GEO-LOCATION AIDED SENSING

• US 20120122477A1
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sadek, Ahmed K., Tandra, Rahul, Barbieri, Alan, Palanki, Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 8,977,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference

Abstract

There lies a challenge to develop a technique of accurately and efficiently determining an available communication channel. In accordance with some embodiments disclosed herein, techniques for sensing a primary user of a particular communication channel are performed more efficiently. In some implementations, a geo-location of a communication device is combined with a sensing algorithm in order to more efficiently perform spectrum sensing. In some implementations, a geo-location and an accuracy determination may be used to determine all required sample regions in order to ensure that a primary user is not present in a particular location.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a wireless apparatus configured for communication in a network, the method comprising:

determining an area within which the wireless apparatus is located;

identifying a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a portion of the area;

receiving information regarding the plurality of regions, wherein the information is indicative of one or more communication channels being allocated for communication within one or more of the plurality of regions;

sensing for communications on the one or more communication channels; and

determining availability of the one or more communication channels based on the sensing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information further comprises a waveform used for communication in the one or more of the plurality of regions, and wherein sensing for communications comprising sensing for the waveform on the one or more communication channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information further comprises one or more of a signal strength, primary user geo-location, a frequency associated with a primary user, and a particular frequency band or channel for primary user communication, and wherein sensing is based on the information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the area is determined based on a cellular identifier of a device with which the wireless apparatus is engaged in communication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating on at least one of the one or more communication channels determined to be available.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions combined at least equal the determined area.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying a database for the information regarding the plurality of regions.

8. A wireless apparatus configured for communication in a network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine an area within which the wireless apparatus is located; and

identify a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a portion of the area;

a receiver configured to receive information regarding the plurality of regions, wherein the information is indicative of one or more communication channels being allocated for communication within one or more of the plurality of regions; and

a sensing module configured to sense for communications on the one or more communication channels, the processor further being configured to determine availability of the one or more communication channels based on the sensing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information further comprises a waveform used for communication in the one or more of the plurality of regions, and wherein sensing for communications comprising sensing for the waveform on the one or more communication channels.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information further comprises one or more of a signal strength, primary user geo-location, a frequency associated with a primary user, and a particular frequency band or channel for primary user communication, and wherein sensing is based on the information.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the area is determined based on a cellular identifier of a device with which the wireless apparatus is engaged in communication.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a transmitter configured to communicate on at least one of the one or more communication channels determined to be available.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of regions combined at least equal the determined area.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a query to a database for the information regarding the plurality of regions.

15. A wireless apparatus configured for communication in a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining an area within which the wireless apparatus is located;

means for identifying a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a portion of the area;

means for receiving information regarding the plurality of regions, wherein the information is indicative of one or more communication channels being allocated for communication within one or more of the plurality of regions;

means for sensing for communications on the one or more communication channels; and

means for determining availability of the one or more communication channels based on the sensing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the information further comprises a waveform used for communication in the one or more of the plurality of regions, and wherein sensing for communications comprising sensing for the waveform on the one or more communication channels.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the information further comprises one or more of a signal strength, primary user geo-location, a frequency associated with a primary user, and a particular frequency band or channel for primary user communication, and wherein sensing is based on the information.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the area is determined based on a cellular identifier of a device with which the wireless apparatus is engaged in communication.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for communicating on at least one of the one or more communication channels determined to be available.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of regions combined at least equal the determined area.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for querying a database for the information regarding the plurality of regions.

22. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon code for causing a computer to;

determine an area within which a wireless apparatus is located;

identify a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a portion of the area;

receive information regarding the plurality of regions, wherein the information is indicative of one or more communication channels being allocated for communication within one or more of the plurality of regions;

sense for communications on the one or more communication channels; and

determine availability of the one or more communication channels based on the sensing.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the information further comprises a waveform used for communication in the one or more of the plurality of regions, and wherein sensing for communications comprising sensing for the waveform on the one or more communication channels.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the information further comprises one or more of a signal strength, primary user geo-location, a frequency associated with a primary user, and a particular frequency band or channel for primary user communication, and wherein sensing is based on the information.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the area is determined based on a cellular identifier of a device with which the wireless apparatus is engaged in communication.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code further causes the computer to communicate on at least one of the one or more communication channels determined to be available.

27. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the plurality of regions combined at least equal the determined area.

28. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the code further causes the computer to query a database for the information regarding the plurality of regions.