Shared use of licensed frequency spectrum in a mobile communications network
First Claim
1. A method configured for communicating witha geo-location database maintaining geographical information on availability of licensed frequency spectrum for shared use, anda database storing a site map of a mobile communications network, said map including locations of sites, where wireless access to the mobile communications network is provided, the method comprising:
- obtaining geographical information on the availability of the licensed frequency spectrum for the shared use;
obtaining the site map of the mobile communications network, said map including the locations of the sites, wherein the wireless access to the mobile communications network is provided;
determining a configuration of frequencies for the sites on the basis of the available licensed frequencies for the shared use at each location of the sites;
determining coverage areas of one or more of the sites of the mobile communications network; and
generating a request including the determined coverage areas to the database including the information on the availability of the licensed frequency spectrum for the shared use,wherein the coverage areas are distorted by applying a mask pattern to the coverage areas, andwherein the method further comprises sending the distorted coverage areas to the database holding the site map of the coverage areas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided shared use of licensed frequency spectrum in a mobile communications network, while maintaining confidentiality between the license holder and the licensee. Geographical information on availability of licensed frequency spectrum for shared use is obtained. A site map of a mobile communications network is obtained. The site map includes locations of sites, where wireless access to the mobile communications network is provided. A configuration of frequencies for the sites on the basis of the available licensed frequencies for shared use at each location of the sites is determined.
21 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method configured for communicating with
a geo-location database maintaining geographical information on availability of licensed frequency spectrum for shared use, and a database storing a site map of a mobile communications network, said map including locations of sites, where wireless access to the mobile communications network is provided, the method comprising: -
obtaining geographical information on the availability of the licensed frequency spectrum for the shared use; obtaining the site map of the mobile communications network, said map including the locations of the sites, wherein the wireless access to the mobile communications network is provided; determining a configuration of frequencies for the sites on the basis of the available licensed frequencies for the shared use at each location of the sites; determining coverage areas of one or more of the sites of the mobile communications network; and generating a request including the determined coverage areas to the database including the information on the availability of the licensed frequency spectrum for the shared use, wherein the coverage areas are distorted by applying a mask pattern to the coverage areas, and wherein the method further comprises sending the distorted coverage areas to the database holding the site map of the coverage areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method by a geo-location database connected to a node managing a frequency configuration of a mobile communications network, the method comprising:
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maintaining information on a licensor and shared use of licensed frequencies; determining, on a basis of the maintained information, availability of the licensed frequencies of the licensor for the shared use; communicating by the licensor the availability of the licensed frequencies for the shared use to the node managing the frequency configuration of the mobile communications network, when the availability of the licensed frequencies changes or a request is obtained from the node for the availability of the licensed frequencies for the shared use; and receiving the request including current or targeted coverage areas of the mobile communications network, wherein the current or targeted coverage areas are distorted by applying a mask pattern to the current or targeted coverage areas, and wherein the distorted coverage areas are received at the geo-location database holding a site map of the coverage areas. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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a communications unit for communicating with a first node maintaining geographical information on availability of licensed frequency spectrum for shared use, and for communicating with a second node storing a site map of a mobile communications network, said map including locations of sites, where wireless access to the mobile communications network is provided; and a controller in communication with the communications unit to; obtain geographical information maintained by the first node; obtain the site map from the second node; determine a configuration of frequencies for the sites on the basis of available licensed frequencies for the shared use at each location of the sites; determine coverage areas of one or more of the sites of the mobile communications network; and generate a request including the determined coverage areas to the database including information on the availability of the licensed frequency spectrum for the shared use, wherein the coverage areas are distorted by applying a mask pattern to the coverage areas, and wherein the controller further sends the distorted coverage areas to a database holding the site map of the coverage areas.
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16. A geo-location database comprising:
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a memory for maintaining information on a licensor and shared use of licensed frequencies; a communications unit for communicating with a node managing a frequency configuration of a mobile communications network; and a controller in communication with the communications unit and the memory to; determine, on a basis of the maintained information, availability of the licensed frequencies of the licensor for the shared use; communicate the availability to the node managing the frequency configuration of the mobile communications network, when the availability of the licensed frequencies changes or a request is received from the node for the availability of the licensed frequencies for the shared use; and receive the request including current or targeted coverage areas of the mobile communications network, wherein the current or targeted coverage areas are distorted by applying a mask pattern to the current or targeted coverage areas, and wherein the distorted coverage areas are received at the geo-location database holding a site map of the coverage areas.
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17. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform a method comprising:
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obtaining geographical information on availability of licensed frequency spectrum for shared use; obtaining a site map of a mobile communications network from a database, said map including locations of sites, where wireless access to the mobile communications network is provided; determining a configuration of frequencies for the sites on the basis of the available licensed frequency for the shared use at each location of the sites; determining coverage areas of one or more of the sites of the mobile communications network; and generating a request including the determined coverage areas to the database including the information on the availability of the licensed frequency spectrum for the shared use, wherein the coverage areas are distorted by applying a mask pattern to the coverage areas, and wherein the computer program is further configured to control the processor to send the distorted coverage areas to the database holding the site map of the coverage areas.
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18. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program being configured to control a processor to perform a method comprising:
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maintaining information on a licensor and shared use of licensed frequencies; determining, on a basis of the maintained information, availability of the licensed frequencies of the licensor of the shared use; and communicating the availability of the licensed frequencies for the shared use to a node managing a frequency configuration of a mobile communications network, when the availability of the licensed frequencies changes or a request is obtained from the node for the availability of the licensed frequencies for the shared use; and receiving the request including current or targeted coverage areas of the mobile communications network, wherein the current or targeted coverage areas are distorted by applying a mask pattern to the current or targeted coverage areas, and wherein the method further comprises receiving the distorted coverage areas at a geo-location database holding a site map of the coverage areas.
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19. A system comprising
a first apparatus comprising: -
a communications unit for communicating with a first node maintaining geographical information on availability of licensed frequency spectrum for shared use, and for communicating with a second node storing a site map of a mobile communications network, said map including locations of sites, where wireless access to the mobile communications network is provided; and a first controller in communication with the communications unit to; obtain the geographical information maintained by the first node; and obtain the site map from the second node; and said system comprising a second apparatus comprising; a memory for maintaining information on a licensor and shared use of licensed frequencies of the shared use spectrum; a communications unit for communicating with a node managing a frequency configuration of the mobile communications network; and a second controller in communication with the communications unit and the memory to; determine, on a basis of the maintained information, availability of the licensed frequencies for the shared use; communicate the availability to the node managing the frequency configuration of the mobile communications network, when the availability of the licensed frequencies changes or a request is received from the node for the availability of the licensed frequencies for the shared use; and receive the request including current or targeted coverage areas of the mobile communications network, wherein the current or targeted coverage areas are distorted by applying a mask pattern to the current or targeted coverage areas, and wherein the first controller further sends the distorted coverage areas to the database holding the site map of the coverage areas.
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Specification