Beam-level spectrum management in 5G radio networks
In a (e.g., 5G CBRS) radio system, a processor (e.g., a SAS) receives, from (e.g., CBSD) base stations, beam-level information about beams used by the base stations to communicate with UEs, uses the information to assess interference associated with the beams, and instructs the base stations to modify one or more specified beams in order to reduce the interference. In addition to powering down one or more specified beams, a base station may create new beams to attempt to satisfy UE bandwidth needs without creating unacceptable levels of interference.
1. A 5G Spectrum Access System (SAS) comprising a processor for a 5G radio system comprising a plurality of 5G base stations, each 5G base station configured to generate one or more downlink beams, wherein:
the processor receives beam-level information from one or more 5G base stations about one or more downlink beams used by the 5G base stations to communicate with one or more user equipments (UEs);
the processor uses the beam-level information to run a propagation model to assess beam-level interference associated with the one or more downlink beams; and
the processor generates and transmits beam-level instructions to instruct the at least one 5G base station to modify one or more of its downlink beams in order to reduce the beam-level interference associated with the one or more downlink beams, wherein, for at least one 5G base station having multiple downlink beams, the beam-level instructions instruct the 5G base station to reduce the power level of at least one of its downlink beams for a UE without reducing the power level of one or more of its other downlink beams, wherein the 5G SAS runs the propagation model in coordination with one or more other 5G SASs in order to reduce beam-level interference for at least one 5G base station of a 5G network associated with the 5G SAS, wherein the reduced beam-level interference is with respect to at least one 5G base station of a different 5G network associated with at least one other SAS.
2. The 5G SAS of claim 1 , wherein:
the radio system is a 5G Citizens Broadband Radio System (CBRS) system; and
the one or more 5G base stations are CBRS base stations (CBSDs).
3. A method for a processor of a 5G SAS in a 5G radio system comprising a plurality of 5G base stations, each 5G base station configured to generate one or more downlink beams, the method comprising the processor:
receiving beam-level information from one or more 5G base stations about one or more downlink beams used by the one or more 5G base stations to communicate with one or more UEs;
using the beam-level information to run a propagation model to assess beam-level interference associated with the one or more downlink beams; and
generate and transmit beam-level instructions to instructing the at least one 5G base station to modify one or more of its downlink beams in order to reduce the beam-level interference associated with the one or more downlink beams, wherein, for at least one base station having multiple downlink beams, the beam-level instructions instruct the base station to reduce the power level of at least one of its downlink beams for a UE without reducing the power level of one or more of its other downlink beams, wherein the 5G SAS runs the propagation model in coordination with one or more other 5G SASs in order to reduce beam-level interference for at least one 5G base station of a 5G network associated with the 5G SAS, wherein the reduced beam-level interference is with respect to at least one 5G base station of a different 5G network associated with at least one other SAS.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the radio system is a 5G CBRS system; and
the one or more 5G base stations are CBSDs.
5. The 5G SAS of claim 1 , wherein the beam-level instructions instruct the at least one 5G base station to add one or more lower-power downlink beams for the UE.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the beam-level instructions instruct the at least one 5G base station to add one or more lower-power downlink beams for the UE.