Synchronous spectrum sharing by dedicated networks using OFDM/OFDMA signaling

• US 20080095100A1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cleveland, Joseph R., Koo, Changhoi, Semper, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,891,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0062 Avoidance of ingress interference, e.g. ham radio channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/023 Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria

Abstract

A system and method for synchronous spectrum sharing for a dedicated network in a wireless communication system based on orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signaling is disclosed. The system and method includes detecting a frame of a broadcast waveform and extracting idle spectrum information associated with the dedicated subchannel to the secondary user node. The system allows transmitting data from the secondary user node in unused symbol slots identified in the idle spectrum information thereby making efficient use of unused or idle spectrum. Accordingly, secondary users of the wireless communication system can dynamically form ad-hoc mesh network communications in fixed or mobile scenarios.

Claims

1. A synchronous spectrum sharing system for use in a wireless communication system having a primary user node and a secondary user node, the system comprising:

a frame detector configured to detect a frame of a broadcast waveform and to extract idle spectrum information associated with a dedicated network subchannel of the frame to the secondary user node.

2. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein a first unused symbol slot identified in the idle spectrum information is suitable for data transmission by the secondary user node.

3. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises a private network of secondary users.

4. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises an entire subchannel of the frame.

5. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises a portion of a subchannel of the frame.

6. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises two or more subchannels of the frame.

7. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame detector is one of:

an OFDM frame detector and an OFDMA frame detector.

8. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein the broadcast waveform is one of:

an OFDM waveform and an OFDMA waveform.

9. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein the idle spectrum information comprises down-link channel assignment and an up-link channel assignment associated with the dedicated network subchannel.

10. The system set forth in claim 1, wherein a second unused symbol slot identified in the idle spectrum information is suitable for data transmission by the secondary user node.

11. For use in a wireless communication network having a primary user node and a secondary user node, a method of synchronous spectrum sharing, the method comprising:

detecting a frame of a broadcast waveform;

extracting idle spectrum information associated with a dedicated network subchannel of the frame to the secondary user node; and

receiving data from the secondary user node in a first unused symbol slot identified in the idle spectrum information.

12. The method set forth in claim 11, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises a private network of secondary users.

13. The method set forth in claim 11, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises an entire subchannel of the frame.

14. The method set forth in claim 11, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises a portion of a subchannel of the frame.

15. The method set forth in claim 11, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises two or more subchannels of the frame.

16. The method set forth in claim 11, wherein the detecting the frame is accomplished by one of:

an OFDM frame detector and an OFDMA frame detector.

17. The method set forth in claim 11, wherein the broadcast waveform is one of:

an OFDM waveform and an OFDMA waveform.

18. The method set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

extracting a down-link channel assignment and an up-link channel assignment for the dedicated network subchannel.

19. The method set forth in claim 11 further comprising:

receiving data from a second secondary user node into a second unused symbol slot identified in the idle spectrum information.

20. For use in an OFDM/OFDMA wireless communication system, an apparatus for synchronous spectrum sharing, the apparatus comprising:

a secondary user node configured to receive idle spectrum information for a dedicated network subchannel of an OFDMA frame, wherein the secondary user node transmits data in a first unused symbol slot identified in the idle spectrum information.

21. The apparatus set forth in claim 20, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises a private network of secondary users

22. The apparatus set forth in claim 20, wherein the dedicated network subchannel comprises at least one of:

an entire subchannel of the frame, a portion of a subchannel of the frame, and two or more subchannels of the frame.

23. The apparatus set forth in claim 20, wherein the secondary user node extracts a down-link channel assignment and an up-link channel assignment for the dedicated network subchannel.

24. The apparatus set forth in claim 20, wherein a second secondary user node transmits data in a second unused symbol slot identified in the idle spectrum information.