Soft Spectrum Access System Migration for CBRS Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Spectrum Access Systems (SASs) for Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) networks face challenges in seamless migration between different SAS providers, leading to undesirable disruptions in service when subscribers change providers, affecting scalability, robustness, and performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a 'soft' migration technique that allows CBRS base stations to register with a new SAS provider while still authorized by the old provider, minimizing downtime and service disruption by leveraging existing protocols and procedures with modifications, such as the SAS-CBSD interface and heartbeat procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional migration approaches are used between SAS providers, then the base station can change providers, but service disruption and downtime occur
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary registration with the new SAS provider before disconnecting from the old provider. The new provider provisions spectrum grants and authorizations in advance, so that when the old connection is terminated, the base station can immediately continue operations without service interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary migration process where the new SAS provider acts as a temporary bridge. The base station maintains connectivity through the new provider's infrastructure during the transition period, allowing seamless handoff without direct disruption to connected clients.
2Reliability
If seamless migration is implemented, then service disruption is minimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station autonomously manages its own migration process by initiating registration with the new SAS provider, transferring its own database information, and coordinating the transition without requiring external intervention. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system complexity despite the sophisticated migration capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If base station deregisters from old SAS before registering with new SAS, then provider change is achieved, but downtime occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary registration with the new SAS provider before disconnecting from the old provider. The new provider provisions spectrum grants and authorizations in advance, so that when the old connection is terminated, the base station can immediately continue operations without service interruption.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and mechanisms for a soft migration from an initial or source Spectrum Access System (SAS) of a source SAS provider to a destination SAS of a destination SAS provider for a base station operative to serve as a Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD) in a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network are described. While the base station operates to facilitate communications for one or more user equipments (UEs) and is registered with the source SAS for spectrum access, the base station may communicate in one or more message exchanges for registering with the destination SAS and for receiving from the destination SAS a grant for spectrum access to spectrum according to a plurality of operating parameters. After communicating in a message exchange with the destination SAS in a heartbeat procedure for receiving an authorization to use the granted spectrum, the base station may deregister with the source SAS.