U.S. patent application number 13/996416 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-15 for implementing cloud spectrum services modes of transaction.
The applicant listed for this patent is Reza Arefi, Carlos Cordeiro, David Horne, Bahareh Sadeghi, Takashi Shono, Srikathyayani Srikanteswara, Geoff Weaver. Invention is credited to Reza Arefi, Carlos Cordeiro, David Horne, Bahareh Sadeghi, Takashi Shono, Srikathyayani Srikanteswara, Geoff Weaver.
Application Number | 20150296485 13/996416 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49006095 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150296485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arefi; Reza ; et
al. |
October 15, 2015 |
IMPLEMENTING CLOUD SPECTRUM SERVICES MODES OF TRANSACTION
Abstract
A system and methods are provided for specifying how multiple
transactions may be initiated and/or terminated for available
spectrum in a cloud spectrum services architecture. Transactions
may be specified according to common time-frequency units or TFU's.
Primary spectrum holders (PSH's) advertise availability of their
underused spectrum, with specified parameters and conditions on
procuring access to the spectrum to a regional spectrum
marketplace. Requests for spectrum availability are made according
to a specified number of TFU's as requested by an alternate
spectrum holder (ASH) or a multi-mode device (MMD). Any of a
participating PSH, an ASH, an MMD or a cloud-based entity may
initiate communications with other entities in an effort to
complete or facilitate a transaction by which a number of available
TFU's are provided to an ASH or MMD for use.
Inventors: |
Arefi; Reza; (Great Falls,
VA) ; Cordeiro; Carlos; (Portland, OR) ;
Sadeghi; Bahareh; (Portland, OR) ; Srikanteswara;
Srikathyayani; (Portland, OR) ; Weaver; Geoff;
(Portland, OR) ; Shono; Takashi; (Santa Clara,
CA) ; Horne; David; (Chandler, AZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Arefi; Reza
Cordeiro; Carlos
Sadeghi; Bahareh
Srikanteswara; Srikathyayani
Weaver; Geoff
Shono; Takashi
Horne; David |
Great Falls
Portland
Portland
Portland
Portland
Santa Clara
Chandler |
VA
OR
OR
OR
OR
CA
AZ |
US
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49006095 |
Appl. No.: |
13/996416 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
June 6, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2012/041169 |
371 Date: |
April 1, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61603261 |
Apr 11, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 72/0493 20130101;
H04W 74/002 20130101; H04W 88/06 20130101; H04W 76/10 20180201;
H04W 4/24 20130101; H04W 16/10 20130101; H04L 41/0896 20130101;
H04W 72/0486 20130101; H04W 16/14 20130101; H04W 72/1257 20130101;
H04W 24/08 20130101; H04W 72/04 20130101; H04W 28/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04; H04W 74/00 20060101 H04W074/00 |
Claims
1. A method for implementing dynamic spectrum access, comprising:
initiating, by a first entity, a request for at least one of
available spectrum or bandwidth in a particular geographic region
from a cloud-based entity, the cloud-based entity having
information on spectrum availability in the particular geographic
region; receiving, by the first entity from the cloud-based entity,
access to a portion of the spectrum availability provided to the
first entity as a result of a transaction undertaken by the
cloud-based entity; and employing, by the first entity, the
provided portion of the spectrum availability to conduct at least
one of wireless voice and data communications, the initiating and
the receiving being undertaken by a processor associated with the
first entity.
2. The method of claim 1, the first entity being one of a
multi-mode wireless device or a wireless network operator
representing a plurality of multi-mode wireless devices.
3. The method of claim 1, the spectrum availability being provided
by at least one second entity with exclusively-licensed spectrum
that the second entity makes available to the cloud-based entity in
the particular region according to one or more conditions.
4. The method of claim 3, the one or more conditions including at
least a start time and an end time for the spectrum
availability.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving, by the
first entity, an indication from the cloud-based entity that the
second entity communicated to the cloud-based entity a request to
reclaim the provided portion of the spectrum availability; and
ceasing the employing of the provided portion of the spectrum
availability for conducting the at least one of the wireless voice
and data communications.
6. The method of claim 5, the indication from the cloud-based
entity including a time parameter by which the second entity wants
use of the requested spectrum availability by the first entity to
cease.
7. The method of claim 3, the one or more conditions including cost
information 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 in
multiples of 1 MHz-1 second frequency-time tiles.
9. The method of claim 7, the request for available spectrum in the
particular geographic region including an indication of what the
first entity is willing to pay in monetary compensation or other
consideration per time-frequency unit for access to the requested
available spectrum.
10. The method of claim 1, the cloud-based entity being at least
one of (1) a cloud-spectrum database for dynamically and
interactively cataloging information on spectrum availability and
(2) a cloud spectrum broker that provides automated facilitation of
transactions for the spectrum availability between the first
entities requesting spectrum and second entities that provide
access to spectrum in the particular geographic region.
