Spectrum sharing based on self-organizing networks
Embodiments use the principles of self-organizing networks to allocate resources to allow spectrum owners to share spectrum with wireless carriers according to defined license conditions. A spectrum licensee holds the licensing conditions of the spectrum licensed by the spectrum owners. This licensed spectrum is referred to as secondary spectrum. A self-organizing network server requests access to secondary spectrum. The spectrum licensee grants access to the secondary spectrum along with the licensing conditions for access. The self-organizing network server monitors the conditions associated with the license and/or delegates the responsibility for monitoring conditions associated with the license to others. When the license conditions are met, enhanced Node B systems may begin using the secondary spectrum according to the license conditions. When the license conditions are no longer met, enhanced Node B systems discontinue use of the secondary spectrum.
1. A method performed by a network component, comprising:
requesting access to a secondary band having a particular capacity condition, geographic region condition, and time period condition;
receiving two secondary band options, each haying a further condition for use, in response to the requesting;
selecting one of the two secondary band options according to a preference rule;
based on the selected secondary band option and a determination that the conditions for the selected secondary band options are met, begin broadcasting availability of the selected secondary band option to a UE;
determining that one of the conditions for the selected secondary band option may be used is no longer met;
based on determining the condition is no longer met, discontinuing use of the secondary band.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition under which the secondary band may be used comprises at least one of:
a geographic region where the secondary band may be used;
a geographic region when: the secondary band may not be used;
a time at which the secondary band may be used;
a time at which the secondary band may not be used;
at least one event that indicates the secondary band may be used;
at least one event that indicates the secondary band may not be used;
a demand threshold above which the secondary band may be used;
a demand threshold below which the secondary band may not be used;
presence of a spectrum owner;
absence of the spectrum owner; and
combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending a message to indicate the secondary band has been activated upon determining that the conditions have been met.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending a message to indicate the secondary band has been deactivated upon determining that the conditions have no longer been met.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an owner of the secondary band is operating in the secondary band; and
based upon the determining that the owner is operating in the secondary band, implementing a back off procedure.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the back off procedure comprises:
discontinuing use of the secondary band; and
sending a message that the owner is operating in the secondary band.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the back off procedure comprises:
discontinuing use of the secondary band for a period of time;
determining whether the owner is still operating in the secondary band; and
sending a message that the owner is operating in the secondary band.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retrieving information related to the secondary band from a licensing database comprising licenses and terms of licenses that were created in advance of a need for access to the secondary band, wherein the terms of the licenses include at least one of:
at least one event that indicates the secondary band may be used;
at least one event that indicates the secondary band may not be used;
a demand threshold above which the secondary band may be used;
a demand threshold below which the secondary band may not be used;
presence of a spectrum owner;
absence of the spectrum owner; and
combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein one of the terms of one of the licenses is a term for a declared emergency that permits use of the secondary band for a declared emergency when otherwise not permitted.
10. A wireless device comprising:
transceiver circuitry coupled to the at least one antenna;
memory;
a processor coupled to the memory and transceiver circuitry; and
instructions, stored in the memory, which when executed cause the processor to:
request access to a secondary band having a particular capacity, geographic region, and time period;
receive, via the at least one antenna and transceiver circuitry, a control message containing two secondary band options, each having a further condition for use, in response to the request;
select one of the two secondary band options according to a preference rule or other criteria;
based on the selected secondary band option, broadcast availability of the secondary band to UE;
determine that the condition under which the secondary band may be used is no longer met;
based on the determining that the condition is no longer met, discontinue use of the secondary band.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to send, via the at least one antenna and control circuitry, a message indicating that the secondary band has been activated upon the determining that the conditions have been met.
12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to send, via the at least one antenna and control circuitry, a message indicating that the secondary band has been deactivated upon the determining that the conditions are no longer met.
13. The device of claim 10 , wherein condition under which the secondary band may be used comprises at least one of:
a geographic region where the secondary band may be used;
a geographic region where the secondary band may not be used;
a time at which the secondary band may be used;
a time at which the secondary band may not be used;
at least one event that indicates the secondary band may be used;
at least one event that indicates the secondary band may not be used;
a demand threshold above which the secondary band may be used;
a demand threshold below which the secondary band may not be used;
presence of a spectrum owner;
absence of the spectrum owner; and
combinations thereof.
14. The device of claim 10 , wherein e instructions further cause the processor to:
determine an owner of the secondary band is operating in the secondary band; and
based upon the determining that the owner is operating in the secondary band, implement a back off procedure.
15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the back off procedure comprises:
discontinuing use of the secondary band; and
sending a message that the owner is operating in the secondary band.
16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the back off procedure comprises:
discontinuing use of the secondary band for a period of time; and
determining whether the owner is still operating in the secondary band.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the back off procedure further comprises sending a message that the owner is operating in the secondary band.
18. A computer storage medium having executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, configure a device to:
request access to a secondary band having a particular capacity, geographic region, and time period;
receive a control message containing two secondary band options, each having a further condition for use, in response to the request;
select one of the two secondary band options according to a preference rule or other criteria;
based on the the selected secondary band option, initiating activation of the secondary band to communicate with UE;
determine the condition under which the secondary band may be used is no longer met; and
based on the determining that the condition is no longer met, initiating deactivation of the secondary band to communicate with UE.
19. The computer storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the computer storage medium is used by an enhanced Node B (eNB).
20. The computer storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the computer storage medium is used by a self-organizing, network device.
21. The computer storage medium of claim 18 , the condition under which the secondary band may be used comprises at least one of:
a geographic region where the secondary band may be used;
a geographic region where the secondary band may not be used;
a time at which the secondary band may be used;
a time at which the secondary band may not be used;
at least one event that indicates the secondary band may be used;
at least one event that indicates the secondary band may not be used;
a demand threshold above which the secondary band may be used;
a demand threshold below which the secondary band may not be used;
presence of a spectrum owner;
absence of the spectrum owner; and
combinations thereof.
22. The computer storage medium of claim 21 , wherein the executable instructions further configure the device to receive the condition via a message.