Background

This technology is a distributed autonomous beam scheduling algorithm that does not require any coordination among multiple networks. The addition of millimetre-wave (mmWave) radio frequency (RF) bands for cellular use is a major contributor to the significant improvements that 5G brings. With mmWave bands made available for shared and unlicensed use, spectrum sharing across multiple cellular service providers and private cellular networks is becoming a reality. Beam-based transmission necessary for mmWave, instead of the traditional sector-based transmission, in conjunction with the spectrum agility of 5G has created new opportunities for spatial spectrum sharing. This technology explores spectrum sharing in an unlicensed mmWave band that is characterized by no coordination among operators.

Technology Overview

This INL technology is a unique spectrum sharing methods for cellular network operators using a novel autonomous and distributed scheduling algorithm. This unique approach removes the attack surface and additional processing involved with a centralized architecture for 5G mmWave sharing bands. This approach exploits the mmWave beam directionality and a beam scheduling algorithm at the base stations based on the Lyapunov stochastic optimization framework and non-cooperative game theory. In addition, transmission sensing capabilities at the end devices can be utilized by the base stations to assist with this autonomous beam scheduling.

Benefits

Enables private cellular networks without highly expensive licensed bands to be operated for 5G use cases.
Enables 5G systems to provide additional data throughput and capacity.
Higher security
Benefits mission-critical communications such as national security command and control and emergency response.
These improvements will enable secure communication for critical infrastructure without highly expensive licensed bands.

Applications

5G
- Industrial Internet of Things
- Automated manufacturing
- Augmented and virtual reality
- Warehouse inventory

Opportunity

Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this beam scheduler for 5G spectrum sharing.

Autonomous Beam Scheduling for Secure 5G Spectrum Sharing

Patents

IP Status

Seeking