffic management within the CBRS network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If CBRS spectrum is made available for general authorized access to maximize user coverage, then network accessibility is improved, but network resource allocation efficiency deteriorates due to lack of prioritization for high-priority users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork accessibilityVSAvoidnetwork resource allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments users into different functional groups (e.g., public safety, commercial, industrial) and applies different access priority levels to each group. This segmentation allows the network to maintain general accessibility while ensuring high-priority users receive preferential treatment during resource allocation decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by applying different access priority treatments to different user groups based on their functional characteristics. Instead of uniform access rules, the system tailors access priority levels to specific functional groups, allowing high-priority users to receive enhanced resource allocation while maintaining open access for general users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If access priority is implemented based on functional groups to improve network resource allocation, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional prioritization mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining functional groups and their associated access priority levels before network operations begin. User equipment is pre-associated with functional groups, and priority rules are pre-configured in the network, allowing efficient resource allocation without requiring complex real-time decision-making mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the functional group association system) that mediates between user equipment and network resource allocation. This intermediary layer simplifies the prioritization process by using pre-defined group memberships rather than requiring complex individual user assessments during resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If uniform access rules are applied to all users to simplify network operations, then ease of operation is improved, but network performance deteriorates due to inability to prioritize critical users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork operation simplicityVSAvoidconnectivity guarantee for high-priority users
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a multi-functional access control system that handles both simple and complex scenarios through a unified framework. The functional group-based priority system serves multiple purposes: it maintains simple operation for general users while simultaneously providing reliable prioritization for high-priority users, achieving both ease of operation and connectivity guarantee through a single mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4052511B1Access prioritization for private LTE radio service
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP4052511B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4052511B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4052511B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing access prioritization to a private Long Term Evolution (LTE) network operating in a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum include receiving, at a network device of the private Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, a functional group associated with a user equipment (UE) and a traffic load of a cell of the private LTE network associated with the UE. An access priority associated with the functional group and the traffic load is determined and provided to a CBRS access point (AP) which controls access to the cell. The access priority indicates to the CBRS AP a priority with which the UE is allowed to access the cell and can include a high priority, a low priority, or no access indication.