Patent Application

App. No. 13/818,603

Abstract

Claims (64)

1 - 11 . (canceled)

12 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

receive a query originated by a white space device for an indication of available frequency spectrum at a location of the white space device;

determine whether the location of the white space device is within an area served by a first database;

in an instance in which it is determined that the location of the white space device is within the area served by the first database, cause an indication of available frequency spectrum at the location of the white space device to be provided to the white space device; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the location of the white space device is not within the area served by the first database:

determine a second database, the second database serving an area including the location of the white space device; and

cause access information for the second database to be provided to the white space device.

13 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to determine the second database at least in part by consulting a list of databases to determine a database serving an area comprising the location of the white space device.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the query comprises an indication of the location of the white space device.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the indication of the location of the white space device comprises one or more of geo-location data identifying the location of the white space device, positioning coordinates, an identification of a cell on which the white space device is camped, identification of a network access point on which the white space device is camped, or an internet protocol address for the white space device.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the first database is maintained by a first national regulatory authority of a first country and the second database is maintained by a second national regulatory authority of a second country.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the apparatus, in an instance in which it is determined that the location of the white space device is within the area served by the first database, to:

determine whether a transmission interference zone of the white space device extends into an area served by another database; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the transmission interference zone of the white space device extends into an area served by another database to:

consult the another database to determine available frequency spectrum at the location of the white space device based on both the first database and the another database, and

cause an indication of available frequency spectrum at the location of the white space device to be provided to the white space device by causing an indication of the determined available frequency spectrum to be provided to the white space device.

21 - 32 . (canceled)

33 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

receive a query of a first database, the query being originated by a white space device for an indication of available frequency spectrum at a location of the white space device;

determine, based at least in part on a location of the white space device, whether a transmission interference zone of the white space device extends into an area served by a second database;

in an instance in which it is determined that the transmission interference zone of the white space device does not extend into an area served by a second database, determine available frequency spectrum at the location of the white space device based on the first database;

in an instance in which it is determined that the transmission interference zone of the white space device extends into an area served by a second database, consult the second database to determine available frequency spectrum at the location of the white space device based on both the first database and the second database, and

cause an indication of the determined available frequency spectrum to be provided to the white space device.

34 . The apparatus according to claim 33 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to consult the second database to determine available frequency spectrum at the location of the white space device based on both the first database and the second database at least in part by:

determining, based on the first database, a set of one or more frequencies available for use at the location of the white space device;

causing an indication of the location of the white space device to be provided to the second database;

receiving an indication from the second database of one or more frequencies that must not be used by the white space device in a portion of the area served by the second database that is overlapped by the transmission interference zone of the white space device; and

removing any of the one or more frequencies that must not be used that are in the set from the set.

35 . The apparatus according to claim 33 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to consult the second database to determine available frequency spectrum at the location of the white space device based on both the first database and the second database at least in part by:

determining, based on the first database, a first set of one or more frequencies available for use at the location of the white space device;

causing an indication of the location of the white space device to be provided to the second database;

receiving an indication from the second database of a second set of one or more frequencies available for use at the location of the white space device; and

determining available frequency spectrum at the location of the white space device by determining a set of one or more frequencies common to both the first set and the second set.

36 - 37 . (canceled)

38 . The apparatus according to claim 33 , wherein the query includes an indication of the location of the white space device.

39 . The apparatus according to claim 38 , wherein the indication of the location of the white space device included in the query comprises one or more of geo-location data identifying the location of the white space device, positioning coordinates, an identification of a cell on which the white space device is camped, identification of a network access point on which the white space device is camped, or an internet protocol address for the white space device.

40 . The apparatus according to claim 33 , wherein the first database is maintained by a first national regulatory authority of a first country and the second database is maintained by a second national regulatory authority of a second country.

41 . The apparatus according to claim 33 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the apparatus to:

determine whether the location of the white space device is within an area served by the first database; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the location of the white space device is not within the area served by the first database:

determine a database serving an area including the location of the white space device; and

cause access information for the database serving the area including the location of the white space device to be provided to the white space device in lieu of the determined available frequency spectrum.

42 - 55 . (canceled)

56 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

cause a query of a first database for an indication of available frequency spectrum at a location of the apparatus to be sent to a database apparatus configured to provide access to the first database;

in an instance in which the location of the apparatus is within an area served by the first database, receiving an indication of available frequency spectrum at the location of the apparatus; and

in an instance in which the location of the apparatus is not within the area served by the first database, receiving access information for a second database, the second database serving an area including the location of the apparatus.

57 . The apparatus according to claim 56 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the apparatus to:

use the access information for the second database to query the second database for an indication of available frequency spectrum at the location of the apparatus.

58 - 59 . (canceled)

60 . The apparatus according to claim 56 , wherein the query includes an indication of the location of the apparatus, thereby enabling the first database to determine whether the location of the apparatus is within the area served by the first database.

61 . The apparatus according to claim 60 , wherein the indication of the location of the apparatus comprises one or more of geo-location data identifying the location of the apparatus, positioning coordinates, an identification of a cell on which the apparatus is camped, identification of a network access point on which the apparatus is camped, or an internet protocol address for the apparatus.

62 . The apparatus according to claim 56 , wherein the first database is maintained by a first national regulatory authority of a first country and the second database is maintained by a second national regulatory authority of a second country.

63 . (canceled)

64 . The apparatus according to claim 56 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the apparatus to:

in an instance in which the location of the apparatus is within the area served by the first database and a transmission interference zone of the apparatus extends into an area served by another database, receive an indication of available frequency spectrum having been determined based on both the first database and the another database.

65 . The apparatus according to claim 56 , wherein the apparatus comprises or is embodied on a white space device.

66 . The apparatus according to claim 56 , wherein the apparatus comprises or is embodied on a mobile phone, the mobile phone comprising user interface circuitry and user interface software stored on one or more of the at least one memory; wherein the user interface circuitry and user interface software are configured to:

facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display; and

cause at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone to be displayed on the display to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

67 - 88 . (canceled)

Assignments (9)