Wireless local area network using tv white space spectrum and long term evolution system architecture

Abstract

A wireless local area network (WLAN) gateway uses a LTE radio frame and TV white space spectrum for data communications in a wireless local area network. In the LTE downlink frame, a predefined subset of the pilot (reference) symbol positions are used to carry information to data sinks in the WLAN.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wireless local area network, comprising:
 a local area network gateway configured to communicate modified OFDM frames over a piece of vacant white space, the modified OFDM frames comprising a predetermined subset of pilot symbol positions normally used in OFDM frames to transmit pilot symbols for channel estimation that are made available for carrying control symbols to increase a data capacity of each of the modified OFDM frames; and   a receiver configured to receive the modified OFDM frames and extract the control symbols from the predetermined subset of pilot symbol positions.