Ad-hoc control protocol governing use of an unlicensed or shared radio frequency band

• US 6,882,851 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cognio, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sugar, Gary L., Diener, Neil R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, SHEILA B
• Application Number:
  US10/249,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 455/454, 455/500, 455/71, 455/75, 455/105, 455/113, 455/151.1, 455/161.1, 455/164.1, 455/182.2, 455/182.1, 455/522, 455/69, 455/450, 455/507, 455/41.2, 370/282, 370/252, 370/466, 370/442
• US Class Current: 455/454
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods to enable different types of radio communication devices to communicate using a common language in order to enable the devices to regulate their use of the spectrum. Each device participating in the ad hoc control channel (ACC) protocol transmits information using a common signal format that each of the other participant devices is capable of recognizing, in order to share information about how it uses the radio frequency band. Each device receives the information transmitted by other participant devices and based on that information, controls one or more of its operational parameters that impact usage of the radio frequency band. The ACC protocol enables devices of the same or different type to harmonize (instead of alienate) themselves with each other by allowing them to communicate about their usage of the radio frequency band using a common signaling framework. Improvement can be achieved in spectrum efficiency and ultimately provide a more reliable and enjoyable experience for the end user of a device that operates in that radio frequency band.

Claims

1. A method for sharing use of a radio frequency band by a plurality of devices that may operate with different communication protocols, the method comprising sharing information among the devices using a common signaling format so that the devices may self-regulate their use of the radio frequency band, wherein the step of sharing comprises steps of:

a. transmitting from each device a spectrum usage signal using the common signaling format that is different from a communication protocol that the device uses for transmitting and receiving communication traffic but which common signaling format is recognizable by the plurality of devices, wherein the spectrum usage signal includes information that identifies frequency(ies) of operation and the communication protocol used by that device for its communication traffic; and

b. receiving at each of the plurality of devices the spectrum usage signal transmitted by each of the other devices and recovering the information included therein.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising a step of controlling in each device, based on the information contained in the spectrum usage signal, one or more operational parameters of the device.

3. The method of claim 2, and further comprising the step of storing in each device spectrum policy information that describes rules concerning usage of the radio frequency band.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of controlling in each device is based on the information included in spectrum usage signals received from other devices and the spectrum policy information.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of storing spectrum policy information comprises storing prioritization rules concerning priority of use of the frequency band based on at least one characteristic including data traffic type and communication protocol type.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of controlling comprises operating a device with parameters based on spectrum policy information that dictates avoiding interference with other devices operating in the radio frequency band.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of controlling comprises operating a device with parameters based on spectrum policy information that dictates interfering with another device that will have the least detrimental impact of all other devices in the event that interference with at least one device cannot be avoided.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the spectrum usage signal from each device on a periodic or occasional basis.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the spectrum usage signal further comprises transmitting information indicating the type of traffic that the device transmits and power level.

10. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of at a particular device transmitting information requesting one or more other devices to change an operational parameter including an operation frequency or transmit power level when the particular device is not able to avoid interfering with the one or more other devices.

11. The method of claim 10, and further comprising the step of alerting a user of the particular device in the event that it cannot avoid interfering with another device and that the other device cannot change its operational parameters to avoid interfering with the particular device.

12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising the step of allocating usage of the radio frequency band between the particular device and the other device or devices based on usage prioritization rules in the event that the particular device cannot avoid interfering with the other device and that the other device cannot change its operational parameters to avoid interfering with the particular device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting from a particular device information requesting one or more other devices to transmit a signal that the particular device measures.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising the step of measuring a power level of the signal received at the particular device to determine whether the one or more other devices should be considered an interferer with the particular device.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step at the particular device of deciding whether to honor spectrum usage information associated with the one or more other devices depending on whether the signal received therefrom interferes with the particular device.

16. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of, in response to receiving a request signal from a device seeking information about and/or access to the radio frequency band, transmitting a response signal from any one of the plurality of devices to the requesting device, wherein the response signal includes information about activity and usage in the radio frequency band by each of the plurality devices.

