Stretchable Architecture and Application-Driven Spectrum Allocation for 4G Wireless Networks

Oregon State University, Corvallis OR

Investigators

Abstract

Fourth Generation wireless (4G) Networks are expected to provide a wide variety of multimedia services to users. However, these systems will operate under two severe constraints - limited battery power and limited spectrum. This proposal addresses each of these two problem areas and describes solution approaches that will increase the battery life (more bits transmitted per charge) as well as make a more efficient use of the spectrum. To increase battery life, the proposal presents the idea of a stretchable architecture where depleted users may set up their connections via some other user who has plenty of remaining energy. The problem of managing the spectrum efficiently is tied in with application's Quality of Service (QoS) specifications. Thus, an application controls the amount of spectrum it needs and explicitly trades off the energy consumed versus the bandwidth utilized.