Protocols for enabling mode 1 and mode 2 devices in TV white space networks

• US 9,173,218 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Abraham, Santosh Paul, Jain, Avinash, Shellhammer, Stephen J., Sampath, Hemanth
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US13/286,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20120282959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/451, 455/452.1, 455/453, 455/454, 370/192, 370/180, 370/329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0096 Indication of changes in allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• 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

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for operating in a television white space (TVWS) network. One example method generally includes receiving, at an apparatus, a message with a field indicating a current version of an unused frequency spectrum map (e.g., a white space map (WSM)), the unused frequency spectrum map indicating channels usable for wireless communications; determining whether the current version of the unused frequency spectrum map is different than a previous version of the unused frequency spectrum map; and using a channel for wireless communications based on the determination. Another example method generally includes accessing a database of available channels for a current location of an apparatus via a neighboring portable or fixed enabling apparatus and enabling one or more portable dependent apparatuses for the wireless communications via one or more of the available channels.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

accessing, at an apparatus, a database of available channels for a current location of the apparatus via a neighboring apparatus, wherein accessing the database of available channels comprises;

obtaining enablement to operate from the neighboring apparatus; and

transmitting a query message to the database of the available channels via the neighboring apparatus, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

enabling one or more other apparatuses for the wireless communications via one or more of the available channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the available channels comprise available channels in a television white space (TVWS).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing comprises accessing the database without association.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the query message is included in a General Advertisement Service (GAS) frame.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the query message comprises a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) query message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the RLQP query message comprises at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the RLQP query message is for querying the database, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the RLQP query message, an address of the apparatus, an address of the neighboring apparatus, an enablement ID, or a database ID field identifying the database.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response message with the available channels, wherein the response message comprises an indication of the available channels and at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the response message is in response to the query message, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the response message, an address of the apparatus, or an address of the neighboring apparatus, and wherein the response message comprises a security encapsulated database response message via which the indication of the available channels is provided.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying the neighboring apparatus for access capabilities to the database.

9. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for accessing a database of available channels for a current location of the apparatus via a neighboring apparatus, wherein the means for accessing the database of available channels is configured to;

obtain enablement to operate from the neighboring apparatus; and

transmit a query message to the database of the available channels via the neighboring apparatus, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

means for enabling one or more other apparatuses for the wireless communications via one or more of the available channels.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the available channels comprise available channels in a television white space (TVWS).

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for accessing is configured to access the database without association.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the query message is included in a General Advertisement Service (GAS) frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the query message comprises a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) query message.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the RLQP query message comprises at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the RLQP query message is for querying the database, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the RLQP query message, an address of the apparatus, an address of the neighboring apparatus, an enablement ID, or a database ID field identifying the database.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for receiving a response message with the available channels, wherein the response message comprises an indication of the available channels and at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the response message is in response to the query message, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the response message, an address of the apparatus, or an address of the neighboring apparatus and wherein the response message comprises a security encapsulated database response message via which the indication of the available channels is provided.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for querying the neighboring apparatus for access capabilities to the database.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable for:

accessing, at an apparatus, a database of available channels for a current location of the apparatus via a neighboring apparatus, wherein the instructions for accessing the database of available channels comprise instructions for;

obtaining enablement to operate from the neighboring apparatus; and

transmitting a query message to the database of the available channels via the neighboring apparatus, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

enabling one or more other apparatuses for the wireless communications via one or more of the available channels.

18. An access point, comprising:

at least one antenna;

a transmitter configured to transmit a query message to access a database of available channels via the at least one antenna;

a processing system configured to;

access the database of the available channels for a current location of the access point via a neighboring apparatus, wherein the processing system is configured to access the database of the available channels by obtaining enablement to operate from the neighboring apparatus and by the transmitter transmitting the query message to the database of the available channels via the neighboring apparatus, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

enable one or more other apparatuses for the wireless communications via one or more of the available channels.

19. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a neighboring apparatus, a query message to access a database of available channels;

a processing system configured to;

enable the neighboring apparatus as a dependent apparatus; and

access the database of available channels for the dependent apparatus based on the reception of the query message, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

a transmitter configured to transmit an indication of the available channels to the neighboring apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the available channels comprise available channels in a television white space (TVWS).

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indication of the available channels comprises an unused frequency spectrum map.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a response message in response to the query message and wherein the response message comprises the indication of the available channels.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the response message comprises the indication of the available channels and at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the response message is in response to the query message, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the response message, an address of the neighboring apparatus, or an address of the apparatus and wherein the response message comprises a security encapsulated database response message via which the indication of the available channels comprises is provided.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the query message is included in a General Advertisement Service (GAS) frame or comprises a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) query message.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a beacon or a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) message, indicating that the apparatus is database access capable (DBAC).

