U.S. patent application number 13/997071 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-11 for implementing a dynamic cloud spectrum database as a mechanism for cataloging and controlling spectrum availability.
The applicant listed for this patent is Reza Arefi, Carlos Cordeiro, David M. Horne, Bahareh Sadeghi, Srikathyayani Srikanteswara, Geoff Weaver. Invention is credited to Reza Arefi, Carlos Cordeiro, David M. Horne, Bahareh Sadeghi, Srikathyayani Srikanteswara, Geoff Weaver.
Application Number | 20140256284 13/997071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49006095 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140256284 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cordeiro; Carlos ; et
al. |
September 11, 2014 |
IMPLEMENTING A DYNAMIC CLOUD SPECTRUM DATABASE AS A MECHANISM FOR
CATALOGING AND CONTROLLING SPECTRUM AVAILABILITY
Abstract
A system and method are provided for implementing a dynamic
cloud spectrum database to codify and store information on, and
track the use of, spectrum resources made available by primary
spectrum holders in an effort to facilitate spectrum management for
networks using spectrum allocated through a Dynamic Spectrum Access
scheme that allows the primary spectrum holders, or proxies
assigned to manage a given allocations of spectrum, to temporarily
"rent" access to the spectrum they hold to other entities. Spectrum
may be listed in the database defined by a common unit measurement
system according to a defined metric for quantifying spectrum. A
time-frequency unit or TFU is defined according to a unit of
spectrum being available for a specified time, e.g., 1 MHz of
spectrum being available for use for 1 second at a given location.
Spectrum resources negotiated in the disclosed transactions are
represented and/or transferred in multiples of TFU's.
Inventors: |
Cordeiro; Carlos; (Portland,
OR) ; Srikanteswara; Srikathyayani; (Portland,
OR) ; Sadeghi; Bahareh; (Portland, OR) ;
Arefi; Reza; (Great Falls, VA) ; Weaver; Geoff;
(Portland, OR) ; Horne; David M.; (Chandler,
AZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cordeiro; Carlos
Srikanteswara; Srikathyayani
Sadeghi; Bahareh
Arefi; Reza
Weaver; Geoff
Horne; David M. |
Portland
Portland
Portland
Great Falls
Portland
Chandler |
OR
OR
OR
VA
OR
AZ |
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49006095 |
Appl. No.: |
13/997071 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
April 30, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2012/035748 |
371 Date: |
May 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61603261 |
Apr 11, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/406 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 28/16 20130101;
H04W 72/1257 20130101; H04L 41/0896 20130101; H04W 76/10 20180201;
H04W 4/24 20130101; H04W 72/0486 20130101; H04W 74/002 20130101;
H04W 16/14 20130101; H04W 16/10 20130101; H04W 88/06 20130101; H04W
72/0493 20130101; H04W 24/08 20130101; H04W 72/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/406 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/24 20060101
H04W004/24 |
Claims
1. A method for implementing dynamic spectrum access, comprising:
populating a database, using a processor, with information
regarding spectrum availability based on inputs received from
primary spectrum holders, the information including at least
frequency information, time information, location information and
cost information for the spectrum availability; employing, with the
processor, the information regarding the spectrum availability to
conclude a transaction that provides a portion of the spectrum
availability to a user in return for compensation to a particular
primary spectrum holder; outputting information to the user
regarding the at least the portion of the spectrum availability
provided to the user as a result of the transaction; and updating
the database, with the processor, to include (1) a status of the at
least the portion of the spectrum availability provided to the user
as allocated, and (2) an identification of the user to whom the
portion of the spectrum availability is allocated.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining a request
from the particular primary spectrum holder to reclaim spectrum
availability made available by the particular primary spectrum
holder; querying the database, with the processor, to determine
whether the requested spectrum availability is indicated as being
allocated to a user and to obtain the identification of the user to
whom the requested spectrum availability is allocated; and
outputting information to the user to stop using the requested
spectrum availability.
3. The method of claim 2, the request from the particular primary
spectrum holder including a time parameter by which the particular
spectrum holder wants use of the requested spectrum availability by
the user to cease, and the information output to the user includes
the time parameter.
4. The method of claim 1, the frequency information including at
least one of (1) a frequency band identification, and (2) a start
frequency and an end frequency for the spectrum availability.
5. The method of claim 1, the time information including a start
time and a stop time for the spectrum availability, the start time
and the stop time defining an availability window for the spectrum
availability.
6. The method of claim 1, the location information including a
latitude, a longitude, an altitude, and a radius of coverage from
the latitude and longitude.
7. The method of claim 1, the cost information being represented as
a cost per time-frequency unit applied to the spectrum
availability, the time-frequency unit including a common amount of
spectrum and a common time reference for the spectrum
availability.
8. The method of claim 7, the common amount of spectrum being 1 MHz
and the common time reference being 1 second resulting in the cost
per time-frequency unit being based on spectrum availability at a
rate of 1 MHz-second.
9. The method of claim 1, the information on the spectrum
availability used to populate the database further including
additional characteristics for use of the spectrum as defined by
the primary spectrum holder.
10. The method of claim 9, the additional characteristics for use
of the spectrum including at least a maximum power level to be used
by a participating device using the spectrum availability.
11. The method of claim 1, the user being a wireless multi-mode
device.
12. The method of claim 1, the user being an alternate spectrum
holder that allots spectrum for use by a plurality of wireless
multi-mode devices.
13. The method of claim 1, the compensation being in the form of at
least one of monetary compensation and other consideration paid by
the user to gain access to the portion of the spectrum
availability.
14. A system for implementing dynamic spectrum access, comprising:
an external communication interface that receives information
regarding spectrum availability from primary spectrum holders, the
information including at least frequency information, time
information, location information and cost information for the
spectrum availability; a dynamic and interactive database in which
the received information regarding spectrum availability is stored;
and a processor that is programmed to employ the information
regarding the spectrum availability stored in the database to
conclude a transaction that provides a portion of the spectrum
availability to a user in return for compensation to a particular
primary spectrum holder; output information via the external
communication interface to the user regarding the portion of the
spectrum availability provided to the user as a result of the
transaction; and update the database to include (1) a status of the
portion of the spectrum availability provided to the user as
allocated, and (2) an identification of the user to whom the
portion of the spectrum availability is allocated.