11. A method for implementing dynamic spectrum access, comprising:
advertising, by a second entity, available spectrum in a particular
geographic region that may be accessed by one or more first
entities requesting additional spectrum availability for an asking
price, the advertising being directed to at least one of (1) the
one or more first entities and (2) a cloud-based entity that
facilitates transactions regarding spectrum availability in the
particular geographic region; receiving, by the second entity from
the at least one of the one or more first entities and the
cloud-based entity, a specific request to access a portion of the
available spectrum including an amount of monetary consideration or
other compensation offered for the access to the portion of the
available spectrum action undertaken by the cloud-based entity; and
concluding a transaction with the at least one of the one or more
first entities and the cloud-based entity to provide access to the
portion of the available spectrum; and communicating the outcome of
the transaction to the at least one of the one or more first
entities and the cloud-based entity with information regarding the
provided access to the portion of the available spectrum to be used
by the one or more first entities for at least one of wireless
voice and data communications; one or more of the advertising, the
receiving and the concluding of the transaction being undertaken by
a processor associated with the second entity
12. The method of claim 11, the one or more first entities being
one of multi-mode wireless devices or wireless network operators
representing pluralities of multi-mode wireless devices.
13. The method of claim 11, the advertising by the second entity of
the available spectrum in the particular geographic region
including one or more conditions on use of the spectrum.
14. The method of claim 13, the one or more conditions including at
least a start time and an end time for the spectrum
availability.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising initiating, by the
second entity via the processor, an indication that the second
entity intends to prematurely reclaim the portion of the available
spectrum to which access was provided as a result of the
transaction.
16. The method of claim 15, the indication from the second entity
including a time parameter by which the second entity wants use of
the portion of the available spectrum to which access was provided
as a result of the transaction to cease.
17. The method of claim 13, the one or more conditions including
the asking price 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.
18. The method of claim 17, 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
in multiples of 1 MHz-1 second frequency-time tiles.
19. The method of claim 1, the cloud-based entity being at least
one of (1) a cloud-spectrum database for dynamically and
interactively cataloging information on spectrum availability and
(2) a cloud spectrum broker that provides automated facilitation of
transactions for the spectrum availability between the first
entities requesting spectrum and second entities that provide
access to spectrum in the particular geographic region.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the second entity
receiving queries from the cloud-based entity regarding the
available spectrum in the particular geographic region that may be
accessed by the one or more first entities, the second entity
responding to those inquiries by providing additional information
on the available spectrum in the particular geographic region.
21. A system for implementing dynamic spectrum access, comprising:
an external communication interface that receives (1) advertising
regarding access to available spectrum that is exclusively licensed
to one or more second entities in a particular geographic region;
and (2) requests from one or more first entities for access to the
available spectrum, the advertising being directed to at least one
of (1) the one or more first entities and (2) a cloud-based entity
that facilitates transactions regarding spectrum availability in
the particular geographic region; and a processor that is
programmed to execute transactions between the one or more second
entities and the one or more first entities to satisfy the requests
for the access to the available spectrum from the one or more first
entities; and direct communicating of the outcome of the
transactions via the external communication interface to involved
second entities and correspondingly involved first entities
identifying portions of the available spectrum to be accessed by
the one or more first entities for at least one of wireless voice
and data communications as a result of the transactions, the
cloud-based entity being at least one of (1) a cloud-spectrum
database for dynamically and interactively cataloging information
on spectrum availability and (2) a cloud spectrum broker that
provides automated facilitation of transactions for the available
spectrum between the one or more first entities and the one or more
second entities in the particular geographic region.
22. The system of claim 21, the external communication interface
communicating (1) queries from the cloud-based entity to the one or
more second entities regarding the available spectrum in the
particular geographic region that may be accessed by the one or
more first entities, and (2) responses from the second entities to
the inquiries that provide additional information on the available
spectrum in the particular geographic region.
23. The system of claim 21, the one or more first entities being
one of multi-mode wireless devices or wireless network operators
representing pluralities of multi-mode wireless devices.
24. The system of claim 21, the advertising by the one or more
second entities of the available spectrum in the particular
geographic region including one or more conditions on use of the
spectrum.
25. The system of claim 24, the one or more conditions including at
least a start time and an end time for the access to the available
spectrum.
26. The system of claim 25, the processor being further programmed
to receive from the one or more second entities an indication that
the one or more second entities intend to prematurely reclaim the
portion of the available spectrum to which access was provided as a
result of at least one of the transactions; and communicate to the
one or more first entities a requirement to cease the at least one
of wireless voice and data communications in the prematurely
reclaimed portion of the available spectrum.
27. The system of claim 26, the indication from the one or more
second entities including a time parameter by which the one or more
second entities want use of the portion of the available spectrum
to which access was provided as a result of the transactions to
cease.
28. The system of claim 24, the one or more conditions including an
asking price 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, 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 in
multiples of 1 MHz-1 second frequency-time tiles.
29. 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: initiating, by a first
entity, a request for available spectrum in a particular geographic
region from a cloud-based entity, the cloud-based entity having
information on spectrum availability in the particular geographic
region; receiving, by the first entity from the cloud-based entity,
access to a portion of the spectrum availability provided to the
first entity as a result of a transaction undertaken by the
cloud-based entity; and employing, by the first entity, the
provided portion of the spectrum availability to conduct at least
one of wireless voice and data communications.