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) message with vendor-specific information elements (IEs) indicating a database access parameter or protocol for one or more database vendors.

27. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

enabling, at an apparatus, a neighboring apparatus as a dependent apparatus;

accessing a database of available channels for the dependent apparatus, wherein accessing the database of available channels comprises;

receiving a query message to the database of the available channels from the neighboring apparatus, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

transmitting an indication of the available channels to the neighboring apparatus.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the available channels comprise available channels in a television white space (TVWS).

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the indication of the available channels comprises an unused frequency spectrum map.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein transmitting the indication comprises transmitting a response message in response to the query message and wherein the response message comprises the indication of the available channels.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the response message comprises the indication of the available channels and at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the response message is in response to the query message, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the response message, an address of the neighboring apparatus, or an address of the apparatus and wherein the response message comprises a security encapsulated database response message via which the indication of the available channels comprises is provided.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the query message is included in a General Advertisement Service (GAS) frame or comprises a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) query message.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting a beacon or a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) message, indicating that the apparatus is database access capable (DBAC).

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) message with vendor-specific information elements (IEs) indicating a database access parameter or protocol for one or more database vendors.

35. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for enabling a neighboring apparatus as a dependent apparatus;

means for accessing a database of available channels for the dependent apparatus, wherein the means for accessing the database of available channels comprises means for receiving a query message to the database of the available channels from the neighboring apparatus, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

means for transmitting an indication of the available channels to the neighboring apparatus.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the available channels comprise available channels in a television white space (TVWS).

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the indication of the available channels comprises an unused frequency spectrum map.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit a response message in response to the query message and wherein the response message comprises the indication of the available channels.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the response message comprises the indication of the available channels and at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the response message is in response to the query message, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the response message, an address of the neighboring apparatus, or an address of the apparatus and wherein the response message comprises a security encapsulated database response message via which the indication of the available channels comprises is provided.

40. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the query message is included in a General Advertisement Service (GAS) frame or comprises a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) query message.

41. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit a beacon or a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) message, indicating that the apparatus is database access capable (DBAC).

42. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) message with vendor-specific information elements (IEs) indicating a database access parameter or protocol for one or more database vendors.

43. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable for:

enabling, at an apparatus, a neighboring apparatus as a dependent apparatus;

accessing a database of available channels for the dependent apparatus, wherein the instructions for accessing the database of available channels comprises instructions for receiving a query message to the database of the available channels from the neighboring apparatus, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

transmit an indication of the available channels to the neighboring apparatus.

44. An access point, comprising:

at least one antenna;

a receiver configured to receive, via the at least one antenna, from a neighboring apparatus, a query message to access a database of the available channels;

a processing system configured to;

enable the neighboring apparatus as a dependent apparatus; and

access a database of available channels for the dependent apparatus based on the reception of the query message, wherein the processing system is configured to access the database of the available channels by the receiver receiving the query message to the database of the available channels, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

a transmitter configured to transmit, via the at least one antenna, an indication of the available channels to the neighboring apparatus.

45. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a query message to access a database of available channels;

a processing system configured to;

access the database of the available channels for a current location of the apparatus via a neighboring apparatus, wherein the processing system is configured to access the database of the available channels by obtaining enablement to operate from the neighboring apparatus and by the transmitter transmitting the query message to the database of the available channels via the neighboring apparatus, wherein the query message comprises a security encapsulated database query message; and

enable one or more other apparatuses for the wireless communications via one or more of the available channels.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the available channels comprise available channels in a television white space (TVWS).

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the processing system is configured to access the database without association.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the query message is included in a General Advertisement Service (GAS) frame.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the query message comprises a Registered Location Query Protocol (RLQP) query message.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the RLQP query message comprises at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the RLQP query message is for querying the database, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the RLQP query message, an address of the apparatus, an address of the neighboring apparatus, an enablement ID, or a database ID field identifying the database.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a response message with the available channels, wherein the response message comprises an indication of the available channels and at least one of an information identifier (ID) field indicating that the response message is in response to the query message, a length field indicating a length of a remaining portion of the response message, an address of the apparatus, or an address of the neighboring apparatus, and wherein the response message comprises a security encapsulated database response message via which the indication of the available channels is provided.

52. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the processing system is configured to query the neighboring apparatus for access capabilities to the database.