Monitoring for radio frequency activity violations in a licensed frequency band

• US 20060178145A1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sugar, Gary L., Diener, Neil R., Floam, D. Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

Techniques for monitoring radio frequency (RF) activity in a frequency band where licensed spectrum service is occurring. One or more monitoring devices are deployed at one or more locations in the coverage area of a licensed spectrum service provider. For example, the monitoring device may be integrated into a base station of a licensed spectrum service provider. Each monitoring device receives RF energy and detects whether the radio frequency energy contains activity not associated with the licensed spectrum service provider and whether there is a violation of a secondary usage policy.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring radio frequency activity in a frequency band where licensed spectrum service is occurring, comprising:

a. receiving radio frequency (RF) energy at a location in the coverage area of a licensed service provider; and

b. detecting whether the radio frequency energy includes activity not associated with the licensed service provider in a frequency band;

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising measuring an impact on the licensed service provider for RF activity determined not to be associated with the licensed service provider.

3. The method of claim 2, and further comprising capturing and storing data representing detected energy that impacts the licensed service provider in the coverage area.

4. The method of claim 2, and further comprising preparing a report containing data derived from the captured data;

and forwarding the report to the licensed service provider and/or to a spectrum regulation authority.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving, detecting and measuring are performed in a monitoring device that is coupled to an antenna of a base station associated with the licensed service provider.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein measuring comprises determining whether the activity not associated with the licensed service provider exceeds a threshold.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein measuring comprises determining whether the activity not associated with the licensed service provider is a signal from an unlicensed device that is occurring at substantially the same time as a signal from the licensed service provider in violation of a secondary usage policy.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises analyzing one or more of:

average power, duty cycle and/or maximum power of energy in a particular sub-band; and

bandwidth, duration, center frequency and/or power level of pulses of energy detected.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises analyzing the received energy to classify a signal contained in said energy.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving RF energy at a plurality of different locations in the coverage area of the licensed service provider.

11. A radio device, comprising:

a. a radio receiver that receives radio frequency (RF) energy;

b. a spectrum monitoring section coupled to the radio receiver that analyzes energy received by said radio receiver to produce data representing time domain and frequency domain characteristics associated with received energy; and

c. a processor connected to said spectrum monitoring section that analyzes the data produced by said spectrum monitoring section to determine whether the received energy includes activity not associated with a licensed service provider in a frequency band.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said processor analyzes the data produced by said spectrum monitoring section to measure an impact on the licensed service provider for activity determined not to be associated with the licensed service provider.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the processor captures and stores in a memory data represented detected energy that impacts the licensed service provider in the coverage area.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the processor determines whether the activity not associated with the licensed service provider exceeds a threshold.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the processor determines whether the activity not associated with the licensed service provider is a signal from an unlicensed device that is occurring at substantially the same time as a signal from the licensed service provider in violation of a secondary usage policy.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein said spectrum monitoring section produces said data that includes one or more of:

average power, duty cycle and/or maximum power of energy in a particular frequency sub-band; and

bandwidth, duration, center frequency and/or power level of pulses of energy detected.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein said processor analyzes the data produced by said spectrum monitoring section to classify a signal contained in said energy.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein said processor generates a report containing data derived from the captured data for forwarding to the licensed service provider and/or to a spectrum regulation authority.