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

在各种移动应用中，智能手机等无线设备的创新使用加剧了蜂窝频谱的拥塞。另一方面，许多授权频谱块未被使用。尽管认知无线电（CR）技术的出现使未经许可的用户能够机会地访问未使用的许可频谱，但大多数先前的工作通常假设每个用户都配备了可以在广泛频谱范围内操作的CR。这在理论上可能是可行的，但对于像手机这样的轻量级设备来说可能不可行。因此，如何有效地利用CR技术构建更灵活的网络，使不具备CR能力的设备也能从未使用频谱的机会访问中受益，是迫切需要的。在这个项目中，pi提出了一种新的认知网格辅助蜂窝网络（CMCN），并研究：1) CMCN的体系结构设计，使未占用的许可频谱得到有效利用，使非认知蜂窝设备受益于CR技术；2)在不确定频谱可用性下的频谱和节能CR mesh路由器布局；3)如何构建细粒度频谱映射，以促进高效的频谱分配和智能流量交付；4)所提设计的实验验证与实现。研究结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，通过这种灵活的体系结构，电信行业可以通过新的创新获得新生，从而进一步开发具有高容量的蜂窝网络，并更好地支持移动医疗保健等新应用，从而对个人生活产生重大影响，并进一步为创造就业机会和经济增长提供更多机会。该项目的成果将通过出版物和简报传播。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.