Wireless Networking in TV White Spaces: System Designs and Economic Models

PhD Thesis Proposal Defence


Title: "Wireless Networking in TV White Spaces: System Designs and Economic 
Models"

by

Mr. Xiaojun FENG


Abstract:

With the transition from analog to digital television broadcasts, a 
substantial amount of TV channels (TV white spaces) become available for 
unlicensed access, which brings great opportunities but also introduces 
new challenges. In this thesis proposal, we identify three key challenges 
in the wireless networking research in TV white spaces. We address these 
challenges from two aspects, i.e system design and economic model. By 
designing and implementing new system architectures, we demonstrate the 
feasibility and efficiency of TV spectrum access. By proposing and 
verifying new business models, we show the incentives of the usage of the 
new wireless communication paradigm.

We have three proposals in the direction of system design. First, we 
propose a database-based architecture which is compatible with the 
regulation on the TV database access with a proof-of concept 
implementation. Second, we propose an enhancement to the current wireless 
medium access control (MAC) protocol leveraging the frequency diversity in 
the channels. Third, we consider the co-existence of systems operating 
under heterogeneous standards in TV white spaces and propose a 
busytone-based approach. In the economic model aspects, we study two 
problems. First, we consider the procedure of TV channel redistribution 
and model it as a double auction between sellers and buyers. We propose a 
truthful auction mechanism considering heterogeneous propagation 
properties of the TV spectrum. Second, we study the pricing problem for TV 
white space database operators and propose a hybrid pricing scheme for the 
operators to manage their costs and make profits. The above studies 
demonstrate that with appropriate system designs and business models, 
benefit of TV white spaces can be fully exploited.


Date:			Thursday, 9 January 2014

Time:                   1:00pm - 3:00pm

Venue:                  Room 3494
                         lifts 25/26

Committee Members:	Prof. Bo Li (Supervisor)
 			Prof. Qian Zhang (Supervisor)
 			Dr. Kai Chen (Chairperson)
 			Prof. Lionel Ni


**** ALL are Welcome ****