SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The disclosure generally relates to a communication technical field, in particular to a
spectrum management system and method for performing spectrum management in
communication.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the development of wireless communication system, service requirement of
user for high quality, high speed and high services is more and more. The wireless
communication operators and equipment providers need to keep improving in order to satisfy
the requirement of the user. This requires a large amount of spectrum resources to support
new services and satisfy requirement for high speed communication. However, the limited
spectrum resources have been allocated to fixed operators and services. New available
spectrum is rare and/or expensive. In such case, an idea of dynamically using spectrum has
been proposed, that is, spectrum resources which have been allocated to some services but not
been exploited are dynamically used. For example, the spectrum of channels on which no
program is being broadcasted in the digital television broadcast spectrum is dynamically used
to perform wireless mobile communication without interfering with the normal receiving of
television signals.
[0003] In such application instance, since the television broadcast spectrum per se is used
for television broadcast system, the television broadcast system is regarded as a primary
system, the television is regarded as a primary user, the mobile communication system is
regarded as a secondary system, and the receiver in the mobile communication system is
regarded as a secondary user. In other words, the primary system described herein may refer
to the system with authority of using spectrum such as the television broadcast system, and
the secondary system may refer to the system without authority of using spectrum which can
use the spectrum of the primary system or its adjacent spectrum appropriately only when the
primary system does not use such spectrum.
[0004] This communication manner of the primary and secondary systems coexisting
requires that the application of the secondary system does not cause any adverse influence to
the application of the primary system, or, the influence caused by the secondary system to the
primary system may be controlled to an allowable range of the primary system. In the case
that the influence to the primary system is kept in a certain range, the spectrum resources of
the primary system may be allocated to a plurality of secondary systems.
[0005] Specifically, the primary and secondary systems may operate on the same frequency
band or different frequency bands. In the case that the frequency bands used by the primary
and secondary systems are adjacent to each other, since the adjacent channel leakage ratio of
the transmitter and the adjacent channel selectivity of the receiver, the secondary system still
may interfere with the primary system.
[0006] Existing provisions, such as Conference of European Posts and Telecommunications
(CEPT), "Draft of ECC report: Technical and operational requirements for the operation of
white space devices under geo-location approach", ECC186, January 2013, prescribe how to
calculate available primary system spectrum at a certain position, but not prescribe when a
plurality of secondary systems need to use the spectrum resources of the primary system, how
to selectively allocate the spectrum resources to the secondary systems such that certain
performance is better or entire spectrum utilization is more efficient.
[0007] In addition, when excess secondary systems share the available primary system
spectrum, it is possible that each secondary system obtains a little available spectrum resource,
and thereby at least part of the secondary systems can not satisfy the requirement of
application. According to the solution proposed in CN101990289A for example, the usage
requirements of all of the secondary systems may be calculated, and then the secondary
systems which are not advantageous to utilize the spectrum resources of the primary system
may be removed according to priority and the like. However, when the number of the
secondary systems is large, the system overhead is large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To address at least those problems discussed above, in one exemplary aspect the
present advancements include a spectrum management system that includes circuitry that
identifies reference point information for a secondary communication system, and that
determines spectrum resources for the secondary communication system based on whether the
reference point information is positive or negative.
[0009] In a second exemplary aspect, a method of spectrum management includes
identifying, using circuitry of a spectrum management system, reference point information for
a secondary communication system, and determining, by the circuitry of the spectrum
management system, spectrum resources for the secondary communication system based on
whether the reference point information is positive or negative.
[0010] In a third exemplary aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium includes
computer-readable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to
perform a spectrum management method that includes identifying reference point information
for a secondary communication system, and determining spectrum resources for the
secondary communication system based on whether the reference point information is
positive or negative.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the disclosure may be
obvious by referring to the subject matter of the invention and the description of the
embodiments thereof in conjunction with the Drawings. In the Drawings:
[0012] Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating an entire process of a spectrum management
method according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a plurality of spectrum management
apparatuses managing a plurality of second systems;
[0014] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating one spectrum management apparatus
managing a plurality of second systems;
[0015] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a process example related to announcement of
reference point information and recommendation of a candidate second system;
[0016] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating another process example related to announcement
of reference point information and recommendation of a candidate second system;
[0017] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the second system determined to
participate allocation of spectrum resources;
[0018] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a specific method for determining an allocation
solution of the spectrum resources;
[0019] Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a spectrum management
apparatus according to a embodiment of the disclosure; and
[0020] Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration according to a
embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] An embodiment of the disclosure will be described below in conjunction with the
figures.
[0022] The description will be made in the following order.
[0023] 1. Entire process of the spectrum management method
[0024] 2. Step of determining reference point
[0025] 3. Step of determining second system
[0026] 4. Step of determining allocation solution
[0027] 5. Configuration of the spectrum management apparatus
[0028] 6. Specific application scenario of the embodiment of the disclosure
[0029] 7. Hardware configuration example
[0030] 1. Entire process of the spectrum management method
[0031] Hereinafter, the entire process of the spectrum management method according to the
embodiment of the disclosure will be described in conjunction with Figure 1.
[0032] In Figure 1, the spectrum management method starts at step SI01, and proceeds to
step SI03.
