Methods and systems for dynamic spectrum arbitrage

• US 8,717,929 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rivada Networks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rivada Networks, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Clint, Ganley, Declan, Smith, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Thier, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAILE, FEBEN
• Application Number:
  US13/800,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20130196677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/329, 370/330, 370/431, 370/437, 370/252, 370/464, 370/465
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria

Abstract

Methods and system are provided for managing and monitoring allocation of RF spectrum resources based on time, space and frequency. A network may be enabled to allocate excess spectrum resources for use by other network providers on a real-time basis. Allocated resources may be transferred from one provider with excess resources to another in need of additional resources based on contractual terms or on a real-time purchase negotiations and settlements. A network may be enabled to monitor the use of allocated resources on real-time basis and off-load or allow additional users depending on the spectrum resources availability. Public safety networks may be enabled to make spectrum resources available to general public by allocating spectrum resources and monitoring the use of those resources. During an emergency, when traffic increases on a public safety network, the public safety networks may off-load bandwidth traffic to make available necessary resources for public safety users.

Claims

1. A dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) method of conducting a telecommunications commodity exchange, comprising:

establishing a communication link between a communications server and a plurality of communication networks;

determining in the communications server whether a telecommunication resource of a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks is available for allocation based on information received via the communication link;

broadcasting a communication signal that includes information suitable for informing the plurality of communication networks that the telecommunication resource is available for allocation via an auction and including an auction start time for the auction;

receiving credential information from the plurality of communication networks, the credential information identifying a type of geographic area, a wireless access technology, a frequency of operation, an amount of bandwidth, a duration for use of the telecommunication resource, a start time, and an end time;

using the received credential information to determine that one or more networks in the plurality of communication networks is eligible to participate in the auction, wherein the one or more communication networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction includes a second communication network;

receiving bids from the plurality of communication networks for the telecommunication resource determined to be available for allocation in response to broadcasting the communication message and after the auction start time included in the broadcast communication signal;

accepting only the bids received from the plurality of communication networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction;

allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network in the plurality of communication networks based on accepted bids;

sending a communication message to the second communication network, the communication message including information suitable for informing the second communication network that use of allocated telecommunication resource may begin; and

recording a transaction in a transaction database identifying the telecommunication resource as being allocated for use by the second communication network.

2. The DSA method of claim 1, wherein determining in the communications server that the telecommunication resource of the first communication network is available for allocation comprises:

determining that the telecommunication resource is available for allocation at a future date and time.

3. The DSA method of claim 2, wherein receiving bids from the plurality of communication networks for the telecommunication resource determined to be available for allocation comprises:

receiving bids for access and use of the telecommunication resource determined at the future date and time.

4. The DSA method of claim 3, wherein allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network in the plurality of communication networks based on received bids comprises:

allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network at the future date and time.

5. The DSA method of claim 1, wherein accepting only the bids received from authorized networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction comprises:

determining whether the telecommunication resource is compatible with each of the plurality of communication networks;

authorizing networks in the plurality of communication networks as being eligible to participate in the auction based on their compatibility with the telecommunication resource; and

accepting bids from only the authorized networks.

6. The DSA method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting return of the allocated telecommunication resource; and

broadcasting a second communication signal informing the plurality of communication networks that the telecommunication resource is available for reallocation via a second auction.

7. A communication server for accomplishing dynamic spectrum arbitrage of telecommunication resources via a telecommunications commodity exchange, comprising:

network communications circuitry for communicating with a plurality of communication networks;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the network communications circuitry, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

establishing a communication link to the plurality of communication networks;

determining whether a telecommunication resource of a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks is available for allocation based on information received via the communication link;

broadcasting a communication signal that includes information suitable for informing the plurality of communication networks that the telecommunication resource is available for allocation via an auction including an auction start time for the auction;

receiving credential information from the plurality of communication networks, the credential information identifying a type of geographic area, a wireless access technology, a frequency of operation, an amount of bandwidth, a duration for use of the telecommunication resource, a start time, and an end time;

using the received credential information to determine that one or more networks in the plurality of communication networks is eligible to participate in the auction, wherein the one or more communication networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction includes a second communication network;

receiving bids from the plurality of communication networks for the telecommunication resource determined to be available for allocation in response to broadcasting the communication message and after the auction start time included in the broadcast communication signal;

accepting only the bids received from the plurality of communication networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction

allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network in the plurality of communication networks based on accepted bids;

sending a communication message to the second communication network, the communication message including information suitable for informing the second communication network that use of allocated telecommunication resource may begin; and

recording a transaction in a transaction database identifying the telecommunication resource as being allocated for use by the second communication network.

8. The communication server of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining that the telecommunication resource of the first communication network is available for allocation comprises:

determining that the telecommunication resource is available for allocation at a future date and time.

9. The communication server of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that receiving bids from the plurality of communication networks for the telecommunication resource determined to be available for allocation comprises:

receiving bids for access and use of the telecommunication resource determined at the future date and time.

10. The communication server of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network in the plurality of communication networks based on received bids comprises:

allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network at the future date and time.

11. The communication server of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that accepting only the bids received from authorized networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction comprises:

determining whether the telecommunication resource is compatible with each of the plurality of communication networks;

authorizing networks in the plurality of communication networks as being eligible to participate in the auction based on their compatibility with the telecommunication resource; and

accepting bids from only the authorized networks.

12. The communication server of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

requesting return of the allocated telecommunication resource; and

broadcasting a second communication signal informing the plurality of communication networks that the telecommunication resource is available for reallocation via a second auction.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) operations for conducting a telecommunications commodity exchange, the operations comprising:

establishing a communication link to a plurality of communication networks;

determining whether a telecommunication resource of a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks is available for allocation based on information received via the communication link;

broadcasting a communication signal that includes information suitable for informing the plurality of communication networks that the telecommunication resource is available for allocation via a auction and including an auction start time for the auction;

receiving credential information from the plurality of communication networks, the credential information identifying a type of geographic area, a wireless access technology, a frequency of operation, an amount of bandwidth, a duration for use of the telecommunication resource, a start time, and an end time;

using the received credential information to determine that one or more networks in the plurality of communication networks is eligible to participate in the auction, wherein the one or more communication networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction includes a second communication network;

receiving bids from the plurality of communication networks for the telecommunication resource determined to be available for allocation in response to broadcasting the communication message and after the auction start time included in the broadcast communication signal;

accepting only the bids received from the plurality of communication networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction;

allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network in the plurality of communication networks based on accepted bids;

sending a communication message to the second communication network, the communication message including information suitable for informing the second communication network that use of allocated telecommunication resource may begin; and

recording a transaction in a transaction database identifying the telecommunication resource as being allocated for use by the second communication network.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that that the telecommunication resource of the first communication network is available for allocation comprises:

determining that the telecommunication resource is available for allocation at a future date and time.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that receiving bids from the plurality of communication networks for the telecommunication resource determined to be available for allocation comprises:

receiving bids for access and use of the telecommunication resource determined at the future date and time.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network in the plurality of communication networks based on received bids comprises:

allocating the telecommunication resource of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network at the future date and time.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that accepting only the bids received from authorized networks determined to be eligible to participate in the auction comprises:

determining whether the telecommunication resource is compatible with each of the plurality of communication networks;

authorizing networks in the plurality of communication networks as being eligible to participate in the auction based on their compatibility with the telecommunication resource; and

accepting bids from only the authorized networks.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

requesting return of the allocated telecommunication resource; and

broadcasting a second communication signal informing the plurality of communication networks that the telecommunication resource is available for reallocation via a second auction.