Method and system for the allocation of UWB transmission based on spectrum opportunities

• US 7,650,126 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Birru, Dagnachew, Challapali, Kiran, Mangold, Stefan, Del Prado Pavon, Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUANG, WEN WU
• Application Number:
  US10/599,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 455/226.1, 455/63.1, 455/63.3, 455/513, 370/329, 370/450
• US Class Current: 455/226.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71632 Signal aspects H04B1/7172 and H04B1/7176 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/719 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

A method and system for efficiently utilizing frequency spectrum resources is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining at least one spectrum opportunity (510), wherein the opportunity is identified by a frequency range and a time duration, determining a set of altered transmission characteristics (515, 517) to allow transmission of a desired signal in the identified frequency range, wherein the altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with signals expected in the frequency range, and transmitting said desired signal using the altered transmission characteristics when the transmission occurs during said time duration. In one aspect of the system, the step of determining at least one opportunity comprises the steps of receiving signals in known frequency ranges, and determining the characteristics of the received signals. The system comprises a receiving unit (1001) for receiving information items regarding at least one receivable signal, a processing unit (862) for determining characteristics of the at least one received signal, a managing unit (864) for altering transmission characteristics of a desired signal based on the determined received signal characteristics, wherein the altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with the received signals and a transmission unit (866) receiving said altered transmission characteristics to transmit said desired signal. In one aspect, the desired signal transmission characteristics are altered in a frequency range/time period to avoid interference with received signals in the frequency range.

Claims

1. A method for efficiently utilizing spectrum resources, comprising:

determining multiple spectrum opportunities, wherein each opportunity is identified by a frequency range and a time duration;

determining whether signals are present in said identified frequency range, wherein if the signals are present, then analyzing said signals and determining the characteristics of said signals;

if the signals are not present in said identified frequency range, then transmitting desired signals using fixed operating conditions;

wherein if the signals are present in said identified frequency range, then

determining a set of altered transmission characteristics based on the determined signal characteristics to allow for transmission of a desired signal in said identified frequency range, wherein said altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with signals expected in said frequency range; and

transmitting said desired signal over the multiple spectrum opportunities simultaneously using said altered transmission characteristics when said transmission occurs during said time duration;

wherein said determining multiple spectrum opportunities comprises;

determining a location of a receiving device;

obtaining location and transmission characteristics for known transmitters from at least one database; and

determining an estimated received signal characteristics based on the location and transmission characteristics of said transmitters and a location of said receiving device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a time period of reception of said received signals.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said received signal characteristics are selected from the group consisting of:

received power, modulation, modulation rate and bandwidth.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving device location is selected from the group consisting of:

GPS location, and manual input.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an occurrence of said determining multiple spectrum opportunities is performed at a rate selected from the group consisting of:

periodic, time lapse from a prior occurrence, on a known event.

6. A device for effectively utilizing frequency spectrum resources, comprising:

a memory;

a receiving unit for receiving signals and providing received signal characteristics to a processor;

said processor, in communication with said memory, executing code for;

receiving information items regarding multiple spectrum opportunities, wherein each opportunity is identified by a frequency range and a time duration;

determining whether signals are present in said identified frequency range, wherein if the signals are present, then analyzing said signals and determining the characteristics of said signals;

if the signals are not present in said identified frequency range, then transmitting desired signals using fixed operating conditions;

wherein if the signals are present in said identified frequency range, then

determining a set of altered transmission characteristics based on the determined signal characteristics to allow for transmission of a desired signal in said identified frequency range, wherein said altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with signals expected in said frequency range;

enabling transmission of said desired signal over the multiple spectrum opportunities simultaneously using said altered transmission characteristics when transmission of said desired signal occurs during said time duration; and

determining said multiple spectrum opportunities information items based on location and transmitting characteristics of known transmitting signals stored in a database and a location of said device.

7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein said processor further executing code for;

determining said multiple spectrum opportunities information items based on said received signal characteristics.

8. The device as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

an input/output unit in communication with said processor and said memory.

9. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein said code is stored in said memory.

10. The device as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

a transmitting unit for transmitting said desired signal.

11. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving information items regarding at least one receivable signal;

a processing unit for determining multiple spectrum opportunities, wherein each opportunity is identified by a frequency range and a time duration, and for determining whether signals are present in said identified frequency range, wherein if the signals are present, then analyzing said signals and determining the characteristics of said signals;

a managing unit for altering, if the signals are present in said identified frequency range, transmission characteristics of a desired signal based on said at least one spectrum opportunity and said determined received signal characteristics, wherein said altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with said received signals; and

a transmission unit receiving said altered transmission characteristics to transmit said desired signal over the multiple spectrum opportunities simultaneously using said altered transmission characteristics, and if no signals are present in said identified frequency range said transmission unit is arranged to send desired signals using fixed operating conditions, wherein said receiving unit includes a processor for receiving information associated with location and transmission characteristics of known transmitting signals and said information items are determined from said location and transmission characteristics of said known transmitting signals.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said altered transmission characteristics are selected from the group consisting of:

power, modulation, modulation type, and coding rate.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said desired signal transmission power in a frequency range of said received signals is substantially higher when said received signals are not present.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said desired signal transmission characteristics are altered in a frequency range/time period to avoid interference with received signals in said frequency range.