Spectrum management for coexistence of heterogeneous wireless technologies

Spectrum management may be provided. A first Radio Frequency (RF) event metric may be received from a first service end point. The first RF event metric may comprise a time a first event occurred. A second RF event metric may be received from a second service end point. The second RF event metric may comprise a time a second event occurred. Then it may be determined that the time the first event occurred and the time the second event occurred are substantially congruent. Next, in response to determining that the time the first event occurred and the time the second event occurred are substantially congruent, the first service end point and the second service end point may be grouped in a first RF group thereby allowing frequency re-use across similar RF groups. Then different channels may be assigned to the first service end point and the second service end point.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the coexistence of heterogeneous wireless technologies.

BACKGROUND

Long-Term Evolution-Unlicensed (LTE-U) is an adaptation of the LTE standard that operates in unlicensed frequency bands. As currently defined by the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP), LTE-U targets 5 GHz and other unlicensed frequency bands. In addition, other unlicensed wireless wide area networks, including Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) and MulteFire, also use frequency bands in the 5 GHz range. As a consequence, LTE-U, LAA, MulteFire, and other unlicensed wireless wide area network technologies, operate in some of the same frequency bands defined for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard (e.g., the 5 GHz frequency bands). The spectrum overlap between unlicensed and Wi-Fi can present spectrum access and interference problems for wireless access points and eNodeBs/eNodeGs that are concurrently operating within transmission range of each other in a given geographical region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Spectrum management for coexistence of heterogeneous wireless technologies may be provided. A first Radio Frequency (RF) event metric may be received from a first service end point. The first RF event metric may comprise a time a first event occurred. A second RF event metric may be received from a second service end point. The second RF event metric may comprise a time a second event occurred. Then it may be determined that the time the first event occurred and the time the second event occurred are substantially congruent. Next, in response to determining that the time the first event occurred and the time the second event occurred are substantially congruent, the first service end point and the second service end point may be grouped in a first RF group thereby allowing frequency re-use across similar RF groups. Then different channels may be assigned to the first service end point and the second service end point.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Unlicensed frequency bands (such as 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) and 5 GHz U-NII (Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure bands)) have played a role in magnifying the scope and penetration of wireless technologies. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers' (IEEE's) wireless local area networking standards (i.e., 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) are examples of proliferating unlicensed band technologies for mobile applications. With up to 500 MHz of unlicensed spectrum available in the 5 GHz band on a global basis, even operators of licensed spectrum may deploy solutions that may tap into in this free spectrum. For example, to overcome spectrum shortages and to boost cellular network capacity, cellular service providers may deploy unlicensed Long Term Evolution (LTE) in the 5 GHz band. As a result, the unlicensed 5 GHz band has emerged as a spectrum for launching new wireless applications and services. This has given rise to deployment scenarios where heterogeneous networks may compete for their share of the unlicensed spectrum at any given location. This situation may be rendered more complex because competing technologies often do not understand each other (e.g., MulteFire vs. 802.11 Wi-Fi standards) or when they do, they may tend to use the same spectrum differently (802.11a vs 802.11ax). An unplanned and unmanaged deployment may impact user experience. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure may provide a coexistence process that may allow heterogeneous technologies to work together in order to optimize spectrum use.

FIG. 1shows an operating environment100. As shown inFIG. 1, operating environment100may comprise a Shared Spectrum Manager (SSM)105, a first Radio Frequency (RF) group110, a second RF group115, and a plurality of service end points. The plurality of service end points may comprise a first service end point120, a second service end point125, a third service end point130, a fourth service end point135, a fifth service end point140, and a sixth service end point145. First RF group110may include first service end point120, second service end point125, and fourth service end point135. Second RF group115may include third service end point130, fifth service end point140, and sixth service end point145.

A plurality of client devices may be associated with the plurality of service end points. Individual ones of the plurality of client devices may comprise, but not limited to, a smart phone, a personal computer, a tablet device, a mobile device, a cable modem, a cellular base station, a telephone, a remote control device, a set-top box, a digital video recorder, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device, a network computer, a mainframe, a router, or other similar microcomputer-based device.

First service end point120, fourth service end point135, and fifth service end point140may comprise wireless Access Points (APs) that may provide network access using Wi-Fi technology, via a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) using a router connected to a service provider. Second service end point125, third service end point130, and sixth service end point145may comprise devices that may be connected to a cellular network and that may communicate directly and wirelessly with client devices. The cellular network may comprise, but is not limited to, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) broadband cellular network, a Fourth Generation (4G) broadband cellular network, or a Fifth Generation (5G) broadband cellular network, operated by a service provider. For example, second service end point125, third service end point130, and sixth service end point145may comprise eNodeBs (eNBs) or gNodeBs (gNBs).

First service end point120, fourth service end point135, and fifth service end point140may operate using a different wireless standard than second service end point125, third service end point130, and sixth service end point145. For example, first service end point120, fourth service end point135, and fifth service end point140may operate using the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. In contrast, second service end point125, third service end point130, and sixth service end point145may operate using the Long Term Evolution in Unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) standard, the License Assisted Access (LAA) standard, or the MulteFire standard for example.

