Spectrum Access System Hierarchical Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless networks lack a mechanism to protect licensed users from interference when a primary wireless channel allocated for use by a wireless network service provider becomes unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical spectrum allocation system that manages wireless spectrum through an allocation management resource, which temporarily reallocates spectrum from lower-priority users to higher-priority users, and protects the use of these spectra from even lower-priority users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a primary wireless channel is allocated to a wireless network service provider, then the service provider can provide communication access, but the channel becomes unavailable when higher-priority users need it
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-identifies and reserves alternative backup wireless channels for each licensed user before the primary channel becomes unavailable. When the primary channel is taken by a higher-priority user, the licensed user can immediately switch to the pre-prepared backup channel without interruption or delay in finding alternative spectrum.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a protective mechanism by allocating backup spectrum resources in advance to cushion against the loss of primary channel access. This cushioning ensures that licensed users maintain continuous service even when primary channels are reclaimed by incumbents or higher-priority users, thus maintaining reliability without sacrificing productivity.
2Productivity
If wireless spectrum is shared among multiple users, then spectrum utilization efficiency improves, but interference between users increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wireless spectrum into multiple priority tiers (incumbent users, licensed users, and unlicensed users) with distinct allocation rules. Each tier operates with protected spectrum resources, preventing lower-priority users from interfering with higher-priority users while maintaining high overall utilization through efficient spectrum sharing within each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The Spectrum Access System (SAS) acts as an intermediary that coordinates spectrum allocation and protects licensed users from interference by unlicensed users. The SAS monitors channel usage, enforces allocation policies, and ensures that unlicensed users do not cause harmful interference to licensed operations, thereby enabling efficient sharing while controlling interference.
3Reliability
If licensed users are protected from interference, then service quality is maintained, but lower-priority users have limited access to spectrum
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality levels of protection locally to different user tiers and geographic regions. Licensed users receive protected access with guaranteed service quality in their allocated spectrum, while unlicensed users are permitted to access unused spectrum resources in areas and time periods where they will not cause interference, thus maintaining both service quality and access flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one configuration, multiple users in a tiered hierarchy share use of a wireless spectrum. For example, a spectrum access system receives a notification indicating that a first-priority tier 1 user in the hierarchy temporarily needs access to a first wireless spectrum assigned to a second-priority tier 2 user in the hierarchy. In response to the notification, the spectrum access system temporarily allocates the second-priority tier 2 user use of a second wireless spectrum. The spectrum access system protects use of the second wireless spectrum by the second-priority tier 2 user from a third-priority tier 3 user in the hierarchy. In certain instances, the one or more spectrum access systems receive the same notification of use of the first wireless spectrum by the first-priority tier 1 user. The multiple spectrum access systems not serving the second-priority tier 2 user protect the Tier 2 User from any Tier 3 Users in the hierarchy.