[0033] At step SI03, a reference point is determined. The reference point comprises at least
one parameter indicating corresponding spectrum usage of a second system. Then, the process
proceeds to step SI05.
[0034] At step SI05, at least one second system is determined to be the second system
occupying the spectrum resources of a first system based on the reference point. Then, the
process proceeds to step SI07.
[0035] At step SI07, an allocation solution of allocating the spectrum resources of the first
system to the at least one second system is determined. Then, the process proceeds to step
SI09 and ends.
[0036] Hereinafter, respective steps of the spectrum management method will be described
in detail.
[0037] It should be noted that as an example, hereinafter television broadcast system is
regarded as the first system and mobile communication system or wireless LAN system is
regarded as the second system.
[0038] As another example, a macrocell base station and the user thereof may be regarded
as the first system, and a microcell (picocell) base station coverage of which overlaps with the
coverage of the macrocell base station and which shares spectrum resources with the
macrocell base station and the user of the microcell base station may be regarded as the
second system.
[0039] However, those skilled in the art should understand that the scenario to which the
embodiment of the disclosure may be applied is not limited to this. For example, when an
operator deploys a new base station to provide new service, the existing base station and the
service it provides have a priority to use spectrum. At this time, the existing base station and
the users thereof may be regarded as the first system and the new base station and the users
thereof may be regarded as the second system. Of course, the second system may not
comprise base station, but only comprise a plurality of users which communicate with each
other through the new service.
[0040] In addition, the spectrum management method herein is used to manage the
utilization of spectrum resources of the first system by the second system. In other words, the
management object is for example whether the second system utilizes the spectrum resources
of the first system and how much spectrum resources the second system utilizes. More
specifically, for example, the management may comprise not only allocating the spectrum
resources of the first system to the second system which has not utilized the spectrum
resources, but also not allocating the spectrum resources of the first system to the second
system which is utilizing the spectrum resources, and adjusting the spectrum resources of the
first system utilized by the second system which is utilizing the spectrum resources.
[0041] 2. Step of determining reference point
[0042] Firstly, the concept of reference point will be explained. As described above, the
reference point may comprise at least one parameter indicating corresponding spectrum usage
of the second system. In other words, the reference point may be a set of the at least one
parameter. To be more specific, the reference point information can be regarded as including
at least one characteristic of another secondary communication system. The other secondary
communication system can be a physical secondary communication system or a simulated
secondary communication system based on history record etc.
[0043] The spectrum usage may comprise at least one of geographic position, air interface
information (such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access),
WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) and GSM
(Global System for Mobile Communications)), antenna height, transmission template and
frequency band of the second system. In other words, the spectrum usage may also comprise
one or more of geographic position, air interface information, antenna height, transmission
template and frequency band of the second system.
[0044] Therefore, the spectrum usage may be different due to different type of the second
system (for example, in the case that the spectrum usage comprises air interface types of the
second system, the spectrum usage having different air interface information types is
different), or be common to various second systems (for example, in the case that the
spectrum usage comprises geographic position of the second system, the spectrum usage of
various second systems at such geographic position is the same).
[0045] It should be noted that herein the spectrum usage comprises an inherent attribute of
the second system which uses the spectrum. Moreover, the "utilization of spectrum resources
of the first system by the second system" mentioned above refers to whether the second
system utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system and how much spectrum resources
the second system utilizes.
[0046] The reference point comprises quantization indication of the spectrum usage of the
second system. In other words, the reference point may comprise one or more parameters,
such parameter(s) indicates the spectrum usage. For example, the geographic position
information may be parameterized with coordinates, the antenna height may be parameterized
with length, the transmission template may be parameterized with number or fading of the
frequency bands corresponding to different ratio frequency shift intervals (for example, see
IEEE 802. lip, "Wireless access in vehicular environment", 2010), and the air interface
information may be parameterized with different integer indexes. Therefore, the reference
point comprising parameters may represent corresponding spectrum usage of the second
system. In addition, the reference point may comprise specific spectrum information
corresponding to the above spectrum usage such as specific frequency band utilized at a
certain geographic position.
[0047] As described later, one or more reference points, that is, the usage of one or more
spectrums by the second system may be determined to be a reference, and thereby a second
system may be determined according to such spectrum usage to be the second system which
utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system.
[0048] For example, the reference point may comprise at least one of a positive reference
point and a negative reference point.
[0049] As for the positive reference point, in the case of spectrum usage corresponding to
this reference point, it is desired that the best utilization of the spectrum resources of the first
system be achieved, for example, the spectrum resources of the first system which may be
utilized by the second system are the most, with respect to at least one of the parameters
comprised in the positive reference point. In other words, the positive reference point
corresponds to the spectrum usage advantageous to utilize the spectrum resources of the first
system by the second system. Therefore, the more similar between the spectrum usage and the
positive reference point is, the more likely the second system is allocated the spectrum
resources of the first system.
