Method and system enabling use of white space radio spectrum using digital broadcast signals

• US 8,170,577 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telcom Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Telcom Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Singh, Rajendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG-HURST, KATHY W
• Application Number:
  US12/196,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 455450-455, 4554565-4566, 455/464, 455/509, 455/516, 370328-341, 370431-463, 725/95, 725/68
• US Class Current: 455/454
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/16 Deriving transmission power values from another channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties

Abstract

A system (10) and method (50 or 70) of dynamic allocation of spectrum for a communication device where a UHF band is currently unused for licensed television broadcasting involves determining (51) a location of a user device using GPS or other signals (such as television broadcast signals) received at the user device using signal strength or time distance of arrival of those signals. The method can determine (52) which UHF television broadcast channels are available for use by the user device and determine (53) a maximum allowed transmission power for a given channel based on signal strength for the given channel and on adjacent channels before transmitting (54) the maximum allowed transmission power and location by the user device to a remote server for sharing information. The method can receive (55) polygon endpoints from a television broadcast defining the location of usable reception of the television broadcast.

Claims

1. A method of dynamic allocation of spectrum for a communication device where a UHF band is currently unused for licensed television broadcasting, comprising the steps of:

determining a location of a user device using GPS or other signals received at the user device using signal strength or time distance of arrival of those signals;

determining which UHF television broadcast channels are available for use by the user device for white space reception;

determining a maximum allowed transmission power for a given channel based on signal strength for the given channel and on adjacent channels;

transmitting the maximum allowed transmission power and location determined by the user device to a remote server for sharing information with other devices; and

determining which UHF television broadcast channels are available for use by the user device for white space reception for a given location based on the location of the user device, polygon endpoints received from a television broadcast, and signal strength measurements for co-channel and adjacent channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device transmits the maximum allowed transmission power and location to a remote central server via a wired connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device transmits the maximum allowed transmission power and location to a remote central server via a wireless connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining which UHF television broadcast channels is available for white space reception is based on assuming that a channel is unsuitable for television reception when a co-channel signal strength measurement is below a predetermined threshold when accounting for path loss in an immediate vicinity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining which UHF television broadcast channels is available for white space reception is based on assuming that a channel is unsuitable for television reception when a adjacent-channel signal strength measurement is below a predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining which UHF television broadcast channels is available for white space reception is based on assuming that a channel is unsuitable for television reception when co-channel signal strength measurements are above a predetermined threshold and below a predetermined margin as compared to adjacent channels.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining which UHF television broadcast channels is available is done by measuring signal strength and bit error rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the other signals received at the user device are digital television broadcast signals.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving the polygon endpoints from the television broadcast defining the location of usable reception of the television broadcast.

10. A system of dynamic allocation of spectrum for a communication device where a UHF band is currently unused for licensed television broadcasting, comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is operable to;

determine a location of a user device using GPS or other signals received at the user device using signal strength or time distance of arrival of those signals;

determine which UHF television broadcast channels are available for use by the user device for white space reception for a given location based on the location of the user device, polygon endpoints defining a location of usable reception of the television broadcast, and signal strength measurements for co-channel and adjacent channels;

determine a maximum allowed transmission power for a given channel based on signal strength for the given channel and on adjacent channels; and

transmit the maximum allowed transmission power and location by the user device to a remote server for sharing information with other devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the user device transmits the maximum allowed transmission power and location to a remote central server via a wired connection or a wireless connection.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor determines which UHF television broadcast channels is available based on assuming that a channel is unsuitable for television reception when a co-channel signal strength measurement is below a predetermined threshold when accounting for path loss in an immediate vicinity.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor determines which UHF television broadcast channels is available based on assuming that a channel is unsuitable for television reception when a co-channel signal strength measurement is above a predetermined threshold, but below a predetermined margin as compared to adjacent channels.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor determines which UHF television broadcast channels is available based on assuming that a channel cannot be used for television reception when adjacent-channel signal strength measurements are below a predetermined threshold.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor determines which UHF television broadcast channels is available measuring signal strength and bit error rate.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the other signals received at the user device are digital television broadcast signals.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to receive polygon endpoints from a television broadcast defining the location of usable reception of the television broadcast.

18. A method of dynamic allocation of spectrum for a communication device where a UHF band is currently unused for licensed television broadcasting, comprising the steps of:

determining a location of a user device using GPS or other signals received at the user device using signal strength or time distance of arrival of digital television signals;

receiving data defining polygon endpoints from a television broadcast defining the location of usable reception of the television broadcast;

determining a maximum allowed transmission power for a given channel based on signal strength for the given channel and on adjacent channels; and

determining which UHF television broadcast channels are available for use for white space reception by the user device for a given location based on the location of the user device, the polygon endpoints, and signal strength measurements for co-channel and adjacent channels.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving polygon endpoints for more than one television broadcast for a given area or for more than a single area.