15. The system of claim 14, the processor being further programmed
to obtain a request from the particular primary spectrum holder to
reclaim spectrum availability made available by the particular
primary spectrum holder; query the database to determine whether
the requested spectrum availability is indicated as being allocated
to a user and to obtain the identification of the user to whom the
requested spectrum availability is allocated; and output via the
external communication interface information to the user to stop
using the requested spectrum availability.
16. The system of claim 15, the request from the particular primary
spectrum holder including a time parameter by which the particular
spectrum holder wants use of the requested spectrum availability by
the user to cease, and the information output to the user includes
the time parameter.
17. The system of claim 14, the frequency information including at
least one of (1) a frequency band identification, and (2) a start
frequency and an end frequency for the spectrum availability,
18. The system of claim 14, the time information including a start
time and a stop time for the spectrum availability, the start time
and the stop time defining an availability window for the spectrum
availability.
19. The system of claim 14, the location information including a
latitude, a longitude, an altitude, and a radius of coverage from
the latitude and longitude.
20. The system of claim 14, the cost information being represented
as a cost per time-frequency unit applied to the spectrum
availability, the time-frequency unit including a common amount of
spectrum and a common time reference for the spectrum
availability.
21. The system of claim 20, the common amount of spectrum being 1
MHz and the common time reference being 1 second resulting in the
cost per time-frequency unit being based on spectrum availability
at a rate of 1 MHz-second.
22. The system of claim 14, the information on the spectrum
availability used to populate the database further including
additional characteristics for use of the spectrum as defined by
the primary spectrum holders.
23. The system of claim 22, the additional characteristics for use
of the spectrum including at least a maximum power level to be used
by a participating device using the spectrum availability.
24. The system of claim 14, the user being a wireless multi-mode
device.
25. The system of claim 14, the user being an alternate spectrum
holder that allots spectrum for use by a plurality of wireless
multi-mode devices.
26. The system of claim 14, the compensation being in the form of
at least one of monetary compensation and other consideration paid
by the user to gain access to the at least the portion of the
spectrum availability.
27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing
computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor,
causes the processor to execute a method for implementing dynamic
spectrum access, the method comprising: populating a database with
information regarding spectrum availability based on inputs
received from primary spectrum holders, the information including
at least frequency information, time information, location
information and cost information for the spectrum availability;
employing the information regarding the spectrum availability to
conclude a transaction that provides a portion of the spectrum
availability to a user in return for compensation to a particular
primary spectrum holder; outputting information to the user
regarding the portion of the spectrum availability provided to the
user as a result of the transaction; and updating the database to
include (1) a status of the portion of the spectrum availability
provided to the user as allocated, and (2) an identification of the
user to whom the portion of the spectrum availability is allocated.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/603,261, entitled "Intelligent Spectrum
Allocation Based on User Behavior Patterns For Efficient Spectrum
Usage," filed on Feb. 25, 2012. This application is related to
co-pending International Patent Application Nos. (Attorney Docket
Nos. P43616PCT and P43617PCT), filed on the same day as this
application, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by
reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosed Embodiments
[0003] This disclosure relates to systems and methods for
implementing a dynamic cloud spectrum database (CSD) to codify and
store information on, and track the use of, spectrum resources made
available by primary spectrum holders (PSH's). The disclosed CSD
facilitates spectrum management for networks using spectrum
allocated through a Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) scheme that
allows the PSH's, or proxies assigned to manage a given allocations
of spectrum, to temporarily "rent" access to the spectrum they hold
to other entities.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] The last decade and a half has witnessed an explosion in
growth in the use of, and requirements for, wireless data
communications, particularly by individual users operating, for
example, through licensed mobile cellular network operators. This
growth continues unabated today as the numbers and types of
wireless devices employed by the individual users to access all
manner of wireless networks via various communication paths
continue to multiply, increasing demand for available spectrum. As
the increase in demand for wireless data access continues, the
world is headed toward a global spectrum shortage. There is a
finite amount of spectrum that can be tapped to support wireless
data communication. Availability of wireless spectrum for the
increasing numbers and types of mobile devices is key to the
continued use of the spectrum to exchange data and for economic
growth.
[0006] An availability of ever increasingly-capable wireless data
communications has also created in individual customers an
expectation of a certain quality of service. In short, individual
wireless data communication consumers expect quality wireless data
communications to be available anytime and anyplace. If solutions
are not found, users of wireless devices will frustratingly
experience increased instances of dropped calls and slow data
speeds all while paying higher fees for access to the scarce
resource that will be the wireless data and voice communication
spectrum.
[0007] Currently, wireless devices are used to provide individual
customers virtually instantaneous and continuous wireless access to
email, social media, applications and streaming video. These
wireless devices are estimated to use 25 to 125 times the amount of
spectrum that was used by earlier generation cellular telephones.
Various industry estimates expect growth in global mobile data
traffic to double every 1-2 years for the foreseeable future.
[0008] Exclusive mobile spectrum licenses carve out to their
licensees portions of the available spectrum that are used for
wireless data and voice communication. Licensees in any geographic
area include government agencies, which sometimes reserve
communication spectrum to certain "required" wireless voice and
data communications. A non-exhaustive list of these communications
users includes broadcast radio and television communications,
satellite communications, public safety and emergency services
communications, military communications, and certain other
commercial communication requirements to include, for example,
communications with aircraft for navigation and air traffic
control. Licensees in particular geographic areas also include
mobile cellular network operators. A cursory review of the
breakdown of the licensed spectrum for any particular geographic
area reveals that the availability of new spectrum to support the
assignment of additional exclusive licenses to any particular
licensee is nearly exhausted.
[0009] A detailed review of the challenges faced by mobile cellular
network operators starts with an overview of their operations.
Mobile cellular network operators license spectrum bands for their
exclusive use within a particular geographic region. These entities
then contract with individual customers to provide certain levels
of service with express or implied guarantees of connectivity, and
of communications fidelity at increasing rates of delivery. As
mobile cellular network communication traffic continues its
dramatic increase, congestion occurs today and the congestion
problem is forecast to rise significantly in coming years in the
portions of the spectrum currently licensed to mobile cellular
network operators to support wireless voice and data
communications.
[0010] In the face of current and forecast issues regarding network
congestion in their licensed spectrums, mobile cellular network
operators have taken to purchasing additional exclusive spectrum
licenses in the secondary market from other exclusive licensees
(spectrum holders) whose licensed spectrum is underused or
otherwise available. Buying additional spectrum licenses allows
mobile cellular network operators to build or expand their networks
and handle more customer traffic. In fact, in late 2011, one major
mobile cellular network operator in the United States reached an
agreement, subject to regulatory approval, to buy a license for a
small swath of wireless communication spectrum (around 20 MHz) from
several broadcast cable companies for an amount that was reported
to be in excess of three and one half billion dollars.