30. 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: advertising, by a second
entity, available spectrum in a particular geographic region that
may be accessed by one or more first entities requesting additional
spectrum availability for an asking price, the advertising being
directed to at least one of (1) the one or more first entities and
(2) a cloud-based entity that facilitates transactions regarding
spectrum availability in the particular geographic region;
receiving, by the second entity from the at least one of the one or
more first entities and the cloud-based entity, a specific request
to access a portion of the available spectrum including an amount
of monetary consideration or other compensation offered for the
access to the portion of the available spectrum action undertaken
by the cloud-based entity; and concluding a transaction with the at
least one of the one or more first entities and the cloud-based
entity for to provide access to the portion of the available
spectrum; and communicating the outcome of the transaction to the
at least one of the one or more first entities and the cloud-based
entity with information regarding the provided access to the
portion of the available spectrum to be used by the one or more
first entities for at least one of wireless voice and data
communications.
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 Apr. 11, 2012. This application is related to
co-pending U.S. Patent Application Nos. PCT/US2012/035780,
PCT/US2012/035760 and PCT/US2012/035748, filed Apr. 30, 2012, 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 managing
channels via which Primary Spectrum Holders (PSH's) and Alternate
Spectrum Holder (ASH's) communicate with each other, and with
Content Providers (CP's), through the cloud, including interacting
with a Cloud Spectrum Database (CSD) and/or a Cloud Spectrum Broker
CSB), to facilitate spectrum management for networks using spectrum
allocated through a Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) scheme that
allows 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 wireless network operators. This growth
continues unabated today as the numbers and types of wireless
devices employed by 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 to 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] 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
communication requirements to include, for example, communications
with aircraft for navigation and air traffic control. Licensees
also include mobile cellular network operators. A cursory review of
the breakdown of the licensed spectrum bands 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 particular geographic regions. 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, wireless 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 wireless
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 U.S. 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
currently licensed portions of the spectrum that support mobile
voice and data communications will be 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. As with any supply and demand scheme, a wireless network
operator can extract a premium from certain 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 voice and data communication and Wi-Fi
services, may experience actual overall average utilization rates
as low as 1%. For example, some entities only require high use of
their spectrum in times of emergency. Theoretically, across the
wireless spectrum below 6 GHz, more than half 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 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 any encroaching wireless devices. The spectrum
sensing solution would disrupt such control and might introduce
interference. There may come a time when an open market method may
be feasibly implemented. At that time, it will be appropriate to
include in that 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 use available spectral resources to
the fullest extent possible. Spectrum required to maintain a given
level of Quality of Service (QoS) to individual users for any given
period in any given location could be dynamically changing,
particularly for certain applications and/or 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 in
place today. An individual customer does not generally access
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 level 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 individual customers may be able
to access, and what applications the individual customers' wireless
devices may support. Because the controlled market method is the
method generally in place today, the balance of this disclosure
will refer to 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 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 with
certain terms and conditions 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 or underused 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 PSH's having
underused spectrum may act as spectrum suppliers. Multiple ASH's,
such as, for example, mobile cellular network operators, may seek
to augment their own exclusively-licensed spectrum by obtaining
additional spectrum availability from the spectrum suppliers as,
for example, 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 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, this scheme allows PSH's to
temporarily rent their spectrum to ASH's on the condition that the
rented spectrum can be reclaimed by 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 spectrum below 6
GHz may be recovered for use by multiple ASH's. This complete
recovery would require full implementation of a 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. 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 ISA
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 lease of the spectrum so that the brokering
scheme maximizes: (1) the incentive for ASH's; (2) the incentive
for 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 use
of computational analytics. Currently, there are no known global
spectrum management schemes with computational analytics across
networks employing ISA. While wireless network operators 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 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 CSS approach to realizing a form of DSA
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] Application No. PCT/US2012/035780 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 780 Application
proposes to keep from overburdening the regional global spectrum
broker's, and local spectrum brokers', computational capabilities
by effectively managing individual optimization requirements
between the global spectrum broker and 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 780
Application, Application No PCT/US2012/035760 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 780 Application. Each of the inputs
discussed in the 760 Application may be employed to generate
appropriate output profiles for multi-mode devices (MMD's), or
wireless devices, in support of the DSA. The 760 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) analytics. The CSB analytics provides for: (1)
Managing CSS transactions involving transfer of spectrum resources
from participating PSH's to one or more 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 100611 Application provide information regarding:
a radio interface, MMD capabilities, base station capabilities,
information from geographic databases, information from a spectrum
availability database (such as a CSD), information from an MMD
profile database, and information regarding outstanding requests,
which may represent a compilation of application characteristics,
MMD mobility models, and information on visible networks.
[0024] To realize the CSS approach described in the 261 Provisional
Application, a cloud spectrum database (CSD) is proposed, with
detail provided in related Application No. PCT/US2012/035748 to
serve as a dynamic and interactive repository for several of the
classes of information discussed in the 760 Application associated
with a dynamically changing listing of spectrum availabilities. The
systems and methods described in the 748 Application implement the
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.
In the 748 Application disclosure, the defined metric for the
disclosed common unit measurement system is 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.
[0025] The 748 Application specifies that, in the CSD, spectrum
availability may be defined according to a plurality of information
entries, including at least a frequency band (band ID), a start
frequency and an end frequency. Each entry may also be accompanied
by 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.
[0026] Exemplary embodiments according to this disclosure may
implement the CSS process and interaction among PSH's, ASH's, CP's.
