Methods and Apparatus for Managing Wireless Spectrum Usage

摘要

Improved mechanisms for managing use of shared spectrum resources. A requesting element such as a base station requests authorization for use of shared spectrum resources for one or more base stations. The request suitably includes identification of the cell or cells and the requested resources. A granting element determines if authorization can be granted and sends an authorization acceptance message specifying a grant time or an authorization rejection message specifying a wait time. As an alternative, if no response is received by the requesting element, the requesting element may make further requests separated by a specified timeout time and if no response is received, be inhibited from subsequent requests for a specified response failure time. In addition, a request may be triggered based on the occurrence of specified events.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving an authorization request for use of at least one spectrum resource in at least one specified area by a node of a wireless network communication system, wherein the node provides coverage for the at least one specified area, wherein the authorization request specifies at least an identifier that identifies the requested at least one spectrum resource; and if use of the at least one spectrum resource is allowed, determining a grant time during which the spectrum resource is allowed to be used by the requesting node and sending an authorization request acceptance, wherein the authorization request acceptance includes the identifier and specifies the grant time.