Apparatus and methods of whitespace communication

• US 9,025,536 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnaswamy, Dilip
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, CHRISTINE T
• Application Number:
  US12/628,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20100246506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/304 due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The described apparatus and methods provide communication services utilizing a combination of non-white space (NWS) and white space (WS) networks. For example, in an aspect, the described apparatus and methods receive, at a first base station (BS) and on a licensed frequency, a communication request for network access from a wireless access terminal (AT). The aspects also determine at least one available unlicensed frequency corresponding to a location of the wireless AT. Further, the aspects partition at least a portion of the network access for the wireless AT to be via the at least one available unlicensed frequency. Additionally, the aspects inform the wireless AT of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use to obtain at least the portion of the network access. Additional aspects relate to NWS BS assisted handoffs of WS calls, dynamic caching of WS information, peer-to-peer WS communication, and WS BS venue-specific broadcasting.

Claims

1. A method of providing communication services, comprising:

receiving, at a first base station and on a licensed frequency, a communication request for network access from a wireless access terminal;

determining at least one available unlicensed frequency corresponding to a location of the wireless access terminal, wherein the determining is based on unlicensed frequency spectrum information for a geographic region, and wherein the determining includes determining, from the unlicensed frequency spectrum information, a second base station that corresponds to the location and operates on the at least one available unlicensed frequency, wherein the second base station is different from or co-located with the first base station;

partitioning at least a portion of the network access for the wireless access terminal to be via the at least one available unlicensed frequency; and

informing the wireless access terminal of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use to obtain at least the portion of the network access from the second base station and how to contact the second base station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving identification of a plurality of desired communication service types;

partitioning the plurality of desired communication service types for use between the licensed frequency and the at least one available unlicensed frequency; and

informing the wireless access terminal of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use with a first one of the plurality of desired communication service types and of a second one of the plurality of desired communication service types for use with the licensed frequency, based on the partitioning.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the partitioning is based on at least one of:

a service plan corresponding to the wireless access terminal in combination with a network load, or a signal strength of the wireless access terminal or the first base station, or a desired quality of service and an available quality of service.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing active calls with the wireless access terminal for different services.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining WS information from a WS information server prior to receiving the communication request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the communication request further comprises receiving the location of the wireless access terminal based on operation of a location determining module on the wireless access terminal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication request is based on a pilot signal transmitted by the first base station.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of desired communication service types includes at least a best effort service type and a substantially latency-free service type, and wherein partitioning the plurality of desired communication service types further comprises partitioning according to at least one partitioning rule and based on at least one factor including network load, a service plan corresponding to the wireless access terminal, a mobility of the wireless access terminal, a desired quality of service, and available quality of service.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the partitioning is based on network load.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the partitioning is based on a service plan corresponding to the wireless access terminal.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the partitioning is based on a signal strength of the wireless access terminal in combination with the network load.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises requesting whitespace (WS) information from a WS information server in response to receiving the communication request.

7. At least one processor configured to provide communication services, comprising:

a first module configured to receive, at a first base station and on a licensed frequency, a communication request for network access from a wireless access terminal;

a second module configured to determine at least one available unlicensed frequency corresponding to a location of the wireless access terminal, wherein the determination is based on unlicensed frequency spectrum information for a geographic region, and wherein the determining includes determining, from the unlicensed frequency spectrum information, a second base station that corresponds to the location and operates on the at least one available unlicensed frequency, wherein the second base station is different from or co-located with the first base station;

a third module configured to partition at least a portion of the network access for the wireless access terminal to be via the at least one available unlicensed frequency; and

a fourth module configured to inform the wireless access terminal of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use to obtain at least the portion of the network access from the second base station and how to contact the second base station.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code for providing communication services, comprising:

at least one instruction operable to cause a computer to receive, at a first base station and on a licensed frequency, a communication request for network access from a wireless access terminal;

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to determine at least one available unlicensed frequency corresponding to a location of the wireless access terminal, wherein the determination is based on unlicensed frequency spectrum information for a geographic region, and wherein the determining includes determining, from the unlicensed frequency spectrum information, a second base station that corresponds to the location and operates on the at least one available unlicensed frequency, wherein the second base station is different from or co-located with the first base station;

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to partition at least a portion of the network access for the wireless access terminal to be via the at least one available unlicensed frequency; and

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to inform the wireless access terminal of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use to obtain at least the portion of the network access from the second base station and how to contact the second base station.

9. An apparatus for providing communication services, comprising:

means for receiving, at a first base station and on a licensed frequency, a communication request for network access from a wireless access terminal;

means for determining at least one available unlicensed frequency corresponding to a location of the wireless access terminal, wherein the determining is based on unlicensed frequency spectrum information for a geographic region, and wherein the determining includes determining, from the unlicensed frequency spectrum information, a second base station that corresponds to the location and operates on the at least one available unlicensed frequency, wherein the second base station is different from or co-located with the first base station;

means for partitioning at least a portion of the network access for the wireless access terminal to be via the at least one available unlicensed frequency; and

means for informing the wireless access terminal of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use to obtain at least the portion of the network access from the second base station and how to contact the second base station.

10. A base station, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive, on a licensed frequency, a communication request for network access from a wireless access terminal;

determine at least one available unlicensed frequency corresponding to a location of the wireless access terminal, wherein the determining is based on unlicensed frequency spectrum information for a geographic region, and wherein the determining includes determining, from the unlicensed frequency spectrum information, a second base station that corresponds to the location and operates on the at least one available unlicensed frequency, wherein the second base station is different from or co-located with the first base station;

partition at least a portion of the network access for the wireless access terminal to be via the at least one available unlicensed frequency; and

inform the wireless access terminal of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use to obtain at least the portion of the network access from the second base station and how to contact the second base station.

11. The base station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive identification of a plurality of desired communication service types;

partition the plurality of desired communication service types for use between the licensed frequency and the at least one available unlicensed frequency; and

inform the wireless access terminal of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use with a first one of the plurality of desired communication service types and of a second one of the plurality of desired communication service types for use with the licensed frequency, based on the partitioning.

12. The base station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to partition based on at least one of:

network load, or service plan corresponding to wireless access terminal, or a service plan corresponding to the wireless access terminal in combination with the network load, or a signal strength of the wireless access terminal or the first base station, or a signal strength of the wireless access terminal in combination with the network load, or a desired quality of service and an available quality of service.

13. The base station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to establish active calls with the wireless access terminal for different services.

14. The base station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain WS information from a WS information server prior to receiving the communication request.

15. The base station of claim 10, wherein the communication request further comprises the location of the wireless access terminal based on operation of a location determining module on the wireless access terminal.

17. The base station of claim 10, wherein the communication request is based on a pilot signal transmitted by the base station.

19. The base station of claim 11, wherein the plurality of desired communication service types includes at least a best effort service type and a substantially latency-free service type, and wherein the processor is further configured to partition the plurality of desired communication service types by partitioning according to at least one partitioning rule and partitioning based on at least one factor including network load, a service plan corresponding to the wireless access terminal, a mobility of the wireless access terminal, a desired quality of service, and available quality of service.