MMD's, a CSB and a CSD by defining types and mechanisms through
which a PSH and an ASH may communicate with each other and with the
CP's through the cloud.
[0027] Exemplary embodiments may specify how multiple transactions
may be initiated and/or terminated. Individual CSS transactions, as
specified, may be of different types and involve different elements
of the CSS architecture discussed above.
[0028] Exemplary embodiments may specify transactions being made
according to the above-described TFU, or other common unit
measurement system. In this regards, requests for spectrum
availability discussed in greater detail below may be made
according to a specified number of TFU's requested by an ASH or MMD
with an indication of the willingness of the ASH or MMD to provide
specified monetary compensation or other forms of consideration to
secure the requested TFU's in a given location. In like manner,
responses to such requests may specify exchange of information over
multiples of TFUs.
[0029] Exemplary embodiments may specify ASH-side (ASH-initiated)
transactions as follows. An ASH, or an MMD connected to/through an
ASH, may initiate a transaction by sending a request message to the
CSB and/or CSD in a particular geographic region. This message may
contain a plurality of the transaction parameters described above
including most specifically requested TFU's.--The ASH, or the MMD,
may receive a response from the CSB and/or CSD an availability of
the requested TFU's, including any associated parameters and
conditions as specified by the offering PSH.--The MMD connected
to/through the ASH may receive transaction information, e.g., a
Service Level Agreement (SLA) from a CP through the CSB and/or CSD
for implementing a specific application.
[0030] Exemplary embodiments may specify PSH-side (PSH-initiated)
transactions as follows. A PSH may advertise availability of its
spectrum in the form of multiple TFU's. The PSH may indicate
associated parameters and conditions for consideration by
interested ASH's and MMD's. The information on spectrum
availability, with associated parameters and conditions, if any,
may be communicated via the CSD and/or CSB.--Alternatively, the PSH
may respond to requests from the CSD and/or the CSB for its
available TFU's with any associated parameters and conditions that
the PSH may impose on the availability.
[0031] In exemplary embodiments, the CSD and/or the CSB may
initiate the dialogue with the PSH. The PSH may receive queries
from the CSD and/or the CSB for availability of its TFU's and for a
specification by the PSH of associated parameters and conditions
with regard to those TFU's.--The PSH may responds to the CSD and/or
the CSB queries with availability of its TFU's and the associated
parameters and conditions.
[0032] Exemplary embodiments may provide a mechanism by which the
PSH may send a "STOP" or a "STOP <time>" message to the CSD
and/or the CSB, with its associated parameters and conditions, to
halt an existing transaction, with the purpose of releasing the
PSH's TFUs involved in the transaction back to the use of the
PSH.
[0033] 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
[0034] Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed systems and
methods for managing channels via which PSH's and ASH's communicate
with each other, and with CP's, through the cloud, including
interacting with a CSD, for facilitating spectrum management for
networks using spectrum allocated through a 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 will be described, in detail, with reference to the
following drawings, in which:
[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary overview of connectivity to
the cloud for individual entities involved in the CSS scheme
according to this disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary overview of individual CSS
transactions that may be conducted between different elements of
the CSS architecture according to this disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system
for managing connectivity between the different elements of the CSS
architecture for undertaking individual CSS transactions according
to this disclosure; and
[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a first exemplary method
for facilitating connectivity and transactions between the
different elements of the CSS architecture according to this
disclosure; and
[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a second exemplary method
for facilitating connectivity and transactions between the
different elements of the CSS architecture according to this
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] The systems and methods for managing channels via which
PSH's and ASH's communicate with each other, and with CP's, through
the cloud, including interacting with a CSD and/or a CSB, for
facilitating spectrum management for networks using spectrum
allocated through a 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 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 particular communication paths, or to specific system
infrastructures for exchanging information with PSH's, ASH's or
MMD's, except that at least some of the elements of the disclosed
systems, and methods for using those systems, are cloud based.
[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 via one or more ASH's, it
should be understood that the systems and methods according to this
disclosure are not limited to the conventionally understood
"controlled market" method. The disclosed systems and methods may
be equally applicable to any method for providing wireless
communication services through direct interaction with individual
MMD's, thereby avoiding any ASH, when such a method becomes
feasibly implemented for the control of wireless communication. The
discussion references application to the "controlled market" method
only for familiarity and ease of understanding of the proposed
implementation based on the currently-understood protocols for
implementing commercial wireless (cellular) communication.
[0042] Specific reference to, for example, any particular MMD,
wireless device or wireless (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 cloud
based elements of a system such as a CSD and/or a CSB.
[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
exemplary 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 780, 760 and 748 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 parameters.
Information collected and stored in a CSD according to the 748
Application is intended to capture a plurality of these parameters
to describe spectrum availability 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
advertise the specific availability of, to dynamically barter for
use of, or to passively allow the system to auction off, their
spectrum availability by listing relevant time-based,
location-based and frequency-based parameters relevant to any of
these transactions, as well as to list a proposed unit cost
expressed in TFU's or otherwise. 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 and/or the CSB may provide the basis by which the
marketplace may oversee transactions regarding available spectrum
according to a mechanism incumbent to the CSD, and/or actively
undertaken by the CSB, that records, 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 CSB, a requirement to reclaim
the spectrum to the PSH's use.