[0050] In contrast, as for the negative reference point, in the case of spectrum usage
corresponding to this reference point, the best utilization of the spectrum resources of the first
system cannot be achieved, for example, the spectrum resources of the first system which may
be utilized by the second system are the least, with respect to at least one of the parameters
comprised in the negative reference point, which is not desirable. There is another possibility
that in the case of spectrum usage corresponding to this reference point, the spectrum
resources of the first system which is being used by the second system is not enough to meet
the second system's service requirement, and therefore the second system requires more
spectrum resources of the first system, which will be described in detail later. In other words,
the negative reference point corresponds to the spectrum usage disadvantageous to utilize the
spectrum resources of the first system by the second system. Therefore, the more similar
between the spectrum usage and the negative reference point is, the more likely the second
system is not allocated the spectrum resources of the first system.
[0051] Of course, the reference point may comprise only the positive reference point, or
only the negative reference point, or the positive reference point and the negative reference
point both. It is to be understood by the skilled person in the art that the spectrum
management method might comprises step of determining the reference point negative or
positive.
[0052] Those skilled in the art should understand that although hereinafter the reference
point corresponds to the spectrum usage only comprising the geographic position of the
second system (as for the second system which is a mobile communication system, the
geographic position thereof is the geographic position of base station), the reference point
may also be expanded to the spectrum usage comprising more contents.
[0053] The reference point may be determined in at least one of following manners: 1)
estimating at least a part of spectrum usage among spectrum usage of each second system; 2)
based on history record of the spectrum usage; 3) based on the degree of the spectrum
resources of the first system utilized by the second system meeting such second system's
service requirement; and 4) based on information, from the second system, of the
corresponding second system releasing the spectrum resources of the first system occupied by
such second system.
[0054] Firstly, the method of estimating at least a part of spectrum usage among spectrum
usage of each second system will be described. In such example, the object of estimating is
the second system at various geographic positions.
[0055] Although all geographic positions at which the second system may be located may
be estimated, the number of geographic positions to be estimated can be reduced. For example,
the estimation may be performed with respect to predetermined geographic positions or the
geographic positions which meet a predetermined condition. As an example, the geographic
positions at which a plenty of second systems occur or fluidity of the second system is large
(that is, the geographic positions at which the second system releases spectrum or applies to
use spectrum frequently) may be estimated.
[0056] There is a case that a plurality of spectrum management apparatuses manages a
plurality of second systems respectively. As shown in Figure 2, the spectrum management
apparatus 10-1 manages the second systems 200-1, 200-2, the spectrum management
apparatus 10-2 manages the second system 200-3, and the spectrum management apparatus
10-3 manages the second system 200-4. At this time, one of the spectrum management
apparatuses may be responsible for calculating all of the reference points. Alternatively, each
spectrum management apparatus may calculate the reference point in the coverage of the
second system which it manages, and repeated calculation of the reference point may be
avoided by communication between the spectrum management apparatuses.
[0057] The spectrum calculation of the secondary system need to consider interference to
other primary system. One spectrum manager may access other spectrum manager to obtain
necessary information in order to calculate available spectrum of the secondary system, and
the calculation result may be sent to spectrum management apparatuses which manage
different secondary systems.
[0058] Corresponding to the case shown in Figure 2, there is a case that one spectrum
management apparatus manages all of the second systems. As shown in Figure 3, spectrum
management apparatus 10-4 manages the second systems 200-5, 200-6, 200-7 and 200-8.
[0059] When geographic positions is estimated, the geographic position at which the
interference caused by the second system to the first system is lower than a first interference
threshold and at which the spectrum resources allocated to the second system is the most may
be determined to be the positive reference point, and/or the geographic position at which the
interference caused by the second system to the first system is higher than or equal to the first
interference threshold and at which the spectrum resources allocated to the second system is
the least may be determined to be the negative reference point. It should be noted that herein
the first interference threshold may be a threshold determined by those ordinary skilled in the
art according to design requirement and actual situation.
[0060] Of course, the reference point may be determined by other suitable manners. For
example, with respect to each candidate geographic position, the geographic position at which
the interference caused by the second system to the first system has a negative weight, the
spectrum resources allocated to the second system by the first system has a positive weight,
and the weight sum of the interference to the respective first system and the allocated
spectrum resources may be set to the positive reference point.
[0061] Secondly, the method of determining the reference point based on the history record
will be described.
[0062] One manner is to perform estimation directly according to the history record. Since
the spectrum management apparatus which manages the second system may record history
record of the spectrum resources allocated to the second system by the first system, the
geographic position of the second system which is advantageous/disadvantageous to utilize
the spectrum resources of the first system may be determined to be the reference point.
[0063] Another manner is to predict the geographic position at which the second system
will release the spectrum resources of the first system which are being utilized according to
the history record. Utilization of spectrum resources of the first system by some second
systems is regular, for example, each time the spectrum resources of the first system have
been utilized for a predetermined time, the spectrum resources will be released. Therefore,
such rules will be obtained according to the history record and accordingly the geographic
position at which the second system will release the spectrum resources of the first system
may be predicted.
[0064] Such geographic position may be determined to be the positive reference point. This
is because release of the spectrum resources of the first system results in that the spectrum
resources is rich at such geographic position, and it is generally desired to allocate the
spectrum resources of the first system to the second system at such geographic position.
[0065] Next, the method of determining the reference point based on the degree of the
spectrum resources of the first system utilized by the second system meeting such second
system's service requirement will be described.