[0011] Efforts are ongoing to optimize wireless data communication
to make more effective use of available spectrum. Consider the
available spectrum as a pipe with a finite maximum diameter.
Ongoing efforts attempt to optimize the flow of data through that
pipe, thereby reducing the amount of spectrum used. These efforts
include use of compression techniques, video optimization and burst
transmissions such that overall data transmission through the pipe
is streamlined and optimized, i.e., techniques are implemented to
pass larger amounts of data in what appears to be a smaller volume
of flow through the pipe. Additional efforts are focused on
concepts such as Wi-Fi offload or small cell development to ease
the burden on the saturated portions of the spectrum exclusively
licensed to mobile cellular network operators. All efforts at
making data flow more efficient, thereby improving spectral
efficiency, will reap benefits. Regardless of these efforts,
however, the pipe will never get any bigger due to the fixed,
finite spectrum covered by licenses. The above efforts may delay
the inevitable. There will still come a time, however, when the
currently licensed portions of the spectrum that support commercial
mobile voice and data communications will become overburdened. When
this overburdening occurs, a mobile cellular network operator has
at its disposal methods, some of which are used today, by which to
maintain service across its exclusively-licensed spectrum for all
of its individual customers. Often these methods reduce the quality
of service experienced by individual customers. Common techniques
include, for example, mobile cellular network operators
"throttling" rates at which data may be received by individual
customers. Of course, as with any supply and demand scheme, a
mobile cellular network operator can exact a premium from some
percentage of its individual customers according to
currently-licensed spectrum for its use to prioritize which of the
individual customers get "throttled" last.
SUMMARY OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] A review of utilization of certain of the above-discussed
licensed spectrums, other than those licensed to mobile cellular
network operators, reveals that, although allocated to a specific
entity for use at particularly scheduled times or on an as-needed
basis, an overall rate of utilization of certain licensees spectrum
may actually be very low. The spectrum that is allocated to certain
services, other than commercial mobile wireless voice and data
communication and Wi-Fi services, may experience actual overall
average utilization rates as low as 1%. For example, some
government entities only require high use of their spectrum in
times of emergency. Theoretically, across the wireless spectrum, up
to an estimated 4 GHz of spectrum is underused.
[0013] One industry solution that has been suggested would be to
allow individual wireless devices to conduct autonomous spectrum
sensing to detect unused spectrum and to tap into that spectrum for
individual wireless device use on an ad hoc basis. This "open
market" or "opportunistic" method, which allows the individual
customer to seek out and use the most effective and most economical
service regardless of how that service is delivered to the
individual customer's wireless device, is not according to the
current paradigm. This method appears, according to current
technology, to pose a level of chaos that will not solve the
problem. Additionally, spectrum holders whose spectrum may be
accessed require full control of their spectrum at times without
interference from randomly encroaching wireless devices. The
spectrum sensing solution would disrupt such control and introduce
interference. There may come a time when such an open market method
may be feasibly implemented. At that time, it will be appropriate
to include within that open market method a version of the
brokering scheme discussed below.
[0014] Some have suggested that the allocation of spectrum should
implement utility models based on fairness, content type, and
differences in providers. This suggested solution is largely
discounted as it is postulated to create fragmentation and lead to
inefficiencies that would only exacerbate the currently-forecast
difficulties. Others have suggested using cognitive pilot channels
(wireless spectrum) to advertise available unused or underused
spectrum. This "solution," however, would require use of additional
spectrum to implement the advertising and would be largely
uncontrolled leading to increased chaos. Use of static databases to
locate unused spectrum has also been proposed, but is not
considered dynamic enough to manage the problem longer term.
Spectrum required by individual users for any given period in any
given location is dynamically changing, particularly when the users
are mobile. This calls for requiring an equally dynamic automated
solution by which to manage spectrum allocation. The problems of
overcrowding in certain portions of the spectrum can be alleviated
by executing a disciplined scheme to tap into the underused
portions of the spectrum in a manner that meets the requirements of
all of the respective licensees.
[0015] In contrast to the open market method described above is a
controlled market method. The controlled market method is based on
the mobile cellular network operator/individual customer model that
is in place today. An individual customer does not generally access
any spectrum except through the licensed spectrum controlled by the
mobile cellular network operator that provides the service and
equipment to the individual customer. It is in this model that the
mobile cellular network operator provides a contracted-for level of
service with certain guarantees and disclaimers, while exercising
some modicum of control. For example, based on this relationship,
the mobile cellular network operator can throttle an individual
customer's access to wireless communications by slowing the rate at
which those communications are provided to the individual
customer's wireless device. The mobile cellular network operator
could also block data transmissions from reaching the individual
customer's wireless device. The mobile cellular network operator
can also control what applications an individual customer may be
able to access, and what applications the individual customer's
wireless device may support. Because the controlled market method
is the method generally in place today, the balance of this
disclosure will deal with implementation of the disclosed systems
and methods in a controlled market. It should be recognized,
however, that the systems and methods according to this disclosure
may be equally enabled in an open market method if an open market
method becomes the paradigm for supporting individual customers'
wireless communication needs. Also, the term mobile cellular
network operator is used to generically refer to any commercial
provider that exclusively licenses spectrum in support of providing
wireless data and voice communications to a number of individual
customers/users on a for-fee basis.
[0016] Based on the above shortfalls, a new paradigm is emerging
for global spectrum optimization in a controlled environment. New
to the wireless industry is a discussion of temporary spectrum
license rental/leasing as opposed to spectrum license sale via
auction or secondary market transactions. Exclusive licensees of
unused or underused spectrum may provide an amount of spectrum at a
particular time, in a particular location, to the marketplace in
which licensees that require additional spectrum may acquire
temporary access to the offered spectrum for a fee or appropriate
consideration. There is a worldwide push for regulations that allow
licensed spectrum holders to temporarily transfer, e.g. rent or
lease, access to their unused or underused spectrum to other
entities requiring spectrum such as mobile cellular network
operators. This creates a win-win situation where the other
licensees gain access to additional spectrum resources, which would
not otherwise be available, while the spectrum holders with unused
spectrum get a financial incentive or other consideration. This may
be particularly attractive to the large majority of licensed
spectrum holders whose utilization is well less than 100%, but that
are not able to relinquish the spectrum completely through sale or
other transaction based on their need to keep the spectrum reserved
to their own use in certain areas at certain times.