[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary overview 100 of connectivity
to the cloud 110 for individual entities involved in the CSS
architecture. As shown in FIG. 1, the individual entities may
include: one or more multi-mode devices (MMD's) 120 communicating
directly with other of the entities via the cloud 110, or otherwise
through an alternate spectrum holder (ASH) 130 with which the one
or more MMD's 120 are in communication; one or more primary
spectrum holders (PSH's) 140; one or more content providers (CP's)
150; at least one regional cloud spectrum broker (CSB) 160; and a
generally regional cloud spectrum database (CSD) 170. Although
depicted as separate elements in FIG. 1, one or more of the
elements representing the individual entities 120-170 may actually
be resident in the cloud 110. This may be particularly the
situation with the CSD 170.
[0048] Certain of the individual entities 120-170 shown in FIG. 1
may initiate requests for information or respond to those initiated
requests in a manner shown, for example, in FIG. 2. FIG. 2
illustrates an exemplary overview 200 of individual CSS
transactions that may be conducted between different entities
representing elements of the CSS architecture. An exemplary scheme
of paths by which individual entities may communicate with each
other and the substance of those communications are enumerated in
FIG. 2. In general, transactions may be request based, supply based
or advertising based.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, an MMD, for example, may request to
execute an application. That application may require additional
spectrum services which may be provided, for example, by either a
CSB directly, or via an ASH with which the MMD is
communicating.
[0050] A CSD may send a "STOP" or "STOP <time>" message to be
forwarded by a CSB to one or more MMD's or ASH process. The CSD may
request negotiation for an amount of spectrum availability from a
PSH, or may simply forward a query to the PSH regarding any
available spectrum.
[0051] A CSB may initiate a request for negotiation with an MMD.
Upon completion of a transaction, the CSB may write profile
information to the MMD. Also, as indicated above, the CSB may
forward a "STOP" or "STOP <time>" message to an MMD. The CSB
may respond to a request for availability information from, or
write availability information to, the CSD. The CSB may actually
act as a hub for all of these communications between the different
entities. In like manner to the CSD, the CSB may request
negotiation for an amount of spectrum availability from a PSH, or
may simply forward a query to the PSH regarding any available
spectrum.
[0052] A PSH may request directly of an MMD profile information or
that the PSH can advertise to the MMD spectrum availability. The
ASH may write spectrum availability to the CSD and/or the CSB, and
may also forward to the CSD and/or otherwise to the CSB a "STOP" or
a "STOP <time>" message.
[0053] An ASH may request availability from the CSB or have
profiles to be passed to MMD's sent to it by the CSB.
[0054] A CP may coordinate writing of an SLA within MMD via the
CSB.
[0055] The specific transactions, as delineated above, are
presented only in exemplary form, and are not intended to be
all-encompassing. Other combinations of communications and specific
transactions are not intended to exclude and may be executed in the
same manner as transactions discussed above.
[0056] Separate and distinct modes and methods of operation are
provided through which spectrum availability from one or more PSH's
may be transferred according to one or more of the specified
transactions to a plurality of MMD's, directly or via an ASH with
which the plurality of MMD's communicate.
[0057] In one mode or method, an MMD or ASH may request spectrum,
and specifically may request an enumerated number of TFU's. In
essence, the ASH may consult a virtual catalogue of spectrum
availability that may be in the form of a CSD. All requests for
spectrum availability may be made according to a specified number
of TFU's requested by an ASH or MMD with an indication of the
willingness of the ASH or MMD to provide specified monetary
compensation or other consideration to secure the requested TFU's
in a given location. In like manner, all responses may specify
exchange of information over multiples of TFUs. One or more cloud
entities including, for example, the CSD or the CSB may negotiate
in real time, or may have previously negotiated, with one or more
PSH's for some amount of spectrum availability, in increments of
TFU's, with any associated parameters or conditions related to the
spectrum availability. The cloud entity may record a transaction
that matches specified spectrum availability with the request of
the MMD or ASH according to a monetary fee or other form of
consideration paid for the transacted TFU's.
[0058] In this mode or method, the ASH-side or ASH-initiated
transaction may proceed as follows. An ASH, or an MMD connected
to/through an ASH, may initiate a transaction by sending a request
message to the CSB in a particular geographic region. This message
may contain a plurality of the transaction parameters described
above including most specifically requested TFU's.--The ASH, or the
MMD connected to/through the ASH, may receive a response from the
CSB on availability of the requested TFU's, including associated
parameters and conditions.--The MMD) connected to/through the ASH
may receive transaction information, e.g., a Service Level
Agreement (SLA) from a CP through the CSB.
[0059] In another mode or method, the PSH may advertise its
available spectrum to a cloud-based marketplace by, for example,
listing spectrum availability in cloud based components such as a
CSD, making the availability of spectrum known to virtual cloud
based entities such as, for example, a CSB, or directing specific
spectrum availability opportunities to one or more MMD's or ASH's
that are known by the PSH to generally require spectrum in a
particular location at a particular time and according to a
particular frequency. In this mode, the PSH takes a more active
role than simply populating a database with provided spectrum
availability. The active role taken by the PSH is directed at the
PSH garnering to itself maximum profits in monetary compensation or
other consideration for access to its provided spectrum. It is
anticipated that this active PSI approach will engender a level of
competition between PSH's that will be governed according to the
economic rules of supply and demand.
