SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING A COGNITIVE RADIO DEVICE WITH ENHANCED SPECTRUM SENSING

• US 20130165051A9
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Wi-LAN Canada Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Lingjie, Yee, Jung
• Granted Patent: US 8,928,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A cognitive radio band device uses information gleaned from a database inquiry based on geo-location information in combination with spectrum sensing to determine if cognitive radio channels are available for unlicensed use.

Claims

1. A system for implementing a cognitive radio band device with enhanced spectrum sensing, comprising:

a variable resolution geo-location server that receives geo-location information from the cognitive radio band device, translates the geo-location information into a location indicator, and returns the location indicator to the cognitive radio band device;

a cognitive radio band spectrum database front end that receives the geo-location indicator from the cognitive radio band device and uses the location indicator to compile an available spectrum map that is returned to the cognitive radio band device; and

a spectrum sensor available to the cognitive radio band device, the spectrum sensor being adapted to detect certain cognitive radio band signal types.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a database of location indicator/cognitive radio channel table information that is used by the cognitive radio band spectrum data base to compile the available spectrum map.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a database of cognitive radio band device registration information that is maintained by the cognitive radio spectrum data base and used by the cognitive radio spectrum data base to communicate with the cognitive radio band device when required.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a database of geo-location interpretation information that is used by the variable resolution geo-location server to translate the geo-location information into the location indicator.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the variable resolution geo-location server further comprises logic for assigning a location accuracy function to each location indicator, the location accuracy function being expressed in a format that can be used by the cognitive radio spectrum data base to compile the available spectrum map that is returned to the cognitive radio band device.

6. A cognitive radio band device, comprising:

a spectrum sensor adapted to sense certain cognitive radio band signal types;

memory for storing geo-location information;

memory for storing an operating/backup channel list; and

cognitive radio spectrum management logic that comprises program instructions adapted to communicate with the spectrum sensor and access the geo-location information and operating/backup channel list in the memory.

7. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the operating/backup channel list comprises at least one operating channel.

8. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the operating/backup channel list comprises at least one backup channel.

9. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to access the geo-location information stored in the memory, extract the geo-location information, and package the geo-location information for communication with a variable resolution geo-location server.

10. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to send the packaged geo-location information to the variable resolution geo-location server.

11. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to receive a location indicator from the variable resolution geo-location server.

12. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to pass the location indicator to a cognitive radio spectrum database front end, which uses the location indicator to compile the available spectrum map.

13. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to receive and process the available spectrum map compiled by the cognitive radio spectrum database front end.

14. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to prepare a sensing map for the spectrum sensor using the available spectrum map.

15. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to receive a sensor map from the spectrum sensor.

16. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to combine the available spectrum map and the sensor map using predetermined combination rules to create a combined spectrum map.

17. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to pass the combined spectrum map to the cognitive radio band device to permit the cognitive radio band device to select at least one operating channel.

18. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to pass the combined spectrum map to the cognitive radio band device to permit the cognitive radio band device to select at least one backup channel.

19. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to receive the at least one operating channel and store same in the operating/backup channel list.

20. The cognitive radio band device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the cognitive radio spectrum management logic further comprises program instructions adapted to receive the at least one backup channel and store same in the operating/backup channel list.

21. A method of enhancing spectrum sensing by a cognitive radio band device, comprising:

providing a variable resolution geo-location server with geo-location information available to the cognitive radio band device;

receiving a location indicator from the variable resolution geo-location server;

passing the location indicator to a cognitive radio spectrum database front end to request a available spectrum map from the cognitive radio spectrum database front end; and

inspecting the available spectrum map to prepare a sensing map for a spectrum sensor of the cognitive radio band device.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein, the method further comprises:

passing the sensing map to the spectrum sensor;

receiving a sensor map from the spectrum sensor; and

combining the available spectrum map and the sensor map using predetermined combination rules to produce a combined spectrum map.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising:

passing the combined spectrum map to the cognitive radio band device;

receiving at least one operating channel from the cognitive radio band device; and

storing the at least one operating channel in an operating/backup channel list.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

receiving at least one backup channel from the cognitive radio band device; and

storing the at least one backup channel in an operating/backup channel list.

25. The method as claimed in claim 21 further comprising determining whether a current available spectrum map has expired.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein if the current available spectrum map has expired, the method further comprises:

passing the location indicator to the cognitive radio spectrum database front end and requesting a new available spectrum map from the cognitive radio spectrum database front end; and

inspecting the new available spectrum map to create a new sensing map for the spectrum sensor of the cognitive radio band device.

27. The method as claimed in claim 21 further comprising determining whether a predetermined period without sensing a channel in the combined spectrum map has elapsed.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein if the predetermined period without sensing has elapsed, the method further comprises:

sensing the channel to determine if a signal can be detected; and

if a signal cannot be detected on the channel, resetting a sensing timer associated with that channel.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28 further comprising determining whether the channel is an operating channel.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29 wherein if the channel is an operating channel, the method further comprises inspecting the operating/backup channel list to determine if at least one backup channel is available.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein if at least one backup channel is available, the method comprises instructing the cognitive radio device to begin using one of the at least one backup channels as a new operating channel.

32. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein if at least one backup channel is available, the method comprises requesting that the cognitive radio device select one of the at least one backup channels as a new operating channel.

33. The method as claimed in claim 31 further comprising computing a sensing timer adjustment for the new operating channel.

34. The method as claimed in claim 32 further comprising computing a sensing timer adjustment for the new operating channel.

35. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the method further comprises determining whether the geo-location information has changed.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein if the geo-location information has changed the method further comprises:

providing the variable resolution geo-location server with the changed geo-location information;

receiving a new location indicator from the variable resolution geo-location server;

passing the new location indicator to the cognitive radio spectrum database front end and requesting a new available spectrum map from the cognitive radio spectrum database front end; and

inspecting the new available spectrum map to prepare the sensing map for the spectrum sensor.

37. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the method further comprises determining whether movement of the cognitive radio band device that exceeds a predetermined threshold has been detected.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein if the movement of the cognitive radio band device that exceeds the predetermined threshold has been detected, the method further comprises:

providing the variable resolution geo-location server with geo-location information associated with a new location of the cognitive radio band device;

receiving a new location indicator from the variable resolution geo-location server;

passing the new location indicator to the cognitive radio spectrum database front end and requesting a new available spectrum map from the cognitive radio spectrum database front end; and

inspecting the new available spectrum map to prepare a new sensing map for the spectrum sensor.