[0066] At some geographic positions, when the second system has utilized the spectrum
resources of the first system but still can not meet the expected requirement for
communication quality, it shall be allocated additional spectrum resources of the first system,
that is, reversed spectrum resources. At this time, the geographic position may be determined
to be the negative reference point.
[0067] This is because that when the second system has not enough available resources of
the first system, the spectrum resources of the first system in the proximity of such geographic
position shall be released or reduced such that the second system may obtain additional
available spectrum resources of the first system. Of course, it is not desired to allocate the
spectrum resources of the first system to other second systems. Further, the spectrum
resources of the first system utilized by the other systems in the proximity of such geographic
position shall be released to be used by the second system which does not meet requirement to
the spectrum resource.
[0068] At last, the method of determining the reference point based on the information,
from the second system, of the corresponding second system releasing the spectrum resources
of the first system occupied by such second system will be described.
[0069] When information, directly from the second system or indirectly from the second
system via a device such as a spectrum management apparatus, of such second system
releasing the spectrum resources of the first system it utilizes is received, the geographic
position of such second system may be determined to be the positive reference point. As
described above, this is because that the releasing of the spectrum resources result in that the
spectrum resources is rich at such geographic position, and it is generally desired to allocate
the spectrum resources of the first system to the second system at such geographic position.
[0070] No matter through which manner the reference point is determined, the determined
reference point may be updated periodically, or may be updated only when usage of the
spectrum resources of the first system and/or the second system changes, or even may not be
updated. The reason to update the reference point is that the usage of the spectrum resources
by the second system at least partially depends on the usage of the spectrum resources by the
first system. In other words, since the usage of the spectrum resources by the first system
changes, the degree of the first system sustains the interference caused by the second system
utilizing the spectrum resources of the first system may also changes.
[0071] 3. Step of determining second system
[0072] After the reference point is determined, the determined reference point may be
announced, that is, information of the determined reference point may be announced. The
information of the determined reference point may be announced to the spectrum
management apparatus determining the reference point and other spectrum management
apparatuses, or to the second system managed by the spectrum management apparatus
determining the reference point.
[0073] Herein, the spectrum management apparatus announcing the reference point
information may be known as a reference point information sender, and the spectrum
management apparatus or the second system may be known as a reference point information
receiver. It should be noted that the reference point information sender may be the reference
point information receiver.
[0074] In an example of determining that a second system is the second system which
utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system, the reference point information receiver
may recommend a second system to the reference point information sender such that the
second system which utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system (hereinafter also
known as a second system which participates in allocation of the spectrum resources) may be
determined. Hereinafter two recommendation manners are given.
[0075] Recommendation manner 1: information of all of the second systems which want to
participate in allocation of the spectrum resources of the first system is sent to the reference
point information sender. The sent information may comprises parameters of the second
system corresponding to the parameters of the reference point and all of information
prescribed in related provisions (such as CEPT, "Draft of ECC report: Technical and
operational requirements for the operation of white space devices under geo-location
approach", ECC186, January, 2013) which shall be submitted by the second system to obtain
the spectrum resources of the first system. In addition to the necessary information prescribed
in the provisions which shall be submitted, information corresponding to the parameters of the
reference point may comprise other information. Figure 4 illustrates such process.
[0076] Recommendation manner 2: process of the reference point information receiver may
have two steps. Firstly, basic parameter values of the second system determined to be
recommended according to the reference point information is sent. Then feedback information
of the reference point information sender is waited for. If the feedback information indicates
that the recommended second system is determined to participate in allocation of the
spectrum resources, the reference point information receiver sends information of the selected
second system prescribed in the provisions which shall be submitted to the reference point
information sender. Figure 5 illustrates such process. With such process, the data amount of
sent information of the second system is saved, and thereby the system overhead is reduced.
[0077] Alternatively, when the reference point information receiver is a spectrum
management apparatus, in the process of recommending a second system, the second system
may be recommended according to the proximity degree between spectrum usage of each
second system and the reference point, degree of requirement of each second system to
spectrum or prior knowledge (such as probability that the managed second system is
determined successfully to be the second system which participates in allocation of the
spectrum resources after it is recommended) and the like, instead of recommending all of the
second systems to the reference point information sender. Thus the number of the submitted
second systems and the interaction information amount may be further reduced, and thereby
the system burden may be reduced.
[0078] In addition, when the reference point information receiver is a second system, the
second system may determine whether to recommend itself to the reference point information
sender according to situation of itself. For example, the determination may be based on the
proximity degree between spectrum usage of the second system and the reference point.
[0079] The spectrum management apparatus as the reference point information sender may
determine the second system which participates in allocation of the spectrum resources among
the recommended second systems based on the determined reference point.
[0080] Similarly, in an example of determining that a second system is not the second
system which utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system, the reference point
information receiver may recommend a second system to be the second system which not
utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system (hereinafter also known as a second system
which dose not participate in allocation of the spectrum resources) to the reference point
information sender. In other words, at this time, the recommended second system is the
second system which does not want to participate in allocation of the spectrum resources, for
example because that the spectrum usage of such second system is more similar to the
negative reference point. It should be noted that determining that a second system does not
utilize the spectrum resources of the first system means that determining the second system
which utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system.
