CHANNEL CHANGE TO AN AVAILABLE CHANNEL OF A SPECTRUM

• US 20110013089A1
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Adolphson, Alan L., Wang, Yu Albert, Raveendran, Vijayalakshmi R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,413,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/723
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for transmitting data in a spectrum, and seamlessly switching from one transmission channel to an available channel in the spectrum. One example method comprises identifying, by a device, at least a first channel of a spectrum, transmitting at least one command to a second, different device, wherein the at least one command contains information that allows the second device to determine at least the first identified channel, and transmitting data in at least the first identified channel.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting data comprising:

identifying, by a device, at least a first channel of a spectrum;

transmitting at least one command to a second, different device, wherein the at least one command contains information that allows the second device to determine at least the first identified channel; and

transmitting data in at least the first identified channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least the first channel comprises identifying at least one available channel in an unused portion of a broadcast television spectrum.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least the first channel comprises identifying television band white space.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising encoding the data according to a digital broadcast format, and wherein transmitting the data comprises broadcasting the encoded data in at least the first identified channel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the digital broadcast format comprises an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) format, a T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) format, a DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) format, an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting Terrestrial (ISDB-T) format, or a Moving Picture Experts Group Transport Stream (MPEG-TS) format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transmitting the data comprises transmitting the data across a first wireless network; and

transmitting the at least one command comprises transmitting the at least one command to the second device across another wireless communication means.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least a second channel of the spectrum;

transmitting at least a second command to the second device, wherein at least the second command contains information that allows the second device to determine a change to at least the second identified channel; and

transmitting further data in at least the second identified channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one command comprises a first virtual channel identifier that allows the second device to determine at least the first identified channel of the spectrum, and wherein at least the second command comprises a second virtual channel identifier that allows the second device to determine at least the second identified channel of the spectrum.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one command identifies, for the second device, an input source to be used to receive the transmitted data on at least the first identified channel by the second device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one command specifies at least the first identified channel.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the at least one command comprises selecting a transmit power for transmitting the at least one command.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least one other command to a third device that allows the third device to determine at least the first identified channel,

wherein the at least one command includes a first identification code uniquely associated with the second device and

wherein the at least one other command includes a second identification code uniquely associated with the third device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the at least one command comprises transmitting the at least one command from the device to the second, different device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least the first channel comprises using a spectrum sensor to identify at least the first channel.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least the first channel comprises accessing a digital television (TV) bands database to identify at least the first channel.

16. A communication system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a channel identifier, operable by the one or more processors, to identify at least a first channel of a spectrum;

a channel transmitter, operable by the one or more processors, to transmit at least one command to a device, wherein the at least one command contains information that allows the device to determine at least the first identified channel; and

a transmitter, operable by the one or more processors, to transmit data in at least the first identified channel.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the channel identifier identifies at least the first channel by identifying at least one available channel in an unused portion of a broadcast television spectrum.

18. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the channel identifier identifies at least the first channel by identifying television band white space.

19. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are further operable to encode the data according to a digital broadcast format, and wherein the transmitter broadcasts the encoded data in at least the first identified channel.

20. The communication system of claim 19, wherein the digital broadcast format comprises an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) format, a T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) format, a DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) format, an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting Terrestrial (ISDB-T) format, or a Moving Picture Experts Group Transport Stream (MPEG-TS) format.

21. The communication system of claim 16, wherein:

the transmitter transmits the data across a first wireless network; and

the channel transmitter transmits the at least one command to the device across another wireless communication means.

22. The communication system of claim 16, wherein:

the channel identifier is further operable to identify at least a second channel of the spectrum;

the channel transmitter is further operable to transmit at least a second command to the device, wherein at least the second command contains information that allows the device to determine a change to at least the second identified channel; and

the transmitter is further operable to transmit further data in at least the second identified channel.

23. The communication system of claim 22, wherein the at least one command comprises a first virtual channel identifier that allows the device to determine at least the first identified channel of the spectrum, and wherein at least the second command comprises a second virtual channel identifier that allows the device to determine at least the second identified channel of the spectrum.

24. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the at least one command identifies, for the device, an input source to be used to receive the transmitted data on at least the first identified channel by the device.

25. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the at least one command specifies at least the first identified channel.

26. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the channel transmitter selects a transmit power for transmitting the at least one command.

27. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the channel transmitter is further operable to transmit at least one other command to an additional device that allows the additional device to determine at least the first identified channel.

28. The communication system of claim 27, wherein:

the at least one command includes a first identification code uniquely associated with the device; and

the at least one other command includes a second identification code uniquely associated with the additional device.

29. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the channel identifier uses a spectrum sensor to identify at least the first channel.

30. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the channel identifier is operable to access a digital television (TV) bands database to identify at least the first channel.

31. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the communication system comprises a wireless communication device handset.

32. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the communication system comprises one or more integrated circuit devices.

33. A communication system, comprising:

means for identifying at least a first channel of a spectrum;

means for transmitting at least one command to a device, wherein the at least one command contains information that allows the device to determine at least the first identified channel; and

means for transmitting data in at least the first identified channel.

34. The communication system of claim 33, further comprising means for encoding the data according to a digital broadcast format, and wherein the means for transmitting the data from the device comprises means for broadcasting the encoded data in at least the first identified channel.

35. The communication system of claim 34, wherein the digital broadcast format comprises an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) format, a T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) format, a DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) format, an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting Terrestrial (ISDB-T) format, or a Moving Picture Experts Group Transport Stream (MPEG-TS) format.

36. The communication system of claim 33, wherein:

the means for transmitting the data comprises means for transmitting the data across a first wireless network; and

the means for transmitting the at least one command comprises means for transmitting the at least one command to the device across another wireless communication means.

37. The communication system of claim 33, further comprising:

means for identifying at least a second channel of the spectrum;

means for transmitting at least a second command to the device, wherein at least the second command contains information that allows the device to determine a change to at least the second identified channel; and

means for transmitting further data in at least the second identified channel.

38. The communication system of claim 33, wherein the at least one command identifies, for the device, an input source to be used to receive the transmitted data on at least the first identified channel by the device.

39. The communication system of claim 33, wherein the means for transmitting the at least one command comprises means for selecting a transmit power for transmitting the at least one command.

40. The communication system of claim 33, further comprising means for transmitting at least one other command to an additional device that allows the additional device to determine at least the first identified channel, and wherein:

the at least one command includes a first identification code uniquely associated with the device; and

the at least one other command includes a second identification code uniquely associated with the additional device.

41. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing one or more processors to:

identify at least a first channel of a spectrum;

transmit at least one command to a device, wherein the at least one command contains information that allows the device to determine at least the first identified channel; and

transmit data in at least the first identified channel; and

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, further comprising instructions to encode the data according to a digital broadcast format, and wherein the instructions to transmit the data comprise instructions to broadcast the encoded data in at least the first identified channel.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the digital broadcast format comprises an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) format, a T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) format, a DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) format, an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting Terrestrial (ISDB-T) format, or a Moving Picture Experts Group Transport Stream (MPEG-TS) format.

44. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein:

the instructions to transmit the data comprise instructions to transmit the data across a first wireless network; and

the instructions to transmit the at least one command comprise instructions to transmit the at least one command to the device across another wireless communication means.

45. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, further comprising instructions to:

identify at least a second channel of the spectrum;

transmit at least a second command to the device, wherein at least the second command contains information that allows the device to determine a change to at least the second identified channel; and

transmit further data in at least the second identified channel.

46. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the at least one command comprises a first virtual channel identifier that allows the device to determine at least the first identified channel of the spectrum, and wherein at least the second command comprises a second virtual channel identifier that allows the device to determine at least the second identified channel of the spectrum.

47. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the at least one command identifies, for the device, an input source to be used to receive the transmitted data on at least the first identified channel by the device.

48. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the instructions to transmit the at least one command comprise instructions to select a transmit power for transmitting the at least one command.

49. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 41, further encoded with instructions to transmit at least one other command to an additional device that allows the additional device to determine at least the first identified channel, and wherein:

the at least one command includes a first identification code uniquely associated with the device; and

the at least one other command includes a second identification code uniquely associated with the additional device.