Cellular service with improved service availability
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communication system of the type that supports communications with multiple mobile devices within a region, the method comprising:
- during a first interval, exchanging communications with each of a first plurality of mobile devices within the region, the communications with the plurality of devices collectively using a first amount of bandwidth within a first spectrum;
in a second interval during which the region contains a second plurality of mobile devices, with a control device controlling access to a wireless network, determining that a trigger condition exists; and
when it is determined that a trigger condition exists;
exchanging communications with a first portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using the first spectrum; and
sending from the control device to a second plurality of mobile devices an indication to use an alternative frequency spectrum and exchanging communications with the second portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using the alternative frequency spectrum, the alternative frequency spectrum being different than the first spectrum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cellular communication system in which overload of a base station is averted by offering users the option to communicate using a spectrum outside of the spectrum allocated for cellular communication. Incentives are offered to connect to the base station using the alternative spectrum, which may not support communications at the same rate as could be supported using the spectrum allocated to the base station for cellular communications. Users may be selected to receive an offer to receive incentives based on range to the base station, with users closer to the base station being more likely to receive such an offer. The cellular communications system may be a 3G wireless system and the alternative spectrum may be white space in the digital TV spectrum.
55 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communication system of the type that supports communications with multiple mobile devices within a region, the method comprising:
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during a first interval, exchanging communications with each of a first plurality of mobile devices within the region, the communications with the plurality of devices collectively using a first amount of bandwidth within a first spectrum; in a second interval during which the region contains a second plurality of mobile devices, with a control device controlling access to a wireless network, determining that a trigger condition exists; and when it is determined that a trigger condition exists; exchanging communications with a first portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using the first spectrum; and sending from the control device to a second plurality of mobile devices an indication to use an alternative frequency spectrum and exchanging communications with the second portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using the alternative frequency spectrum, the alternative frequency spectrum being different than the first spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A control device for a wireless communication system, the control device comprising:
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at least one transceiver supporting communications with a plurality of mobile devices using a first bandwidth in a first spectrum and using a second bandwidth in a second spectrum, the first spectrum being different than the second spectrum; a control module to; determine cumulative bandwidth consumption in the first spectrum by mobile devices having a connection to the control device; determine whether the cumulative bandwidth consumption is above a threshold; and when the cumulative bandwidth consumption is above the threshold, configure the at least one transceiver for communication with a first set of mobile devices using the first spectrum and a second set of mobile devices using the second spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a communication system of the type adapted for exchanging communications with multiple mobile devices within a region, the method comprising:
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during a first interval, exchanging communications with each of a first plurality of mobile devices within the region, the communications with the plurality of devices collectively using a first amount of bandwidth within a first spectrum; at a second time determining that the region contains a second plurality of mobile devices such that exchanging communications with the second plurality of mobile devices using the first spectrum would consume a second amount of bandwidth; determining that the second amount of bandwidth exceeds a threshold; and when it is determined that the second amount of bandwidth exceeds the threshold; identifying a first portion of the plurality of mobile devices and a second portion of the plurality of mobile devices based on inputs from users of the plurality of mobile devices; and exchanging communications with the first portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using the first spectrum and exchanging communications with a second portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using a second spectrum, the second spectrum being different than the first spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification