Description
Technology Licensing Opportunity - This is not a procurement. Physical Layer Scheduling-Request Underlay Channel (PSRUCH) Devices, base stations, and methods for communicating scheduling requests via an underlay control channel in a wireless communication system Background There are two approaches for the UE-initiated uplink (UL) transmission in a wireless system. In one approach the UE transmits a scheduling-request (SR) to the base station and in response, the base station allocates UL resources and then informs the UE about those resources by transmitting an UL grant signal to the UE. This type of resource allocation is called schedule-based UL access. In the second approach, the UEs transmit their data signals within an assigned set of UL resources pre-defined by the base station. This type of UL access is called the grant-free UL access. In both, grant-free and the schedule UL transmissions there is a trade-off between latency and resource utilization efficiency. In the grate-free method, a pre-defined amount of resources is allocated with a pre-defined periodicity. The type of allocation has lower latency with a cost of resource under-utilization if the UEs do not have anything to transmit. On the other hand, the scheduled UL access case improves the resource-utilization efficiency with a cost of higher latency as it takes multiple timeslots to receive the UL grants at the UE. Consequently, both of the above methods are not optimal for delay-sensitive applications (i.e. critical industrial control, remote surgical robots, etc.). Hence, there is a need of a SR-based scheme with an efficient resource utilization and low latency. Technology Overview To minimize latency, INL has created an “always-available” underlay communication channel (UCC) for this purpose. This signaling method is based on a filter bank multicarrier spread spectrum technique that has the capability of adapting to any interference environment for an optimum implementation of the corresponding receiver. Wireless communication systems, base stations, and user equipment are disclosed that enable communication of scheduling requests via an underlay control channel that has an energy below a noise level of the spectrum. The scheduling requests may be sent and received at any time, including during downlink and uplink data communication periods of the base station. At the beginning of each timeslot, each base station transmits its downlink (DL) control information (DCI) channel, transmits DL data channel or receives UL data channel from the associated UEs and, in the last portion, receives an UL control information (UCI) channel from the UEs. All the DCI, DL data, UCI and the UL data channel are multiple users access channels. In addition, we consider the UEs to operate in half-duplex mode and the base stations operate in the full-duplex mode with self-interference cancellation capabilities. INL proposes that UEs interested in transmitting the UL data transmit a non-orthogonal multiple access UCC based scheduling-request signal to the base station during the DL or UL data timeslots using the entire channel bandwidth. A dynamic resource allocation scheme has to provide a capability to access resources “on-demand” in order to meet the latency requirements. The PSRUCH offers just that capability in the most efficient manner by not requiring any dedicated resources and providing “always-on” availability for the contention-based SR transmissions, allowing the UEs to access UL resources with very low latency and signaling overhead. Stage of Development Currently performing MATLAB simulation for accuracy of the mathematical model. The concept and application have been formulated. Issues related to performance and technology concept have been identified. Further Details Although the proposed UCC need not be limited to any specific underlay communication technique, the specific UCC that we propose follows the signaling method that is presented and its details are discussed in patents: “US 8,731,027 B2,” US 8,861,571, B2,” and “US 9,369,866 B2.” Benefits PSRUCH has an advantage compared to the conventional uplink control SR signaling such as the LTE PUCCH because PSRUCH requires no spectrum fragmentation, no dedicated resources, and it is always available to the UEs. Applications Commercial cellular wireless communication handset and infrastructure companies. Opportunity Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), M&O Contractor of Idaho National Laboratory (INL), currently seeking parties interested in entering into a license agreement for the purpose of commercializing this technology or collaboration to jointly develop the technology. This technology is eligible for the Energy I-Corps program The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invests millions of dollars every year in U.S. national labs, yet without industry engagement and a business mindset at the labs, that investment has limited economic return. Energy I-Corps pairs teams of researchers with Industry Mentors for an intensive two-month training where the researchers define technology value propositions, conduct customer discovery interviews, and develop viable market pathways for their technologies. Researchers return to the lab with a framework for industry engagement to guide future research and inform a culture of market awareness within the labs. In this way, Energy I-Corps is ensuring our national labs are maintaining and strengthening U.S. competitiveness long-term. Companies that want to be involved with the program can nominate an individual to participate as an Industry Mentor, giving them the opportunity to work closely with INL researchers to guide technical development and maximize the commercial potential of the technology. Patents US Patent Application No. 15/670,921, BEA Docket No. BA-925: “Devices, base stations, and methods for communicating scheduling requests via an underlay control channel in a wireless communication system,” filed 7 August 2017. Pub. No.: US 2018/0049230 A1 Pub. Date: 15 February 2018 Seeking Commercial partner Development partner Licensing IP Status Patent application submitted