White space utilization

• US 9,094,834 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hassan, Amer A., Reed, Daniel A., Garnett, Paul W., Anders, Billy
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US13/609,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20140073261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/501, 455/63.1, 455/503, 455/3.01, 455/130, 455/133, 455/134, 455/161.3, 455/226.1, 455/226.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• 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 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• 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 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference

Abstract

The concepts relate to radio white space utilization. One example can measure a potential radio white space frequency. The example can also communicate results of the measuring for other devices and receive other results from the other devices relating to the potential radio white space frequency. The method can further determine whether the potential radio white space frequency is actually an available radio white space frequency based upon the results and the other results.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

measuring a signal of a potential radio white space frequency;

evaluating a function of the measured signal;

communicating output of the function to another device;

receiving, from the another device, evaluated data regarding the potential radio white space frequency; and

determining whether the potential radio white space frequency is an available radio white space frequency based on the output and the evaluated data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring comprises measuring a strength of the signal, a voltage of the signal, or a phase of the signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating comprises unicasting, multicasting, or broadcasting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the function quantizes measured input of the potential radio white space frequency to generate the output.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluated data relates to signal measuring performed by the another device at the potential radio white space frequency.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining a geographic location proximate to the measuring and querying a regulatory database for a set of potential radio white space frequencies for the location, and wherein the set of potential radio white space frequencies includes the potential radio white space frequency.

7. A device configured to implement the method of claim 1.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating a function of the measured signal further comprises selecting an evaluation function to be used based upon available processing resources.

8. A system, comprising:

memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory; and

,

a communication component configured to;

cause multiple devices to measure signal strength at a potential white space frequency;

obtain information relating to the signal strength measurements from at least some of the multiple devices; and

determine whether the potential white space frequency is an available white space frequency based on the obtained information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein an individual device comprises a television or wherein an individual device includes a television tuner.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information obtained from the television or the television tuner comprises an error message resulting from a signal strength not being satisfactory relative to a predefined threshold criteria.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication component is further configured to weight the information from individual devices.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication component is further configured to determine a likelihood that the signal strength measurements indicate that the potential white space frequency is an available radio white space frequency prior to obtaining the information relating to the signal strength measurements.

13. A computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

measuring a signal of a potential radio white space frequency;

evaluating a function of the measured signal;

communicating output of the function to another device;

receiving, from the another device, evaluated data regarding the potential radio white space frequency; and

determining whether the potential radio white space frequency is an available radio white space frequency based on the output and the evaluated data.

14. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the measuring comprises measuring a strength of the signal, a voltage of the signal, or a phase of the signal.

15. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the communicating comprises unicasting, multicasting, or broadcasting.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the function quantizes measured input of the potential radio white space frequency to generate the output.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the evaluated data relates to signal measuring performed by the another device at the potential radio white space frequency.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, further comprising obtaining a geographic location proximate to the measuring and querying a regulatory database for a set of potential radio white space frequencies for the location, and wherein the set of potential radio white space frequencies includes the potential radio white space frequency.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein evaluating a function of the measured signal further comprises selecting an evaluation function to be used based upon available processing resources.