Method and Apparatus for Making Optimal Use of an Asymmetric Interference Channel in Wireless Communication Systems

The field of cognitive radio and dynamic spectrum access (DSA) technologies has seen immense growth, driven by the need for efficient utilization of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, conventional technologies primarily operate in the "white space" and "grey space," leaving a large part of the spectrum, the "black space," largely untapped. This black space represents a massive potential for augmentation of data transmission rates and spectrum efficiency. As DSA technologies evolve to be more cognitive, the ability to utilize black space is increasingly important. However, a key problem with conventional methods is the inability to balance throughput and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), and to consider the impact of seemingly minor design choices on the overall throughput and speed of the system. Thus, there is a need for a method and system that can address these operational and design challenges.

Technology Description

The patented invention outlines a method and apparatus designed for data transmission and reception specifically in an untapped part of the spectrum, called black space. This technology is particularly suitable for dynamic spectrum access (DSA) nodes that are evolving toward greater cognitive capacities, such as self-awareness, environmental awareness, and adaptability. It provides a technique for jointly choosing a transmission rate and a multiuser detection algorithm for optimizing the operation rate of these cognitive DSA nodes while working within black space. Compared to traditional white- or grey-space-oriented policies, this innovative approach leverages black space, a largely unused section of the spectrum, for high-rate operations. It determines a balance between throughput and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR). Additionally, it establishes an information-theoretic policy for seemingly minor waveform design choices that significantly enhances the data throughput of a secondary sender-receiver pair while ensuring a manageable complexity level inside the secondary node's receiver.