Unlicensed Spectrum Channel Switching for Continuous Cellular Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular communication protocols face discontinuities and increased latency when operating in unlicensed spectrum due to channel contentions, requiring protocol modifications and dedicated chipsets, limiting their deployment and coexistence with Wi-Fi.
Innovation Solution
A continuous transmission and reception wrapper (CTR-WR) that dynamically switches between available channels in the unlicensed spectrum, ensuring continuous transmission without modifying existing cellular protocols or chipsets, using Wi-Fi multi-link operations for seamless integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If scanning procedures are performed prior to transmission in unlicensed spectrum, then interference is reduced, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing channel scanning and acquiring a first channel before the actual data transmission begins. The node scans the unlicensed spectrum, identifies an available first channel, and acquires it for a predetermined occupancy time before transmitting data samples, thereby reducing interference while managing latency through advance preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining an active first channel for data transmission and simultaneously preparing to acquire a second channel before the first channel's occupancy time expires. This overlapping preparation and transmission approach minimizes interruption and maintains continuous communication flow in the unlicensed spectrum
2Productivity
If multiple channels are used to increase throughput, then bandwidth is increased, but communication discontinuities occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by acquiring the second channel before the first channel's occupancy time expires. This advance acquisition ensures that when the first channel becomes unavailable, the second channel is already ready for immediate use, preventing communication discontinuities while utilizing multiple channels for increased throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by overlapping the acquisition of the second channel with the transmission on the first channel. The second channel is acquired in advance and made ready before the first channel's occupancy time ends, ensuring seamless transition and continuous communication without interruption
3Reliability
If channel occupancy time is extended, then transmission stability is improved, but spectrum sharing fairness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by preparing to acquire a second channel before the first channel's occupancy time expires. This ensures that the node can maintain continuous transmission without excessive delays, balancing transmission stability with fair spectrum sharing by not holding the first channel indefinitely
Data Source
AI summary
There is herein disclosed a method including receiving a base band stream and converting the base band stream into a set of data samples. The set of data samples includes a first set of data samples and a second set of data samples. The method includes selecting a sequence of available channels from a plurality of channels in an unlicensed spectrum. A bandwidth of each channel of the sequence of available channels is according to a bandwidth configuration defined by a cellular protocol and the selected sequence of available channels comprises a first channel and a second channel. The method includes transmitting, to a receiver, the selected sequence of available channels and transmitting, to the receiver, during a first transmission period, the first set of data samples via the first channel. The method further includes transmitting, to the receiver, prior to transmission of the second set of data samples via the second channel, a preamble according to a Wi-Fi protocol and transmitting, to the receiver, after expiration of the first transmission period, during a second transmission period, the second set of data samples via the second channel.