Method and devices for determining available frequency ranges

• US 8,204,072 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agency For Science Technology and Research (Government of Singapore)
• Original Assignee: Agency For Science Technology and Research (Government of Singapore)
• Inventors: Liang, Ying Chang, Hoang, Anh Tuan, Marath, Ashok Kumar, Lei, Zhongding, Chin, Po Shin Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, CLEMENCE S
• Application Number:
  US12/092,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20090252048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0006 Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference

Abstract

A method of determining available frequency ranges for at least one communication device is provided. The method comprises providing a downlink transmission time interval, determining available frequency ranges within a plurality of frequency ranges after the downlink transmission time interval, and providing an uplink transmission time interval after the determining of the available frequency ranges.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a downlink transmission time interval;

determining a plurality of available frequency ranges within a plurality of candidate frequency ranges for at least one communication device of a communication system, wherein an other communication system has a priority of usage of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges, wherein determining the plurality of available frequency ranges comprises;

determining, after providing the downlink transmission time interval, for each candidate frequency range of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges, either that the candidate frequency range is an available frequency range within the plurality of candidate frequency ranges for the at least one communication device to operate in when the other communication system is at least temporarily not in operation in the candidate frequency range, or that the candidate frequency range is an unavailable frequency range when the other communication system is in operation in the candidate frequency range;

providing an uplink transmission time interval for the plurality of available frequency ranges;

determining that the other communication system is resuming operation in a particular candidate frequency range of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges; and

vacating the particular candidate frequency range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a further downlink transmission time interval after determining the plurality of available frequency ranges.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of further uplink transmission time intervals after determining the plurality of available frequency ranges.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of further downlink transmission time intervals after determining the plurality of available frequency ranges.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising

waiting a predetermined time period after the downlink transmission time interval;

determining the plurality of available frequency ranges within the plurality of candidate frequency ranges after an expiration of the predetermined time period.

6. The method of claim 5,

the predetermined time period being dimensioned such that downlink transmission signals have been completely transmitted via the candidate frequency ranges.

7. The method of claim 1, the method being carried out within at least one data transmission frame structure, wherein the at least one data transmission frame structure comprises:

a downlink subframe provided for the downlink transmission time interval;

a sensing subframe provided for the determining of the available frequency; and

an uplink subframe provided for the uplink transmission time interval;

the sensing subframe being arranged between the downlink subframe and the uplink subframe.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the sensing subframe being dependent on a geographical distance between the at least one communication device and the other communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, the other communication device being a base station.

10. The method of claim 1, the method being carried out within at least one data transmission frame structure, wherein the at least one data transmission frame structure comprises a frame group comprising a header portion and a plurality of frames;

wherein the header portion of the frame group comprises;

a downlink subportion for the downlink transmission time interval; and

a sensing subportion provided for the determining of the available frequency.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the sensing subportion being dependent on a geographical distance between the at least one communication device and the other communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, the other communication device being a base station.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising

after determining the plurality of available frequency ranges,

combining the plurality of available frequency ranges to at least one combined logical frequency range;

and

allocating the at least one combined logical frequency range to the at least one communication device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of available frequency ranges comprises:

scanning the plurality of candidate frequency ranges;

determining, whether a signal transmission in a respective candidate frequency range of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges is below a predetermined threshold, and

in case the signal transmission in the respective candidate frequency range is below the predetermined threshold, then classifying the respective candidate frequency range as a respective available frequency range of the plurality of available frequency ranges.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a multiple access transmission technology.

16. The method of claim 15, the multiple access transmission technology being selected from a group of multiple access transmission technologies consisting of:

time division multiple access,

frequency division multiple access,

code division multiple access, and

orthogonal frequency division multiple access.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of available frequency ranges comprises:

scanning the plurality of candidate frequency ranges;

determining, whether a signal transmission in a respective candidate frequency range of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges is below a predetermined threshold, and

in case the signal transmission in the respective candidate frequency range is not below the predetermined threshold, then performing at least one of skipping the respective candidate frequency range or classifying the respective candidate frequency range as being a respective non-available frequency range.

18. A frequency ranges determination device, comprising:

a first unit configured to provide a downlink transmission time interval;

a determination unit configured to;

determine a plurality of available frequency ranges within a plurality of candidate frequency ranges for at least one communication device of a communication system, wherein an other communication system has a priority of usage of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges, wherein determining the plurality of available frequency ranges comprises;

determining, after providing the downlink transmission time interval, for each candidate frequency range of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges, either that the candidate frequency range is an available frequency range within the plurality of candidate frequency ranges for the at least one communication device to operate in when the other communication system is at least temporarily not in operation in the candidate frequency range, or that the candidate frequency range is an unavailable frequency range when the other communication system is in operation in the candidate frequency range;

and

determine that the other communication system is resuming operation in a particular candidate frequency range of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges; and

vacate the particular candidate frequency range;

and

a second unit configured to provide an uplink transmission time interval for the plurality of available frequency ranges.

19. A communication device, comprising:

a frequency ranges determination device, comprising;

a first unit configured to provide a downlink transmission time interval;

a determination unit configured to;

determine a plurality of available frequency ranges within a plurality of candidate frequency ranges for at least one communication device of a communication system, wherein an other communication system has a priority of usage of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges, wherein determining the plurality of available frequency ranges comprises;

determining, after providing the downlink transmission time interval, for each candidate frequency range of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges, either that the candidate frequency range is an available frequency range within the plurality of candidate frequency ranges for the at least one communication device to operate in when the other communication system is at least temporarily not in operation in the candidate frequency range, or that the candidate frequency range is an unavailable frequency range when the other communication system is in operation in the candidate frequency range;

and

determine that the other communication system is resuming operation in a particular candidate frequency range of the plurality of candidate frequency ranges; and

vacate the particular candidate frequency range;

and

a second unit configured to provide an uplink transmission time interval for the plurality of available frequency ranges.

20. The communication device of claim 19, being a wireline communication device.

21. The communication device of claim 19, being a powerline communication device.

22. The communication device of claim 19, being a radio communication device.

23. The communication device of claim 22, being a mobile radio communication device.

24. The communication device of claim 22, being a satellite radio communication device.

25. The communication device of claim 22, being a mobile radio base station.

26. The communication device of claim 19, being a terminal communication device.

27. The communication device of claim 19, being a Consumer Premise Equipment device.