[0081] From another perspective, determining a second system to be the second system
which not utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system may be done by determining that
a second system which is utilizing the spectrum resources of the first system will release the
spectrum resources which it is utilizing. When determining to release which ones of the
spectrum resources which the second system is utilizing, the second system which will release
the spectrum resources may be determined according to at least one of the proximity degree
between spectrum usage of the second system and the negative reference point, the situation
of the spectrum resources which the second system may release, the priority of service of the
second system.
[0082] However, the process of announcing the reference point may be omitted, such as in
the case that one spectrum management apparatus manages a plurality of second systems. At
this time, the spectrum management apparatus which has determined the reference point may
determine the second system which participates in allocation of the spectrum resources among
the second systems which it manages.
[0083] One example determination manner is to determine the second system in which the
degree of similarity between spectrum usage of such second system and the positive reference
point is higher than a first positive threshold and/or the degree of similarity between spectrum
usage of such second system and the negative reference point is lower than a first negative
threshold to be the second system which participates in allocation of the spectrum resources.
In other words, in the case that the reference point corresponds to the geographic position, the
closer a second system is to the positive reference point, the more likely the second system is
determined to participate in allocation of the spectrum resources, and the farther a second
system is from the negative reference point, the more likely the second system is determined
to participate in allocation of the spectrum resources. And/or, the second system in which the
degree of similarity between spectrum usage of such second system and the positive reference
point is lower than a second positive threshold and/or the degree of similarity between
spectrum usage of such second system and the negative reference point is higher than a
second negative threshold may not be determined to be the second system which participates
in allocation of the spectram resources. In addition, a part of the spectrum resources of the
first system occupied by the second system in which the degree of similarity between
spectram usage of such second system and the negative reference point is higher than a
second negative threshold may be released. In other words, in the case that the reference point
corresponds to the geographic position, the farther a second system is from the positive
reference point, the more likely the second system is determined not to participate in
allocation of the spectrum resources, and the closer a second system is from the negative
reference point, the more likely the second system is determined not to participate in
allocation of the spectram resources, wherein even a part of the spectram resources of the first
system occupied by the second system may be released. The first positive threshold and the
second positive threshold herein may be appropriately determined by those ordinary skilled in
the art, and may be or not be equal to each other. Similarly, the first negative threshold and the
second negative threshold herein may be appropriately determined by those ordinary skilled
in the art, and may be or not be equal to each other.
[0084] It should be understood based on the above disclosure that, in fact, the spectrum
management apparatus can manage the spectram resources of the second systems by first
identifying the second system whose spectram usage status should be managed(e.g. the
second system requests for resource); determining whether there is any reference point for
the second system (e.g. based on the proximity thereto); and then allocating or adjusting the
spectram resources of the second system based on the reference point information. In this way,
the sequence of the step of determining reference point and step of determining second system
shown in figure 1 can be switched.
[0085] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of determining the second system which
participates in allocation of the spectrum resources. In Figure 2, reference point corresponds
to geographic position, and the triangular reference point R is a positive reference point. A, B,
C indicate the geographic positions at which second systems A, B, C are located respectively.
In addition, it illustrates a spectrum management apparatus which manages the second
systems A, B, C and three first systems 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 which provide the spectram
resources to the second systems.
[0086] It is assumed that only two second systems need to be selected as the second
systems which participate in allocation of the spectram resources. Thus the second systems A
and B which are closer to the reference point R may be determined to be the second systems
which participate in allocation of the spectrum resources.
[0087] It should be noted that before the above determination, A, B, C may be in any
situation of utilizing the spectrum resources of the first system. For example, it is possible that
each of the second systems A, B, C does not obtain the spectrum resources from the first
system, or all of the second systems A, B, C are obtaining the spectrum resources from the
first system, or only the second systems A, C are allocated the spectrum resources from the
first system.
[0088] After the above determination, only the second systems A, B are allocated the
spectrum resources from the first system.
[0089] The above example shows only one reference point. In the case that there are
multiple reference points, it is assumed that the coordinates of the mth reference point is
(xm,ym) m=l,2, . . . M, and there are M reference points (all of them are assumed to be the
positive reference points). It is assumed to select in L pieces of position information of the
second systems (xi,yi), 1=1,2,.. ., L. Spatial correlation coefficients pi between each of
candidate geographic positions of the second systems and all of the geographic positions of
the reference points are calculated as indicated equation (1) for example:
[0091] The obtained spatial correlation coefficients of the second systems are arranged in a
descending order, and N second systems with largest spatial correlation coefficients may be
selected to perform spectrum allocation. This may enable these second systems to exploit the
released or available spectrum resources.
[0092] In addition, different reference points may have different weights. For example, the
reference point with higher spectrum utilization efficiency is more important for
determination of the second system which participates in allocation of the spectrum resources,
and may have a higher weight.
[0093] In addition, the determination of the second system which participates in allocation
of the spectrum resources may be based on other factors other than the reference point such as
priority. The second system with a higher priority, for example the second system carrying the
service which requires higher communication quality such as video telephone, may be far
from the reference point, but it may still be determined to be the second system which
participates in allocation of the spectrum resources.
