System and method for selecting spectrum

• US 7,512,094 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Linebarger, John W., Satapathy, Durga P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang; Thai D
• Application Number:
  US10/020,062
• Time in Patent Office: 2,709 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method comprise a spectrum selector, an unlicensed transceiver, and a licensed transceiver. The spectrum selector determines whether communications will be transmitted over unlicensed spectrum or licensed spectrum. Based upon the determination, the spectrum selector transmits the communications to the unlicensed transceiver or the licensed transceiver. In addition, the spectrum selector may transmit a first portion of the communications to the unlicensed transceiver and a second portion of the communications to the licensed transceiver. On the receiving side, the spectrum selector monitors the unlicensed transceiver and the licensed transceiver, receives the communications from the licensed transceiver and/or the unlicensed transceiver, and transmits the communications to an access device. The unlicensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over unlicensed spectrum. The licensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over licensed spectrum.

Claims

1. A system for selecting spectrum comprising:

a licensed spectrum transceiver configured to communicate over licensed spectrum;

an unlicensed spectrum transceiver configured to communicate over unlicensed spectrum; and

a spectrum selector configured to select the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver for communication;

wherein the spectrum selector is configured to transmit all communications for a first spectrum until a capacity event occurs, and thereafter, to transmit at least a portion of communications for a second spectrum; and

wherein the first spectrum comprises unlicensed spectrum, and the second spectrum comprises licensed spectrum.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to select the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver to transmit a communication.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to select the other of the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver to transmit a second communication.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to receive a communication from the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to receive another communication from the other of the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to transmit at least one communication to at least one member of a group consisting of the unlicensed transceiver and the unlicensed transceiver.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein:

the spectrum selector is configured to transmit a first communication to the unlicensed transceiver and a second communication to the licensed transceiver;

the unlicensed transceiver is configured to transmit the first communication; and

the licensed transceiver is configured to transmit the second communication.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to receive at least one communication from at least one member of a group consisting of the unlicensed transceiver and the licensed transceiver.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the unlicensed transceiver is configured to receive a first communication;

the licensed transceiver is configured to receive a second communication; and

the spectrum selector is configured to receive the first communication from the unlicensed transceiver and to receive the second communication from the licensed transceiver.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to operate in a switching mode.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to select a first spectrum for operation and to select a different spectrum for operation if an interference event occurs for the first spectrum.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to transmit all communications for a first spectrum until an interference event occurs, and thereafter, to transmit at least a portion of communications for a second spectrum.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first spectrum comprises unlicensed spectrum, and the second spectrum comprises licensed spectrum.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to select a first spectrum for transmission of at least one communication for a guaranteed service.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the first spectrum comprises licensed spectrum.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to select a second spectrum for transmission of at least one other communication for a best effort service.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second spectrum comprises unlicensed spectrum.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to operate in a capacity mode.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to select a first spectrum for operation and to select a different spectrum for operation if a capacity event occurs for the first spectrum.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to process a communication with an inverse multiplexing asynchronous transfer mode protocol.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to process a communication with at least one member of a group consisting of encryption, de-encryption, coding, decoding, modulation, and demodulation.

22. The system of claim 1 further comprising a base station within a range of which the spectrum selector exists.

23. The system of claim 1 further comprising an antenna configured to transmit a communication via a spectrum or receive the communication via the spectrum.

24. The system of claim 1 further comprising an access device configured to communicate with the spectrum selector.

25. The system of claim 24 further wherein the access device is configured to transmit, receive, or transmit and receive.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the spectrum selector is configured to integrate a communication at a service level.

37. The method of claim 26 further comprising selecting a first spectrum for operation and selecting a different spectrum for operation if a capacity event occurs for the first spectrum.

27. A method for selecting spectrum comprising:

configuring a licensed spectrum transceiver to communicate over licensed spectrum;

configuring an unlicensed spectrum transceiver to communicate over unlicensed spectrum; and

configuring a spectrum selector to select the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver for communication;

selecting a licensed spectrum for transmission of at least one communication for a guaranteed service; and

selecting an unlicensed spectrum for transmission of at least one other communication for a best effort service.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising selecting the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver to transmit a communication.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising selecting the other of the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver to transmit a second communication.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising receiving a communication from the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising receiving another communication from the other of the licensed transceiver or the unlicensed transceiver.

32. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

transmitting from the spectrum selector a first communication to the unlicensed transceiver and a second communication to the licensed transceiver;

transmitting the first communication from the unlicensed transceiver; and

transmitting the second communication from the licensed transceiver.

33. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

receiving a first communication at the unlicensed transceiver;

receiving a second communication at the licensed transceiver; and

receiving the first communication from the unlicensed transceiver and receiving the second communication from the licensed transceiver, both at the spectrum selector.

34. The method of claim 27 further comprising operating the spectrum selector in a switching mode.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising selecting a first spectrum for operation and selecting a different spectrum for operation if an interference event occurs for the first spectrum.

36. The method of claim 27 further comprising operating the spectrum selector in a capacity mode.

38. The method of claim 27 further comprising processing a communication with an inverse multiplexing asynchronous transfer mode protocol.

39. The method of claim 27 further comprising processing a communication with at least one member of a group consisting of encryption, de-encryption, coding, decoding, modulation, and demodulation.

40. A method for selecting spectrum comprising:

configuring a licensed spectrum transceiver to communicate over licensed spectrum;

configuring an unlicensed spectrum transceiver to communicate over unlicensed spectrum;

configured a spectrum selector to select the licensed transceiver for operation in a primary mode and to select the unlicensed transceiver for operation in a backup mode;

selecting operation for the backup mode when interference occurs for the primary mode; and

selecting operation for the primary mode when interference does not occur for the primary mode.