Method and arrangement for spectrum sharing in a radio communication environment

• US 5,907,812 A
• Filed: 12/05/1995
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Van De Berg, Petrus Hubertus Gerardus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCOTT, LINWOOD
• Application Number:
  US08/567,582
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452, 455/454, 455/464, 455/62, 455/63, 455/67.1, 455/501, 455/67.3, 455/552, 455/76, 455/455, 455/462, 331/176, 370/280, 375/222
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1027 assessing signal quality or detecting noise/interference for the received signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2621 using frequency division multiple access [FDMA] H04B7/2615 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

There is provided a method and an arrangement for flexible coexistence of several radio communication systems on a common radio frequency band. The radio frequency band has a larger bandwidth than the communication frequency band of the several radio communication systems. Prior to the start of a radio communication, the radio frequency band is scanned by a radio transceiver unit of a system for the detection of the presence of interference. The transceiver units are arranged to establish communication over any idle part of the radio frequency band comprising or covering the communication frequency band, thereby avoiding the need for frequency or channel planning. The invention can be used in Personal Communication Systems (PCS) or Cordless Terminal Mobility (CTM) services and Radio in the Local Loop (RLL) applications.

Claims

1. A method for radio communication in a predetermined radio frequency band between a first transceiver unit and a second transceiver unit, said units being arranged to transmit and receive over a communication frequency band modulated at a carrier frequency, said radio frequency band having a frequency bandwidth which is larger than said communication frequency band, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

scanning said radio frequency band by either said first and second unit for the detection of the presence of interference prior to the start of the radio communication, and

establishing communication between said first and second unit over any part of said radio frequency band comprising said communication frequency band dependent whether the presence of interference detected at such part being below a level suitable for communication,

wherein a plurality of carrier frequency positions are defined within said radio frequency band, the spacing between at least part of adjacent carrier frequency positions being smaller than said communication frequency band, wherein said radio frequency band is scanned at said carrier frequency positions and communication is established by positioning the carrier frequency of said communication frequency band at a carrier frequency position corresponding to part of said radio frequency band available for communication and comprising said communication frequency band.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

scanning said radio frequency band by either said first and second unit for the detection of the presence of interference while communication between said first and second unit is in progress,

establishing said communication in progress at any other part of said radio frequency band comprising said communication frequency band if said communication can be carried out with a substantially increased performance over said other part of said radio frequency band.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency band is continuously scanned to provide information on the momentary status of the interference at said radio frequency band and the part or parts thereof available for communication.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between adjacent carrier frequency positions is substantially equal to the smallest communication frequency band of radio technologies to be used in said radio frequency band.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of interference levels is defined ranging upwards from at least a lower first level of interference to an increased second level of interference respectively, and wherein communication is directly established over part of said radio frequency band if the interference in said part is below said first level of interference.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning step comprises the measurement of either signal strength and RF energy.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein any available bandwidth within the radio frequency band may be assigned for communication purposes, and

wherein the radio frequency band is not segregated into predefined channel boundaries.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first unit is a base unit and said second unit is a remote unit of an arrangement for cordless telecommunication, in particular a cordless telephone arrangement, said arrangement comprising a plurality of base units and a plurality of remote units, each base unit and each remote unit are arranged for establishing communication by exchanging operating information, wherein said base and remote unit interrogate said radio frequency band for the presence of said operating information.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein each base unit and each remote unit are arranged for establishing communication over a plurality of communication channels in a communication frequency band, said communication channels are time-slots in a repeated time frame, and wherein said scanning for interference and said interrogation for operating information is carried out at different points in time corresponding to the time-slots of said repeated time frame.

10. A method for radio communication in a predetermined radio frequency band between a first transceiver unit and a second transceiver unit. said units being arranged to transmit and receive over a communication frequency band modulated at a carrier frequency, said radio frequency band having a frequency bandwidth which is larger than said communication frequency band, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

scanning said radio frequency band by either said first and second unit for the detection of the presence of interference prior to the start of the radio communication, and

establishing communication between said first and second unit over any part of said radio frequency band comprising said communication frequency band dependent whether the presence of interference detected at such part being below a level suitable for communication,

wherein a plurality of interference levels is defined ranging upwards from at least a lower first level of interference to an increased second level of interference respectively, and

wherein communication is directly established over part of said radio frequency band if the interference in said part is below said first level of interference, and

wherein communication is established over part of said radio frequency band last scanned if the interference in said radio frequency band is above said first level of interference and below a predetermined second level of interference.

