EARS: Collaborative Research: Cognitive Mesh: Making Cellular Networks More Flexible

智能手机等无线设备在各种移动应用中的创新使用加剧了蜂窝频谱的拥堵。另一方面，许多获得许可的频谱块被闲置。虽然认知无线电(CR)技术已经成为未经许可的用户利用机会访问未使用的许可频谱的使能器，但大多数以前的作品通常假设每个用户都配备了认知无线电，可以在广泛的频谱范围内运行。这在理论上可能是可能的，但对于手机等轻量级设备来说可能并不实用。如何有效地利用认知网络技术来构建更灵活的网络，使得即使是不具备认知网络能力的设备也可以受益于对未使用频谱的机会性访问。在本项目中，PI提出了一种新的认知网格辅助蜂窝网络(CMCN)，并研究了：1)CMCN的体系结构设计，使未被占用的许可频谱得到有效利用，非认知蜂窝设备可以从CR技术中受益；2)在频谱可用性不确定的情况下，频谱和能量高效的CR Mesh路由器放置；3)如何构建细粒度的频谱映射，以促进高效的频谱分配和智能流量传递，4)对所提出的设计进行了实验验证和实现。研究成果为解决蜂窝系统中的频谱拥塞问题提供了一种可行的解决方案。此外，有了这种灵活的架构，电信行业可以通过新的创新来振兴，从而进一步发展高容量的蜂窝网络，并更好地支持移动医疗等新应用，这将对个人生活产生重大影响，并进一步提供更多创造就业和经济增长的机会。该项目的成果将通过出版物和专题介绍加以传播。最后，该项目将积极招募和培训少数民族学生，为未来的劳动力和指导初级教师。

Innovative use of wireless devices such as smartphones in various mobile applications has exacerbated the congestion over cellular spectrum. On the other hand, many licensed spectrum blocks are left unused. Although cognitive radios (CR) technology has emerged as an enabler for unlicensed users to opportunistically access the unused licensed spectrum, most previous works commonly assume that each user is equipped with a CR which can operate across a wide range of spectrum. This may be possible in theory, but may not be practical for light-weight devices such as cell phones. How to effectively utilize the CR technology to build more flexible networks so that even non-CR capable devices can benefit from the opportunistic access to the unused spectrum is therefore in dire need.In this project, the PIs propose a novel cognitive mesh assisted cellular network (CMCN) and investigate: 1) the architectural design of CMCN so that unoccupied licensed spectrum can be efficiently utilized and non-cognitive cellular devices can benefit from the CR technology, 2) spectrum and energy efficient CR mesh router placement under uncertain spectrum availability, 3) how to construct a fine-grained spectrum map to facilitate efficient spectrum allocation and intelligent traffic delivery, and 4) experimental validation and implementation for the proposed design. The research outcome provides a viable solution to the spectrum congestion in cellular systems. Moreover, with this flexible architecture, telecommunication industries can be rejuvenated with new innovations, leading to further development of cellular networks with high capacity and better support of new applications such as mobile healthcare, which has significant impact on individuals' lives and further provides greater opportunities for job creation and economic growth. The results of the project will be disseminated through publications and presentations. Finally, this project will actively recruit and train minority students for the future workforce and mentor junior faculty.