[0017] According to proposed schemes, multiple primary spectrum
holders (PSH's) of underused spectrum may act as spectrum
suppliers. Multiple alternate spectrum holders (ASH's), such as,
for example, mobile cellular network operators, may seek to augment
their own exclusively-licensed spectrum by renting spectrum from
the spectrum suppliers as spectrum renters. The mobile cellular
network operator needs to support its individual customers
operating its individual wireless devices connected to the mobile
cellular network. The mobile cellular network operator is in a best
position to monitor the use of its network by its individual
customers according to time and location. When the mobile cellular
network operator determines that its licensed spectrum will not
meet customer demand for a particular location at a particular
time, e.g., busiest periods of the day, the mobile cellular network
operator, acting as an ASH, may execute a transaction such as, for
example, placing a real-time bid for spectrum, to temporarily
acquire additional spectrum in a particular location at a
particular time that has been made available by a PSH in a
controlled marketplace.
[0018] Prior to offering portions of its underused spectrum to the
marketplace for access by potential ASH's, the PSH generally needs
to be assured that it can regain control of its spectrum when a
need arises. A clear mechanism to support such assurances is
provided in the exemplary embodiments discussed in this disclosure.
As discussed in this disclosure, DSA generally refers to a scheme
that allows PSH's to temporarily rent their spectrum to ASH's on
the condition that the rented spectrum can be relinquished to the
PSH on demand. It is estimated that, through implementation of such
a scheme across all spectrum to 6 GHz, as much as 75% of the
underused 4 GHz of spectrum may be recovered for use by multiple
ASH's. This complete recovery would require full implementation of
the disclosed brokering scheme and full cooperation from all PSH's.
Actual implementation may initially realize a recovery of spectrum
at well less than 2 GHz as it is anticipated that certain PSH's may
choose not to participate, and others may temper their
participation, at least initially. To put the above numbers in some
perspective, however, it should be realized that a 500 MHz recovery
would effectively double the amount of spectrum currently available
for mobile cellular network communications.
[0019] A challenge in achieving an efficient and scalable DSA
scheme that becomes economically viable is effective spectrum
management. In other words, given the temporary lease of spectrum
to different operators or users, in different locations, for
different time periods, a challenge resides in determining how best
to coordinate the leasing of the spectrum so that the brokering
scheme maximizes: (1) the incentive for the ASH's; (2) the
incentive for the PSH's and (3) experience for the user/operator
that is paying for that spectrum (ideally, with minimal cost), all
while avoiding interference and assuring the PSH that its spectrum
is recoverable on demand. This is an optimization problem that
lends itself to the use of computational analytics. Currently,
there are no known global spectrum management schemes with
computational analytics across networks employing DSA. While mobile
cellular network operators do make use of spectrum management
within their own networks, there is no cross-network, or
cross-operator, spectrum management between potential ASH's. Today,
with spectrum exclusively licensed, there has been no push for a
large scale spectrum management. However, with future spectrum
exhaustion of their exclusively-licensed spectrum expected by
carriers, the larger pool of rented spectrum provides a greater
pool of spectrum resources from which to optimize utilization,
i.e., optimization would no longer be limited to just the local
spectrum resources of each individual carrier.
[0020] An overarching cloud spectrum services (CSS) approach to
realizing a form of DSA that is centered on the cloud is proposed
in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/603,261.
Specifically, the cloud is envisioned as the mechanism to enable
management, in real-time or in near real-time, of the dynamic
allocation, reclaiming, de-allocation, auditing, and optimizing the
use of spectrum that has been the subject of a transaction between
PSH's and operators/users/content providers acting as ASH's.
[0021] U.S. patent application No. [Attorney Docket No. 064-0060]
proposes a two-level spectrum management analytic optimization that
effectively bifurcates spectrum optimization requirements and
responsibilities between a regional global spectrum broker and a
series of local spectrum brokers acting under an umbrella of the
regional global spectrum broker. The approach described in the
[0060] Application proposes to keep from overburdening the regional
global spectrum broker's, and the local spectrum brokers',
computational capabilities by effectively managing individual
optimization requirements between the global spectrum broker and
the local spectrum brokers. That application specifically discusses
a concept of local and global optimization for spectrum management
according to a specified brokering scheme.
[0022] As an aid to the optimization described in the [0060]
Application, U.S. patent application No. [Attorney Docket No.
064-0061] describes inputs, outputs and guidelines of an algorithm
used to resolve spectrum optimization at one or both of the global
and local spectrum broker levels described in the [0060]
Application. Each of the inputs discussed in the Application may be
employed to generate appropriate output profiles for multi-mode
devices (MMD's), or wireless devices, in support of the DSA. The
[0061] Application specifically describes implementing a spectrum
management analytics (SMA) algorithm that references a plurality of
enumerated inputs to generate a set of output parameters for use by
an MMD in optimizing spectrum use for the spectrum resources made
available to that MMD. The SMA algorithm is described as being a
part of a cloud spectrum broker (CSB) analytic. The CSB analytic
provides for: (1) Managing CSS transactions involving transfer of
spectrum resources from participating primary spectrum holders
(PSH's) to one or more alternate spectrum holders (ASH's); (2)
Reclaiming spectrum resources from an ASH back to the corresponding
PSH on request; (3) Initiating queries to PSH's based on requests
from MMD's, or through other ASH's; and (4) Performing a series of
predictive resource allocations that may optimize spectrum use as
the MMD moves between a number of regions.
[0023] The multiple and varied sources of information generally
described in the [0061] Application provide information regarding
the following: a radio interface 115, MMD capabilities 120, base
station capabilities 125, information from geographic databases
130, information from a spectrum availability database 135 (such as
a CSD), information from an MMD profile database 140, and
information regarding outstanding requests 145, which may represent
a compilation of application characteristics 150, MMD mobility
models 155, and information on visible networks 160.
[0024] To realize the CSS approach described in the 261 Provisional
Application, a cloud spectrum database (CSD) is proposed to serve
as a dynamic and interactive repository for several of the classes
of information discussed in the [0061] Application associated with
a dynamically changing listing of spectrum availabilities.
[0025] Exemplary embodiments may provide systems and methods for
implementing a dynamic and interactive CSD by which spectrum
availability is defined and cataloged according to individual data
elements and offered for transactions with ASH's and MMD's
according to a common unit measurement system.
