Private Network Management for CBRS and WLAN Channel Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular and WLAN access point devices require separate management and channel allocation, lacking a unified solution for integrating licensed and unlicensed frequency bands to meet Quality of Service (QoS) requirements.
Innovation Solution
A single network management platform aggregates both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands, using a channel allocation device to select and manage CBRS and non-CBRS frequency bands, along with WLAN channels, to meet specific QoS demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate management is used for cellular and WLAN access point devices, then device management complexity is reduced for each individual system, but integrated network performance optimization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate cellular and WLAN access point devices into a unified access point that can simultaneously manage both cellular communications (4G LTE, 5G) and WLAN communications (802.11 standards). This merging enables integrated channel allocation and spectrum management across both communication types, allowing the system to optimize overall network performance while maintaining ease of operation through a single management interface.
2Device complexity
If separate channel allocation is used for cellular and WLAN communications, then channel management is simplified for each standard, but frequency band aggregation opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The access point device is designed with multi-functionality to handle both cellular and WLAN channel allocation through a unified channel allocation mechanism. The device can allocate channels from both licensed (CBRS) and unlicensed (WLAN) frequency bands based on QoS requirements, enabling flexible frequency band aggregation while maintaining manageable complexity through a single channel allocation process that serves multiple communication standards.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a unified network management platform is implemented, then integrated spectrum management is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unified network management platform is segmented into distinct functional modules: a cellular communication module for managing cellular protocols and licensed spectrum, a WLAN communication module for managing WLAN protocols and unlicensed spectrum, and an integrated channel allocation module that coordinates between them. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive spectrum management while keeping individual module complexities manageable and well-defined.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a private network includes obtaining channel requirement information indicating a bandwidth of a channel, obtaining available channel information indicating Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) frequency bands and non-CBRS frequency bands available to be allocated to the channel, selecting one or more of the CBRS frequency bands and one or more of first non-CBRS frequency bands based on the channel requirement information, generating channel aggregation information indicating the selected CBRS and non-CBRS frequency bands, generating transmission power level information for the selected CBRS and non-CBRS frequency bands, transmitting the channel aggregation information and the transmission power level information, receiving the first channel aggregation information and the first transmission power level information at an access point device, and transmitting data in the channel using the selected CBRS and non-CBRS frequency bands from the access point device based on the first transmission power level information.