NeTS: Small: Collaborative Research: Unleashing Spectrum Effectively and Willingly: Optimization and Incentives

NeTS：小型：协作研究：有效且自愿地释放频谱：优化和激励

• 批准号: 1421685
• 负责人: Guoliang Xue
• 金额: $ 25.2万
• 依托单位: Arizona State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-01 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1421685&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NeTS; Small; Collaborative; Research; Unleashing

An intriguing fact emerges during the study of spectrum usage. On one hand, the proliferation of wireless devices, e.g. smartphones, laptops, and tablets, and bandwidth-hungry applications has resulted in the problem of spectrum scarcity. On the other hand, a recent report by FCC reveals that the licensed users are extremely underutilizing the allocated spectrum. To remove the barriers to efficient spectrum utilization, this project aims to 1) design effective spectrum allocation algorithms to allow as many secondary users (SUs) to coexist with the primary user (PU) as possible while taking into account the interference generated by both SUs and PU; and 2) develop incentive mechanisms for enticing spectrum licensees to share or license their under-utilized spectrum for better utilization. While designing spectrum allocation schemes, the physical interference model is adopted to characterize the interference closely to reality. Joint optimization of spectrum allocation and power control is explored to further improve the spectrum utilization. This can lead to efficient approximation algorithms with guaranteed performance comparing with the optimum, as well as effective heuristic algorithms. Another major task of this project is to design incentive auctions for enticing spectrum licensees to share their spectrum with unlicensed users in exchange for the proceeds from the auction. Three different application scenarios are investigated: 1) the spectrum holder is willing to coexist with the unlicensed users under the condition that the cumulative interference caused by them does not interrupt its own transmission; 2) small network operators are allowed to form groups for collective buying power to increase their chances of winning the spectrum; and 3) the competition among multiple spectrum licensees is considered. This research can help ensure wireless networks in the USA keep pace with the continuously increasing demand for spectrum, so that they can support activities that increasingly rely on them, including public safety and health-care. The designed group-buying based incentive auctions can provide opportunities for small businesses to compete against big brand companies and win the access to desired spectrum that is essential to the success of their business. These small businesses are the engines of job creation and economic growth for the country. This project involves under-represented and minority students, as well as K-12 students to inspire their interests in science and engineering.

在研究频谱使用的过程中出现了一个有趣的事实。一方面，无线设备（例如，智能电话、膝上型计算机和平板计算机）以及带宽需求应用的激增导致了频谱稀缺的问题。另一方面，FCC最近的一份报告显示，授权用户对分配的频谱利用率极低。为了消除有效利用频谱的障碍，该项目旨在1）设计有效的频谱分配算法，以允许尽可能多的次用户（SU）与主用户（PU）共存，同时考虑SU和PU产生的干扰;以及2）开发激励机制，以吸引频谱许可证持有者共享或许可其未充分利用的频谱，以更好地利用。在设计频谱分配方案时，采用物理干扰模型来表征干扰，使干扰更接近实际。为了进一步提高频谱利用率，本文还对频谱分配和功率控制进行了联合优化。这可以导致有效的近似算法与保证性能的最佳比较，以及有效的启发式算法。这项计划的另一项主要工作，是设计诱因拍卖，以吸引频谱持牌人与未领牌用户共用频谱，换取拍卖收益。研究了三种不同的应用场景：1）频谱保持器愿意在未授权用户造成的累积干扰不中断其自身传输的情况下与未授权用户共存; 2）允许小网络运营商组建团体进行集体购买力，以增加其赢得频谱的机会; 3）考虑多个频谱许可证持有者之间的竞争。这项研究可以帮助确保美国的无线网络跟上不断增长的频谱需求，以便它们能够支持越来越依赖它们的活动，包括公共安全和医疗保健。设计的基于团购的激励拍卖可以为小企业提供与大品牌公司竞争的机会，并赢得对其业务成功至关重要的所需频谱的访问。这些小企业是该国创造就业机会和经济增长的引擎。该项目涉及代表性不足和少数民族学生，以及K-12学生，以激发他们对科学和工程的兴趣。