[0026] Exemplary embodiments may define the common unit measurement
system according to a defined metric for quantifying spectrum. In
this disclosure, an example of the defined metric will be referred
to as a time-frequency unit or TFU. One TFU may be defined, for
example, according to a unit of spectrum being available for a
specified time, e.g., 1 MHz of spectrum being available for use for
1 second at a given location. Every spectrum resource negotiated in
CSS transactions may be represented (transferred) in multiples of
TFU's, each TFU representing a contiguous time by frequency
tile.
[0027] Exemplary embodiments may provide a CSD that stores TFU's
and associated availability windows, and other information,
regarding spectrum availability as provided by PSH's. The CSD may
represent a database of spectrum availability from the various
PSH's that can be obtained by ASH's or MMD's via a transaction
including an exchange of monetary or other consideration in a
spectrum availability marketplace.
[0028] Exemplary embodiments may provide a CSD that facilitates
"rental" of available spectrum by ASH's, including content
providers (such as mobile cellular network operators) or end-users
(such as individual MMD's). Each spectrum availability entry in the
CSD will generally be associated with a providing PSH that is
responsible for updating the CSD information when new TFU's, as
increments of available spectrum, become available, or when
existing entries associated with that PSH change.
[0029] Exemplary embodiments may associate certain information with
each spectrum availability entry in the CSD. The proposed structure
for the CSD may describe spectrum availability according to a
plurality of information entries, including at least a frequency
band (band ID), a start frequency and an end frequency.
[0030] Exemplary embodiments may provide, for each
frequency-identified combination of spectrum availability, a series
of individual parameters that may be used to further describe the
spectrum availability in order that an ASH or MMD may make an offer
for acquisition of several units of spectrum availability according
to the information provided. These individual parameters may
include: (1) an indication that the available spectrum is licensed;
(2) an indication that the available spectrum is subject to being
reclaimed by the PSH that made the spectrum available to the CSD,
i.e., subject to pre-emption by the PSH, with appropriate details
of the immediacy, for example, of the recall; (3) a start time of
the spectrum availability; (4) an end time of the spectrum
availability; (5) a maximum power level that the PSH authorizes to
use over this available spectrum; (6) a geographic location
regarding this available spectrum; (7) a cost (monetary or other
consideration) per TFU, or other appropriate unit price, for use of
the available spectrum; and (8) an indication of an identity of an
ASH or MMD using a particular portion of the available spectrum
based on a transaction such that, in a case that a PSH wants to
reclaim the spectrum that it made available, but that is in use,
the CSD will facilitate contact with the entity to ensure that the
entity's ceases operation in that spectrum.
[0031] Exemplary embodiments, by defining start times and end times
for the spectrum availability, may provide an "availability window"
that allows the PSH to specify when the spectrum resource is
available for use/renting. Available TFU entries may become
automatically unavailable outside the specified availability
windows, or otherwise when, for example, a "STOP <time>"
message may be received from the corresponding PSH, i.e, the PSH
that made the spectrum available. The "STOP <time>" message
may be the mechanism used by the PSH to reclaim previously
made-available spectrum within the CSD when a need arises within a
particular availability window. On occasions when circumstances
arise that require the PSH to reclaim the use of its spectrum, the
CSD may be the vehicle that notifies the associated ASH involved in
the spectrum availability transaction, if any, to discontinue its
use of the reclaimed spectrum no later than the value indicated by
the <time> parameter of the STOP message. The CSD thereby may
cause information to be transmitted to the controlling ASH, or
directly to a using MMD, to cease use of the additional spectrum
made available by the PSH.
[0032] In exemplary embodiments, spectrum availability entries
stored in a CSD may be generally static, may slowly change over
time or may be very dynamic, e.g., changing at increments of less
than 100 ms. The rate at which the information stored in the CSD
changes may be highly dependent on the frequency band and usage of
that band.
[0033] Exemplary embodiments may provide a CSD that may facilitate
one or more of the following functions: (1) Managing CSS
transactions involving the transfer of spectrum resources from at
least one participating PSH to one or more ASH's, or otherwise an
MMD, or individual wireless device; (2) Reclaiming of spectrum
resources from an ASH back to the corresponding PSH upon request of
the PSH for immediate release of its spectrum to its own use; (3)
Initiating queries to PSH's based on requests either directly
received from MMD's or through other ASH's; and (4) Evaluating an
MMD's mobility model and, based on the evaluated MMD's mobility
model, performing a series of predictive resource allocations that
may optimize spectrum use as the MMD moves between a number of
regions.
[0034] Exemplary embodiments may provide mechanisms by which an
entity controlling the CSD may (1) notify the CSD that a portion of
a spectrum availability has been allocated, identifying the ASH to
which the portion of the spectrum availability has been allocated
and (2) notify the CSD that a portion of the spectrum availability
that was previously allocated has been de-allocated and returned to
the PSH at the request of the PSH or according to pre-negotiated
conditions with the PSH. The allocation of the temporary resource
will be highly localized and require the above-discussed promise
that the allocated temporary resource can be returned to the
control of the PSH according to the PSH's individual needs for that
resource.
[0035] These and other features, and advantages, of the disclosed
systems and methods are described in, or apparent from, the
following detailed description of various exemplary
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed systems and
methods for implementing a dynamic CSD to codify and store
information on, and track the use of, spectrum resources made
available by PSH's, the CSD facilitating spectrum management for
networks using spectrum allocated through a Dynamic Spectrum Access
(DSA) scheme that allows the PSH's, or proxies assigned to manage a
given allocation of spectrum, to temporarily "rent" access to the
spectrum they hold to other entities will be described, in detail,
with reference to the following drawings, in which:
[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of individual information and
parameters that may be employed to define spectrum availability in
a CSD according to this disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary
computation engine supporting and employing a CSD for spectrum
management according to this disclosure; and
[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for
supporting and employing a CSD to implement spectrum management
according to this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] The systems and methods for implementing a dynamic and
interactive CSD to codify and store information on, and track the
use of, spectrum resources made available by PSH's, the CSD
facilitating spectrum management for networks using spectrum
allocated through a type of a DSA scheme that allows the PSH's, or
proxies assigned to manage a given allocation of spectrum, to
temporarily "rent" access to the spectrum they hold to other
entities will generally refer to this specific utility for those
systems and methods. Exemplary embodiments described and depicted
in this disclosure should not be interpreted as being specifically
limited to any particular information and parameter inputs in any
particular database format, to making use of any particular program
for implementing the spectrum allocation using a database, or to
any specific system infrastructure for exchanging information with
PSH's, ASH's or MMD's, particularly for populating the
database.
