Apparatus and methods of whitespace communication

• US 9,801,107 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• 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
• Application Number:
  US14/699,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20150237550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed 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 performing a handoff of a communication call, comprising:

receiving notification, at a first base station operating on a licensed frequency, of a need to perform a handoff of a communication call of a wireless access terminal, wherein the communication call is on a first unlicensed frequency and is serviced by a second base station;

obtaining a location of the wireless access terminal;

identifying any base station operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum and having a service area corresponding to the location of the wireless access terminal; and

providing to the wireless access terminal identification information for a target base station for use in handing off the communication call based on the identifying.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the identification information further comprises obtaining whitespace information, and correlating the location of the wireless access terminal with the whitespace information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the target base station comprises a third base station operating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum and having a service area corresponding to the location of the wireless access terminal, further comprising:

establishing a tunnel from the second base station to the target base station via the first base station; and

tunneling communications corresponding to the communication call from the second base station to the third base station via the tunnel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing identification information corresponding to the first base station if no base station operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum and having a service area corresponding to the location of the wireless access terminal is identified, and receiving a handoff of the communication call.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising handing off the communication call from the first base station to an identified base station operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum and having a service area corresponding to the location of the wireless access terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the notification further comprises receiving based upon a determination made by the wireless access terminal or the second base station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing further comprises selecting identified base stations further based on service information corresponding to the identified base stations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting further comprises selecting based on at least one of a communication link quality or a cost of service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication call on the first unlicensed frequency corresponds to a first sector of the second base station, wherein the second base station further comprises a second sector operating on a second unlicensed frequency different from the first unlicensed frequency, and further comprising obtaining AT-specific compatible or incompatible unlicensed frequency information, wherein the identifying further comprises identifying the second unlicensed frequency of the second sector if the second unlicensed frequency is compatible with the AT according to the AT-specific compatible or incompatible unlicensed frequency information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication call comprises a plurality of communication service types, and further comprising partitioning the plurality of communication service types for use between the first base station operating on the licensed frequency and a second base station operating on at least one available unlicensed frequency, wherein the providing of the target base station identifies the partitioning of the plurality of communication service types.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

at least one instruction operable to cause a computer to receive notification, at a first base station operating on a licensed frequency, of a need to perform a handoff of a communication call of a wireless access terminal, wherein the communication call is on a first unlicensed frequency and is serviced by a second base station;

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to obtain a location of the wireless access terminal;

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to identify any base station operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum and having a service area corresponding to the location of the wireless access terminal; and

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to provide to the wireless access terminal identification information for a target base station for use in handing off the communication call based on the identifying.

12. An apparatus configured for performing a handoff of a communication call, comprising:

means for receiving notification, at a first base station operating on a licensed frequency, of a need to perform a handoff of a communication call of a wireless access terminal, wherein the communication call is on a first unlicensed frequency and is serviced by a second base station;

means for obtaining a location of the wireless access terminal;

means for identifying any base station operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum and having a service area corresponding to the location of the wireless access terminal; and

means for providing to the wireless access terminal identification information for a target base station for use in handing off the communication call based on the identifying.

13. A base station, comprising:

a receiver;

a memory configured to store instructions; and

at least a processor communicatively coupled with the receiver and the memory, wherein at least the processor is configured to execute the instructions to;

receive notification, via the receiver at a first base station operating on a licensed frequency, of a need to perform a handoff of a communication call of a wireless access terminal, wherein the communication call is on a first unlicensed frequency and is serviced by a second base station;

obtain a location of the wireless access terminal;

identify any base station operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum and having a service area corresponding to the location of the wireless access terminal; and

provide to the wireless access terminal identification information for a target base station for use in handing off the communication call based on the identifying.