Method and apparatus for allowing communication units to utilize non-licensed spectrum

• US 20060089099A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuffner, Stephen L., Ecklund, Lawrence M., Gillig, Steven F., Silk, S. David, Buchwald, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US10/973,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089099A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access

Abstract

A method and apparatus for allowing communication units to utilize non-licensed spectrum is provided herein. In particular, when a radio determines a need to transmit within non-licensed spectrum, the radio searches for a beacon being transmitted. The beacon identifies a priority of the current user of the non-licensed spectrum. If the radio'"'"'s priority is higher than the current user of the non-licensed spectrum, or if no beacon is heard, the radio may begin transmitting within the non-licensed spectrum. As part of the radio'"'"'s transmission, a beacon will be broadcast by the radio identifying the radio'"'"'s priority.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a radio to transmit within a non-licensed frequency band, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a need for the radio to transmit within the frequency band;

determining if a beacon is heard;

analyzing the beacon to determine a priority of the beacon transmitter; and

transmitting within the frequency band when no beacon is heard or when the radio has a higher priority than the priority of the beacon transmitter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the need for the radio to transmit within the frequency band comprises the step of determining that a high demand exists for spectrum the radio is licensed to use.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

analyzing the beacon to determine a geographic area of restricted transmission; and

transmitting within the frequency band when a higher-priority beacon is heard and the geographic area of transmission is not restricted.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

analyzing the beacon to determine restricted frequencies; and

transmitting within an unrestricted frequency band when a higher-priority beacon is heard.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

analyzing the beacon to determine an area of restricted transmission;

analyzing the beacon to determine restricted frequencies; and

transmitting within an unrestricted frequency band when a higher-priority beacon is heard or transmitting within the frequency band when a higher-priority beacon is heard and the area of transmission is not restricted.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of transmitting utilizing a protocol taken from the group consisting of an Association of Public Safety Communication Officials Project 25 (APCO-25) system protocol, an integrated dispatch enhanced network (iDEN) protocol, a terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) protocol, a global system for mobile communication (GSM) protocol, an Enhanced Data Rate for Global Evolution (EDGE) protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, an IEEE 802.11 protocol, a HyperLAN system protocol, and of the IEEE 802 family of system protocols.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

transmitting a second beacon.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of transmitting the second beacon comprises the step of transmitting a second beacon comprising a priority of the radio.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of transmitting the second beacon comprises the step of transmitting a second beacon comprising a priority of the radio, and an area of restricted transmission.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of transmitting the second beacon comprises the step of transmitting a second beacon comprising a priority of the radio, and a restricted frequency.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of transmitting the second beacon comprises the step of transmitting a second beacon comprising a priority of the radio, a restricted frequency, and an area of restricted transmission.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of transmitting the second beacon comprises the step of transmitting a second beacon comprising a height of a beacon transmitter.

13. A radio comprising:

a receiver for receiving a beacon;

logic circuitry for analyzing the beacon to determine a priority of the beacon transmitter; and

a transmitter for transmitting within the frequency band when no beacon is heard or when the radio has a higher priority than the priority of the beacon transmitter.

14. The radio of claim 13 wherein the logic circuitry additionally analyzes the beacon to determine an area of restricted transmission.

15. The radio of claim 13 wherein the logic circuitry additionally analyzes the beacon to determine restricted frequencies.

16. The radio of claim 13 wherein the transmitter utilizes a protocol taken from the group consisting of a Association of Public Safety Communication Officials Project 25 (APCO-25) system protocol, an integrated dispatch enhanced network (iDEN) protocol, a terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) protocol, a global system for mobile communication (GSM) protocol, an Enhanced Data Rate for Global Evolution (EDGE) protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, and one of the IEEE 802 family of system protocols.

17. The radio of claim 13 wherein the transmitter transmits a second beacon.

18. The radio of claim 17 wherein the second beacon comprises a priority of the radio.

19. The radio of claim 17 wherein the second beacon comprises a priority of the radio, and an area of restricted transmission.

20. The radio of claim 17 wherein the second beacon comprises a priority of the radio, and a restricted frequency.

21. The radio of claim 17 wherein the second beacon comprises a priority of the radio, a restricted frequency, and an area of restricted transmission.