Method, apparatus, and computer program product for temporary release of resources in radio networks

• US 9,473,946 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kasslin, Mika, Junell, Jari Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Sloms, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/417,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20130235810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to for resource coexistence management in RF white spaces. An example embodiment includes a method including receiving by a control node of a wireless network, an allocation of resources and an indication of allowance to release resources temporarily from a network controller serving the control node; and transmitting by the control node to the network controller, a message indicating temporary release of a portion of the allocated resources.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving by a control node of a wireless network, an allocation of resources and an indication of allowance to release resources temporarily from a network controller serving the control node, wherein the allocated resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of the wireless local area network;

determining by the control node that only a portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources are in use by the wireless network and making the rest of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources available as a temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources for other wireless networks on a temporary basis for as long as the release remains valid;

transmitting by the control node to the serving network controller, a message indicating temporary release of the temporarily released portion of the allocated of the one or more channels of radio resources enabling the serving network controller to indicate to other network controllers servicing other networks of the availability of the temporarily released portion of the allocated of the one or more channels of radio resources;

transmitting by the control node to the serving network controller, a termination message indicating that the temporary release is no longer valid enabling the serving network controller to indicate to the other network controllers servicing the other networks that the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources is no longer valid; and

taking back, by the control node from the serving network controller, the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources, in response to having transmitted the termination message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining by the control node whether the release remains valid;

periodically indicating by the control node to the network controller, whether the release is still valid; and

receiving by the control node, a return of the temporarily released resources from the network controller, when the release is no longer valid.

22. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

wherein the periodically indicating by the control node to the network controller, whether the release is still valid, happens in response to receiving a request or status query from the network controller.

3. A method, comprising:

receiving by a network controller, a temporary release message from a control node that it serves, indicating temporary release of a portion of one or more channels of radio resources allocated to the control node by the network controller, wherein the allocated resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of the wireless local area network, the temporary release message enabling the network controller to indicate to other network controllers servicing other networks of the availability of the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources;

periodically obtaining an indication from the control node that it serves whether the temporary release is still valid; and

returning the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources to the control node that it serves when a termination message is received from the control node indicating that the temporary release is no longer valid.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting by the network controller, at least a portion of the resources released by the control node, to one or more other network controllers; and

receiving by the network controller, a return of the released resources from the one or more other network controllers, when the network controller transmits a command to the one or more other network controllers to return the released resources.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting by the network controller, at least a portion of the resources released by the control node, to a second control node that it serves; and

receiving by the network controller, a return of the released resources from the second control node, when the network controller transmits a command to the second control node to return the released resources, for return of the released resources to the first said control node.

23. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

wherein the periodically obtaining an indication from the control node whether the release is still valid, happens in response to sending a request or status query to the control node.

5. A method, comprising:

receiving by a network controller, temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources from another network controller, which were temporarily released by a control node served by the other network controller, wherein the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of a wireless local area network;

allocating by the network controller, a resource allocation of at least a portion of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, to a control node served by the network controller; and

returning by the network controller, the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the other network controller, when the network controller receives a command from the other network controller to return the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, for return of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the control node served by the other network controller.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive an allocation of resources and an indication of allowance to release resources temporarily from a network controller serving the apparatus, wherein the allocated resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the apparatus controls operation and/or channel allocation of the wireless local area network;

determine that only a portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources are in use by the wireless network and make the rest of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources available as a temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources for other wireless networks on a temporary basis for as long as the release remains valid;

transmit to the serving network controller, a message indicating temporary release of the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources enabling the serving network controller to indicate to other network controllers servicing other networks of the availability of the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources;

transmit to the serving network controller, a termination message indicating that the temporary release is no longer valid enabling the serving network controller to indicate to the other network controllers servicing the other networks that the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources is no longer valid; and

take back from the serving network controller, the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources, in response to having transmitted the termination message.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

determine whether the release remains valid;

periodically indicate to the network controller, whether the release is still valid; and

receive a return of the temporarily released resources from the network controller, when the release is no longer valid.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive a temporary release message from a control node that the apparatus serves, indicating temporary release of a portion of one or more channels of radio resources allocated to the control node by the apparatus, wherein the allocated resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of the wireless local area network, the temporary release message enabling the apparatus to indicate to other network controllers servicing other networks of the availability of the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources;

periodically obtain an indication from the control node that it serves whether the temporary release is still valid; and

return the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources to the control node that it serves when a termination message is received from the control node indicating that the temporary release is no longer valid.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

transmit at least a portion of the resources released by the control node, to one or more other network controllers; and

receive a return of the released resources from the one or more other network controllers, when the apparatus transmits a command to the one or more other network controllers to return the released resources.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

transmit at least a portion of the resources released by the control node, to a second control node that the apparatus serves; and

receive a return of the released resources from the second control node, when the apparatus transmits a command to the second control node to return the released resources, for return of the released resources to the first said control node.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources from another network controller, which were temporarily released by a control node served by the other network controller, wherein the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of the wireless local area network;

allocate a resource allocation of at least a portion of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, to a control node served by the apparatus; and

return the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the other network controller, when the apparatus receives a command from the other network controller to return the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, for return of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the control node served by the other network controller.

11. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for receiving by a control node of a wireless network, an allocation of resources and an indication of allowance to release resources temporarily from a network controller serving the control node, wherein the allocated resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of the wireless local area network;

code for determining by the control node that only a portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources are in use by the wireless network and making the rest of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources available as a temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources for other wireless networks on a temporary basis for as long as the release remains valid;

code for transmitting by the control node to the serving network controller, a message indicating temporary release of the temporarily released portion of the allocated of the one or more channels of radio resources enabling the serving network controller to indicate to other network controllers servicing other networks of the availability of the temporarily released portion of the allocated of the one or more channels of radio resources;

code for transmitting by the control node to the serving network controller, a termination message indicating that the temporary release is no longer valid enabling the serving network controller to indicate to the other network controllers servicing the other networks that the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources is no longer valid; and

code for taking back, by the control node from the serving network controller, the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources, in response to having transmitted the termination message.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

code for determining by the control node whether the release remains valid;

code for periodically indicating by the control node to the network controller, whether the release is still valid; and

code for receiving by the control node, a return of the temporarily released resources from the network controller, when the release is no longer valid.

13. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for receiving by a network controller, a temporary release message from a control node that it serves, indicating temporary release of a portion of one or more channels of radio resources allocated to the control node by the network controller, wherein the allocated resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of the wireless local area network, the temporary release message enabling the network controller to indicate to other network controllers servicing other networks of the availability of the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources;

code for periodically obtaining an indication from the control node that it serves whether the temporary release is still valid; and

code for returning the temporarily released portion of the allocated one or more channels of radio resources to the control node that it serves when a termination message is received from the control node indicating that the temporary release is no longer valid.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising:

code for transmitting by the network controller, at least a portion of the resources released by the control node, to one or more other network controllers; and

code for receiving by the network controller, a return of the released resources from the one or more other network controllers, when the network controller transmits a command to the one or more other network controllers to return the released resources.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising:

code for transmitting by the network controller, at least a portion of the resources released by the control node, to a second control node that it serves; and

code receiving by the network controller, a return of the released resources from the second control node, when the network controller transmits a command to the second control node to return the released resources, for return of the released resources to the first said control node.

15. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for receiving by a network controller, temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources from another network controller, which were temporarily released by a control node served by the other network controller, wherein the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of a wireless local area network;

code for allocating by the network controller, a resource allocation of at least a portion of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, to a control node served by the network controller; and

code for returning by the network controller, the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the other network controller, when the network controller receives a command from the other network controller to return the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, for return of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the control node served by the other network controller.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving by a network controller, temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources from another network controller, which were temporarily released by a control node served by the other network controller, wherein the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of a wireless local area network;

calculating by the network controller, a new resource allocation to a control node served by the network controller without changing an existing allocation of a coexistence set of the control node;

allocating a new resource allocation to the control node served by the network controller with an indication to prohibit making a further a resource release; and

returning by the network controller, the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the other network controller, when the network controller receives a command from the other network controller to return the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, for return of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the control node served by the other network controller.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

receive temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources from another network controller, which were temporarily released by a control node served by the other network controller, wherein the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of a wireless local area network;

calculate a new resource allocation to a control node served by the apparatus without changing an existing allocation of a coexistence set of the control node;

allocate a new resource allocation to the control node served by the apparatus with an indication to prohibit making a further a resource release; and

return the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the other network controller, when the network controller receives a command from the other network controller to return the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, for return of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the control node served by the other network controller.

21. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for receiving by a network controller, temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources from another network controller, which were temporarily released by a control node served by the other network controller, wherein the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources are radio resources comprising one or more channels within a TV white space radio spectrum and the control node controls operation and/or channel allocation of a wireless local area network;

code for calculating by the network controller, a new resource allocation to a control node served by the network controller without changing an existing allocation of a coexistence set of the control node;

code for allocating a new resource allocation to the control node served by the network controller with an indication to prohibit making a further a resource release; and

code for returning by the network controller, the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the other network controller, when the network controller receives a command from the other network controller to return the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources, for return of the temporarily released one or more channels of radio resources to the control node served by the other network controller.