[0094] One specific implementation manner is to make the second systems with different
priorities have different weights.
[0095] A specific situation of determining the second system is given below. In such
situation, the spectrum resources obtained by second system P with a higher priority is not
enough to meet the service requirement of the second system P, and therefore another second
system P with a lower priority in the proximity of the second system P needs to release the
spectrum resources of the first system which it is utilizing such that the second system P may
obtain more spectrum resources of the first system.
[0096] Firstly, since the spectrum resources of the first system utilized by the second system
P do not meet the service requirement thereof, the geographic position at which the second
system P is located is determined to be the negative reference point.
[0097] Thereafter, since the geographic position at which the second system P is located is
close to the negative reference point, and the priority of the second system Q is lower, the
second system Q is determined to be the second system which releases the spectrum resources
of the first system. In other words, the second system Q is not determined to be the second
system which utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system.
[0098] Then the second system Q releases the spectrum resources of the first system which
it is utilizing. Information regarding this release may be provided to the spectrum
management apparatus responsible for spectrum management directly or indirectly through
the second system Q. Since the second system Q releases the spectrum resources, the
geographic position at which the second system Q is located is determined to be the positive
reference point.
[0099] At this time, since the second system P has a higher priority and is close to the
positive reference point, although it is also located at the negative reference point, the second
system P may be determined to be the second system which utilizes the spectrum resources of
the first system by setting a suitable weight.
[00100] It is assumed that only the second system P is determined to be the second system
which utilizes the spectrum resources of the first system, the second system P may receive the
spectrum resources of the first system released by the second system Q.
[00101] 4. Step of determining management solution
[00102] Hereinafter the step of determining the management solution will be described.
[00103] In practice, the management solution of the invention comprises at least one of a
resource allocation solution and a resource release solution. Herein the management solution
may be determined with any existing manners. Since the number of second systems to be
managed is limited based on the reference point as described above, even the allocation
solution is determined with an existing solution, the system overhead may be reduced and/or
the system performance may be improved because the number of the second systems which
participate in calculation is reduced.
[00104] Herein, a preferable manner of determining the allocation solution will be described
in detail. In other words, the allocation solution of allocating the spectrum resources of the
first system to the second system may be determined in the following manner:
[00105] when the number of the at least one second system is more than 1, dividing all the
spectrum resources of the first system, which are able to be allocated to the second system,
into a plurality of unit spectrum resources, and
[00106] allocating, in a predetermined pattern, the unit spectrum resources to the second
systems, each of which has not reached the upper limit of spectrum usage yet, and in each of
which such second system's interference to the first system does not reach a second
interference threshold in the case that such unit spectrum resource is already allocated to such
second system, until all the unit spectrum resources have been allocated or until there is no
more second system, each of which has not reached the upper limit of spectrum usage yet, and
in each of which such second system's interference to the first system does not reach the
second interference threshold in the case that such unit spectrum resource is already allocated
to such second system. It should be noted that herein the second interference threshold may be
a threshold determined by those ordinary skilled in the art according to design requirement
and actual situation, and may be or not be equal to the first interference threshold as described
above.
[00107] It should be noted that the allocation performed herein may comprise not only
allocating the spectrum resources of the first system to the second system which has not
utilized the spectrum resources of the first system, but also not allocating the spectrum
resources of the first system to the second system which is utilizing the spectrum resources of
the first system, and adjusting the spectrum resources of the first system utilized by the
second system which is utilizing the spectrum resources. In other words, all of the spectrum
resources of the first system which are able to be allocated are re-allocated to the second
system determined to utilize the spectrum resources of the first system.
[00108] It should be understood by those ordinary skilled in the art that allocation unit
determining process may be performed in other suitable manners. For example, adjustment is
performed based on the second systems which have been allocated the spectrum resources of
the first system, or a part or all of the second systems are selected from the second systems
which have been allocated the spectrum resources of the first system to release the spectrum
resources which the second systems are utilizing, or these two process are combined.
[00109] The phrase "predetermined pattern" herein may mean that one unit spectrum
resource is allocated to one second system meeting the above requirement each time, and also
mean that a plurality of unit spectrum resources is allocated to one second system meeting the
above requirement each time. In addition, the phrase "predetermined pattern" herein may
comprise allocating the unit spectrum resources to each second system in a predetermined
order or a random order.
[00110] One preferable manner is that when allocating the unit spectrum resources to the
second system, the allocation is performed in a descending order of the unit spectrum
resource benefit, or in a descending order of the degree of requirement of the second systems
to the spectrum. The unit spectrum resource benefit may be defined as at least one of the
service increment and the economic benefit brought by each time the second system obtaining
the unit spectrum resource. The degree of requirement of the second systems to the spectrum
may be defined as imminence degree of requirement of the second systems to utilize the
spectrum resources of the first system. For example, the requirement of the second system
which performs a real-time video telephone service to the spectrum resources is generally
larger than that of the second system which performs a non real-time data transmission
service, and therefore the second system which performs the real-time video telephone service
may have a higher priority to be allocated the unit spectrum resources.
