Spectrum Allocation for White Space Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless solutions are limited by hard-coded protocols that cannot utilize non-contiguous frequency bands, making them incompatible with variable and location-specific white space frequency bands, which requires either multi-protocol chips or multiple hard-coded chips for both long and short-distance transmissions.
Innovation Solution
A software-defined radio system that employs a spectrum manager to select and map available white space frequency bands to virtual bands, using a spectrum virtualization module to convert virtual basebands to physical basebands, allowing for flexible and interference-free transmissions without modifying conventional wireless protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hard-coded protocol chips are used for data transmission, then transmission reliability is ensured, but the system cannot utilize non-contiguous frequency bands and requires multiple chips for different transmission distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal software-defined radio architecture where a single reconfigurable chip can dynamically adapt to different frequency bands and transmission protocols through software configuration. The spectrum manager coordinates multiple users sharing the same physical resource, allowing one chip to perform functions that previously required multiple dedicated chips for different protocols and frequency bands
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic spectrum allocation where transmission parameters such as frequency band, modulation scheme, and power level are adjusted in real-time based on spectrum availability and interference conditions. The spectrum manager continuously monitors and reconfigures the software-defined radio parameters to optimize performance across varying operational conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocol chips are used to support both long and short-distance white space transmission, then transmission versatility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single software-defined radio chip is designed to support both long-distance and short-distance transmissions by dynamically configuring transmission power, modulation depth, and coding rates based on the required communication distance. The spectrum manager determines appropriate parameters for each transmission scenario, eliminating the need for separate protocol chips for different distance ranges
3Productivity
If white space frequency bands are allocated to multiple users, then spectrum utilization efficiency is improved, but interference management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spectrum manager implements continuous monitoring of spectrum usage and interference levels, using this feedback to dynamically adjust allocation decisions. When interference is detected or predicted, the system reconfigures frequency assignments, power levels, or modulation schemes to maintain acceptable performance while maximizing spectrum utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The spectrum manager acts as an intermediary between multiple users and the physical spectrum resource, coordinating access and resolving conflicts before they manifest as interference. This centralized coordination layer simplifies the overall system by managing complexity in one location rather than requiring complex distributed interference avoidance protocols
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices that allow a white space base station to request available frequency ranges for white space transmission in a local area. A white space finder service models a primary user device's transmission signal propagation area using terrain data associated with the local area of the primary user device. The white space finder service also determines, based on the location of the white space base station and the modeled propagation area, one or more locally available, non-interfering frequency ranges and provides them to the white space base station. The white space base station compares the provided frequency ranges to policies and selects one or more of the available frequencies that accommodate the policies. The white space base station also maps the transmission frequency ranges to virtual frequency ranges for transmission by a software-defined radio employing spectrum virtualization.