Virtual Carrier Mapping for LTE Shared Spectrum Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, especially in congested cellular networks, existing technologies face challenges in efficiently accessing and utilizing shared spectra, leading to potential losses in data transmission due to contention-based protocols, where devices may need to wait for subsequent transmission intervals if they lose access to physical carriers.
Innovation Solution
A method where a transmitting device identifies and maps virtual carriers to a number of physical carriers greater than needed for data transmission, allowing access even if it loses contention for some carriers, by performing clear channel assessments and using channel usage beacon signals to reserve access to sufficient physical carriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transmitting device contends for access to physical carriers using a contention-based protocol, then access to the shared spectrum is determined, but the device may lose access to carriers and need to wait for subsequent transmission intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting device performs clear channel assessments on multiple physical carriers in advance before the actual data transmission. By pre-assessing channel availability and mapping virtual carriers to physical carriers beforehand, the device ensures continuous transmission capability without waiting for subsequent intervals after potential contention losses.
2Productivity
If a transmitting device contends for access to physical carriers, then channel access is determined, but data transmission may be lost when losing contention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier access into virtual carriers and physical carriers. The transmitting device identifies multiple physical carriers and maps them to virtual carriers, allowing the system to maintain data transmission continuity even if some physical carrier access is lost during contention, as long as sufficient physical carriers are available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of carrier identification from direct physical carrier access to virtual carrier mapping. By using virtual carriers that can be mapped to multiple physical carriers, the system maintains transmission reliability even when physical carrier access is contested or lost.
3Reliability
If more physical carriers are monitored than needed for data transmission, then access resilience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting device performs clear channel assessments on more physical carriers than the minimum number needed for data transmission. This excessive monitoring ensures that even if some carriers are lost during contention, sufficient carriers remain available for continuous transmission, with the complexity managed through systematic mapping procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatuses, and devices are described for wireless communication. From a plurality of physical carriers associated with a clear channel assessment (CCA) performed by a device, one of the physical carriers for which the CCA was successful may be identified. A virtual carrier associated with a wireless data transmission by the device may be mapped to the identified one of the physical carriers.