5G Advanced: Wireless Channel Virtualization and Resource Mapping for Real Time Spectrum Sharing

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel wireless channel virtualization and resource mapping framework for real-time spectrum sharing in 5G networks, enabling coexistence with passive RF systems with minimal protocol changes.

Contribution

It introduces a new virtual-to-physical resource mapping framework for 5G NR that supports real-time spectrum sharing with passive RF systems, extending current standards.

Findings

Validated through a 3GPP compliant 5G NR simulator

Minimal protocol modifications required for implementation

Identified future research directions for spectrum prediction signaling

Abstract

The coexistence between active wireless communications and passive RF spectrum use becomes an increasingly important requirement for coordinated spectrum access supporting critical services. The ongoing research and technological progress are focused on effective spectrum utilization including large-scale MIMO and energy efficient and low-power communications, innovative spectrum use and management, and resilient spectrum sharing, just to name a few. This paper introduces a new tool for real time spectrum sharing among emerging cellular networks and passive RF sensing systems used for remote sensing and radio astronomy, among others. Specifically we propose leveraging wireless channel virtualization and propose a virtual-to-physical resource mapping framework, mapping types, and control signaling that extends the current 5G New Radio (NR) specifications. Our technology introduces minimal changes to the protocol and is meant to be transparent to the end user application. We validate the proposed technology by extending a 3GPP compliant 5G NR downlink simulator and identify further research directions where work is needed on designing effective ways to explicitly signal the need for spectrum or spectrum use predictions.