Method and apparatus for channel sharing between multiple communication systems

• US 20040233888A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: DʼAmico, Thomas V., Calcev, George, Bonta, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/563 of the wireless resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Remote units within a first communication system (121) utilizes frequencies (channels) from a second communication system (120) when placing a call. When a first remote unit (106) wants to call a second remote unit (107) using the channels, the first remote unit sends a base station (103) a list of top N traffic channel blocks from the second communication system along with the identity of the second remote unit. The base station then pages the second remote unit using a signaling channel reserved by second system. The second remote unit responds to the page with its list of best traffic channel blocks/chunks. The base station then picks the best overlap of idle channels from the list received by the remote units, and sends the list to the remote units instructing them use those traffic channels. Once the remote units receive the available channels, they can begin their call.

Claims

1. A method for channel sharing among multiple communication systems, the method comprising the steps of:

synchronizing a first remote unit operating within a first communication system to a second communication system;

monitoring channels of the second communication system to determine activity of the channels;

sharing the activity of the channels with other remote units operating within the first communication system;

receiving second activity information of the channels from the other remote units; and

placing a call from the first remote unit to the second remote unit using a channel within the second communication system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of placing the call comprises the step of placing a peer-to-peer call from the first remote unit to the second remote unit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring channels of the second communication system comprises the step of monitoring the channels to determine N best channels for communication as perceived by the first remote unit, wherein the N best channels comprise N best channels taken from the group consisting of frequencies, timeslots, and orthogonal codes.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of sharing the activity of the channels comprises the step of sharing the N best channel information with other remote units.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of receiving second activity information comprises the steps of receiving N best channel information from the other remote units, as perceived by the other remote units.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of placing the call comprises the step of placing the call using a channel (frequency, code, timeslot, . . . etc.) chosen from overlapping channels from the shared N best channels and received N best channels from the second remote unit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring channels of the second communication system comprises the step of monitoring the channels of the second communication system to determine an interference level.

8. A method of operating a first communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a first remote unit, a request to place a call to a second remote unit;

receiving from the first remote unit, N best channels for communication;

receiving from the second remote unit, N best channels for communication;

determining an overlap in the N best channels received from the first remote unit and the N best channels received from the second remote unit; and

communicating to the first and the second remote units, the overlap in channels.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of receiving from the first remote unit, an indication that the call is to be placed to the second remote unit comprises the step of receiving from the first remote unit, an indication that the call is to be placed to the second remote over a second communication system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of receiving from the first remote unit, N best channels for communication, comprises the step of receiving the N best channels for communication on the second communication system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of receiving from the second remote unit, N best channels for communication comprises the step of receiving the N best channels for communication on the second communication system.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of communication to the first and the second remote units, the overlap in channels comprises the step of communicating the overlap in channels causing the first remote unit to set up a peer-to-peer call to the second remote unit utilizing a channel chosen from the overlapping channels.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of receiving from the first remote unit, N best channels comprises the step of receiving a list of N best channels having a least amount of interference as perceived by the first remote unit.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of receiving from the second remote unit, the N best channels comprises the step of receiving a list of N best channels having a least amount of interference as perceived by the second remote unit.

15. An apparatus comprising:

means for synchronizing a first remote unit operating within a first communication system to a second communication system;

means for monitoring channels of the second communication system to determine activity of the channels;

means for sharing the activity information with other remote units operating within the first communication system;

means for receiving second activity information of the channels from the other remote units; and

means for placing a call from the first remote unit to the second remote unit using a frequency within the second communication system.

16. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a first remote unit, an indication that a call is to be placed to a second remote unit;

means for receiving from the first remote unit, N best channels for communication;

means for receiving from the second remote unit, N best channels for communication;

means for determining an overlap in the N best channels received from the first remote unit and the N best channels received from the second remote unit; and

means for communicating to the first and the second remote units, the overlap in channels.

17. A base station existing within a first communication system, the base station comprising:

a receiver for receiving from a first remote unit, N best channels for communication, and receiving from a second remote unit, N best channels for communication;

logic circuitry for determining an overlap in the N best channels received from the first remote unit and the N best channels received from the second remote unit; and

a transmitter for communicating to the first and the second remote units, the overlap in channels.

18. The base station of claim 17 wherein the communication to the first and the second remote units causes the first remote unit to set up a peer-to-peer call to the second remote unit on a channel used by a second communication system, wherein the channel is chosen from the overlapping channels.