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a process that dynamically assigns frequency ranges in an unlicensed spectrum to competing wireless technologies. SSM105may optimize the usage of a shared unlicensed spectrum and may also allow heterogeneous wireless technologies to coexist. While SSM105may be shown inFIG. 1as a standalone system, embodiments of the disclosure may also comprise SSM105as a software module within a Radio Resource Management (RRM) system or within Wireless LAN Controllers.

The elements described above of operating environment100(e.g., SSM105, first service end point120, second service end point125, third service end point130, fourth service end point135, fifth service end point140, and sixth service end point145) may be practiced in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or in any other circuits or systems. The elements of operating environment100may be practiced in electrical circuits comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Furthermore, the elements of operating environment100may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to, mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. As described in greater detail below with respect toFIG. 4, the elements of operating environment100may be practiced in a computing device400.

FIG. 2is a flow chart setting forth the general stages involved in a method200consistent with embodiments of the disclosure for providing spectrum management for coexistence of heterogeneous wireless technologies. Method200may be implemented using SSM105as described in more detail above with respect toFIG. 1. Ways to implement the stages of method200will be described in greater detail below.

Method200may begin at starting block205and proceed to stage210where SSM105may receive a first RF event metric from first service end point120. For example, first service end point120attempting to utilize an unlicensed spectrum, may periodically report key RF metrics to SSM105. End point120may compile these RF metrics by either using a dedicated monitor radio or through periodic off-channel measurements from its serving radio. The first RF event metric may comprise a time a first event occurred. The first event may comprise, for example, first service end point120making a transmission or first service end point120detecting an interference.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, first service end point120may use a user configurable control channel to assist in neighbor discovery. First service end point120may use this user configurable control channel to transmit neighbor discovery frames and to also measure interference from other transmitting neighbors. For example, first service end point120may make the aforementioned transmission over the user configurable control channel or first service end point120may detect an interference in the user configurable control channel. The times these events (e.g., transmission and interference detection) occurred on the user configurable control channel may be reported in the first RF event metric.

From stage210, where SSM105receives the first RF event metric from first service end point120, method200may advance to stage220where SSM105may receive a second RF event metric from second service end point125. For example, second service end point125attempting to utilize an unlicensed spectrum, may periodically report key RF metrics to SSM105. End point125may compile these RF metrics by either using a dedicated monitor radio or through periodic off-channel measurements from its serving radio. The second RF event metric may comprise a time a second event occurred. The second event may comprise, for example, second service end point125making a transmission or second service end point125detecting an interference.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, second service end point125may use a user configurable control channel to assist in neighbor discovery. Second service end point125may use this user configurable control channel to transmit neighbor discovery frames and to also measure interference from other transmitting neighbors. For example, second service end point125may make the aforementioned transmission over the user configurable control channel or second service end point125may detect an interference in the user configurable control channel. The times these events (e.g., transmission and interference detection) occurred on the user configurable control channel may be reported in the second RF event metric.

Once SSM105receives the second RF event metric from second service end point125, method200may continue to stage230where SSM105may determine that first service end point120and second service end point125correlate by determining that the time the first event occurred and the time the second event occurred are substantially congruent. Substantially congruent may comprise the time of the first event and the time of the second event being within a range of 0 ms to 5 ms of each other. For example, service end points (e.g., first service end point120and second service end point125) attempting to utilize unlicensed spectrum, periodically report their key RF metrics to SSM105. While these service end points may not have the ability to discover neighboring service end points that use different technologies, SSM105may correlate various RF events captured in the service end point RF metrics. For example, when an eNB (e.g., second service end point125) reports a transmission event in its RF metrics sent to SSM105, a neighboring AP (e.g., first service end point120) may report interference for the same time window in its RF metrics. Similarly, when an AP e.g., (first service end point120) reports a transmission event in its RF metrics sent to SSM105, a neighboring eNB (e.g., second service end point125) may report interference for the same time window in its RF metrics.

This relationship between eNB (e.g., second service end point125) and AP (e.g., first service end point120) may be illustrated byFIG. 3. When they are congruent (i.e., occurring substantially at the same time) eNB (e.g., second service end point125) transmission305may comprise interference for AP (e.g., first service end point120) transmission310and AP (e.g., first service end point120) transmission310may comprise interference for eNB (e.g., second service end point125) transmission305. SSM105may correlate reports of transmission with reports of interference using any correlation process to identify neighboring service end points.

After SSM105determines that first service end point120and second service end point125correlate by determining that the time the first event occurred and the time the second event occurred are substantially congruent in stage230, method200may proceed to stage240where SSM105may group, in response to determining that the time the first event occurred and the time the second event occurred are substantially congruent, first service end point120and second service end point125in first RF group110. For example, SSM105may correlate reports of transmission with reports of interference as described above to identify neighboring service end points and then may group neighboring service end points into RF groups. Because first service end point120and second service end point125correlate, they may be grouped into first RF group110. Because third service end point130may not correlate with first service end point120and second service end point125, it may not be grouped with first service end point120and second service end point125. Rather third service end point130may correlate with fifth service end point140and sixth service end point145and therefore be grouped by SSM105into second RF group115.

