Methods and apparatus for allocation and reconciliation of quasi-licensed wireless spectrum across multiple entities
Methods and apparatus for providing quasi-licensed spectrum allocation among two or more entities within a prescribed coverage or operational area. In one embodiment, the quasi-licensed spectrum utilizes 3.5 GHz CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum allocated between two or more Federal or commercial SASs (Spectrum Access Systems), for use by various service provider entities such as a managed content delivery network that includes one or more wireless access nodes (e.g., CBSDs). In one variant, each of two or more SAS entities generate both proposed allocations for themselves and other participating SAS entities with respect to available GAA spectrum, and differences between the proposed allocations are reconciled and condensed using a dynamic, iterative process to converge on a final allocation which fits the available GAA spectrum and which equitably distributes the spectrum between the participating SAS entities.
1. A computerized method for providing allocation of an available wireless spectrum to a plurality of wireless network infrastructures, the computerized method comprising:
causing reconciliation of allocation of at least respective portions of the available wireless spectrum to the plurality of wireless network infrastructures via iteration according to a convergence algorithm, the convergence algorithm comprising comparing, over a plurality of iterations, a prescribed metric, and a second metric derived from (i) a plurality of data relating to respective ones of a plurality of proposed allocations generated by respective ones of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures, and (ii) plurality of data relating to respective ones of a plurality of current allocations of the available wireless spectrum to the wireless network infrastructures.
2. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the iteration comprises:
obtaining data relating to one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures at a first participating entity;
generating, via the first participating entity, first data indicative of a proposed allocation for (i) the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures, and (ii) a wireless network infrastructure associated with a second participating entity;
providing at least a portion of the generated first data to the second participating entity;
receiving, from the second participating entity, second data generated by the second participating entity and indicative of a proposed allocation for (i) the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures, and (ii) the wireless network infrastructure associated with the second participating entity;
based at least on the first and second data, causing calculation of at least one updated metric; and
providing the updated metric to the convergence algorithm to enable further convergence toward a final allocation of the available wireless spectrum.
3. The computerized method of claim 2 , wherein the causing of the calculation of the at least one updated metric comprises causing comparison of at least the portion of the first data to at least a portion of the second data, to identify differences therebetween.
4. The computerized method of claim 3 , wherein the causing of the comparison of at least the portion of the first data to at least the portion of the second data comprises causing comparison of the portion of the first data indicative of the proposed allocation for the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures, and the portion of the second data indicative of the proposed allocation for the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures.
5. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the causing of the allocation of at least the portion of the available wireless spectrum comprises causing allocation of Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum within 3.550 to 3.700 GHz band via a controller entity of a managed content delivery network, the managed content delivery network comprising at least a portion of one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures.
6. The computerized method of claim 5 , wherein the causing of the allocation via the controller entity comprises causing the allocation from a Spectrum Access System (SAS) entity of a CBRS system.
7. The computerized method of claim 5 , wherein the causing of the allocation via the controller entity comprises causing the allocation via a Domain Proxy (DP) entity of a CBRS system.
8. The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising applying, over the plurality of iterations, a plurality of relative weight data relating to the respective ones of the plurality of proposed allocations generated by the respective ones of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures, the plurality of relative weight data varying for each of the plurality of iterations, the applying of the plurality of relative weight data comprising applying the plurality of relative weight data relating to the respective ones of the plurality of proposed allocations calculated on a per-access-node basis.
9. The computerized method of claim 8 , wherein the applying of the plurality of weights to the respective ones of the plurality of proposed allocations generated by the respective ones of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures comprises creating a plurality of weighted projected allocations; and
the method further comprises generating, using at least one computer program, a composite value based at least in part on the plurality of weighted projected allocations.
10. Computerized apparatus configured for wireless spectrum allocation, the computerized apparatus comprising:
digital processor apparatus;
at least one data interface in data communication with the digital processor apparatus; and
computerized logic in data communication with the digital processor apparatus, the computerized logic configured to, when executed on the digital processing apparatus, conduct wireless spectrum allocation, the wireless spectrum allocation comprising:
identification of two or more frequency bands available for allocation; and
allocation of an available wireless spectrum to a plurality of wireless network infrastructures according to a convergence algorithm of the computerized logic, the convergence algorithm configured to utilize a plurality of proposed allocations generated by respective ones of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures and relating to the two or more frequency bands, the convergence algorithm comprising an algorithmic comparison between (i) at least one prescribed metric, and (ii) a second metric determined by at least (a) data representative of respective allocations associated with the identified two or more frequency bands and (b) data representative of the plurality of proposed allocations relating to the two or more frequency bands.
11. The computerized apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the utilization of the plurality of proposed allocations generated by the respective ones of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures and relating to the two or more frequency bands comprises utilization of (i) a first plurality of proposed allocations relating to only a first of the two or more frequency bands and irrespective of any other of the two or more frequency bands, and (ii) a second plurality of proposed allocations relating to only a second of the two or more frequency bands and irrespective of any other of the two or more frequency bands.
12. The computerized apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the utilization of the plurality of proposed allocations generated by the respective ones of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures and relating to the two or more frequency bands comprises utilization of a plurality of proposed allocations relating to both a first of the two or more frequency bands and at least a second of the two or more frequency bands as an aggregate frequency band.
13. The computerized apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first of the two or more frequency bands and at least the second of the two or more frequency bands are non-contiguous in a frequency spectrum.
14. A computerized method for providing allocation of an available wireless spectrum to a plurality of wireless network infrastructures, the computerized method comprising:
(i) receiving data relating to one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures at a first participating entity;
(ii) generating, via the first participating entity, first data indicative of at least a) a proposed allocation for the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures, and b) a proposed allocation for at least one other of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures, the at least one other of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures associated with a second participating entity;
(iii) providing the first data to the second participating entity;
(iv) receiving, from the second participating entity, second data indicative of at least a) another proposed allocation for the one of the plurality of wireless infrastructures, and b) another proposed allocation for the at least one other of the plurality of wireless infrastructures;
(v) based at least on the first and second data, calculating at least one updated metric; and
(vi) updating a dynamic allocation algorithm based on the at least one updated metric, the dynamic allocation algorithm configured for providing allocation of at least one portion of the available wireless spectrum.
15. The computerized method of claim 14 , further comprising performing one or more subsequent iterations of the steps (ii)-(vi) until the dynamic allocation algorithm converges on a final allocation, the final allocation comprising an allocation of wireless spectrum which is different from respective initial allocations for the one of the plurality of wireless infrastructures and the at least one other of the plurality of wireless infrastructures.
16. The computerized method of claim 14 , wherein the receiving of the data relating to the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures comprises receiving data relating to spatial location of at least a portion of the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures.
17. The computerized method of claim 14 , wherein the receiving of the data relating to the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures comprises receiving data relating to at least one of an antenna configuration or an antenna pattern of the one of the plurality of wireless network infrastructures.
18. The computerized method of claim 14 , further comprising obtaining data relating to one or more regional components associated with at least the first participating entity.
19. The computerized method of claim 18 , wherein the obtaining of the data relating to the one or more regional components comprises obtaining data relating to bandwidth usage associated with one or more incumbent users of at least one portion of the available wireless spectrum.
20. The computerized method of claim 18 , wherein the obtaining of the data relating to the one or more regional components comprises obtaining data relating to bandwidth usage associated with one or more Priority Access License (PAL) users of at least one portion of the available wireless spectrum.