Method and apparatus for white space operation by a mobile entity

• US 9,363,812 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin Bernard, Prakash, Rajat
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamza, Faruk
• Assistant Examiner(s): DECKER, CASSANDRA L
• Application Number:
  US13/756,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20130195054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/29 between an access point and the access point controlling device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method by an access point for wireless communication service includes receiving configuration parameters from a core network entity for operation as a base station using at least one non-white space (non-WS) bandwidth. The method further includes determining whether the received configuration parameters comprise an indication for the access point to use white space (WS) for the service. The method further includes requesting authorization information from a WS database to operate in the WS, in response to the received parameters comprising the indication. An access point comprising a processor, memory and transceiver may be configured to perform the elements of the method, using a computer-readable storage medium or other means.

Claims

1. A method operable by an access point for wireless communication service, the method comprising:

receiving configuration parameters, from a core network entity, for the access point to operate as a base station using at least one non-white space (non-WS) bandwidth, the configuration parameters including a set of one or more bandwidths that may be used by the access point to facilitate the wireless communication service;

determining whether the set of one or more bandwidths includes at least a first white space (WS) bandwidth for the access point to use WS for the wireless communication service; and

in response to a determination that the set of one or more bandwidths includes at least the first WS bandwidth, transmitting a request to a WS database for requesting authorization information to operate in the WS using the first WS bandwidth, the request including the first white space bandwidth.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for the authorization information comprises requesting to operate as a master WS device (WSD).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for the authorization information comprises requesting to operate as a slave WS device (WSD).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration parameters further comprise an indication to use the WS for a backhaul or an access connectivity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the request for authorization information comprises requesting to operate as a slave WS device (WSD) in response to the indication to use the WS for the backhaul connectivity.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the request for the authorization information comprises requesting to operate as a master WS device (WSD) in response to the indication to use the WS for the access connectivity.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising authorizing another access point to operate as a slave WSD for use of the WS.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a backhaul connectivity on the first WS bandwidth.

9. An access point for wireless communication service, the access point comprising:

means for receiving configuration parameters, from a core network entity, for the access point to operate as a base station using at least one non-white space (non-WS) bandwidth, the configuration parameters including a set of one or more bandwidths that may be used by the access point to facilitate the wireless communication service;

means for determining whether the set of one or more bandwidths includes at least a first white space (WS) bandwidth for the access point to use WS for the wireless communication service; and

means for transmitting a request to a WS database for authorization information to operate in the WS using the WS in response to a determination that the set of one or more bandwidths includes at least the WS, the request including the first white space bandwidth.

10. An access point for wireless communication service, the access point comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive configuration parameters, from a core network entity, for the access point to operate as a base station using at least one non-white space (non-WS) bandwidth, the configuration parameters including a set of one or more bandwidths that may be used by the access point to facilitate the wireless communication service;

determine whether the set of one or more bandwidths includes at least a first white space (WS) bandwidth for the access point to use WS for the wireless communication service; and

in response to a determination that the set of one or more bandwidths includes at least the WS, transmit a request to a WS database for request authorization information to operate in the WS using the WS, the request including the first white space bandwidth; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

11. The access point of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to request to operate as a master WS device (WSD).

12. The access point of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to request to operate as a slave WS device (WSD).

13. The access point of claim 10, wherein the configuration parameters comprise an indication to use the WS for a backhaul or an access connectivity.

14. The access point of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to request to operate as a slave WS device (WSD) in response to the indication to use the WS for the backhaul connectivity.

15. The access point of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to request to operate as a master WS device (WSD) in response to the indication to use the WS for the access connectivity.

16. The access point of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to authorize another access point to operate as a slave WSD for use of the WS.

17. The access point of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to establish a backhaul connectivity on the first WS bandwidth.

18. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing an access point for wireless communication service to;

receive configuration parameters, from a core network entity, for the access point to operate as a base station using at least one non-white space (non-WS) bandwidth, the configuration parameters including a set of one or more bandwidths that may be used by the access point to facilitate the wireless communication service;

determine whether the set of one or more bandwidths includes at least a first white space (WS) bandwidth for the access point to use WS for the wireless communication service; and

in response to a determination that the set of one or more bandwidths includes at least the WS, transmit a request to a WS database for request authorization information to operate in the WS using the WS, the request including the first white space bandwidth.