Method and apparatus for use of licensed spectrum for control channels in cognitive radio communications

1. A method operable by a mobile entity in a cognitive wireless communication system having one or more network nodes enabled for both licensed channel communication and unlicensed white space channel communication, comprising:

receiving at the mobile entity, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed white space channel within an unlicensed frequency spectrum used by the one or more network nodes, the one or more network nodes configured to use white space channel frequencies on one or both the uplink (UL) or downlink (DL);

performing a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information of the unlicensed white space channel to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes and determining a preferred downlink (DL) channel; and

transmitting an access request to the given network node to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the access request including at least a white space capability declaration.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a response to the access request on the preferred DL channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one unlicensed white space channel comprises a white space (WS) channel having a frequency selected from the range of 54 MHz to 806 MHz; and

the white space declaration comprises a capability to communicate on at least one WS channel.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the mobile entity comprises a user equipment (UE); and

the channel usage information comprises a list included within a system information block (SIB).

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising choosing at least one of a preamble ID or resources for random access based at least in part on the access request.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of sensing white space channel conditions to monitor for a primary user of the unlicensed white space channel and vacating the unlicensed white space channel if a primary user is detected.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the access request includes at least one time parameter for at least one time resource and at least one frequency parameter for at least one frequency resource.

8. An apparatus for a cognitive wireless communication system having one or more network nodes enabled for both licensed channel communication and unlicensed white space channel communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to: (a) receive, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed white space channel within an unlicensed frequency spectrum used by the one or more network nodes the one or more network nodes configured to use white space channel frequencies on one or both the uplink (UL) or downlink (DL); (b) perform a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information of the unlicensed white space channel to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes and determine a preferred downlink (DL) channel; (c) transmit an access request to the given network node to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the access request including at least a white space capability declaration; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:

the mobile entity comprises a user equipment (UE); and

the channel usage information comprises a list included within a system information block (SIB).

10. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to:

receive, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed white space channel within an unlicensed frequency spectrum used by one or more network nodes configured to use white space channel frequencies on one or both the uplink (UL) or downlink (DL);

perform a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information of the unlicensed white space channel to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes and determine a preferred downlink (DL) channel; and

transmit an access request to the given network node to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the access request including at least a white space capability declaration.

11. A method operable by a network entity in a wireless communication system having one or more network nodes enabled for both licensed channel communication and unlicensed white space channel communication, comprising:

transmitting downlink (DL) channel information using a licensed channel occupying a first portion of a licensed frequency spectrum, the DL channel information identifying at least one unlicensed white space channel included within an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the at least one unlicensed white space channel being used by the network entity or by another network entity in its vicinity;

receiving, from a mobile entity, an access request to access one of the at least one unlicensed white space channel, the access request having encoded in it a white space capability declaration and at least one random access parameter determining a preferred DL channel;

selecting, based at least in part on the white space capability declaration and the at least one random access parameter, a given white space channel included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum or a channel included within the licensed frequency spectrum; and

transmitting, to the mobile entity, a response to the access request on the selected given channel.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of sensing white space channel conditions to monitor for a primary user of the unlicensed white space channel and vacating the unlicensed white space channel if a primary user is detected.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the DL channel information includes a list of channels included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the DL channel information further includes a priority configuration associated with the list.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein selecting comprises choosing at least one of a preamble ID or resources for random access based at least in part on the access request.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the access request includes a preamble sequence.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the access request includes at least one time parameter for at least one time resource and at least one frequency parameter for at least one frequency resource.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising extracting the at least one random access parameter from the access request.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein selecting comprises selecting the given channel based on the extracted at least one random access parameter.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the network entity comprises an evolved Node B (eNB);

the mobile entity comprises a user equipment (UE); and

the DL channel information is provided in a system information block (SIB).

21. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to: (a) transmit downlink (DL) channel information using a licensed channel occupying a first portion of a licensed frequency spectrum, the DL channel information identifying at least one unlicensed white space channel included within an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the at least one unlicensed white space channel being used by the network entity or by another network entity in its vicinity; (b) receive, from a mobile entity, an access request to access one of the at least one unlicensed white space channel, the access request having encoded in it a white space capability declaration and at least one random access parameter determining a preferred DL channel; (c) select, based at least in part on the at least one random access parameter, a given white space channel included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum or a channel included within the licensed frequency spectrum; (d) transmit, to the mobile entity, a response to the access request on the selected given channel; and (e) monitor unlicensed white space channel conditions for a primary user and vacate the unlicensed white space channel if a primary user is detected; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor for storing data.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein:

the network entity comprises an evolved Node B (eNB);

the mobile entity comprises a user equipment (UE); and

the DL channel information is provided in a system information block (SIB).

23. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to:

transmit downlink (DL) channel information using a licensed channel occupying a first portion of a licensed frequency spectrum, the DL channel information identifying at least one unlicensed white space channel included within an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the at least one unlicensed white space channel being used by the network entity or by another network entity in its vicinity;

receive, from a mobile entity, an access request to access one of the at least one unlicensed white space channel, the access request having encoded in it a white space capability declaration and at least one random access parameter determining a preferred DL channel;

select, based at least in part on the white space capability declaration and the at least one random access parameter, a given channel included within the unlicensed frequency spectrum or the licensed frequency spectrum; and

transmit, to the mobile entity, a response to the access request on the selected given channel.