Apparatus and Method For Resource Sharing Between a Plurality of Communication Networks

• US 20080214200A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grandblaise, David, Dunat, Jean-Christophe, Pintenet, Remy
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

An apparatus for resource sharing between a plurality of communication networks (103, 107, 111) each having a nominal resource allocation of a shared air interface resource and a resource exchange allowance is provided. The apparatus (201) comprises a sharing instigation processor (205) which initiates a temporary resource allocation of a first air interface resource from a nominal resource allocation of a first network (103). A network interface (201) receives offer messages from a plurality of networks (107, 111). Each offer message comprises a resource exchange offer value for at least part of the first air interface resource. A selection processor (207) selects a second network (107) for example by selecting the highest offer value for a given resource. An allocation message generator (211) transmits a resource allocation message to the second network (107) indicating a temporary allocation of at least part of the first air interface resource. The resource exchange allowance of the second network (107) is then reduced by a value corresponding to the resource exchange offer value from the second network (107).

Claims

1. An apparatus for resource sharing between a plurality of communication networks each having a nominal resource allocation of a shared air interface resource and a resource exchange allowance, the apparatus comprising:

initiating means for initiating a temporary resource allocation of a first air interface resource from a nominal resource allocation of a first network;

means for receiving offer messages from a plurality of networks;

each offer message comprising a resource exchange offer value for at least part of the first air interface resource;

means for selecting a second network in response to the received resource exchange offer values;

means for sending a resource allocation message to the second network, the resource allocation message indicating a temporary allocation of at least part of the first air interface resource from the first network to the second network; and

means for reducing the resource exchange allowance of the second network by a value determined in response to the resource exchange offer value from the second network.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for increasing a resource exchange allowance of the first network by a value determined in response to the resource exchange offer value of the second network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the initiating means is arranged to initiate the temporary resource allocation in response to a determination of an available resource of the nominal resource allocation for the first network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the initiating means is arranged to initiate the temporary resource allocation in response to a determination of a resource requirement for the second network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selection means is arranged to select the second network in response to a determination that the resource exchange offer value from the second network for the at least part of the first air interface resource is the highest received resource exchange offer value.

6. A communication system comprising a plurality of communication networks each having a nominal resource allocation of a shared air interface resource and a resource exchange allowance, the communication system comprising:

initiating means for initiating a temporary resource allocation of a first air interface resource from a nominal resource allocation of a first network;

means for receiving offer messages from a plurality of networks;

each offer message comprising a resource exchange offer value for at least part of the first air interface resource;

means for selecting a second network in response to the received resource exchange offer values;

means for sending a resource allocation message to the second network, the resource allocation message indicating a temporary allocation of at least part of the first air interface resource from the first network to the second network;

means for reducing the resource exchange allowance of the second network by a value determined in response to the resource exchange offer value from the second network; and

means, in the second network, for communicating using the at least part of the first air interface resource.

7. The communication system of claim 6 further comprising means for storing the resource exchange allowances of the plurality of communication networks, and wherein the means for reducing the resource exchange allowance of the second network is arranged to transmit a message comprising the resource exchange offer value of the second network to the means for storing, and the means for storing is arranged to update the resource exchange allowance for the second network in response to the message.

8. A method of resource sharing between a plurality of communication networks each having a nominal resource allocation of a shared air interface resource and a resource exchange allowance, the method comprising:

initiating a temporary resource allocation of a first air interface resource from a nominal resource allocation of a first network;

receiving offer messages from a plurality of networks;

each offer message comprising a resource exchange offer value for at least part of the first air interface resource;

selecting a second network in response to the received resource exchange offer values;

sending a resource allocation message to the second network, the resource allocation message indicating a temporary allocation of at least part of the first air interface resource from the first network to the second network; and

reducing the resource exchange allowance of the second network by a value determined in response to the resource exchange offer value from the second network.

9. An apparatus for resource sharing between a plurality of communication networks each having a nominal resource allocation of a shared air interface resource and a resource exchange allowance, the apparatus comprising:

an initiating controller for initiating a temporary resource allocation of a first air interface resource from a nominal resource allocation of a first network;

a receiver for receiving offer messages from a plurality of networks;

each offer message comprising a resource exchange offer value for at least part of the first air interface resource;

a selection processor for selecting a second network in response to the received resource exchange offer values;

a transmitter for sending a resource allocation message to the second network, the resource allocation message indicating a temporary allocation of at least part of the first air interface resource from the first network to the second network; and

a processor for reducing the resource exchange allowance of the second network by a value determined in response to the resource exchange offer value from the second network.