COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR EXCHANGING SPECTRUM SENSING MEASUREMENTS THROUGH A DROP BOX AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20090245119A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dann, Lynn D., Ekl, Randy L., Kuffner, Stephen L., Ecklund, Lawrence M., Johnson, Michael S., Silk, S. David, Derango, Mario F., Ayoub, Ramy S., Belcea, John M., Buchwald, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,699,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• 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 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A communications system and method for exchanging spectrum usage information through a drop box (100) includes one or more central stations (101) that defines a region of operation. A central drop box (102) is associated with the central station (101) for providing a database of spectrum usage information. Stations (103, 105, 107) using the communications system may submit information regarding spectrum usage to the central drop box (102) that affects the region of operation (109, 115) for providing the most efficient and non-interfering uses of the frequency spectrum.

Claims

1. A communications system for exchanging spectrum usage information through a drop box comprising:

at least one central station that defines a region of operation;

a central drop box associated with the central station for providing a database of spectrum usage information; and

wherein stations using the communications system may submit information regarding spectrum usage to the central drop box that affects the region of operation.

2. A communications system as in claim 1, wherein the central drop box includes a bulletin board for posting of information.

3. A communications system as in claim 1, wherein stations using the at least one central station may a submit request to the at least one central station to become a remote drop box.

4. A communications system as in claim 1, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request for pattern analysis of sensed data.

5. A communications system as in claim 1, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request for posting of MAC/PHY information.

6. A communications system as in claim 1, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request for posting its own usage statistical information.

7. A communications system as in claim 1, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request to submit sensing conclusions.

8. A cognitive radio (CR) network for exchanging spectrum usage information through a data base comprising:

at least one central station that defines a region of operation;

a central drop box associated with the central station for providing a database of spectrum information and a bulletin board for posting message information; and

wherein stations using the CR network may utilize information in the database for most effectively using frequency spectrum in the region of operation.

9. A CR network as in claim 8, wherein stations using the at least one central station may a submit request to the at least one central station to become a remote drop box.

10. A CR network as in claim 8, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request for pattern analysis of sensed data.

11. A CR network as in claim 8, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request for posting of MAC/PHY information.

12. A CR network as in claim 8, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request for posting its own usage statistical information.

13. A CR network as in claim 8, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request for permission to submit sensing conclusions.

14. A CR network as in claim 8, wherein stations using the at least one central station may submit a request for permission to submit sensing data.

15. A method for exchanging spectrum usage information through a drop box in a communications system using a drop box comprising:

defining a region of operation for at least one central station;

associating a central drop box with the central station for providing a database of spectrum information; and

submitting information by stations using the communications system regarding spectrum sensing observations of other stations to the central drop box that affects the region of operation.

16. A method for exchanging spectrum sensing measurement data as in claim 15, further including the step of:

submitting a request by a station using the at least one central station to become a remote drop box.

17. A method for exchanging spectrum sensing measurement data as in claim 15, further including the step of:

submitting a request by a station using the at least central station for pattern analysis of sensed data.

18. A method for exchanging spectrum sensing measurement data as in claim 15, further including the step of:

submitting a request by a station using the at least central station to post its own usage statistical information.

19. A method for exchanging spectrum sensing measurement data as in claim 15, further including the step of:

submitting a request by a station using the at least central station to post its MAC/PHY information.

20. A method for exchanging spectrum sensing measurement data as in claim 15, further including the step of:

submitting a request by a station using the at least central station to submit sensing conclusions.

21. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:

authenticating the stations submitting information to ensure the veracity of the database.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of authenticating includes:

receiving confirmation, by other networks, of the submitted information.

23. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:

barring a station'"'"'s MAC address when a false request is submitted.