Coordinating WiFi and NR-U Transmissions via Channel Puncturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dense environments where both WiFi access points and NR-U radio units are deployed, existing systems experience suboptimal network performance due to collisions when they transmit over the same channels.
Innovation Solution
A controller coordinates transmissions by using buffer status reports to schedule WiFi access points and NR-U radio units to share the same channel, with the NR-U radio unit transmitting on specific sub-channels and the WiFi access point using the remaining sub-channels, a technique referred to as puncturing, thereby reducing collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If WiFi access points and NR-U radio units transmit over the same channel in dense environments, then channel utilization is improved, but collisions occur resulting in suboptimal network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The channel is divided into multiple sub-channels, allowing WiFi access points and NR-U radio units to transmit simultaneously on different sub-channels without causing collisions. This segmentation enables both systems to utilize the same overall channel resource while maintaining reliable transmissions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication systems are deployed in dense environments, then user connectivity options are improved, but transmission collisions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solution transitions from one-dimensional channel sharing to two-dimensional resource allocation by introducing sub-channel division. This allows multiple communication systems to coexist in the same time-frequency space by assigning them different sub-channels, thereby maintaining connectivity options while eliminating collisions.
3Productivity
If WiFi access points and NR-U radio units share the same channel, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but collision probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shared channel is segmented into multiple sub-channels that can be allocated to different systems. This allows spectrum efficiency to be maintained through channel sharing while collision probability is reduced by providing separate transmission paths via sub-channels.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving a first buffer status report from a WiFi access point and receiving a second buffer status report from a first NR-U radio unit. The method also includes scheduling, based at least in part on the first buffer status report and the second buffer status report, both the WiFi access point and the first NR-U radio unit to transmit during a first time slot using a channel. The WiFi access point transmits using a first sub-channel of the channel, and the first NR-U radio unit transmits using a second sub-channel of the channel different from the first sub-channel.