Systems, methods, and devices for electronic spectrum management for identifying open space

• US 8,750,156 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DGS Global Systems, Inc., Digital Global Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DGS Global Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Carbajal, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US14/086,871
• Time in Patent Office: 201 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/329, 370/430
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0246 involving frequency difference of arrival or Doppler measurements G01S5/02685 takes precedence
• 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: H04L 5/023 Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• 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 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for automated identification of open space in a wireless communications spectrum, by identifying sources of signal emission in the spectrum by automatically detecting signals, analyzing signals, comparing signal data to historical and reference data, creating corresponding signal profiles, and determining information about the open space based upon the measured and analyzed data in near real time.

Claims

1. A system for identifying open space in a wireless communications spectrum comprising:

at least one apparatus, wherein the at least one apparatus is operable for network-based communication with at least one server computer including a database, and/or with at least one other apparatus, but does not require a connection to the at least one server computer to be operable for identifying signal emitting devices;

wherein each of the apparatus is operable for identifying open space in a spectrum associated with wireless communications including;

a housing, at least one processor and memory, and sensors constructed and configured for sensing and measuring wireless communications signals from signal emitting devices in the spectrum associated with wireless communications; and

wherein the apparatus is operable to automatically analyze the sensed and measured data to identify the open space in near real time, and for automatically calculating in near real time a percent activity associated with the identified open space on predetermined frequencies and/or ISM bands.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one apparatus is operable for storing information about the open space to the memory on each apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the open space information further includes indications of signal activity, power, bandwidth, frequency, duration, time(s), day(s), and combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the open space is identified for predetermined frequencies, ISM bands, and/or user-defined frequencies.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one apparatus is operable for automatically determining the open space in near real time, based upon measured frequency, bandwidth, and duration.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one apparatus is operable for automatically visually indicating and/or listing the open space information stored in memory on the at least one apparatus.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each apparatus is operable for automatically scanning to identify open space for an allotted amount of time between a minimum of about 15 minutes up to about 30 days.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification of the open space within the spectrum is accurate to a predetermined degree of confidence between about 80 and about 100 percent.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one apparatus is operable for automatically scanning the frequency span, wherein a default scan includes a frequency span between about 54 MHz and about 804 MHz.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one apparatus is operable for scanning the frequency span, including an ISM scan between about 900 MHz and about 2.5 GHz.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least on apparatus is operable for scanning the frequency span, wherein a default scan includes an ISM scan between about 5 GHz and about 5.8 GHz and/or a frequency range based upon inputs provided by a user.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein characteristics of the measured data include frequency, power, bandwidth, duration, modulation, and combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification of the open space is accurate to a predetermined degree of confidence between about 80 and about 95 percent.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable for automatically searching the historical and/or reference data stored in the database for predetermined times and frequencies.

15. A method for identifying open space in a wireless communications spectrum comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus having a housing, at least one processor and memory, and sensors and receivers, constructed and configured for sensing and measuring wireless communications signals from signal emitting devices in the spectrum associated with wireless communications; and

wherein the apparatus is operable to automatically and independently analyze the sensed and measured data to identify the open space in near real time, without requiring connection to a remote server computer or a remote database;

wherein the apparatus is operable for;

automatically scanning the spectrum to identify open space for an allotted amount of time between a minimum of about 15 minutes up to about 30 days automatically obtaining information in the form of a listing or a report of all frequencies in a frequency range associated with a wireless communications spectrum;

plotting a line and/or graph chart showing power and bandwidth activity in the spectrum;

setting frequencies based on frequency rules actionable by the processor(s) so that only predetermined frequencies are plotted;

generating a file including the average and/or aggregated values of power, bandwidth and frequency for each derived frequency from the foregoing step; and

automatically identifying in near real time the open space within the spectrum based upon activity over time and frequency.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of automatically comparing the measured data with historical data and/or reference data.

17. The method of claim 15, further including the steps of:

measuring characteristics of signals from signal emitting devices in a spectrum associated with wireless communications, with measured data characteristics including frequency, power, bandwidth, duration, modulation, and combinations thereof;

assessing whether the measured data includes analog and/or digital signal(s);

determining a best fit based on frequency, if the measured power spectrum is designated in an historical or a reference database(s) for frequency ranges;

automatically determining a category for either analog or digital signals, based on power and sideband combined with frequency allocation;

determining a TDM/FDM/CDM signal, based on duration and bandwidth; and

storing an identification corresponding to the identified at least one signal emitting device.

18. The method of claim 15, further including the step of categorizing the measured data.

19. The method of claim 15, further including the step of determining the open space for predetermined times and days, based upon the measured and analyzed data.

20. The method of claim 15, further including the steps of storing an identification of open space in memory on the apparatus, wherein the identification of the open space further includes information about signal activity, power, bandwidth, frequency, duration, time(s), day(s), and combinations thereof in the spectrum.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the identifying the open space within the spectrum is accurate to a predetermined degree of confidence between about 80 and about 100 percent.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of automatically identifying open space in near real time is further based upon measure bandwidth.

23. The method of claim 15, further including the step of storing information corresponding to the identified open space within the spectrum to the memory.

24. The method of claim 15, further including the step of automatically visually indicating and/or listing the open space information.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying open space further includes indications of signal activity, power, bandwidth, frequency, duration, time(s), day(s), and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of scanning includes a frequency scan between about 54 MHz and about 804 MHz.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of scanning includes an ISM scan between about 900 MHz and about 2.5 GHz.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of scanning includes an ISM scan between about 5 GHz and about 5.8 GHz and/or a frequency range based upon inputs provided by a user.