In some embodiments, SSM105may rely on RF metrics reported by dedicated multi-technology monitor radios to identify and group neighboring service end points into RF groups. Such monitoring radios may be co-located with APs and eNBs. In some embodiments, multi-technology wireless client devices like mobile phones and laptops may be queried by service end points for air scan reports that are then forwarded to SSM105. SSM105may then correlate client device's air scan report with the client device's location to group neighboring service end points into RF groups. Client devices may tag their air scan reports with location via GPS, for example, whenever possible or their location may be deduced using third party services.

In some embodiments, multi-technology sensors like Active Sensors may periodically forward air scan reports to SSM105. SSM105may then correlate the sensor reports with their location to group neighboring service end points into RF groups. As with wireless client devices, Active Sensors may tag their air scan reports with location via GPS, for example, when possible or their location may be deduced using third party services.

From stage240, where SSM105groups, in response to determining that the time the first event occurred and the time the second event occurred are substantially congruent, first service end point120and second service end point125in first RF group110, method200may advance to stage250where SSM105may assign, in response to grouping first service end point120and second service end point125in first RF group110, different channels to first service end point120and second service end point125. For example, arranging neighboring endpoints into RF groups (i.e., first RF group110and second RF group115) allows SSM105to re-use frequency bands across RF groups. This is because transmissions from service end points belonging to one RF group cause no noticeable interference on service end points belonging to a different RF group. Once RF groups are arranged, SSM105may determine a resource requirement score for each service end point within an RF group based, for example, on characteristics such as its radio capability, client device capability, traffic, and quality of service.

With respect to radio capability, SSM105may take into account the capabilities of the radio of each service end point in the RF group. For example, radios that support Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) may cope better with Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channels than non-OFDMA radios because OFDMA supporting radios may “puncture” their transmissions in the event of a radar hit whereas non-OFDMA radios may have to vacate the whole channel.

With respect to client device capability, SSM105may take into account the capabilities of the client devices associated to each service end point in the RF group. For example, radios serving many high efficiency client devices (e.g., laptops or mobile phones) may need to be assigned a greater share of bandwidth or a cleaner channel as opposed to radios serving IoT client devices.

With respect to traffic, SSM105may take into account service end points that actually serve uplink/downlink traffic. For example, radios serving uplink/downlink traffic may be assigned greater bandwidth or a cleaner channel as opposed to idle radios.

With respect to quality of service, SSM105may take into account the type of traffic on the radio. For example, a radio serving voice or video traffic may be assigned greater bandwidth or a cleaner channel as opposed to radios serving best effort traffic for example.

The resource requirement score may be determined by assigning weights to each of the aforementioned example characteristics. SSM105may then rank each service end point in an RF group (e.g., first RF group110and second RF group115) by their resource requirement score. A service end point with the highest score may be assigned the best possible channel whereas the one with the lowest score may be assigned a lesser quality channel.

To evaluate the quality of each channel for an RF group, SSM105may consider the RF metrics reported by the RF group's service end points and combine their noise, interference, and load metrics into a single Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) based metric known as a cost metric. This cost metric may represent a Signal to Interference Plus Noise Ratio (SINR) of a specific channel and may be used to evaluate the throughput potential of one channel over another. Following this, SSM105may match a best channel or channels with service end points that may have the highest resource requirement score such that the expected co-channel interference may be minimized across the RF group. This may be accomplished using optimization processes such as linear programming or game theory for example. In some embodiments, SSM105may request RRM to determine a channel plan for all service end points in an RF group given their resource requirement scores and bandwidth constraints.

By minimizing co-channel interference, SSM105may ensure that heterogeneous service end points may coexist and may also ensure that each competing technology (e.g., LTE vs. Wi-Fi) may receive a fair share of the unlicensed spectrum that matches their requirements. Once SSM105assigns, in response to grouping first service end point120and second service end point125in first RF group110, different channels to first service end point120and second service end point125in stage250, method200may then end at stage260.

FIG. 4shows computing device400. As shown inFIG. 4, computing device400may include a processing unit410and a memory unit415. Memory unit415may include a software module420and a database425. While executing on processing unit410, software module420may perform, for example, processes for providing spectrum management for coexistence of heterogeneous wireless technologies as described above with respect toFIG. 2. Computing device400, for example, may provide an operating environment for SSM105, first service end point120, second service end point125, third service end point130, fourth service end point135, fifth service end point140, or sixth service end point145. SSM105, first service end point120, second service end point125, third service end point130, fourth service end point135, fifth service end point140, and sixth service end point145may operate in other environments and are not limited to computing device400.

Computing device400may be implemented using a Wi-Fi access point, a cellular base station, a tablet device, a mobile device, a smart phone, a telephone, a remote control device, a set-top box, a digital video recorder, a cable modem, a personal computer, a network computer, a mainframe, a router, a switch, a server cluster, a smart TV-like device, a network storage device, a network relay devices, or other similar microcomputer-based device. Computing device400may comprise any computer operating environment, such as hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable sender electronic devices, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Computing device400may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices. The aforementioned systems and devices are examples and computing device400may comprise other systems or devices.