[0041] While reference will appear to be directed, throughout this
disclosure, to application of the disclosed systems and methods to
a conventionally understood "controlled market" method for
providing wireless communication services, it should be understood
that the systems and methods according to this disclosure are not
limited to the conventionally understood "controlled market"
method. The systems and methods according to this disclosure may be
equally applicable to any method for providing wireless
communication services through direct interaction with individual
MMD's. The discussion references application to the "controlled
market" method only for familiarity and ease of understanding of
the proposed implementation.
[0042] Specific reference to, for example, any particular MMD,
wireless device or mobile cellular network configuration should be
understood as being exemplary only, and not limited, in any manner,
to any particular class of MMD's or other wireless devices used in
any particular configuration of a wireless network, whether fixed
or mobile, or as autonomous units capable of executing transactions
for available spectrum directly with a database such as the
described CSD.
[0043] Individual features and advantages of the disclosed systems
and methods will be set forth in the description that follows, and
will be, in part, obvious from the description, or may be learned
by practice of the features described in this disclosure. The
features and advantages of the systems and methods according to
this disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the
individual elements, and combinations of those elements, as
particularly pointed out in the appended claims. While specific
implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is
done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the
relevant art will recognize that other components and
configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and
scope of the subject matter of this disclosure.
[0044] The [0060] and [0061] Applications explain that review of
spectrum use indicates that there are a large number of inputs that
may be considered in optimizing spectrum use. These inputs include
time-based, location-based and frequency-based specifics.
Information collected and stored in a CSD according to this
disclosure is intended to capture each of these aspects in a single
location as part of a cloud based spectrum marketplace. PSH's whose
spectrum is underused or otherwise can be made available may employ
the marketplace to dynamically barter or auction their spectrum
availability by listing a number of relevant time-based,
location-based and frequency-based parameters relevant to the
transaction, as well as a proposed unit cost. With implementation
of such a marketplace, PSH's who know how often, how much, and
generally at what times, they employ the spectrum exclusively
licensed to them, may populate the CSD with information appropriate
to catalog their proposed spectrum availability. PSH's may indicate
periods when their spectrum is available, in order that potential
ASH's as entities that require or desire additional spectrum
services, perhaps at specific times in specific locations, may
enter into a transaction based on the listed periods of spectrum
availability provided to the marketplace via the CSD.
[0045] The availability of the spectrum to the CSD will sometimes
be subject to the PSH's ability to reclaim that spectrum on demand
preempting the use of the spectrum by an ASH or MMD. This
disclosure will interchangeably refer to such an occurrence as
reclaiming or preempting spectrum use. This capacity is part of the
system that implements the CSD-based marketplace scheme. This
requirement, and the level of uncertainty, may also drive the
amount of a fee, or other consideration, that the ASH may be
willing to offer for the spectrum availability. If, for example, it
is more unlikely than likely that the spectrum will need to be
reclaimed immediately in, for example, a peak period for operations
by the ASH, that spectrum may garner a higher cost per TFU than
spectrum that may be immediately recallable and is likely to be
recalled on some routine basis.
[0046] The CSD may provide the basis by which the marketplace may
oversee transactions regarding available spectrum according to a
mechanism incumbent to the CSD that can also record, in a manner
that may inform at least the PSH, what entity or entities are
"renting" available spectrum of the PSH at any particular point in
time. This may be appropriate so that the PSH can indicate to a
renting ASH, based on information in the CSD and/or via the CSD, a
requirement to reclaim the spectrum to the PSH's use.
[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview 100 of individual information
and parameters that may be employed to define spectrum availability
in a CSD according to this disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, any
particular entry regarding spectrum availability in, for example,
the CSD, may have associated with numerous defining parameters.
These defining parameters may include, for example, identification
of a frequency band 110, and/or separate implication of the start
frequency 115 and an end frequency 120, which may be used
cooperatively or independently to define the frequency of the
spectrum availability.
[0048] The defining parameters may include information regarding
the PSH's control over the spectrum be made available. This
information may include, for example, whether the spectrum is
licensed 125, and any conditions on potential preemption 130 by the
PSH.
[0049] The defining parameters may include information on a
specified start time 135 and a specified end time 140, which taken
together specify an "availability window" for this particular
spectrum availability. The definition of availability window will
aid an ASH or MMD in determining whether a particular offered
spectrum availability meets the requirements of the ASH or MMD.
When taken in combination with definition of details regarding
potential preemption, the availability window provides a best guess
by the PSH regarding its ability to provide uninterrupted spectrum
availability. Should the PSH find it necessary to reclaim spectrum
previously made available while in use, the PSH may, for example,
send a STOP <time> message which effectively resets the end
time parameter 140, to a current or soon to expire time, thereby
effectively redefining the availability window.
[0050] The defining parameters may include information on a maximum
power level 145 that the PSH sets for use in the spectrum
availability.
[0051] The defining parameters may include information on a
reference location 150 for the spectrum availability. As indicated
above, spectrum availability includes at least three components.
These are (1) the frequency-based component, which is addressed by
elements 110-120 discussed above, (2) the time-based component,
which is addressed by elements 130-140 discussed above, and (3) the
location-based component, which is addressed by specifying a
reference location according to known geographic positioning
methods. Although indicated in FIG. 1 is potentially including the
known geographic reference point parameters of latitude, longitude,
altitude and radius, it should be understood that definition of the
reference location 150 for the spectrum availability in the CSD is
not limited to specification of these known geographic reference
point parameters and may be specified according to other known
methods.
[0052] The defining parameters may include information on any other
covered parameters 155 that the PSH chooses to specify for
informing "customer" entities of any additional details that may be
helpful in determining to acquire temporary access to the specified
spectrum availability.
[0053] The defining parameters may include information on a
particular cost per spectrum unit, specified in FIG. 1 as "Cost Per
Time-Frequency Unit" 160. As indicated above, this disclosure uses
reference to TFU's to provide a common framework for the
discussion. It should be understood that other metrics may be used
in place of a TFU, and that "cost" may be met according to monetary
or other considerations. It should be further understood that
individual costs for spectrum availability, measured in TFU's may
be predicated on any number of factors by which the PSH may seek to
maximize its profits. The PSH may, for example, study usage
patterns in a particular geographic location and establish
different costs per TFU for different time frames, for different
locations, and/or for different frequencies. Further, as indicated
above, the PSH may exact a higher premium for spectrum made
available with the guarantee that the spectrum will not be
preempted in a particular availability window, or otherwise with a
guarantee that a specified reasonable delay between notification of
preemption and actual preemption may be provided to the ASH or MMD
in a particular availability window.