[0060] In this mode or method, a PSH-side or PSH-initiated
transaction may proceed as follows. A PSH may advertise
availability of its spectrum in the form of multiple TFU's. The PSH
may indicate associated parameters and conditions for the
consideration of interested ASH's and MMD's. The information on
spectrum availability, with associated parameters may be generally
communicated via the CSD and/or the CSB.--Alternatively, the PSH
may respond to requests from the CSD and/or the CSB for its
available TFU's with associated parameters and conditions.--The PSH
may receive queries from the CSD and/or the CSB for availability of
its TFU's and the associated parameters and conditions.--The PSH
may responds to the CSD and/or the CSB queries with availability of
its TFU's and the associated parameters and conditions.--
[0061] The cloud entity optimization process such as that discussed
in, for example, the [0061]Application may overlie this active
competition by PSH's to maximize profit for their available TFU's.
Multiple PSH's may advertise their available spectrum. Multiple
ASH's will make their needs for spectrum known. The cloud entities
such as, for example, a CSB, will oversee optimization of the
spectrum in a particular region by one of (1) allocating spectrum
resources in an optimal manner by facilitating spectrum
availability transactions between PSH's and ASH's, or (2)
responding to direct transactions between ASH's and PSH's by
otherwise optimizing spectrum availability around those
transactions.
[0062] Spectrum availability may be specified in either of the
above modes or methods according to a plurality of defining
parameters. The defining parameters may include, for example,
identification of a frequency band, and/or separate implication of
a start frequency and an end frequency, which may be used
cooperatively or independently to define the frequency of the
spectrum availability. The defining parameters may include
information regarding the PSH's control over the spectrum made
available. This information may include, for example, any
conditions on potential preemption by the PSH.
[0063] The defining parameters may include a number of other fields
of information on including a start time and an end time, which
taken together specify an "availability window" for this particular
spectrum availability. The definition of an 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.
[0064] By defining start times and end times for the TFU's, the PSH
is generally considered to have specified an "availability window"
that allows the PSH to specify when the respective TFU's are
available, and more specifically, outside of which when those TFU's
are to be vacated by the ASH or MMD. In other words, available TFU
entries may become automatically unavailable outside the specified
availability windows The TFU's additionally may be subject to being
reclaimed by the offering PSH at any time by, for example, the PSH
sending a "STOP" or "STOP <time>" message. The "STOP" or
"STOP <time>" message may be the mechanism used by the PSH to
reclaim previously made-available TFU's made available to the CSD)
and/or the CSB when a need arises within a particular availability
window. When circumstances arise that require the PSH to reclaim
the use of its spectrum, the CSD and/or the CSB may notify the
associated ASH or MMD using the procured TFU's to discontinue use
of the reclaimed TFU's immediately (counting propagation and
typical protocol delay inherent to any wireless communication
system) in the case of a "STOP" message, or no later than the value
indicated by the <time> parameter of the "STOP <time>
message. The CSD) and/or the CSB thereby may cause information to
be transmitted to the controlling ASH, or directly to a using MMD,
to cease use of the TFU's made available by the PSH.
[0065] The defining parameters may include information on a
reference location for the spectrum availability. As indicated
above, spectrum availability includes at least three components.
These are (1) the frequency-based component, (2) the time-based
component, and (3) the location-based component. The reference
location provided with respect to the spectrum availability
addresses this last component. It may be described in terms of
known geographic reference point parameters of latitude, longitude,
altitude and radius. The description of a reference location is,
however, not limited to specification of these known geographic
reference point parameters, and may be specified according to other
known methods.
[0066] The defining parameters may include information on a
particular cost per spectrum unit, specified in this disclosure
with 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 PSI 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. All of the above
considerations on the part of the PSH may constitute elements to an
advertising scheme when the PSH takes an active role in advertising
its available spectrum to individual ASH's or MMD's.
[0067] It should be understood that, with regard to spectrum
availability in general, and the several defining parameters
discussed above, 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, each of the
entities involved in the transaction communication process
described above should 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 as a CSB, or 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.
[0068] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system
300 for managing connectivity between the different elements of the
CSS architecture for undertaking individual CSS transactions. The
exemplary system 300 is available to facilitate interaction with a
cloud-based entity 360 such as, for example, CSD or CSB. The
exemplary system 300 may assist the cloud-based entity 360 in
determining 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 TFT's of the available
spectrum. The cloud-based entity 360 may facilitate communication
of information between all of the individual entities, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, and may manage information provided from, and acts
as an interface to, the various entities. The cloud-based entity
360 provides a vehicle by which information may be provided
regarding commonly represented spectrum availability by managing
individual parameters and conditions associated with the spectrum
availability as provided by a PSH, or as requested by an ASH or
MMD. In this regard, the cloud-based entity 360 may provide an
appropriately-supported interactive vehicle by which the exemplary
system 300 may efficiently facilitate 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.
