Spectrum usage protection in a shared wireless network
A wireless system is shared amongst a hierarchal tier of entities. A communication management resource receives notification that a second-tier priority entity has been allocated use of a second wireless spectrum as a replacement to first wireless spectrum. In one embodiment, the first wireless spectrum is revoked from the second-tier priority entity based on use of the first wireless spectrum by a first-tier priority entity (such as incumbent entity). The communication management resource controls a wireless transmit power level of a third-tier priority entity in the hierarchy to provide protected use of the second wireless spectrum by the second-tier priority entity. According to one configuration, the communication management resource controls a power level of wireless communications transmitted by a wireless base station operated by the third-tier priority entity.
1. In a wireless system shared amongst a hierarchy of entities including a first-tier priority entity, a second-tier priority entity, and a third-tier priority entity, a method comprising:
at the third-tier priority entity:
initially receiving allocation of a second wireless channel to wirelessly communicate with multiple communication devices;
receiving notification to adjust a power level of wirelessly transmitting over the second wireless channel from the third-tier priority entity in response to a detected condition in which the second-tier priority entity has been allocated use of the second wireless channel as a replacement to a first wireless channel; and
in response to receiving the notification, adjusting the power level of wirelessly transmitting communications from the third-tier priority entity over the second wireless channel to the multiple communication devices.
2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the second-tier priority entity is allocated use of the second wireless channel as the replacement to the first wireless channel in response to detected use of the first wireless channel by the first-tier priority entity.
3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein adjusting the power level of wirelessly transmitting communications from the third-tier priority entity includes:
reducing the power level of wirelessly transmitting the communications from the third-tier priority entity over the second wireless channel.
4. The method as in claim 3 , wherein the reduced power level of wirelessly transmitting the communications from the third-tier priority entity is operative to reduce interference caused by the third-tier priority entity to the second-tier priority entity using the second wireless channel.
5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the second-tier priority entity is granted use of the second wireless channel as the replacement to the first wireless channel based on a license assigned to the second-tier priority entity; and
wherein the second-tier priority entity is afforded protected use of the second wireless channel from the third-tier priority entity based on the license.
6. The method as in claim 5 , wherein the third-tier priority entity is a non-licensed entity in the hierarchy.
7. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the first-tier priority entity is an incumbent entity in the wireless system, the wireless system operative to implement use of CBRS (Citizen Band Radio Service) wireless channels including the first wireless channel and the second wireless channel;
wherein the second-tier priority entity is a PAL (Priority Access Licensed) entity in the wireless system; and
wherein the third-tier priority entity is a GAA (General Authorized Access) entity in the wireless system.
8. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the first-tier priority entity in the hierarchy has higher priority rights to use the first wireless channel than the second-tier priority entity; and
wherein the second-tier priority entity in the hierarchy has higher priority rights to use the second wireless channel than the third-tier priority entity.
9. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the second-tier priority entity and the third-tier priority entity are simultaneously allocated use of the second wireless channel during the detected condition in response to the first-tier priority entity using the first wireless channel.
10. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the second-tier priority entity is pre-assigned use of the second wireless channel as a backup wireless channel prior to the detected condition.
11. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the first-tier priority entity in the hierarchy has higher priority rights to the first wireless channel than the second-tier priority entity and the third-tier priority entity.
12. The method as in claim 11 , wherein the second-tier priority entity in the hierarchy has higher priority rights to the second wireless channel than the third-tier priority entity.
13. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the second-tier priority entity is a first wireless base station allocated use of the second wireless channel as the replacement to the first wireless channel; and
wherein the third-tier priority entity is a second wireless base station allocated use of the second wireless channel prior to the first wireless base station being allocated use of the second wireless channel as the replacement to the first wireless channel.
14. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the first wireless channel is allocated to the second-tier priority entity as wireless bandwidth licensed by the second-tier priority entity;
wherein the second wireless channel is allocated to the second-tier priority entity as a backup licensed wireless channel; and
wherein the second wireless channel is allocated to the third-tier priority entity as a non-licensed wireless channel.
15. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the first wireless channel is initially allocated to the second-tier priority entity as a licensed wireless channel to support wireless communications between the second-tier priority entity and a first wireless station prior to the replacement.
16. The method as in claim 1 , wherein, prior to the replacement, the first wireless channel is allocated to the second-tier priority entity to support wireless connectivity between the second-tier priority entity and a first wireless station; and
wherein the second wireless channel is allocated to the second-tier priority entity as the replacement to support continued wireless communications between the second-tier priority entity and the first wireless station.
17. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the first wireless channel is a first wireless channel in a tiered channel hierarchy; and
wherein the second wireless channel is a second wireless channel in the tiered channel hierarchy.
18. The method as in claim 17 , wherein the first wireless channel is assigned as a licensed wireless channel to the second-tier priority entity; and
wherein the second wireless channel is assigned as a non-licensed wireless channel to the third-tier priority entity prior to the replacement.
19. The method as in claim 18 , wherein the second wireless channel is pre-designated as a backup wireless channel as the replacement to the first wireless channel prior to receiving the notification.
20. The method as in claim 1 , wherein adjusting the power level of wirelessly transmitting the communications from the third-tier priority entity includes: reducing a power level of wirelessly transmitting the communications over the second wireless channel from a wireless station operated by the third-tier priority entity.
21. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:
determining a size of overlap region of: i) a first region of wireless coverage associated with the second-tier priority entity using the second wireless channel, and ii) a second region of wireless coverage associated with the third-tier priority entity using the second wireless channel.
22. The method as in claim 21 , wherein adjusting the power level of wirelessly transmitting communications from the third-tier priority entity over the second wireless channel to the multiple communication devices includes:
comparing a magnitude of the size of the overlap region to a threshold level; and
reducing the power level of wirelessly transmitting the communications from the third-tier priority entity over the second wireless channel until the magnitude of the size of the overlap region is less than the threshold level.
23. An apparatus comprising:
communication management hardware associated with a third-tier priority entity operated in a wireless system shared amongst a hierarchy of entities including a first-tier priority entity, a second-tier priority entity, and the third-tier priority entity, the communication management hardware operative to:
initially receive allocation of a second wireless channel to wirelessly communicate with multiple communication devices; and
receive notification to adjust a power level of wirelessly transmitting over the second wireless channel from the third-tier priority entity in response to a condition in which the second-tier priority entity has been allocated use of the second wireless channel as a replacement to a first wireless channel.
24. The system as in claim 23 , wherein the second-tier priority entity is allocated use of the second wireless channel entity as the replacement to the first wireless channel in response to detected use of the first wireless channel by the first-tier priority entity.
25. The system method as in claim 23 , wherein the communication management hardware is further operative to:
in response to receiving the notification, reduce the power level of the third-tier priority entity wirelessly transmitting communications over the second wireless channel.
26. The system as in claim 25 , wherein the reduced power level of wirelessly transmitting the communications from the third-tier priority entity is operative to reduce interference caused by the third-tier priority entity to the second-tier priority entity using the second wireless channel.
27. The system as in claim 23 , wherein the second-tier priority entity is granted use of the second wireless channel based on a license assigned to the second-tier priority entity; and
wherein the second-tier priority entity is afforded protected use of the second wireless channel from the third-tier priority entity based on the license.
28. The system as in claim 23 , wherein the second-tier priority entity is pre-assigned use of the second wireless channel as a backup wireless channel for a condition in which the first-tier priority entity is detected as using the first wireless channel, the second-tier priority entity being pre-assigned use of the second wireless channel prior to receiving the notification.
29. In a wireless system shared amongst a hierarchy of entities including a first-tier priority entity, a second-tier priority entity, and a third-tier priority entity, a method comprising:
producing primary spectrum allocation information associated with use of multiple wireless channels in the wireless system, the primary spectrum allocation information indicating: i) assignment of a first wireless channel as a licensed wireless channel assigned for use by the second-tier priority entity during a first mode, ii) assignment of a second wireless channel as a non-licensed wireless channel assigned for use by the third priority entity during the first mode;
producing secondary spectrum allocation information associated with the multiple wireless channels, the secondary spectrum allocation information indicating assignment of the second wireless channel as a licensed wireless channel assigned for use by the second-tier priority entity during a second mode in which the first wireless channel is used by the first-tier priority entity:
wherein the secondary spectrum allocation information is a backup allocation with respect to the primary spectrum allocation information;
wherein the primary spectrum allocation information is configured to support the first mode including, prior to detection of the first wireless channel being used by the first-tier priority entity: i) notification to the second-tier priority entity to use the first wireless channel, and ii) notification to the third-tier priority entity to use the second wireless channel; and
wherein the secondary spectrum allocation information is configured to support the second mode including, subsequent to detection that the first-tier priority entity is using the first wireless channel: i) notification to the second-tier priority entity to use the second wireless channel as a replacement with respect to the first wireless channel, and ii) notification to the third-tier priority entity to adjust a power level of the third-tier priority entity wirelessly transmitting over the second wireless channel.