Peer-to-peer control network for a wireless radio access network

Abstract

A spectrum manager and base station controller for a wireless radio access network allocates TV band white space to all TV band devices under its control using: an allocation policy; information pulled/pushed from a white space database, spectrum usage data supplied by a spectrum sensing engine, and information received from at least one other peer spectrum manager and base station controller for the wireless radio access network.

1 . A method of operating a spectrum usage manager, comprising:
 receiving geolocation information, spectrum occupancy information and white space database information;   allocating white space spectrum to a base station and to a television (TV) band device associated with the base station;   the white space spectrum being for an area encompassing the base station; the allocating in accordance with the received geolocation information, spectrum occupancy information and white space database information;   the geolocation information being associated with at least one of the base station and the area encompassing the base station; the spectrum occupancy information indicating availability of the allocated white space spectrum.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising pushing at least one of spectrum occupancy information and white space database information from a peer spectrum manager to the spectrum manager. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising pushing at least one of spectrum occupancy information and white space database information from the spectrum manager to a peer spectrum manager. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising determining whether band white space allocations to the base station and the TV band device must be re-computed when the pushed at least one of spectrum occupancy information and white space database information changes. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein receiving geolocation information includes having a communications link with a geolocation engine. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein receiving spectrum occupancy information includes having a communications link with a TV band sensing engine. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein receiving white space database information includes having a communications link with a white space database server. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein allocating white space spectrum to the base station and to the TV band device includes optimizing band white space spectrum usage. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a spectrum manager of a peer-to-peer control network for a television (TV) band white space wireless radio access network, the method comprising:
 receiving geolocation information associated with a geographical area encompassing a base station of the peer-to-peer network from a geolocation engine;   receiving spectrum occupancy information indicating availability of TV white space spectrum from a TV band sensing engine;   receiving white space database information from a white space database server;   computing TV white space spectrum allocation for the base station and a TV band device associated with the base station in accordance with the geolocation information, the spectrum occupancy information, and the white space database information; and   communicating the white space spectrum allocation to the base station.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the spectrum manager is pushed TV white space spectrum allocation for a peer base station from a peer spectrum manager. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the spectrum manager pushes the TV white space spectrum allocation for the base station and the TV band device to a peer spectrum manager. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising determining whether TV band white space allocation of the base station and the TV band device must be re-computed when pushed TV white space spectrum allocation for the peer base station. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein computing TV white space spectrum allocation for the base station and a TV band device is based on an allocation policy that adheres to a Federal Communications Commission Ruling and Order respecting TV band white space usage. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising shutting down the TV band device and reporting the TV band device to a higher authority when the TV band device becomes problematic. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the spectrum manager has a client-server interface with the white space database server and the method further includes enabling a broadcaster to indirectly control the TV band device. 
     
     
         16 . A spectrum manager of a peer-to-peer control network for a television (TV) band white space wireless radio access network, the spectrum manager comprising:
 a communication link to a geolocation engine for receiving geolocation information associated with a geographical area encompassing a base station;   a communication link to a TV band sensing engine for receiving spectrum occupancy information indicating availability of TV white space spectrum;   a communication link to a white space database server for receiving white space database information; and   a processor that computes TV white space spectrum allocation for the base station and a TV band device associated with the base station in accordance with the geolocation information, the spectrum occupancy information, and the white space database information.   
     
     
         17 . The spectrum manager as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the spectrum manager resides on the base station. 
     
     
         18 . The spectrum manager as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the spectrum manager is a standalone device that serves a plurality of base stations and a plurality of TV band devices associated with the plurality of base stations. 
     
     
         19 . The spectrum manager as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the spectrum manager is functionally distributed among a plurality of base stations in the peer-to-peer control network. 
     
     
         20 . The spectrum manager as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising an allocation policy that adheres to a Federal Communications Commission Ruling and Order respecting TV band white space usage.