METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CHANNEL SHARING AMONG WHITE SPACE NETWORKS

• US 20110096770A1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Paul Shala
• Granted Patent: US 8,873,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 based on requested quality, e.g. QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for providing channel sharing are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request for a white space channel assignment, and identifies one or more white space channels in accordance with the request. The method sends a response to the request comprising a white space channel assignment, wherein the white space channel assignment assigns one of the identified one or more white space channels.

Claims

1. A method for providing channel sharing, comprising:

receiving a request for a white space channel assignment;

identifying one or more white space channels in accordance with the request; and

sending a response to said request comprising a white space channel assignment, wherein said white space channel assignment assigns one of the identified one or more white space channels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

releasing said one of the identified one or more white space channels in accordance with a request to release said white space channel assignment.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

updating a database in accordance with said releasing of said one of the identified one or more white space channels.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

releasing said one of the identified one or more white space channels in accordance with an elapsed time period.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a database in accordance with said white space channel assignment of said white space channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said request comprises one or more of:

a location of a White Space Local Area Network (WSLAN), a location of a WSLAN gateway, a duration of transmission, a type of request, or a bandwidth need.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said white space channel assignment comprises one or more timeslots of said one of the identified one or more white space channels.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a method for providing channel sharing, comprising:

receiving a request for a white space channel assignment;

identifying one or more white space channels in accordance with the request; and

sending a response to said request comprising a white space channel assignment, wherein said white space channel assignment assigns one of the identified one or more white space channels.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

releasing said one of the identified one or more white space channels in accordance with a request to release said white space channel assignment.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

updating a database in accordance with said releasing of said one of the identified one or more white space channels.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

releasing said one of the identified one or more white space channels in accordance with an elapsed time period.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

updating a database in accordance with said white space channel assignment of said white space channel.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said request comprises one or more of:

a location of a White Space Local Area Network (WSLAN), a location of a WSLAN gateway, a duration of transmission, a type of request, or a bandwidth need.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said white space channel assignment comprises one or more timeslots of said one of the identified one or more white space channels.

15. A method for sharing a channel, comprising:

sending a request for a white space channel assignment by a gateway; and

receiving a response to said request, where said response comprises a white space channel that is available based on a location of said gateway.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending a request to release said white space channel.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said response further comprises one or more timeslots associated with said white space channel.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said response further comprises a time duration associated with said white space channel.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending a second request for an extension of time after said time duration has elapsed.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said request is sent to a network service provider, wherein said gateway is located at a local location of a user.