SENSING AND COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS FOR SHARED SPECTRUM USAGE IN A RADIO COGNITIVE RELAY SYSTEM

• US 20110122808A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Han, Yang, Wang, Ying, Pandharipande, Ashish Vijay
• Granted Patent: US 9,300,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15585 by interference cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a computer program product for sensing and communicating in transmission systems with shared spectrum usage, which may comprise e.g. a cognitive relay system. The communication between a transmitter and a receiver occurs in two transmission phases via the assistance of a relay. Sensing is performed at the transmitter during the second transmission phase, thus overcoming the need for dedicated slots for sensing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals in a spectrum shared by first and second transmission systems, said apparatus (10) comprising:

a) a transmitter for transmitting a signal of said second transmission system in a first phase of a signal transmission period, if a sensing operation of said apparatus indicates that no signal of said first transmission system has been received; and

b) an interference processor for performing said sensing operation in a second phase of said signal transmission period while canceling interference caused by the receipt of a relayed version of said signal transmitted in said first phase of said signal transmission period.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second transmission systems are primary and secondary systems, respectively, with flexible spectrum usage.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second transmission system is a cognitive relay system.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter and said interference processor are adapted to perform said transmission and said sensing in a periodical manner.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a medical device and said relayed version is received from a medical hub.

10. A system for transmitting and receiving signals in a spectrum shared by first and second transmission systems, said system comprising at least one network node having an apparatus according to claim 1, and at least one relay node for receiving said transmitted signal in said first phase and for broadcasting said relayed version of said signal in said second phase.

6. A method for transmitting and receiving signals in a spectrum shared by first and second transmission systems, said method comprising:

a) transmitting a signal of said second transmission system in a first phase of a signal transmission period, if a sensing operation indicates that no signal of said first transmission system has been received; and

b) performing said sensing operation in a second phase of said signal transmission period while canceling interference caused by the receipt of a relayed version of said signal transmitted in said first phase of said signal transmission period.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said first and second transmission systems are primary and secondary systems, respectively, with flexible spectrum usage.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said second transmission system is a cognitive relay system.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein transmission and sensing is performed in a periodical manner.

11. A computer program product comprising code means for generating the steps of claim 6 when run on a computer device.