Shared-Spectrum Antenna Orchestration for CBRS RAN Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telecommunications systems, such as shared-spectrum systems like CBRS, face challenges in efficiently configuring radios to operate on reserved frequencies due to compatibility issues and technical challenges, especially when dealing with a large number of radios in a geographic area, leading to cumbersome bandwidth reservation processes and potential interference.
Innovation Solution
An orchestrator system that communicates with a spectrum access system (SAS) to obtain authorization for multiple RAN nodes, enabling or disabling them, adjusting power levels, and optimizing configurations to ensure compatibility and minimize power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple RAN nodes are configured to operate on shared-spectrum frequencies, then network coverage and capacity are improved, but coordination complexity and interference management become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an orchestrator as an intermediary component that sits between the RAN nodes and the SAS. This orchestrator receives authorization from the SAS and distributes coordinated configuration instructions to multiple RAN nodes, managing their operation on shared-spectrum frequencies. The orchestrator handles the complexity of coordinating multiple radios, ensuring they operate harmoniously without causing interference, thereby enabling improved network coverage and capacity while managing coordination complexity centrally.
2Adaptability or versatility
If radios are configured to operate on reserved CBRS frequencies, then spectrum utilization is improved, but compatibility issues and technical challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The orchestrator acts as a compatibility layer between diverse RAN nodes and the SAS. It receives authorization for CBRS frequency usage from the SAS and translates this into node-specific configuration instructions that account for the unique characteristics of each radio. This intermediary approach enables improved spectrum utilization on reserved CBRS frequencies while resolving compatibility issues by adapting the generic SAS authorization to the specific requirements of each RAN node.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters of RAN nodes based on SAS authorization and network conditions. The orchestrator modifies configuration parameters such as transmit power, frequency channels, and operational modes for each RAN node to ensure compatible operation on reserved CBRS frequencies. This parameter adaptation enables diverse radios with different capabilities to operate harmoniously on the same shared spectrum, improving overall spectrum utilization while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If RAN nodes continuously monitor and adjust operations on shared spectrum, then interference management is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The orchestrator implements periodic monitoring and adjustment cycles for RAN nodes operating on shared spectrum. Instead of continuous monitoring, the system checks interference conditions and adjusts node operations at predetermined intervals or when triggered by specific events. This periodic action maintains reliable interference management by regularly updating node configurations while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring and adjustment operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a process, including receiving, from a spectrum access system (SAS), an authorization to transmit on a radio spectrum band, wherein the radio spectrum band comprises frequencies between 3550 MHz and 3700 MHz, does not comprise frequencies lower than 3550 MHz, and does not comprise frequencies greater than 3700 MHz; and based on the authorization, instructing a plurality of radio access network (RAN) nodes to transmit communications on the radio spectrum band.