Unified Air Interface for Licensed-Unlicensed Spectrum Aggregation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication protocols operate exclusively in either licensed or unlicensed spectrum, failing to efficiently utilize both bands for enhanced network capacity and quality of service (QoS) requirements, particularly in 5G systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a unified air interface that dynamically configures wireless transmissions to span both licensed and unlicensed spectrum using different frame formats, access schemes, and waveforms, with software-defined radio (SDR) signaling for adaptive spectrum management, allowing for flexible load balancing and interference minimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless communication protocols operate exclusively in licensed spectrum, then reliability and QoS requirements are met, but system capacity is limited and licensed spectrum demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines licensed and unlicensed spectrum operations into a single unified air interface. The base station and user equipment are configured to simultaneously support both spectrum types, merging their respective advantages: licensed spectrum provides reliability and QoS guarantees while unlicensed spectrum expands system capacity and reduces licensed spectrum demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The air interface is designed with multi-functionality to operate across both licensed and unlicensed spectrum bands. A single air interface handles multiple functions including licensed spectrum communication for QoS-critical traffic and unlicensed spectrum communication for capacity-enhancing traffic, eliminating the need for separate communication systems.
2Productivity
If wireless communication protocols operate exclusively in unlicensed spectrum, then system capacity increases and licensed spectrum demand decreases, but reliability and QoS requirements are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic into different categories based on QoS requirements. Licensed spectrum is allocated for traffic requiring guaranteed QoS (such as voice and critical data), while unlicensed spectrum is used for best-effort traffic and capacity enhancement. This segmentation allows each spectrum type to be optimized for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality characteristics are applied to different spectrum operations. Licensed spectrum operations provide high reliability and QoS guarantees with controlled access, while unlicensed spectrum operations provide high capacity with best-effort service. The system applies appropriate access schemes and transmission parameters locally to each spectrum type based on its characteristics.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate air interfaces are used for licensed and unlicensed spectrum, then each interface can be optimized for its specific spectrum type, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single unified air interface is designed to perform multiple functions across both licensed and unlicensed spectrum. The air interface includes configuration mechanisms that enable it to adapt its behavior based on the active spectrum type, maintaining optimization for each spectrum while avoiding the complexity of entirely separate interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The air interface is designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing it to switch between licensed and unlicensed spectrum modes as needed. Configuration parameters such as frame formats, access schemes, and transmission settings can be dynamically adjusted based on which spectrum type is currently in use, providing adaptability without requiring fixed separate interfaces.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
Performing wireless transmissions over a unified air interface that span portions of both the primary band and the complementary band may provide improved throughput and spectral efficiency in next generation networks. Wireless transmissions spanning both the licensed and unlicensed spectrum carry data in different frame formats over the respective primary and complementary bands. For example, frames communicated over the primary band may have a different channel structure (e.g., different size, placement, orientation, etc.) than frames communicated over the complementary band. Wireless transmissions spanning the licensed and unlicensed spectrum may also utilize different access schemes and/or waveforms over the respective primary and complementary bands. Embodiment unified air interfaces may be dynamically configurable via software defined radio (SDR) signaling instructions.