Call for Papers

The incredible increase in connected appliances and downloaded applications has pushed mobile operators to edge limits of their licensed spectrum bands. This has triggered the idea of evolving the current radio access network to use the underutilized unlicensed spectrum to and extending spectrum resources beyond current usage charts. Nevertheless, unlicensed access is getting accepted as one of the most significant solutions to improve the resource availability and system scalability in future 5G/B5G networks. The local contiguous access of spectrum using the ultra-dense deployment of small cells enable to utilize every single Hz of the spectrum including the unlicensed band. The millstones for such technology has been verified with the emergence of Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA) and LTE-WiFi Aggregation (LWA) technologies. The interoperability between licensed and unlicensed spectrums allows transferring higher data volumes with the additional airtime obtained from the unlicensed spectrum.

Recently, AI-based spectrum interoperability gaining a lot of attention.  Therefore, by using notions from AI, one can enable wireless devices to intelligent learn their spectrum interoperability and thus make better informed and potentially proactive spectrum management decisions. Second, cognitive radio (CR) will undoubtedly be a key technology for the implementation of future smart wireless networks. In a CR, the spectrum interoperability with AI-boosted cognitive science and data analytics will play an important role. Furthermore, driven by the idea of AI-assisted spectrum management, future CR networks may be upgraded with new capabilities, such as the provisioning of personalized and smart machine-to-machine services employing various features such as intelligent cognition, advanced wireless signal processing, or adaptive wireless resource management. Third, the IoT is arguably one of the most important applications of the next-generation wireless networks. For the realization of IoT, AI-assisted spectrum management will play as a key fundamental technique for efficiently coordinating limited spectrum resource, intelligently mitigating interference, and processing heterogeneous information.

Hence, the objective of this special issue is to explore recent advances in AI-based Licensed/Unlicensed Spectrum Interoperability in wireless communication networks. This special issue will bring together leading researchers and developers to present their research on AI-enabled spectrum management framework and algorithms. This SI will also strengthen the goal toward standardization of efficient and fair spectrum sharing. The 3GPP and WiFi Alliance are the main leading bodies debating such technologies. Supporting interoperability from the backbone segment to enable multi-connectivity and packet forwarding between dynamic clusters has gained more attention within IEEE 5G Initiative and the creation of the IEEE 1932.1 Standard WG. Therefore, the IEEE 5G Initiative is looking at the opportunity to have a deep technical analysis through new CFP in IEEE TCCN that can be a forum for such discussions. Since 5G development is moving from conceptional stage to alpha level testbeds, IEEE 5G Initiative is launching a new CFP to cover the spectrum extension challenges and related technologies. Prospective authors are invited to submit original manuscripts on topics including, but not limited to:

• AI and ML-based Spectrum Management
• Licensed and unlicensed spectrum interoperability
• Cognitive radio based solution for licensed/unlicensed bands
• The capacity of multi-interface networks
• Shared usage of the unlicensed band
• Time alignment in multi-interface technologies
• End-to-end communications and service optimization
• Interfaces to the core network for standalone and non-standalone networks
• Network stability, scalability, and optimization 
• Integration of various platforms onto a single network
• Provisioning, monitoring and diagnostic solutions for Licensed and unlicensed spectrum
• Management solutions for Licensed and unlicensed spectrum
• Licensed and unlicensed spectrum for IoT network
• Licensed and unlicensed spectrum for V2X network

Submission Guidelines

Manuscripts should conform to the standard format as indicated in the Information for Authors section of the Paper Submission Guidelines. All manuscripts to be considered for publication must be submitted by the deadline through Manuscript Central. Select the “Licensed/Unlicensed Spectrum Interoperability in Future Mobile Wireless System” topic from the drop-down menu of Topic/Series titles.

Important Dates

Submission Deadline: 1 December 2019
First Reviews Complete: 1 February 2020
Revision Due: 15 March 2020
Final Review Decision: 15 May 2020
Final to Publisher: 1 June 2020
Publication: Third Quarter 2020

Guest Editors