[0069] The exemplary system 300 may include a user interface 310 by
which an individual or entity tasked with monitoring and/or
overseeing interaction with the cloud-based entity 360 may make
manual inputs to the exemplary system 300, and may otherwise
communicate information via the exemplary system 300 to one or more
PSH's, ASH's, MMD's or CP's. The user interface 310 may be
configured as one or more conventional mechanisms that permit an
individual or entity to input information to the exemplary system
300.
[0070] The significant amounts of dynamic information to be
exchanged in the above-described modes and methods for facilitating
transactions for the acquisition and use of appropriate multiples
of TFU's as made available to the spectrum availability marketplace
by one or more PSH's will likely be dynamic enough that those
inputs could not be input via a manual user interface 310. Rather,
information from one or more of the several entity shown in, for
example, FIGS. 1 and 2, may be received by the exemplary system 300
as automated inputs through an external communication interface
350, or some other automated channel. This level of automation and
data exchange is appropriate to ensure that the exemplary system
300 plays its part in facilitating the transactions regarding
spectrum availability 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.
[0071] The exemplary system 300 may include one or more local
processors 320 for individually undertaking the processing and
control functions for storing information in appropriate storage
devices such as, for example, data storage devices 330, or a CSD
when the cloud-based entity 360 is configured as a CSD or otherwise
supports a CSD. Processor(s) 320 may include at least one
conventional processor or microprocessor that interprets and
executes instructions and processes data, incoming for, and
outgoing from, the cloud-based entity 360.
[0072] The exemplary system 300 may include one or more data
storage devices 330. Such data storage device(s) 330, 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 system 300, and specifically by the
processor(s) 320. Data storage device(s) 330 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) 320. Data storage device(s) 330 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) 320.
The data storage device(s) 330 may be those that are integral to
the exemplary system 300, or otherwise may be remotely located
from, and accessible to, the exemplary system 300.
[0073] The exemplary system 300 may include at least one data
display device 340 by which information regarding the status of any
particular transaction, and information received regarding
available TFU's may be monitored by an individual user or a user
entity tasked with facilitating transactions for TFU's of spectrum
availability using the exemplary system 300. The data display
device 340 may be configured as one or more conventional mechanisms
that display information to individuals or entities interacting
with the exemplary system 300 for operation of the exemplary system
300, or otherwise for interacting with the cloud-based entity 360
via the exemplary system 300.
[0074] The exemplary system 300 may include at least one external
communication interface 550. The external communication interface
350 may incorporate a plurality of individual information exchange
interfaces by which the exemplary system 300 may communicate with
one or more of the entities shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in order to
provide support from the exemplary system 300 to the cloud-based
entity 360. The communication from the enumerated entities may
include, for example, obtaining from PSH's indications of available
TFU's of spectrum, or obtaining from ASH's and MMD's associated
with ASH's, or directly, offers to procure available TFU's of
spectrum according to one or both of the modes/methods described
above. The exemplary external communication interface 350 may
include a capacity to determine an identity of any of the depicted
and described entities attempting to interact with the cloud-based
entity 360. In this manner, the exemplary external communication
interface 350 may act as a form of a gatekeeper to verify
authorization, according to known methods, of a particular entity
to access the cloud-based entity 360 via the exemplary system
300.
[0075] All of the various components of the exemplary system 300,
as depicted in FIG. 3, may be connected by one or more data/control
busses 370. The data/control bus(ses) 370 may provide internal
wired and/or wireless communication between the various components
of the exemplary system 300. In a preferred embodiment, the
data/control bus(ses) 370 will provide wireless communication to
cloud-based components including, and specifically the cloud-based
entity 360. Based on the cloud-based nature of the system
architecture, it should be understood that all or some of the
components of the exemplary system 300 may be remotely located with
respect to each other as actual or virtual logical components of
the exemplary system 300. The exemplary system 300, therefore,
provides an appropriate interface/gateway to the
individually-enumerated entities shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, via one or
more cloud-based entities 360 supported by the exemplary system
300.
[0076] It is anticipated that the various disclosed elements of the
exemplary system 300 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 system 300. As indicated above,
at least one or more of the components of the exemplary system 300
will be hosted by, or resident in, the cloud.
[0077] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a first exemplary method
for facilitating connectivity and transactions between the
different elements of the CSS architecture according to this
disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, operation of the method commences
at Step S4000 and proceeds to Step S4100.
[0078] In Step S4100, an ASH or an MMD connected to an ASH may
initiate a transaction by, for example, forwarding a request for
TFU's to a cloud-based entity. The request message generated by the
ASH or the MMD may include specific transaction parameters. The
specific transaction parameters may include, for example, a time
and location for which the specified number of TFU's are requested.
The specific transaction parameters may include an indication of a
preferred frequency band for the requested TFU's. The specific
transaction parameters may further include an indication of an
amount of monetary compensation or other consideration that the ASH
or MMD may be willing to pay for access to the TFU's. Operation of
the method proceeds to Step S4200.
[0079] In Step S4200, the receiving cloud-based entity may execute
a transaction to fulfill the request for TFU's made by the ASH or
the MMD. The cloud-based entity may execute the transaction in a
manner that provides a best match of TFU's provided by one or more
PSH's in an attempt by the cloud-based entity to maintain global
optimization of the spectrum use in a region covered by the
cloud-based entity. Operation of the method proceeds to Step
S4300.