11. An arrangement for radio communication in a predetermined radio frequency band, comprising a first transceiver unit and a second transceiver unit, said units being arranged to transmit and receive over a communication frequency band modulated at a carrier frequency, scanning means in either one of said units for detecting the presence of interference in said radio frequency band prior to establishing communication between said units, and control means for establishing communication between said first and second unit dependent whether the presence of interference detected at such part being below a level suitable for communication, wherein said control means and transceiver units are arranged for establishing communication between said first and second transceiver unit over any part of said radio frequency band comprising said communication frequency band,

wherein said scanning means are arranged for scanning said radio frequency band at a plurality of predetermined frequency positions, the spacing between at least part of adjacent frequency positions being smaller than said communication frequency band , and wherein said control means are arranged for establishing communication by positioning the carrier frequency of said communication frequency band at any frequency position corresponding to part of said radio frequency band available for communication and comprising said communication frequency band.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said scanning means are arranged for scanning said radio frequency band for the detection of the presence of interference while communication between said first and second transceiver unit is in progress, and wherein said control means are arranged for establishing communication between said first and second transceiver unit at any other part of said radio frequency band if said communication can be carried out with a substantially increased performance over said other part of said radio frequency band.

13. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said scanning means are arranged for continuously scanning said radio frequency band and are coupled to means for providing information on the momentary status of the interference at said radio frequency band and the part or parts thereof available for communication.

14. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the spacing between adjacent frequency positions is substantially equal to the smallest communication frequency band of radio technologies to be used in said radio frequency band.

15. An arrangement according to any of the claim 11, wherein a plurality of interference levels is defined ranging upwards from at least a low first level of interference to an increased second level of interference respectively, and wherein said control means are arranged for directly establishing communication over part of said radio frequency band if the interference in said part is below said first level of interference.

16. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein any available bandwidth within the radio frequency band may be assigned for communication purposes, and

wherein the radio frequency band is not segregated into predefined channel boundaries.

17. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said first transceiver unit is a base unit and said second transceiver unit is a remote unit of an arrangement for cordless telecommunication, in particular a cordless telephone arrangement, said arrangement comprising a plurality of base units and a plurality of remote units, the control means of each base unit and each remote unit are arranged for establishing communication by exchanging operating information, and wherein the scanning means of said base and remote unit are arranged to interrogate said radio frequency band for the presence of said operating information.

18. An arrangement according to claim 17, wherein each base unit and each remote unit are arranged for establishing communication over a plurality of communication channels in said communication frequency band, said communication channels are time-slots in a repeated time frame, and wherein said scanning means are arranged for scanning and interrogating said frequency positions in said radio frequency band at different points in time corresponding to the time-slots of said repeated time frames.

19. An arrangement for radio communication in a predetermined radio frequency band, comprising a first transceiver unit and a second transceiver unit, said units being arranged to transmit and receive over a communication frequency band modulated at a carrier frequency, scanning means in either one of said units for detecting the presence of interference in said radio frequency band prior to establishing communication between said units, and control means for establishing communication between said first and second unit dependent whether the presence of interference detected at such part being below a level suitable for communication, wherein said control means and transceiver units are arranged for establishing communication between said first and second transceiver unit over any part of said radio frequency band comprising said communication frequency band,

wherein a plurality of interference levels is defined ranging upwards from at least a low first level of interference to an increased second level of interference respectively, and wherein said control means are arranged for directly establishing communication over part of said radio frequency band if the interference in said part is below said first level of interference, and

wherein said control means are arranged for establishing communication over part of said radio frequency band last scanned if the interference in said radio frequency band is above said first level of interference and below said second level of interference.