17. The method of claim 16, and further comprising the step of including in the response signal, information selected from the group consisting of:

number of devices that transmit and respond to the information in the radio frequency band, number and type of each communication protocol used by the devices, priorities for certain types of data in the radio frequency band, frequencies known to have interference, security information, services supported and on which communication protocol those services are supported.

18. The method of claim 16, and further comprising the step of including in the response signal information describing operating parameters to use in the radio frequency band, including frequency and/or power level.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the spectrum usage signal in the radio frequency band at a carrier frequency.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the spectrum usage signal using a spreading code.

21. A method for operating a first radio communication device in a radio frequency band shared with a plurality of other radio communication devices, the method comprising steps of:

a. generating a spectrum usage signal for transmission from the first radio communication device to be received by the plurality of other radio communication devices using a common signaling format that is different from a communication protocol that the first radio communication device uses for transmitting and receiving communication traffic but which common signaling format is recognizable by the plurality of other radio communication devices, wherein the spectrum usage signal contains information identifying frequency(ies) of operation and the communication protocol used by the first radio communication device for communication traffic; and

b. generating control signals for one or more operational parameters of the first radio communication device based on a spectrum usage signal sent by at least one other radio communication device according to the common signaling format that is different from a communication protocol that the at least one other radio communication device uses for transmitting and receiving communication traffic, wherein the spectrum usage signal is received from the at least one other radio communication device and contains information identifying frequency(ies) of operation and communication protocol type used by the at least one other communication device for its communication traffic.

22. The method of claim 21, and further comprising generating control signals for one or more operational parameters of the first radio communication device based on a spectrum usage signal received from at least one other radio communication device that contains information describing its usage of the radio frequency band.

23. The method of claim 22, and further comprising a step of storing in the first radio communication device spectrum policy information that describes rules concerning usage of the radio frequency band.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of generating control signals is based on information included in spectrum usage signals received from the plurality of other radio communication devices and the spectrum policy information.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of storing spectrum policy information comprises storing prioritization rules concerning priority of use of the frequency band based on at least one device characteristic.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of generating control signals comprises generating signals to control the first radio communication device based on spectrum policy information that dictates avoiding interference with other radio communication devices operating in the radio frequency band.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of generating control signals comprises generating signals to control the first radio communication device with parameters based on spectrum policy information that dictates interfering with another radio communication device that will have the least detrimental impact of all other radio communication devices in the event that interference with at least one radio communication device cannot be avoided.

28. The method of claim 21, and further comprising a step of transmitting the spectrum usage signal center at a carrier frequency in the radio frequency band.

29. The method of claim 21, and further comprising a step of transmitting the spectrum usage signal with a spreading code in a portion of the radio frequency band.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of generating the spectrum usage signal further comprises including in the spectrum usage signal information pertaining to the traffic type communicated by the first radio communication device and the power level used by the first communication device.

31. The method of claim 21, and further comprising the step of generating information requesting one or more other devices to change an operational parameter including an operation frequency or transmit power level.

32. The method of claim 31, and further comprising the step of alerting a user of the first radio communication device in the event that the first communication device cannot avoid interfering with another device and that the other device cannot change its operational parameters to avoid interfering with the first communication device.

33. The method of claim 32, and further comprising the step of allocating usage of the radio frequency band between the first radio communication device and the other device based on usage prioritization rules in the event that the first radio communication device cannot avoid interfering with the other device and that the other device cannot change its operational parameters to avoid interfering with the first radio communication device.

34. The method of claim 21, and further comprising a step of, in response to receiving a request signal from another device seeking information about and/or access to the radio frequency band, generating a response signal to be transmitted to the other device, wherein the response signal includes information about activity and usage in the radio frequency band.

35. The method of claim 34, and further comprising a step of including in the response signal information selected from the group consisting of:

number of radio communication devices that transmit and respond to the signal in the radio frequency band, number and type of each communication protocol used by radio communication devices, priorities for certain types of data in the radio frequency band, frequencies known to have interference, security information, services supported and on which communication protocol those services are supported.