[0080] In Step S4300, the cloud-based entity may communicate to the
ASH or MMD information regarding the TFU's made available as a
result of the transaction. This communication from the cloud-based
entity may include, for example, an indication of the use profile
for the MMD to access the TFU's, and/or may otherwise include
parameters and conditions placed on the availability of the TFU's
by the PSH. Other information provided to the MMD or the ASH will
generally include an indication of a start time and an end time
defining an availability window for access to the TFU's. This
information indicates to the ASH or MMD when the access to
available spectrum is to be returned to the participating PSH.
Operation of the method proceeds to Step S4400.
[0081] In Step S4400, the cloud-based entity may receive an
indication from the participating PSH of a requirement to
preemptively reclaim its TFU's. As indicated above, the agreement
by which spectrum is made available by a particular PSH may be
predicated on an ability to reclaim the spectrum made available to
its own use by sending a "STOP" or "STOP <time>" message, or
by providing other like indication to the cloud-based entity, in
the manner described above. Operation of the method proceeds to
Step S4500.
[0082] In Step S4500, the cloud-based entity may communicate the
requirement to reclaim the participating PSH'sTFU's to the ASH or
MMD. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S4600.
[0083] In Step S4600, the ASH or MMD, upon receipt of an indication
that the TFU's are to be reclaimed may immediately cease operations
involving those TFU's in order that the participating PSH may have
full access to its exclusively-licensed spectrum without
interference from operations of individual MMD's not under its
control. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S4700, where
operation of the method ceases.
[0084] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a second exemplary method
for facilitating connectivity and transactions between the
different elements of the CSS architecture according to this
disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, operation the method commences at
Step S5000 and proceeds to Step S5100.
[0085] In Step S5100, a participating PSH may actively advertise
for availability to its TFU's, with associated parameters and
conditions, directly with the global spectrum availability
marketplace including direct marketing, for example, to ASH's or
MMD's connected to the ASH's. The associated parameters and
conditions may include a plurality of the specific parameters and
conditions discussed in detail above. According to this method, the
participating PSH takes a much more active role in the marketplace
than simply providing indication of spectrum availability, with
associated parameters and conditions, to for example, a CSD, as
described in the [0068] Application. Operation of the method
proceeds to Step S5200.
[0086] In Step S5200, the participating PSH may receive
individualized requests for availability to its TFU's, including an
agreement to abide by any specified parameters and conditions,
directly from ASH's or MMD's desiring access to those TFU's, or may
receive transaction information from a cloud-based entity,
generally acting as a facilitator for transactions and an optimizer
of available spectrum use in a particular region. Operation of the
method proceeds to Step S5300.
[0087] In Step S5300, a spectrum availability transaction may be
culminated regardless of whether the transaction occurs directly
between the participating PSH and one or more ASH's or MMD's, or
the transaction is facilitated by a cloud-based entity, such as a
CSD or a CSB. These transactions, whether direct or facilitated,
may generally attempt to optimally match requirements for spectrum
availability by an ASH or MMD with spectrum made available by one
or more PSH's, the spectrum availability being listed as a number
of TFU's available for a certain cost, in the form of monetary
contests compensation or other consideration per TFU. Operation of
the method proceeds to Step S5400.
[0088] In Step S5400, a cloud-based entity may take a more active
role in the spectrum availability marketplace by extending queries
to, and receiving responses from, one or more participating PSH's
that may attempt to match known or anticipated needs of one or more
ASH's or MMD's for spectrum availability to spectrum that may be
made available by the one or more participating PSH's. These
efforts may supplement or supplant the efforts of the participating
PSH in advertising its available spectrum. Operation of the method
proceeds to Step S5500.
[0089] In Step S5500, the participating PSH may send a "STOP" or
"STOP <time>" message regarding the in-use TFU's directly to
an ASH and/or an MMD using the in-use TFU's, or may send the
message via the cloud-based entity, to reclaim the in-use TFU's.
The "STOP" or "STOP <time>" message effectively modifies the
end time of any availability window for the TFU's. Operation of the
method proceeds to Step S5600.
[0090] In Step S5600, when a cloud-based entity is, or has been,
involved in the transaction, or the "STOP" or "STOP <time>"
message is received via a cloud-based entity, the cloud-based
entity may communicate the requirement to reclaim the participating
PSH's TFU's to the ASH or MMD. Operation of the method proceeds to
Step S5700.
[0091] In Step S5700, the ASH or MMD, upon receipt of an indication
that the TFU's are to be reclaimed may immediately cease operations
involving those TFU's in order that the participating PSH may have
full access to its exclusively-licensed spectrum without
interference from operations of individual MMD's not under its
control. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S5800, where
operation of the method ceases.
[0092] 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
methods as outlined above.
[0093] 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 interaction with one or more cloud-based
entities, 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.
[0094] 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.
[0095] Embodiments may be practiced in distributed network and/or
cloud-based communication/computing 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.
[0096] 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.
[0097] The exemplary depicted sequences of executable instructions,
or associated data structures for executing those instructions,
represent only examples of corresponding sequences of acts for
implementing the functions described in the methods. The steps of
the methods, 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.
[0098] 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 a large number of possible applications, for example, being
accessed by 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.
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