[00111] The unit spectrum resource benefit meeting the requirement of the second system
may be re-calculated after each time allocating the unit spectrum resources, or after each
round allocating the unit spectrum resources (that is, after all of the second systems meeting
the requirement have been allocated the unit spectrum resources). Or the unit spectrum
resource benefit may be calculated once before starting allocation of the unit spectrum
resources and never be updated thereafter.
[00112] Hereinafter the method will be described more specifically.
[00113] It is assumed that the unit spectrum resource benefit is b ,n=l,2,.. .N corresponding
to N determined second systems. The total benefit produced by these second systems utilizing
the spectrum resources may be expressed by:
[00114] Q =å cnbn (2)
[00115] wherein c indicates available spectrum resources allocated to each second system,
which may be expressed by power, bandwidth or transmission speed. Herein, it is assumed
that the bandwidth of each second system is w, and the power is determined by the allocation
solution to be determined herein. Therefore the available resources are indicated by power P .
Then the total benefit may be expressed by:
[00116] Q =å wPnbn (3)
[00117] With respect to each first system, these second systems may produce aggregation
interference at the first system, and the interference is severest at a certain position.
Transmission loss from the nth second system to the kth first system at the position at which
the interference is severest is g_(n,k). Therefore, corresponding to K first systems, the
allocation of these second systems shall meet:
[00118] g n kPn < k = \X...,K (4)
[00119] wherein U is upper limit of acceptable maximum interference of the kth primary
system in the region in which the interference is severest.
[00120] If there is no upper limit requirement to the interference to the primary system, and
there is only a requirement that the interference shall be as small as possible, equation (4) may
be rewrote to:
[00121] minimize g i (5)
[00122] Therefore the power allocation problem may be described as:
[00123] ax iz Q=å wP „(P,P ,...,PN) (6)
[00124] subject to < ; = l,2,...,^ (7)
[00125] and Pn >0 (8)
[00126] wherein f (PI ,P2, . . .PN) indicates the unit spectrum resource benefit of the nth
second system in the case that N second system may utilize the spectrum. That is, within the
limit of interference to the first system, spectrum utilization benefit of the second system is
maximized. Equation (7) may be replaced with equation (5). At this time the optimization
problem changes to maximize the spectrum utilization benefit of the second system while the
interference to the first system is reduced as far as possible. If spectrum usage of respective
second systems is independent of each other, f (Pi,P2, . . .PN) may change to be a function with
one variable P .
[00127] If spectrum utilizations of respective second systems are correlated to each other, f
(P I ,P2, . . .PN) may indicate the unit spectrum benefit of the nth second system when there are
N-l second systems and the spectrum resource utilization amounts thereof are Pl,.. .,P(n-l),P
(n+1), . ..,PN, in which the spectrum resource utilization amount of the nth second system is P .
At this time, spectrum utilization of one second system may cause influence to spectrum
utilization of another second system.
[00128] It is assumed that the path loss from the second system n to the second system n-l is
¾ ; = 1,2,.. .N; j=l,2,.. .N; i ¹ j , and that the spectrum utilization benefit is signal to
interference plus noise ratio. Then f (Pi,P2, . . .PN) may be expressed by:
[00129] fn P ,P ,...,PN)= z (9)
+å
[00130] wherein s2 is system receiver noise. The above equation may be solved in different
manners such that the available spectrum resources of each second system may be obtained.
[00131] Herein the disclosure provides a simplified algorithm. In order to simplify
calculation, solution of the equation may be divided into steps, that is, solving the equation
with respect to the acceptable maximum interference of each first system, and then finding the
minimum in all of the solutions. With respect to the acceptable maximum interference of the
kth first system, the power allocation problem may be weakened to be:
[00132] ax iz = wP f P,P ,...,PN) (10)
[00133] subject to (11)
[00134] and Pn > (12)
[00135] It is assumed that the power of the second system has an upper limit
(communication device in communication system can not use infinite power), P is divided
into L intervals from 0, and each interval is P /L. It is assumed that all of the second systems
have the same maximum transmission power, and P in the above equation may be expressed
P L
by Pn=— x „, , wherein c i {0,1}. The method for solving the above equation is to
allocate the spectrum resources to the secondary system preferentially which only utilizes unit
spectrum to produce large spectrum benefit and has a litter contribution to the aggregation
interference. The steps thereof are shown in the flowchart of Figure 7.
[00136] The spectrum resource allocation process shown in Figure 7 starts from step S701
and proceeds to step S703.
[00137] At step S703, all of the second systems which have not reached the upper limit of
spectrum utilization and will not cause the aggregation interference to exceed the upper limit
if one unit spectrum resource is added are selected from N second systems, and the selected
second systems constitute a subset having M second systems. Then the process proceeds to
step S705.
[00138] At step S705, it is decided whether M is zero. In other words, it is decided whether
there is a second system as described above.
[00139] If the decision result is yes, the process proceeds to step S723 and the process ends.
[00140] If the decision result is no, the process proceeds to step S707.
[00141] At step S707, m is assumed to be 1, and the process proceeds to step S709.
[00142] At step S709, one unit spectrum resource is assumed to be allocated to mth second
system, and the process proceeds to step S711.
[00143] At step S711, the spectrum resource utilization of other N-l second systems is
checked, and the process proceeds to step S713.
