IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,026,125
Granted Patent B2
US 11,026,125 · App. 16/525,484 · Granted Jun 1, 2021

Spectrum sharing with switching of tier levels between networks and/or devices

Inventors: Amer A. Hassan (Kirkland, WA); Paul W. Mitchell (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
H04W28/24H04W16/14H04W72/08H04W28/26H04W72/0453H04W72/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,026,125
App. No.
16/525,484
Granted
Jun 1, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a device including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory includes executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the device to perform functions of connecting a remote device to a network via a first channel associated with a first tier level; determining that a tier level switch condition is met; sending, to a controller of the network, a request for tier level switch from the first tier level to a second tier level; receiving, from the controller of the network, an authorization for switching from the first tier level to the second tier level; and connecting the remote device to the network via a second channel associated with the second tier level.

Claims (45)

1. A device connected to a network and configured to connect a wireless device to the network, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the device to perform:

establishing, via a first channel of a frequency spectrum available for the network, a first wireless connection with a first wireless device, wherein the first wireless device is associated with a first tier level which prohibits access to a second channel of the frequency spectrum unless authorized by a controller of the network, the second channel reserved for a second wireless device having a second tier level which permits access to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

determining, based on a channel quality of the first channel, that a channel switch condition is met, which requires switching from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

in response to determining that the channel switch condition is met, sending, to the controller of the network, a request for channel switch from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

receiving, from the controller of the network, an authorization for switching from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum; and

in response to receiving the authorization from the controller of the network, establishing a second wireless connection with the first wireless device via the second channel of the frequency spectrum.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to control the device to perform receiving, from the controller of the network, an assignment of the first channel.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein, for determining that the channel switch condition is met, when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to control the device to perform determining that a level of interference on the first channel meets a predetermined threshold value.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein, for determining that the channel switch condition is met, when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to control the device to perform monitoring a parameter of the first channel.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the parameter comprises a bit error rate parameter, a packet error rate parameter, a channel throughput parameter or a QoS parameter of the first channel.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to control the device to perform determining that a benefit of the channel switch from the first channel to the second channel outweighs a cost for the channel switch.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to control the device to perform receiving, from the controller of the network, a cost function defining the cost for the channel switch.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein, for determining that the channel switch condition is met, when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to control the device to perform periodically determining whether the channel switch condition is met.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to control the device to perform:

determining that a predetermined period for the channel switch has expired; and

in response to determining that the predetermined period has expired, performing:

terminating connecting the first wireless device to the network via the second channel of the frequency spectrum; and

connecting the first wireless device to the network via a channel of the frequency spectrum associated with the first tier level.

10. A method of operating a device connected to a network and configured to connect a wireless device to the network, the method comprising:

establishing, via a first channel of a frequency spectrum available for the network, a first wireless connection with a first wireless device, wherein the first wireless device is associated with a first tier level which prohibits access to a second channel of the frequency spectrum unless authorized by a controller of the network, the second channel reserved for a second wireless device having a second tier level which permits access to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

determining, based on a channel quality of the first channel, that a channel switch condition is met, which requires switching from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

in response to determining that the channel switch condition is met, sending, to the controller of the network, a request for channel switch from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

receiving, from the controller of the network, an authorization for switching from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum; and

in response to receiving the authorization from the controller of the network, establishing a second wireless connection with the first wireless device via the second channel of the frequency spectrum.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein further comprises receiving, from the controller of the network, an assignment of the first channel.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining that the channel switch condition is met comprises determining that a level of interference on the first channel meets a predetermined threshold value.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining that the tier level channel switch condition is met comprises monitoring a parameter of the first channel.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the parameter comprises a bit error rate parameter, a packet error rate parameter, a channel throughput parameter or a QoS parameter of the first channel.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining that a benefit of the channel switch from the first channel to the second channel outweighs a cost for the channel switch.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving, from the controller of the network, a cost function defining the cost for the channel switch.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining that the channel switch condition is met comprises periodically determining whether the channel switch condition is met.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that a predetermined period for the channel switch has expired; and

in response to determining that the predetermined period has expired, performing:

terminating connecting the first wireless device to the network via the second channel of the frequency spectrum; and

connecting the first wireless device to the network via a channel of the frequency spectrum associated with the first tier level.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control a system to perform:

establishing, via a first channel of a frequency spectrum available for a network, a first wireless connection with a first wireless device, wherein the first wireless device is associated with a first tier level which prohibits access to a second channel of the frequency spectrum unless authorized by a controller of the network, the second channel reserved for a second wireless device having a second tier level which permits access to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

determining, based on a channel quality of the first channel, that a channel switch condition is met, which requires switching from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

in response to determining that the channel switch condition is met, sending, to the controller of the network, a request for channel switch from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum;

receiving, from the controller of the network, an authorization for switching from the first channel to the second channel of the frequency spectrum; and

in response to receiving the authorization from the controller of the network, establishing a second wireless connection with the first wireless device via the second channel of the frequency spectrum.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein, for determining that the channel switch condition is met, the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to control the system to perform determining that a level of interference on the first channel meets a predetermined threshold value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2019
From: HASSAN, AMER A.; MITCHELL, PAUL W.
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 049894/0299 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15693132 · Aug 31, 2017
Related Publication 20190357087A1 · Nov 21, 2019