Spectrum Sharing Methods in Coexisting Wireless Networks

Radio spectrum, the fundamental basis for wireless communication, is a finite resource. The development of the expanding range of radio based devices and services in recent years makes the spectrum scarce and hence more costly under the paradigm of extensive regulation for licensing. However, with mature technologies and with their continuous improvements it becomes apparent that tight licensing might no longer be required for all wireless services. This is from where the concept of utilizing the unlicensed bands for wireless communication originates. As a promising step to reduce the substantial cost for radio spectrum, different wireless technology based networks are being deployed to operate in the same spectrum bands, particularly in the unlicensed bands, resulting in coexistence. However, uncoordinated coexistence often leads to cases where collocated wireless systems experience heavy mutual interference. Hence, the development of spectrum sharing rules to mitigate the interference among wireless systems is a significant challenge considering the uncoordinated, heterogeneous systems. The requirement of spectrum sharing rules is tremendously increasing on the one hand to fulfill the current and future demand for wireless communication by the users, and on the other hand, to utilize the spectrum efficiently. In this thesis, contributions are provided towards dynamic and cognitive spectrum sharing with focus on the medium access control (MAC) layer, for uncoordinated scenarios of homogeneous and heterogeneous wireless networks, in a micro scale level, highlighting the QoS support for the applications. This thesis proposes a generic and novel spectrum sharing method based on a hypothesis: The regular channel occupation by one system can support other systems to predict the spectrum opportunities reliably. These opportunities then can be utilized efficiently, resulting in a fair spectrum sharing as well as an improving aggregated performance compared to the case without having special treatment. The developed method, denoted as Regular Channel Access (RCA), is modeled for systems specified by the wireless local resp. metropolitan area network standards IEEE 802.11 resp. 802.16. In the modeling, both systems are explored according to their respective centrally controlled channel access mechanisms and the adapted models are evaluated through simulation and results analysis. The conceptual model of spectrum sharing based on the distributed channel access mechanism of the IEEE 802.11 system is provided as well. To make the RCA method adaptive, the following enabling techniques are developed and integrated in the design: a RSS-based (Received Signal Strength based) detection method for measuring the channel occupation, a pattern recognition based algorithm for system identification, statistical knowledge based estimation for traffic demand estimation and an inference engine for reconfiguration of resource allocation as a response to traffic dynamics. The advantage of the RCA method is demonstrated, in which each competing collocated system is configured to have a resource allocation based on the estimated traffic demand of the systems. The simulation and the analysis of the results show a significant improvement in aggregated throughput, mean delay and packet loss ratio, compared to the case where legacy wireless systems coexists. The results from adaptive RCA show its resilience characteristics in case of dynamic traffic. The maximum achievable throughput between collocated IEEE 802.11 systems applying RCA is provided by means of mathematical calculation. The results of this thesis provide the basis for the development of resource allocation methods for future wireless networks particularly emphasized to operate in current unlicensed bands and in future models of the Open Spectrum Alliance

Gestão de recursos de rádio em redes WiFi

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrónica e TelecomunicaçõesPassive optical networks have been subject of research in recent years, standing out from the other distribution networks not only by the speed and distribution of multiple services, including video, data and voice, but also by the absence of active equipment between the central and terminal devices, not requiring the use of electricity. Also the progress made in mobile and "smart" equipment led to the increase of its popularity and personal use. The increase of mobile devices, as well as their features, were boosted by the evolution of WiFi technologies, mostly fueled by passive optical networks, favoring the connection of several devices through radio waves. There has been several improvements in wireless communications, especially in WiFi technology, in order to keep up with the speed increase in optical distribution networks. However the limitations in the frequency spectrum and the vast implementation of the technology itself became an obstacle to the development of WiFi networks. The main goal of this dissertation is the development of processes dedicated to the frequency spectrum management in WiFi networks within environments congestedbymultipleradiosignaltransmitters. Thisworkisdevelopedaround a gateway under development by Altice Labs combining optical network terminal and access point features, and presents a solution to the equipment transmission power management and the frequency channel selection.As redes ópticas passivas têm sido alvo de grande investigação nos últimos anosdestacando-sedasoutrasredesdedistribuiçãonãosópelavelocidadee distribuição de multiplos serviços, incluindo video, dados e voz, mas também pela ausência de equipamentos activos entre a central local e o equipamento terminal, não sendo necessário o uso de energia eléctrica. Também o avanço que se tem verificado no desenvolvimento de equipamentos móveis e "inteligentes" tem levado a sua popularidade e utilização a crescer de forma constante. Por sua vez, este aumento do número de dispositivos móveis, bem como das respectivas características, foi impulsionado pela evolução da tecnologia WiFi, em grande parte alimentada pelas redes ópticas passivas, facilitando a conexão de múltiplos dispositivos através de ondas de rádio. Têm sido várias as melhorias nas comunicações sem fios, especialmente na tecnologia WiFi, no sentido de acompanhar o aumento da velocidade das redes de distribuição ópticas. No entanto as limitações ao nível do espectro de frequência e a vasta implementação da própria tecnologia têm-se revelado obstáculos ao desenvolvimento das redes WiFi. Esta dissertação tem como objectivo o desenvolvimento de soluções para a gestão do espectro de frequência das rede WiFi em ambientes congestionados pela presença de múltiplos transmissores de sinal rádio. Este trabalho é desenvolvido sob um gateway em desenvolvimento pela Altice Labs que combina as funcionalidades de um terminal de redes ópticas e de um access point, e apresenta uma solução para a gestão da potência de transmissão do equipamento e para a escolha do canal de frequência a utilizar