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

在各种移动的应用中对诸如智能电话之类的无线设备的创新使用加剧了蜂窝频谱上的拥塞。另一方面，许多许可频谱块未被使用。虽然认知无线电（CR）技术已经成为一个使能器的未授权用户机会主义地访问未使用的授权频谱，大多数以前的作品通常假设每个用户都配备了一个CR，可以在很宽的频谱范围内工作。这在理论上是可能的，但对于手机等轻型设备可能不实用。因此，如何有效地利用认知无线电技术来构建更灵活的网络，以便即使不具备认知无线电能力的设备也能从对未使用频谱的机会性接入中受益，这是迫切需要的。在这个项目中，PI提出了一种新的认知网状辅助蜂窝网络（CMCN），并研究了：1）CMCN的架构设计，使得可以有效地利用未占用的许可频谱，并且非认知蜂窝设备可以从CR技术中受益，2）在不确定的频谱可用性下频谱和能量有效的CR网状路由器放置，3）如何构建细粒度的频谱图以促进有效的频谱分配和智能流量递送，以及4）所提出的设计的实验验证和实现。该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方法。此外，凭借这种灵活的架构，电信行业可以通过新的创新来振兴，从而进一步发展具有高容量的蜂窝网络，并更好地支持新的应用，例如移动的医疗保健，这对个人生活产生了重大影响，并进一步为创造就业机会和经济增长提供了更多机会。该项目的成果将通过出版物和介绍会加以传播。最后，该项目将积极招募和培训少数民族学生，为未来的劳动力和导师初级教师。

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.