36. The method of claim 35, and further comprising the step of including in the response signal information describing operating parameters to use in the radio frequency band, including operating frequency and/or power level.

37. In combination, a modem that generates a baseband signal for radio transmission and recovers a baseband signal from a received radio signal, and a control processor coupled to the modem that supplies data for transmission to the modem and processes data recovered from a received radio signal by the modem, wherein the control processor generates spectrum usage data coupled to the modem to be formatted for transmission to other radio communication devices operating in a radio frequency band using a common signaling format that is different from a communication protocol used for transmitting and receiving communication traffic but which common signaling format is recognizable by other radio communication devices, wherein the spectrum usage data comprises information identifying frequency(ies) of operation and the communication protocol used for communication traffic, and wherein the control processor processes received spectrum usage data derived from a received baseband signal that identifies frequency(ies) of operation and the communication protocol used for communication traffic of the at least one other radio communication device, and wherein the control processor generates control signals to control one or more operational parameters of the radio communication device that impact usage of the radio frequency band based on the received spectrum usage data.

38. A radio communication device comprising the combination of claim 37, and further comprising a radio transceiver coupled to the modem that upconverts the baseband signal for transmission and downconverts a received signal to baseband.

39. The radio communication device of claim 38, wherein the modem modulates a baseband signal that contains the spectrum usage data for transmission according to the common signaling format recognized by other radio communication devices in the radio frequency band and demodulates a baseband signal that contains received spectrum usage data from at least one other radio communication device operating in the radio frequency band, and wherein the modem formats data according to a first communication protocol to be transmitted to at least one other radio communication device that operates according to the first communication protocol and demodulates a received baseband signal from another radio communication device according to the first communication protocol.

40. The combination of claim 37, and further comprising a radio transceiver coupled to the modem that upconverts the baseband signal containing the spectrum usage data for transmission and downconverts a received signal to baseband containing spectrum usage data from another radio communication device in the radio frequency band.

41. The combination of claim 37, and further comprising a memory that stores spectrum policy information that includes one or more rules for how a radio communication device uses the radio frequency band, and wherein the control processor generates the control signals based on the received spectrum usage data and the spectrum policy information stored in the memory.

42. The combination of claim 37, and further comprising an interface that couples signals between a host processor of the radio communication device and the control processor so that the host processor receives control signals generated by the control processor to control how the radio communication device uses the radio frequency band based on received spectrum usage data.

43. The combination of claim 37, and further comprising an interface circuit that couples signals between the modem and a radio transceiver in the radio communication device to enable the radio transceiver to transmit and receive signals containing spectrum usage data, an interface that couples signals between the control processor and a host processor in the radio communication device so that the host processor receives control signals generated by the control processor to control how the radio communication device uses the radio frequency band based on received spectrum usage data.

44. A processor readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a steps of:

a. generating a spectrum usage signal for transmission from a first radio communication device to be received by a plurality of other radio communication devices using a common signaling format that is different from a communication protocol that the first radio communication device uses for transmitting and receiving communication traffic but which common signaling format is recognizable by the plurality of other radio communication devices, wherein the spectrum usage contains information identifying frequency(ies) of operation and communication protocol used by the first radio communication device for communication traffic; and

b. generating control signals for one or more operational parameters of the first radio communication device based on a spectrum usage signal sent by at least one other radio communication device according to the common signaling format that is different from a communication protocol that the at least one other radio communication device uses for transmitting and receiving communication traffic, wherein the spectrum usage signal is received from the at least one other radio communication device and contains information identifying frequency(ies) of operation and communication protocol type used by that device for communication traffic.

45. The processor readable medium of claim 44, and further comprising instructions encoded on the medium that cause the processor to perform the step of generating control signals based on the spectrum usage signal received from at least one other radio communication device and on spectrum policy information that includes one or more rules governing use of the radio frequency band.