WHITE SPACE SPECTRUM COMMMUNCIATION DEVICE WITH MULTIPLEXING CAPABILTIES

• US 20110182257A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sadek, Ahmed K., Raveendran, Vijayalakshmi R.
• Application Number:
  US13/012,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20110182257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/22 Arrangements for broadcast of identical information via plural broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In one example, a method includes receiving a plurality of input signals at a multiplexer of a white space device, and generating, via the multiplexer, a multiplexed output signal that includes at least two of the plurality of input signals. The method also includes sensing whether a white space frequency is available for unlicensed use, and communicating the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency via a transmitter of the white space device when the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of input signals at a multiplexer of a white space device;

generating, via the multiplexer, a multiplexed output signal that includes at least two of the plurality of input signals;

sensing whether a white space frequency is available for unlicensed use; and

communicating the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency via a transmitter of the white space device when the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input signals include one or more multimedia signals and wherein the multiplexed output signal includes at least one of the multimedia signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of input signals comprises a multimedia signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of input signals comprises receiving the plurality of input signals from different input devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the input devices include one or more of:

a portable multimedia device;

a set top box (STB);

a security camera;

a personal computer (PC); and

a media server.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

communicating the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency using a forward link; and

communicating reverse-link control signals to at least one of the input devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of input signals further comprises receiving the plurality of input signals via input ports of the white space device that receive the plurality of input signals from the different input devices and communicate the plurality of input signals to the multiplexer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a first transmitter, the method further comprising:

communicating the multiplexed output signal via a second transmitter.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

communicating a first portion of the multiplexed output signal via the first transmitter; and

communicating a second portion of the multiplexed output signal via the second transmitter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second transmitter communicates via on or more of:

the Internet; and

a cable network using Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing whether the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use comprises performing sensing operations at periodic intervals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein sensing whether the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use includes blanking the transmitter during the sensing operations.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency comprises communicating the multiplexed output signal in a digital broadcast format over the white space frequency.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the white space frequency comprises one or more frequency bands allocated by a government for unlicensed use.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the white space frequency includes one or more frequency bands allocated for television by a government for licensed users and allocated for unlicensed use in the absence of use by the licensed users.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating metadata associated with the input signals;

generating the multiplexed output signal to include the metadata.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a multiplexer that receives a plurality of input signals and generates a multiplexed output signal that includes at least two of the plurality of input signals; and

a white space transmitter that senses whether a white space frequency is available for unlicensed use, and communicates the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency when the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of input signals include one or more multimedia signals and wherein the multiplexed output signal includes at least one of the multimedia signals.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of input signals comprises a multimedia signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus receives the plurality of input signals from different input devices.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the input devices include one or more of:

a portable multimedia device;

a set top box (STB);

a security camera;

a personal computer (PC); and

a media server.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the white space transmitter communicates the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency using a forward link, and another device communicates reverse-link control signals to at least one of the input devices.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus includes input ports that receive the plurality of input signals from the different input devices and communicate the plurality of input signals to the multiplexer.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the white space transmitter comprises a first transmitter, the apparatus further comprises a second transmitter that communicates the multiplexed output signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein:

the first transmitter communicates a first portion of the multiplexed output signal, and

the second transmitter communicates a second portion of the multiplexed output signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the second transmitter communicates via on or more of:

the Internet; and

a cable network using Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM).

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein in sensing whether the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use, the white space transmitter senses performs sensing operations at periodic intervals.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein in sensing whether the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use, the white space transmitter blanks during the sensing operations.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein in communicating the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency, the white space transmitter communicates the multiplexed output signal in a digital broadcast format over the white space frequency.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the white space frequency comprises one or more frequency bands allocated by a government for unlicensed use.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the white space frequency includes one or more frequency bands allocated for television by a government for licensed users and allocated for unlicensed use in the absence of use by the licensed users.

32. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a metadata unit that receives the input signals and generates metadata associated with the input signals, wherein the multiplexer generates the multiplexed output signal to include the metadata.

33. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of:

an integrated circuit;

a microprocessor,

a wireless broadcast device.

34. A device comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of input signals in a white space device;

means for generating a multiplexed output signal that includes at least two of the plurality of input signals;

means for sensing whether a white space frequency is available for unlicensed use; and

means for communicating the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency when the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the plurality of input signals include one or more multimedia signals and wherein the multiplexed output signal includes at least one of the multimedia signals.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein the means for receiving comprise input ports of the device that receive the plurality of input signals from the different input devices.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein the means for sensing whether the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use comprises means for performing sensing operations at periodic intervals.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the means for sensing whether the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use includes means for blanking communication during the sensing operations.

39. The device of claim 34, further comprising:

means for generating metadata associated with the input signals, wherein the means for generating the multiplexed output signal generates the multiplexed output signal to include the metadata.

40. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that upon execution cause one or more processor to:

upon receiving a plurality of input signals at a multiplexer of a white space device,

generate, via the multiplexer, a multiplexed output signal that includes at least two of the plurality of input signals;

sense whether a white space frequency is available for unlicensed use; and

communicate the multiplexed output signal over the white space frequency via a transmitter of the white space device when the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the plurality of input signals include one or more multimedia signals and wherein the multiplexed output signal includes at least one of the multimedia signals.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein in sensing whether the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use, the instructions cause the one or more processor to perform sensing operations at periodic intervals.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein in sensing whether the white space frequency is available for unlicensed use, the instructions cause the one or more processor to blank the transmitter during the sensing operations.

44. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processor to:

generate metadata associated with the input signals;

generate the multiplexed output signal to include the metadata.