Methods and Systems for Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage

• US 20130183995A1
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rivada Networks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rivada Networks, LLC
• Inventors: SMITH, Clint, GANLEY, Declan, Maulick, Rishi Raj, Surampudi, Purnima, Nellikunnu, Nithin, Mohanty, Sony, Vastrad, Geetha C, Mishra, Vimal Kumar, Kempanna, Kalpana, Dutta, Dipanjan
• Granted Patent: US 8,837,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria

Abstract

Methods and system are provided for managing and monitoring allocation of RF spectrum resources based on time, space and frequency. A network may be enabled to allocate excess spectrum resources for use by other network providers on a real-time basis. Allocated resources may be transferred from one provider with excess resources to another in need of additional resources based on contractual terms or on a real-time purchase negotiations and settlements. A network may be enabled to monitor the use of allocated resources on real-time basis and off-load or allow additional users depending on the spectrum resources availability. Public safety networks may be enabled to make spectrum resources available to general public by allocating spectrum resources and monitoring the use of those resources. During an emergency, when traffic increases on a public safety network, the public safety networks may off-load bandwidth traffic to make available necessary resources for public safety users.

Claims

1. A dynamic spectrum arbitrage method, comprising:

determining in a communications server an amount of radio frequency (RF) spectrum resources available for allocation within a first communication network;

allocating a portion of available RF spectrum resources of the first communication network for access and use by a second communication network;

informing the second communication network that use of allocated RF spectrum resources may begin;

recording a transaction in a transaction database identifying an amount of RF spectrum resources allocated for use by the second communication network;

receiving a quality of service (QoS) degrade request from the first communication network, wherein the QoS degrade request identifies a mobile device using the allocated RF spectrum resources and anchored to a packet gateway in the second communication network; and

sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining based on the QoS degrade request that no additional RF spectrum resources are to be allocated from the first communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining in the communications server whether at least some of the allocated RF spectrum resources are required by the first communication network based on information included in the QoS degrade request;

informing the second communication network that use of the allocated RF spectrum resources should be terminated in response to determining that at least some of the allocated RF spectrum resources are required by the first communication network; and

updating the transaction database to include information identifying a time when use of the allocated RF spectrum resources was terminated by the second communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the QoS degrade request from the first communication network comprises receiving the QoS degrade request that originates from an eNodeB in the first communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network comprises sending the QoS degrade request to a policy control and charging rules function (PCRF) component in the second communication network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network comprises sending the QoS degrade request to an application function (AF) component in the second communication network.

7. A communication server for accomplishing dynamic spectrum arbitrage of available radio frequency (RF) spectrum resources between a first communication network and a second communication network, comprising:

network communications circuitry for communicating with the first and second communication networks;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the network communications circuitry, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

determining in a communications server an amount of radio frequency (RF) spectrum resources available for allocation within the first communication network;

allocating a portion of available RF spectrum resources of the first communication network for access and use by the second communication network;

informing the second communication network that use of allocated RF spectrum resources may begin;

recording a transaction in a transaction database identifying an amount of RF spectrum resources allocated for use by the second communication network;

receiving a quality of service (QoS) degrade request from the first communication network, wherein the QoS degrade request identifies a mobile device using the allocated RF spectrum resources and anchored to a packet gateway on the second communication network; and

sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network.

8. The communication server of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining based on the QoS degrade request that no more RF spectrum resources should be allocated from the first communication network.

9. The communication server of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining in the communications server whether at least some of the allocated RF spectrum resources are required by the first communication network based on information included in the QoS degrade request;

informing the second communication network that use of the allocated RF spectrum resources should be terminated in response to determining that at least some of the allocated RF spectrum resources are required by the first communication network; and

updating the transaction database to include information identifying a time when use of the allocated RF spectrum resources was terminated by the second communication network.

10. The communication server of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that receiving the quality of service (QoS) degrade request from the first communication network comprises receiving the QoS degrade request from an eNodeB in the first communication network.

11. The communication server of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network comprises sending the QoS degrade request to a policy control and charging rules function (PCRF) in the second communication network.

12. The communication server of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network comprises sending the QoS degrade request to an application function (AF) component in the second communication network.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) operations comprising:

determining in a communications server an amount of radio frequency (RF) spectrum resources available for allocation within a first communication network;

allocating a portion of available RF spectrum resources of the first communication network for access and use by a second communication network;

informing the second communication network that use of allocated RF spectrum resources may begin;

recording a transaction in a transaction database identifying an amount of RF spectrum resources allocated for use by the second communication network;

receiving a quality of service (QoS) degrade request from the first communication network, wherein the QoS degrade request identifies a mobile device using the allocated RF spectrum resources and anchored to a packet gateway on the second communication network; and

sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining based on the QoS degrade request that no more spectrum resources should be allocated from the first communication network.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining in the communications server whether at least some of the allocated RF spectrum resources are required by the first communication network based on information included in the QoS degrade request;

informing the second communication network that use of the allocated RF spectrum resources should be terminated in response to determining that at least some of the allocated RF spectrum resources are required by the first communication network; and

updating the transaction database to include information identifying a time when use of the allocated RF spectrum resources was terminated by the second communication network.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that receiving the QoS degrade request from the first communication network comprises receiving the QoS degrade request from an eNodeB in the first communication network.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network comprises sending the QoS degrade request to a policy control and charging rules function (PCRF) in the second communication network.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that sending the QoS degrade request to the second communication network comprises sending the QoS degrade request to an application function (AF) component in the second communication network.