[0054] The defining parameters may include information, updated
once available spectrum is allocated according to a particular
transaction, regarding an address and/or an identification of a
spectrum user 165 that acquired the spectrum for use under the
terms of the transaction. Updating the CSD with information
regarding what entity may be making use of the available spectrum
may be appropriate to aid the CSD in facilitating return of the
spectrum to a particular PSH when the particular PSH indicates its
need to reclaim the spectrum thereby preempting use by the entity
that acquired the spectrum through the transaction.
[0055] It should be understood that, with regard to spectrum
availability in general, and the several defining parameters shown
in FIG. 1, the information provided may remain reasonably static
over a particular timeframe, may change slowly over that particular
timeframe, or may change very dynamically. Because certain elements
of the defining parameters may change very dynamically, the CSD
each be responsive to these dynamic changes in the information
provided. An ability to keep pace with the rapidly changing
landscape of the marketplace may define a requirement for a fully
automated computation engine to appropriately support and employ
the CSD in a manner that accounts for the dynamically changing
conditions regarding any of the specified parameters on a real-time
or near real-time basis.
[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary
computation engine 200 supporting and employing a CSD 260 for
spectrum management according to this disclosure. The exemplary
computation engine 200 is available to facilitate interaction with
the CSD 260 in order to, for example, determine what spectrum may
be available in a specific location for a specified period of time
and in a particular frequency band, as well as defining what a
specific user entity may have to offer in compensation in order to
gain access to the spectrum. The CSD 260 is an entity that manages
the information provided from, and acts as an interface to, the
various participating PSH's. The CSD 260 provides a vehicle by
which to commonly represent spectrum availability. The CSD 260
represents more than simply a catalog of spectrum availability.
Rather, the CSD 260 provides an interactive vehicle by which the
exemplary computation engine 200 may efficiently manage
transactions regarding available spectrum provided by individual
PSH's, to include a mechanism for the return of spectrum to the use
of the PSH upon request from the PSH to reclaim that spectrum.
[0057] The exemplary computation engine 200 may include a user
interface 210 by which an individual or entity tasked with
monitoring and/or overseeing interaction with, and fidelity of, the
CSD 260 may make manual inputs to the exemplary computation engine
200, and may otherwise communicate information via the exemplary
computation engine 200 to one or more PSH's, ASH's or MMD's. The
user interface 210 may be configured as one or more conventional
mechanisms that permit an individual or entity to input information
to the exemplary computation engine 200. The user interface 210 may
include, for example, such mechanisms as a keyboard and/or mouse,
or a touchscreen with "soft" buttons for communicating commands and
information to the exemplary computation engine 200. The user
interface 210 may alternatively include a microphone by which an
individual or entity may provide oral commands to the exemplary
computation engine 200 to be "translated" by a voice recognition
program or otherwise. The user interface 210 may otherwise comprise
simply a data port by which compilations of data to be input to the
exemplary computation engine 200 may be read from transportable
digital media. In such a scenario, data used for operation of the
exemplary computation engine 200 may be compiled at, for example,
separate user workstations and provided to the exemplary
computation engine 200 by physically, or otherwise, transferring
the digital data media from the workstation at which the
information is recorded to the exemplary computation engine 200 to
be read by a compatible digital data media reader acting as a user
interface 210 in the exemplary computation engine 200.
[0058] The significant amounts of dynamic information to be
catalogued in the CSD 260 will likely not be input via a manual
user interface 210. Rather, information from one or more PSH's,
ASH's or MMD's will be automatically received by the exemplary
computation engine 200 through, for example, an external authorized
communication interface 250, or some other automated channel, to be
stored in and managed by the CSD 260. This level of automation and
data exchange is appropriate to ensure that the exemplary
computation engine 200 manages the CSD 260 in real time, or near
real-time, in order to keep pace with the dynamically changing
requirements provided by the one or more PSH's, ASH's or MMD's.
[0059] The exemplary computation engine 200 may include one or more
local processors 220 for individually undertaking the processing
and control functions for storing information in, and interacting
with the CSD 260. Processor(s) 220 may include at least one
conventional processor or microprocessor that interprets and
executes instructions and processes data, incoming for, and
outgoing from the CSD 260.
[0060] The exemplary computation engine 200 may include one or more
data storage devices 230. Such data storage device(s) 230, which
may include hard disk storage as well as solid-state devices, may
be used to store data, and operating programs or applications to be
used by the exemplary computation engine 200, and specifically by
the processor(s) 220. Data storage device(s) 230 may include a
random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage
device that stores information and instructions for execution by
the processor(s) 220. Data storage device(s) 230 may also include a
read-only memory (ROM), which may include a conventional ROM device
or another type of static storage device that stores static
information and instructions for execution by the processor(s) 220.
The data storage device(s) 230 may be those that are integral to
the exemplary computation engine 200, or otherwise may be remotely
located from, and accessible to, the exemplary computation engine
200.
[0061] The exemplary computation engine 200 may include at least
one data display device 240 by which information regarding the
status of the CSD 260, information provided to, or output from, the
CSD 260, or operations of transactions by the CSD 260 may be
monitored by an individual user or a user entity tasked with
ensuring the fidelity of the CSD 260. The data display device 240
may be configured as one or more conventional mechanisms that
display information to individuals or entities interacting with the
exemplary computation engine 200 for operation of the exemplary
computation engine 200, or otherwise for interacting with the CSD
260.
[0062] The exemplary computation engine 200 may include an external
authorized communication interface 250. The an external authorized
communication interface 250 may incorporate a plurality of
individual information exchange interfaces by which the exemplary
computation engine 200 may communicate the one or more PSH's, ASH's
or MMD's to populate the CSD 260. This communication may include,
for example, obtaining from PSH's indications of available spectrum
by which to populate the CSD 260, and obtaining from the ASH's and
MMD's offers to purchase available spectrum. The exemplary external
authorized communication interface 250, as the name implies, may
include a capacity to determine an identity of an entity, e.g., a
PSH, an ASH, or an MMD, attempting to interact with the CSD 260. In
this manner, the exemplary external authorized communication
interface 250 acts as a gatekeeper to verify authorization,
according to known methods, of a particular entity to access the
CSD 260 for providing information to, or conducting transactions
with, the CSD 260. Information regarding access to the CSD 260, to
include authorization of specific users, may be regulated by some
external entity whose mandate is to oversee and monitor spectrum
optimization, which the CSD 260 is intended to facilitate.
