Zone-Based Spectrum Access Control for LTE-U and Wi-Fi Coexistence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for ensuring fairness in shared frequency spectrum usage among coexisting wireless communication systems, such as LTE-U and Wi-Fi, fail to account for the spatial distribution of nodes, leading to disproportionate spectrum usage within localized areas.

Innovation Solution

Divide the common coverage area into zones, collect usage data, and determine access parameters based on the relationship between frequency spectrum usages per zone to control node access to each wireless communication system, ensuring fairness and adjusting access as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bandwidth allocation is based on overall system requirements, then overall spectrum fairness is achieved, but local spatial distribution differences cause some zones to experience disproportionate spectrum usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall spectrum fairnessVSAvoidlocal spectrum fairness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coverage area is divided into multiple zones based on spatial distribution characteristics. Each zone is independently monitored for spectrum usage, and access parameters are determined separately for each zone. This segmentation allows local fairness to be achieved while maintaining overall system fairness through coordinated zone management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Access parameters are customized for each zone based on its specific spectrum usage characteristics and spatial distribution. Nodes in different zones receive tailored access parameters that reflect local conditions, ensuring that each zone achieves appropriate spectrum fairness according to its unique requirements rather than applying a uniform approach across the entire coverage area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If a single access parameter is used for the entire coverage area, then system complexity is reduced, but nodes in different spatial locations experience unequal spectrum access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control complexityVSAvoidspectrum access fairness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the coverage area into multiple zones and determines access parameters for each zone separately. This segmentation increases fairness by accounting for spatial distribution differences while keeping complexity manageable through automated zone-based parameter determination rather than individual node customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors spectrum usage in each zone and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust access parameters. This feedback mechanism ensures that fairness is maintained adaptively based on actual usage patterns, allowing the system to respond to changing conditions while maintaining relatively simple access control logic through standardized zone-based adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3244654B1Shared spectrum access
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 KONINK KPN NV
  • EP3244654B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3244654B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3244654B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6b

AI summary

A method is configured for controlling access of nodes to at least two coexisting wireless communication systems, which coexisting wireless communication systems are configured to share a frequency spectrum in a common coverage area (1). Each node (2, 3) is configured to access at least one wireless communication system in dependence of at least one access parameter. The common coverage area (1) is divided into at least two zones (Z1, Z2, ...), while each node in the common coverage area is associated with at least one zone. The method comprises a control unit (10) collecting usage data indicative of usage of the shared frequency spectrum by the nodes, the control unit determining, by using the usage data, a relationship between the respective shared frequency spectrum usages of the wireless communication systems per zone, the control unit determining for each zone, by using the relationship between the respective frequency spectrum usages, at least one access parameter configured to allow at least one node associated with the respective zone access to at least one of the coexisting wireless communication systems, and the control unit transmitting the access parameters to the respective nodes (2, 3).