Dynamic spectrum allocation (DSA) in a communication network

1. A method of dynamically allocating RF communication channels to a wireless communication device, comprising:

identifying a plurality of dynamic spectrum allocation (DSA) channels that are available to a non-incumbent user to be used for RF communications;

based on at least one required channel parameter, selecting at least one of the DSA channels as a first channel to allocate to the wireless communication device; and

selecting at least a second channel to allocate to the wireless communication device based on a spectral relationship between the first channel and the second channel to ensure that the first and second channels are separated by at least a minimum required frequency separation for preventing crosstalk.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a geographic region in which the wireless communication device is located;

wherein selecting at least one of the DSA channels as the first channel comprises determining which of the DSA channels are presently unoccupied by another device in the geographic region in which the wireless communication device is located.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting at least the second channel comprises:

selecting the second channel from a group consisting of a primary inbound channel, a primary outbound channel, a DSA channel not selected as the first channel.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying at least a first portion of inbound or outbound communication traffic that is to be moved to the first channel; and

moving the first portion of the inbound or outbound communication traffic to the first channel.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

maintaining a second portion of the inbound or outbound communication traffic on a primary channel.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

based on the at least one required channel parameter, selecting at least one other of the DSA channels as a third channel to allocate to the wireless communication device;

identifying at least a second portion of the inbound or outbound communication traffic that is to be moved to the third channel; and

moving the second portion of the inbound or outbound communication traffic to the third channel.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing a frequency allocation plan from a geo-location database;

wherein identifying the plurality of DSA channels that are available to the non-incumbent user to be used for RF communications comprises identifying the DSA channels from the frequency allocation plan.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

accessing at least one radio access policy applicable to use of the DSA channels;

wherein selecting at least the DSA channel to allocate to the wireless communication device is further based, at least in part, on the radio access policy.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving from the wireless communication device data representing radio capabilities of the wireless communication device;

wherein selecting at least the DSA channel to allocate to the wireless communication device is further based, at least in part, on the radio capabilities.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

communicating to the wireless communication device a list of the plurality of DSA channels that are available to the non-incumbent user to be used for RF communications; and

receiving from the wireless communication device results of a scan of the plurality of DSA channels indicating which of the plurality of DSA channels are presently unoccupied;

wherein selecting at least the DSA channel to allocate to the wireless communication device is further based, at least in part, on the results of the scan.

11. A dynamic spectrum allocation (DSA) communication system, comprising:

a cognitive radio controller that:

identifies a plurality of DSA channels that are available to a non-incumbent user to be used for RF communications;

based on at least one required channel parameter, selects at least one of the DSA channels as a first channel to allocate to the wireless communication device; and

selects at least a second channel to allocate to a wireless communication device based on a spectral relationship between the first channel and the second channel to ensure that the first and second channels are separated by at least a minimum required frequency separation for preventing crosstalk.

12. The DSA communication system of claim 11 , wherein the cognitive radio controller is configured to receive from the wireless communication device data representing radio capabilities of the wireless communication device and selects the DSA channel to allocate to the wireless communication device based, at least in part, on the radio capabilities.

13. The DSA communication system of claim 11 , wherein the cognitive radio controller is configured to:

communicate to the wireless communication device a list of the plurality of DSA channels that are available to the non-incumbent user to be used for RF communications;

receive from the wireless communication device results of a scan of the plurality of DSA channels indicating which of the plurality of DSA channels are presently unoccupied; and

select the DSA channel to allocate to the wireless communication device based, at least in part, on the results of the scan.

14. The DSA communication system of claim 11 , wherein the cognitive radio controller determines a geographic region in which the wireless communication device is located and determines which of the DSA channels are presently unused in the geographic region in which the wireless communication device is located.

15. The DSA communication system of claim 11 , wherein the cognitive radio controller selects the second channel from a group consisting of a primary inbound channel, a primary outbound channel, and a DSA channel not selected as the first channel.

16. The DSA communication system of claim 11 , wherein the cognitive radio controller identifies at least a first portion of inbound or outbound communication traffic that is to be moved to the first channel and moves the first portion of the inbound or outbound communication traffic to the first channel.

17. The DSA communication system of claim 16 , wherein the cognitive radio controller maintains a second portion of the inbound or outbound communication traffic on a primary channel.

18. The DSA communication system of claim 16 , wherein the cognitive radio controller is configured to:

select at least one other of the DSA channels as a third channel to allocate to the wireless communication device based on the at least one required channel parameter;

identify at least a second portion of the inbound or outbound communication traffic that is to be moved to the third channel; and

move the second portion of the inbound or outbound communication traffic to the third channel.

19. The DSA communication system of claim 11 , wherein the cognitive radio controller is configured to access a frequency allocation plan from a geo-location database to identify the DSA channels.

20. The DSA communication system of claim 11 , wherein the cognitive radio controller is configured to access at least one radio access policy applicable to use of the DSA channels and selects the DSA channel to allocate to the wireless communication device based, at least in part, on the radio access policy.