METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ENABLEMENT

• US 20130300941A1
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kafle, Padam Lal, Kasslin, Mika Ilkka Tapani, Varshney, Prabodh
• Granted Patent: US 9,578,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0006 Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments of the invention are disclosed for enablement employable, for example, in operation in TV white spaces. In an example embodiment of the invention, a method, comprises: receiving, at a master white space device, slave white space device enablement information, wherein said slave white space enablement information corresponds to a further master white space device enablement grant; performing decision, at the master white space device, with respect to one or more of: employment, in connection with the master white space device, of the further master white space device enablement grant; need for additional information; and need for database query; and determining to dispatch, from the master white space device, an indication regarding the decision.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a master white space device, slave white space device enablement information, wherein said slave white space enablement information corresponds to a further master white space device enablement grant;

performing decision, at the master white space device, with respect to one or more of;

employment, in connection with the master white space device, of the further master white space device enablement grant;

need for additional information; and

need for database query; and

determining to dispatch, from the master white space device, an indication regarding the decision.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, at the master white space device, further slave white space device enablement information; and

determining to dispatch, from the master white space device, the generated further white space device enablement information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the received white space device enablement information and the further white space device enablement information each comprise an enablement identifier and/or a slave white space device enablement validity time.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the received white space device enablement information and the further white space device enablement information each further comprise at least one of:

a slave white space device identifier;

regulatory operating parameter information; and

at least one slave white space signature and/or key, wherein said at least one slave white space signature and/or key validates the slave white space identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receipt is via a direct slave white space device link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receipt is via a master white space device-to-master white space device link.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receipt is via an authentication request frame and wherein the dispatch of the indication regarding the decision is via an authentication response frame.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

distributing the generated further white space device enablement information to at least one other master white space device via at least one master white space device-to-master white space device link.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a slave white space device, enablement information, wherein said enablement information corresponds to a first master white space device enablement grant;

receiving, at the slave white space device, a second master white space device indication of one or more of;

a directive regarding a second master white space device applicability of the first master white space device enablement grant;

a need for additional information; and

a database query requirement; and

performing, at the slave white space device, decision regarding a second master white space device application of the first master white space device enablement grant.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining to perform a direct second master white space device provision of said enablement information.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining to perform, via a master white space device-to-master white space device link, an indirect second master white space device provision of said enablement information.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the receipt of said enablement information is via an enablement response frame and wherein the receipt of the indication is via an authentication response frame.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the enablement information comprises an enablement identifier and/or a slave white space device enablement validity time.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the enablement information further comprises at least one of:

a slave white space device identifier;

regulatory operating parameter information; and

at least one slave white space signature and/or key, wherein said at least one slave white space signature and/or key validates the slave white space identifier.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining to dispatch one or more parameters responsive to said indication of need for additional information.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

receive, at the apparatus, slave white space device enablement information, wherein said slave white space enablement information corresponds to a master white space device enablement grant;

perform decision, at the apparatus, with respect to one or more of;

employment, in connection with the apparatus, of the master white space device enablement grant;

need for additional information; and

need for database query; and

determine to dispatch, from the apparatus, an indication regarding the decision.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

generate, at the apparatus, further slave white space device enablement information; and

determine to dispatch, from the apparatus, the generated further white space device enablement information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the received white space device enablement information and the further white space device enablement information each comprise an enablement identifier and/or a slave white space device enablement validity time.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the receipt is via a direct slave white space device link.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the receipt is via a master white space device-to-master white space device link.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

distribute the generated further white space device enablement information to at least one master white space device via at least one master white space device-to-master white space device link.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

receive, at the apparatus, enablement information, wherein said enablement information corresponds to a first master white space device enablement grant;

receive, at the apparatus, a second master white space device indication of one or more of;

a directive regarding a second master white space device applicability of the first master white space device enablement grant;

a need for additional information; and

a database query requirement; and

perform, at the apparatus, decision regarding a second master white space device application of the first master white space device enablement grant.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine to perform a direct second master white space device provision of said enablement information.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine to perform, via a master white space device-to-master white space device link, an indirect second master white space device provision of said enablement information.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the enablement information comprises an enablement identifier and/or a slave white space device enablement validity time.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine to dispatch, one or more parameters responsive to said indication of need for additional information.

27. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for causing receipt, at a master white space device, of slave white space device enablement information, wherein said slave white space enablement information corresponds to a further master white space device enablement grant;

code for causing performance of decision, at the master white space device, with respect to one or more of;

employment, in connection with the master white space device, of the further master white space device enablement grant;

need for additional information; and

need for database query; and

code for causing determination to dispatch, from the master white space device, an indication regarding the decision.

28. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code for causing receipt, at a slave white space device, of enablement information, wherein said enablement information corresponds to a first master white space device enablement grant;

code for causing receipt, at the slave white space device, of a second master white space device indication of one or more of;

a directive regarding a second master white space device applicability of the first master white space device enablement grant;

a need for additional information; and

a database query requirement; and

code for causing performance, at the slave white space device, of decision regarding a second master white space device application of the first master white space device enablement grant.