[0063] All of the various components of the exemplary computation
engine 200, as depicted in FIG. 2, may be connected by one or more
data/control busses 270. The data/control bus(ses) 270 may provide
internal wired or wireless communication between the various
components of the exemplary computation engine 200. In a preferred
embodiment, the data/control bus(ses) 270 will provide wireless
communication to cloud components including at least the CSD 260.
Based on the cloud-based nature of the system architecture
supporting the CSD 260, it should be understood that all or some of
the components of the exemplary computation engine 200 may be
remotely located with respect to each other as actual or virtual
logical components of the system.
[0064] It is anticipated that the various disclosed elements of the
exemplary computation engine 200 may be arranged in combinations of
sub-systems as individual components or combinations of components,
integral to a single unit or remotely dispersed as a plurality of
elements or sub-units comprising the exemplary computation engine
200.
[0065] The exemplary embodiments may include a method for
supporting and employing a CSD to implement spectrum management.
FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of such an exemplary method. As
shown in FIG. 3, operation of the method commences at Step S3000
and proceeds to Step S3100.
[0066] In Step S3100, a CSD may be populated with information
regarding available spectrum, and listing parameters associated
with the available spectrum including location, time and frequency
parameters for the available spectrum. Operation of the method
proceeds to Step S3200.
[0067] In Step S3200, a unit cost metric may be established by
which to commonly represent individual units of quantifiable time,
location and frequency-based amounts of spectrum. For the purposes
of this disclosure, these units are referred to as the TFU's
discussed in detail above. Once established, an indication of the
cost metric may be included in the CSD in association with the
specified spectrum availability, regardless of the form that the
metric takes, including whether a requirement for compensation to
the PSH for the available spectrum could be satisfied by monetary
remuneration and/or alternatively by some other consideration.
Operation of the method proceeds to Step S3300.
[0068] In Step S3300, information stored in the CSD may be employed
to facilitate negotiation of a transaction with a user for the use
of a certain amount of available spectrum. It is anticipated that
all of the information that a particular user, ASH or MMD, may
require to determine whether a particular amount of available
spectrum meets its needs will be provided in the CSD. An indication
of available spectrum resulting from the culmination of a
transaction will be conveyed to the ASH or MMD for use. Operation
of the method proceeds to Step S3400.
[0069] In Step S3400, the CSD may be automatically updated to
associate an indication/identification of the user with the entries
regarding available spectrum that has been allocated according to a
transaction. The inclusion of this information is intended to,
among other objectives, facilitate return of the use of the
allocated available spectrum to the PSH upon an unscheduled request
by the PSH for return of its spectrum. Operation of the method
proceeds to Step S3500.
[0070] In Step S3500, information may be received from a PSH
regarding reclaiming its spectrum to its own use. Operation of the
method proceeds to Step S3600.
[0071] In Step S3600, the CSD may determine whether the requested
spectrum availability to be reclaimed by the PSH is, in fact, in
use by an ASH or MMD as a result of a transaction. Operation of the
method proceeds to Step S3700.
[0072] In Step S3700, in instances where it is determined that the
requested spectrum availability to be reclaimed by the PSH is being
used by an ASH or MMD as a result of the transaction, the CSD will
communicate to the ASH or MMD a requirement to cease operations in
the requested spectrum availability to be reclaimed by the PSH. In
such circumstances, the CSD may be automatically updated to
indicate a change in the characterization of the spectrum in
question. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S3900, where
operation of the method ceases.
[0073] The disclosed embodiments may include a non-transitory
computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed
by a processor or multiple processors, may cause the processor or
multiple processors to execute all or some of the steps of a method
as outlined above.
[0074] The above-described exemplary systems and methods reference
certain conventional terms and components to provide a brief,
general description of a suitable communication and processing
environment in which the subject matter of this disclosure, and
particularly the disclosed dynamic and interactive CSD, may be
implemented for familiarity and ease of understanding. Although not
required, embodiments of the systems and methods according to this
disclosure may be provided, at least in part, in a form of hardware
circuits, firmware or software computer-executable instructions to
carry out the specific functions described, including program
modules, being executed by a processor or processors. It should
also be understood that certain of the functions described above
may be carried out by virtual logical elements that may be
cloud-based. Generally, program modules include routine programs,
objects, components, data structures, and the like that perform
particular tasks or implement particular data types.
[0075] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other
embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be practiced with
many types of communication equipment and computing system
configurations.
[0076] Embodiments may be practiced in distributed network and/or
cloud-based communication environments where tasks are performed by
local and remote processing devices that are linked to each other
by hardwired links, wireless links, or a combination of both
through a communication network. In a distributed network
environment, program modules may be located in local, remote and
virtual logical cloud-based data storage devices.
[0077] Embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may also
include non-transitory computer-readable media having stored
computer-executable instructions or data structures that can be
accessed, read and executed by processors using a compatible
physical data reader, or executing an appropriate data reading
scheme. Such computer-readable media can be any available media
that can be accessed by a processor or processors. By way of
example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can
comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, flash drives, thumb
drives, data memory cards or other analog or digital data storage
devices that can be used to carry or store desired program elements
or steps in the form of accessible computer-executable instructions
or data structures. Combinations of the above should also be
included within the scope of the computer-readable media for the
purposes of this disclosure.
[0078] The exemplary depicted sequence of executable instructions,
or associated data structures for executing those instructions,
represents one example of a corresponding sequence of acts for
implementing the functions described in the method. The steps of
the method, as depicted and described, are not intended to imply
any particular order to the depicted steps, except as may be
necessarily inferred when one of the depicted steps is a necessary
precedential condition to accomplishing another of the depicted
steps. Many of the operations and functions described may occur in
parallel.
[0079] Although the above description may contain specific details,
they should not be construed as limiting the claims in any way.
Other configurations of the described embodiments of the disclosed
systems and methods are part of the scope of this disclosure. This
enables each user to use the benefits of the disclosure even if any
one of the large number of possible applications, for example, any
particular MMD, do not need a specific aspect of the functionality
described and depicted in this disclosure. In other words, there
may be multiple instances of the components, particularly
individual MMD's, each processing the content in various possible
ways. It does not necessarily need to be one system used by all end
users. Accordingly, the appended claims and their legal equivalents
should only define the disclosure, rather than any specific
examples given.
* * * * *