Apparatus and methods of whitespace communication

摘要

The described apparatus and methods provide communication services utilizing a combination of non-white space (NWS) and white space (WS) networks. For example, in an aspect, the described apparatus and methods receive, at a first base station (BS) and on a licensed frequency, a communication request for network access from a wireless access terminal (AT). The aspects also determine at least one available unlicensed frequency corresponding to a location of the wireless AT. Further, the aspects partition at least a portion of the network access for the wireless AT to be via the at least one available unlicensed frequency. Additionally, the aspects inform the wireless AT of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use to obtain at least the portion of the network access. Additional aspects relate to NWS BS assisted handoffs of WS calls, dynamic caching of WS information, peer-to-peer WS communication, and WS BS venue-specific broadcasting.

主权项

1. A method of providing communication services, comprising:
receiving, at a first base station and on a licensed frequency, a communication request for network access from a wireless access terminal; determining at least one available unlicensed frequency corresponding to a location of the wireless access terminal, wherein the determining is based on unlicensed frequency spectrum information for a geographic region, and wherein the determining includes determining, from the unlicensed frequency spectrum information, a second base station that corresponds to the location and operates on the at least one available unlicensed frequency, wherein the second base station is different from or co-located with the first base station; partitioning at least a portion of the network access for the wireless access terminal to be via the at least one available unlicensed frequency; and informing the wireless access terminal of the at least one available unlicensed frequency for use to obtain at least the portion of the network access from the second base station and how to contact the second base station.