Systems, methods, and devices having databases for electronic spectrum management

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for automated identification of baseline data and changes in state in a wireless communications spectrum, by identifying sources of signal emission in the spectrum by automatically detecting signals, analyzing signals, comparing signal data to historical and reference data, creating corresponding signal profiles, and determining information about the baseline data and changes in state based upon the measured and analyzed data in near real time, which is stored on each apparatus or device and/or on a remote server computer that aggregates data from each apparatus or device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for connecting a device to a network-based communication in an available channel comprising:
 a master device including a master transmitter and a device sensing master; and   at least one software defined radio node;   wherein the at least one software defined radio node is operable to perform a real-time frequency scan and transmit results of the real-time frequency scan to the master device;   wherein the master device is operable to set a master list of available channels based on at least the results of the real-time frequency scan;   wherein the master device is further operable to generate a channel identity (ID) token for an available channel from the master list of available channels, transmit the channel ID token to the device sensed by the device sensing master, and set a frequency channel and a bandwidth channel for the device corresponding to the channel ID token for the available channel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one software defined radio node is operable to access an external database. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the master device is operable to access an external database. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the available channel is a FCC-licensed channel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one software defined radio node is operable to detect collisions between devices. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the master device is operable to attempt a transmission to a first device or a reception from the first device on a first frequency; determine that a second device is attempting a transmission to the master device or a reception from the master device on the first frequency; and assign a second frequency to the first device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second frequency is assigned based on a best fit model to aid in signal and/or system optimization. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the master device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and the master device is operable to acquire a GPS location of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the master device further includes a display, and the master device is operable to show the GPS location of the device on the display. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the master device is operable to update a device list with information about the device including at least one of: the set frequency channel for the device, the set bandwidth channel for the device, the GPS location of the device, a license for the set frequency channel for the device, a license for the set bandwidth channel for the device, an expiration date for the license for the set frequency channel for the device, an expiration date for the license for the set bandwidth channel for the device, an owner of the license for the set frequency channel, an owner of the license for the set bandwidth channel, or a power limitation for the device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for connecting a device to a network-based communication in an available channel comprising the steps of:
 setting a master list of available channels;   generating a channel identity (ID) token for an available channel from the master list of available channels;   acquiring a global positioning system (GPS) location of the device;   transmitting the channel ID token to the device;   upon receiving the channel ID token, the device setting itself to the available channel and connecting to the a master device;   the master device setting a frequency channel and a bandwidth channel for the device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 initiating a query for a list of available channels;   determining that the query for the list of available channels differs from a past query for a past list of available channels;   updating the master list of available channels based on the list of available channels.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the available channel is a FCC-licensed channel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 performing a real-time frequency scan;   updating the master list of available channels based on the real-time frequency scan.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of performing the real-time frequency scan includes detecting collisions between devices. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of addressing the collisions between devices, wherein the step of addressing the collisions between devices includes:
 the master device attempting a transmission to a first device or a reception from the first device on a first frequency;   determining that a second device is attempting a transmission to the master device or a reception from the master device on the first frequency;   assigning a second frequency to the first device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second frequency is assigned based on a best fit model to aid in signal and/or system optimization. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of displaying the GPS location of the device on a map. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of setting the master list of available channels includes obtaining at least a portion of the list of available channels from at least one software defined radio node. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of the master device updating a device list with information about the device including at least one of: the set frequency channel for the device, the set bandwidth channel for the device, the GPS location of the device, a license for the set frequency channel for the device, a license for the set bandwidth channel for the device, an expiration date for the license for the set frequency channel for the device, an expiration date for the license for the set bandwidth channel for the device, an owner of the license for the set frequency channel, an owner of the license for the set bandwidth channel, or a power limitation for the device.