A team of researchers developed a new "algorithm" software formula, which works to improve the distribution and exploitation of the frequency spectrum between different wireless communication technologies, especially the sixth generation of "Wi-Fi" "Wi-Fi 6" and the fifth generation of mobile, at a rate of up to 5000 times what It achieves the current method. The new algorithm, based on machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, makes radio transmitters and emitters of various types understand the environment around them and learn to choose the best channel, which is either less crowded with data transmitted, or less interfering with other signals, which enhances Opportunities to operate the two new technologies together in the frequency bands, which require a license from public authorities, or that are open to use without prior authorization.

The research team that made this move belongs to the American National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and it was announced in a statement published in the newsroom on the Institute's official website nist.gov/ news, following the discussion of the full academic research paper With the recent conference of the American Society of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (I3E) on advanced wireless communication technology, which was held virtually over the Internet.

Previous experience

The researchers explained that the new algorithm is basically a formula that causes the transmitter to determine previous experience in the prevailing RF environment conditions around it. This could include, for example, the number of transmitters operating within a channel, or “a group of adjacent frequencies”, and if the transmitter chooses an unoccupied channel, the probability of a successful transmission increases, leading to an increase in the size and speed of the data transferred and circulated. If the transmitter chooses a channel that is not subject to much interference, the signal is stronger, and you get a better data rate. Thus, the transmitter invests previous experience, to learn and remember quickly, the channel that provides the best results and learns to choose this place when it then needs a clear signal.

Hence, the new algorithm makes transmitters constantly learn and understand the surrounding wireless environment. Based on learning, the way you choose which communication channels to use is determined from the many available communication channels. Learning and understanding reduces the number of experiment times, which the transmitter performs from 45 thousand and 600 experiments currently to 10 experiments only, by 0.02%, so that the device reaches the decision to choose the appropriate channel, and this would improve the efficiency of the distribution, sharing and exploitation of communication channels Wireless, and the available frequency spectrum is equivalent to 5000 times. This is different from the current method, in which the transmitter attempts each time to find an open frequency, and then communicates with devices that use a similar protocol, until the receiving devices are contacted, without being aware, remembering or benefiting from the experience they experienced in Every time a previous connection.

Avoid the clash

In their statement, the researchers explained that the greatest benefit of the new algorithm is most evident in cases called "the shared spectrum", which operates at a speed of five gigahertz, and uses a licensed spectrum with unlicensed spectrum, such as (Wi-Fi) with the frequencies of the LTE networks E ”,“ LTE-U ”and“ LAA ”that all work with mobile networks on the same frequencies, but via different protocols.

And when the protocols are different, wireless devices do not communicate with each other to work in harmony, and chaos can occur, the more crowded the band, and transmissions from one device collide with similar operations from another device, and if all devices have better capabilities in choosing their channels By knowing what works and what doesn't, things will get better.

The new algorithm

The researchers emphasized that the importance of the new algorithm is that it provides a great opportunity, to avoid interference and potential collision between the technologies of the sixth generation and "Wi-Fi", and the fifth generation of the mobile, on short high-speed, similar wireless frequencies that operate in the short and medium term, and combine the frequencies that It has been authorized by public authorities for use only by a specific entity, as is the case with the frequencies granted to the fifth generation of the mobile, and the open frequencies, which can be used without a license or assignment granted by the public authorities, and this was one of the concerns of experts regarding conflict or clash that It can arise when radio signals are spread. Issued by the two technologies together in the future, and the reduction in efficiency that could result on both sides.