SAS-to-SAS co-ordination for base station configuration
In a wireless communications system, such as a 5G CBRS system, a server maintains an inter-SAS (Spectrum Allocation System) database that stores propagation files for base stations (e.g., Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs)) associated with different SASs. A first SAS retrieves, from the inter-SAS database, propagation files for other SASs' CBSDs that are nearby a (e.g., new or reconfigured) CBSD associated with the first SAS and uses the retrieved propagation files to assign, to its CBSD, channel(s) that have minimal interference with the other SASs' nearby CBSDs. The first SAS retrieves information about the nearby CBSDs from an FCC database and then communicates with the other SASs about the existence of the nearby CBSDs' propagation files in the inter-SAS database. Each other SAS ensures that the propagation files for its nearby CBSDs are in the inter-SAS database.
1 . A first spectrum allocation system (SAS) comprising a processor connected to a memory and a transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to cause the first SAS to:
transmit a request for a propagation file for a second-SAS base station associated with a second SAS different from the first SAS; and
receive and use the propagation file to configure a first first-SAS base station associated with the first SAS.
2 . The first SAS of claim 1 , wherein the first SAS is configured to:
transmit the request to an inter-SAS database accessible by multiple SASs; and
receive the propagation file from the inter-SAS database.
3 . The first SAS of claim 2 , wherein the first SAS is configured to:
transmit a query to the second SAS regarding existence of the propagation file at the inter-SAS database; and
receive a response from the second SAS indicating that the propagation file is available at the inter-SAS database.
4 . The first SAS of claim 1 , wherein the first SAS is configured to:
transmit, to an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) database, a query for information about base stations located near the first first-SAS base station; and
receive, from the FCC database, identification of the second-SAS base station.
5 . The first SAS of claim 1 , wherein the first SAS is further configured to:
receive a request for a propagation file for a second first-SAS base station associated with the first SAS; and
transmit the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station.
6 . The first SAS of claim 5 , wherein the first SAS is configured to receive the request from a different SAS.
7 . The first SAS of claim 6 , wherein the first SAS is configured to transmit the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station to an inter-SAS database accessible by multiple SASs.
8 . The first SAS of claim 7 , wherein the first SAS is configured to transmit a response to the different SAS indicating that the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station is available at the inter-SAS database.
9 . The first SAS of claim 5 , wherein the first SAS is configured to:
transmit, to the second first-SAS base station or a network server associated with the second first-SAS base station, a request for the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station; and
receive, from the second first-SAS base station or the network server, the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station.
10 . The first SAS of claim 5 , wherein the first SAS is configured to generate the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station.
11 . The first SAS of claim 1 , wherein the first SAS is configured to transmit, to an inter-SAS database accessible by multiple SASs, an outgoing propagation file for the first first-SAS base station without receiving a request from a different SAS.
12 . The first SAS of claim 1 , wherein the first first-SAS base station and the second-SAS base station are Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) of different 5G Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) communication networks.
13 . A method of configuring base stations, wherein the method comprises a first Spectrum Allocation System (SAS):
transmitting a request for a propagation file for a second-SAS base station associated with a second SAS different from the first SAS; and
receiving and using the propagation file to configure a first first-SAS base station associated with the first SAS.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS:
transmitting the request to an inter-SAS database accessible by multiple SASs; and
receiving the propagation file from the inter-SAS database.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS:
transmitting a query to the second SAS regarding existence of the propagation file at the inter-SAS database; and
receiving a response from the second SAS indicating that the propagation file is available at the inter-SAS database.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS:
transmitting, to an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) database, a query for information about base stations located near the first first-SAS base station; and
receiving, from the FCC database, identification of the second-SAS base station.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS:
receiving a request for a propagation file for a second first-SAS base station associated with the first SAS; and
transmitting the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS receiving the request from a different SAS.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS transmitting the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station to an inter-SAS database accessible by multiple SASs.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS transmitting a response to the different SAS indicating that the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station is available at the inter-SAS database.
21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS:
transmitting, to the second first-SAS base station or a network server associated with the second first-SAS base station, a request for the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station; and
receiving, from the second first-SAS base station or the network server, the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station.
22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS generating the propagation file for the second first-SAS base station.
23 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the method comprises the first SAS transmitting, to an inter-SAS database accessible by multiple SASs, an outgoing propagation file for the first first-SAS base station without receiving a request from a different SAS.
24 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first first-SAS base station and the second-SAS base station are Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) of different 5G Citizens Broadband Radio Serve (CBRS) communication networks.