Method and apparatus to support scalability in a multicarrier network

A computer implemented method comprising:

• estimating a network parameter;
• determining whether to change a number of subcarriers (N) being used by a multicarrier device by a predetermined number of subcarriers based, at least in part, on the estimated network parameter and capability information, each time a cell traffic load exceeds or falls below a specified percentage of a maximum cell traffic load, wherein the multicarrier device is a wireless base station providing network access services within a cell of a network and the network parameter includes a communication traffic load within the cell;
• checking a data file for bandwidth availability within a network cell when a determination to increase in the number of subcarriers is made, wherein the capability information includes the data file, which indicates portions of an electromagnetic spectrum for which regulatory body licenses are currently obtained for the network cell;
• using the data file, determining whether an regulatory body license has been acquired to use the spectrum associated with increasing the number of subcarriers;
• and
• increasing the number of subcarriers in electromagnetic spectrum for which regulatory body licenses are obtained.

A system comprising:

• a dipole antenna to receive orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols from a wireless communication medium;
• a Fourier transform engine to perform a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) on OFDM symbols received from by the dipole antenna or an inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) on modulated subcarriers to generate an OFDM symbol for transmission on the dipole antenna, the Fourier transform engine having a variable DFT size for the DFT and a variable IDFT size for the IDFT;
• and
• a controller to:
• check a data file for bandwidth availability within a network cell when a determination to increase in the number of subcarriers is made, wherein varying a number of subcarriers (N) being used is based on capability information that includes the data file, which indicates portions of an electromagnetic spectrum for which regulatory body licenses are currently obtained for the network cell,
• determine whether a regulatory body license has been acquired to use spectrum associated with the increased number of subcarriers using the data file, when the regulatory body license is required,
• vary a number of subcarriers (N) being used by the system to communicate with wireless devices by a predetermined number of subcarriers each time a cell traffic load exceeds or falls below a specified percentage of a maximum cell traffic load, and
• change the DFT size or IDFT size of the Fourier transform engine in accordance with the number of subcarriers.

An article comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing platform, operate to:

• estimate a network parameter for a multicarrier wireless network including a base station and a plurality of user devices;
• determine whether to change a number of subcarriers (N) being used by the base station to communicate with the user devices by a predetermined number of subcarriers based, at least in part, on the estimated network parameter and capability information, each time a cell traffic load exceeds or falls below a specified percentage of a maximum cell traffic load;
• check a data file for bandwidth availability within a network cell when a determination to increase in the number of subcarriers is made, wherein the capability information includes the data file, which indicates portions of an electromagnetic spectrum for which regulatory body licenses are currently obtained for the network cell;
• using the data file, determining whether an regulatory body license has been acquired to use the spectrum associated with increasing the number of subcarriers;
• and
• increasing the number of subcarriers in electromagnetic spectrum for which regulatory body licenses are obtained.