[00144] At step S713, total spectrum benefit is calculated according to the relation of the mth
second system to the other second systems, and the process proceeds to step S715.
[00145] At step S715, ratio of the total spectrum benefit to interference caused by the mth
second system to the primary system is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S717.
[00146] At step S717, it is decided whether m is equal to M.
[00147] If the decision result is no, the process proceeds to step S719.
[00148] At step S719, the value of m is increased by 1, and the process returns to step S705.
[00149] If the decision result is yes, the process proceeds to step S72 1.
[00150] At step S721, with respect to the calculated ratios, a second system with maximum
ratio is selected. In other words, a second system with maximum unit spectrum benefit is
selected and is allocated one spectrum resource. Then the process proceeds to step S703.
[00151] When allocation of spectrum to the second systems with respect to each first system
is completed, the minimum value of spectrum available for each second system is taken as the
final allocation result.
[00152] As described above, the spectrum management method according to the
embodiment of the disclosure has been explained. According to such spectrum management
method, a better allocation of the spectrum resources of the first system may be achieved. It
should be noted that the resource allocation solution of the embodiment may be independent
of the determination process of the second systems to be managed. In other words, after the
object to be allocated is determined by any other existing technique, the resource allocation
solution of the embodiment may be used.
[00153] 5. Configuration of the spectrum management apparatus
[00154] The spectrum management apparatus according to the embodiment of the disclosure
will be described in conjunction with Figure 8 below.
[00155] The spectrum management apparatus 10 shown in Figure 8 comprises a reference
point determination unit 11, a second system determination unit 12 and an allocation solution
determination unit 13.
[00156] The reference point determination unit 11 may determine a reference point
comprising at least one parameter indicating corresponding spectrum usage of the second
system. More specifically, the reference point determination unit 11 may perform the step of
determining the reference point as described above.
[00157] The second system determination unit 12 may determine, based on the reference
point, at least one second system to be the second system occupying the spectrum resources of
the first system. More specifically, the second system determination unit 12 may perform the
step of determining the second system as described above.
[00158] The allocation solution determination unit 13 may determine an allocation solution
of allocating the spectrum resources of the first system to the second system. More
specifically, the allocation solution determination unit 13 may perform the step of determining
the allocation solution as described above.
[00159] It should be understood by those ordinary skilled in the art that each of functional
units of the spectrum management apparatus 10 may be constructed in one casing, or located
at different positions and only connected with each other functionally.
[00160] In addition, the spectrum management apparatus 10 may only comprise the
reference point determination unit 11, and the operations corresponding to the operations of
the second system determination unit 12 and the allocation solution determination unit 13
may be performed by other devices.
[00161] The spectram management apparatus 10 may also only comprise the second system
determination unit 12, and the operations corresponding to the operations of the reference
point determination unit 11 and the allocation solution determination unit 13 may be
performed by other devices.
[00162] The spectram management apparatus 10 may also only comprise the allocation
solution determination unit 13, and the operations corresponding to the operations of the
reference point determination unit 11 and the second system determination unit 12 may be
performed by other devices.
[00163] According to the above spectram management apparatus, a better allocation of the
spectram resources of the first system may be achieved.
[00164] 6. Specific application scenario of the embodiment of the disclosure
[00165] Many countries in Europe have completed or are completing conversion from
analog television to digital television. Many countries are studying how to utilize the
television broadcast frequency band by the communication system without interference to the
television broadcast service. The most popular control manner is to utilize a database. Each
country may store the digital television spectram usage in a management database thereof.
When a communication system wants to utilize the television spectram in a certain region, the
spectram management apparatus responsible for managing the spectrum usage in this region
may calculate available spectram resources for the new communication system (for example,
may be described by time, bandwidth, frequency band, transmission power and the like)
according to the spectrum usage of the television broadcast service stored in the management
database and practical situation of the communication system which is utilizing the television
spectram. Many countries in Europe border each other, and the spectram utilization of a
country may interfere with the spectrum utilization of television broadcast systems of other
countries. Therefore, there is a need for coordination when adjacent countries use the
spectram.
[00166] When spectram owners in many countries come to an agreement that occupation of
the spectram of the primary system by the secondary system shall incur related fees, these
countries may calculate the reference point of spectram utilization at the border region. At this
time, the object of spectram allocation is to maximize the total economical benefit. The
function f (PI,P2 , . . .PN ) in equation (6) correspondingly changes to the fees which shall be
paid when using the unit spectram resources. Thereby, the spectram owner of the first system
(television broadcast system) in each country may maximize the earnings of the spectram
utilization, and then allocate the earnings according to the agreement between the countries.
[00167] As shown in Figure 2, geographic databases X and Y manage information of
utilizing the spectram of the first system in two countries and calculate available spectrum
resources for the second systems according to related provisions respectively. The spectram
management apparatuses 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 of the second systems manage spectrum usage
of different second systems (such as WiFi network and LTE cell). These spectram
management apparatuses receive requirements for using the spectram from the second
systems respectively. Herein the reference point information sender is a spectram
management apparatus, for example the spectram management apparatus 10-2. The reference
point information receiver is the spectram management apparatuses 10-1 and 10-3. When the
spectram management apparatus 10-2 sends the reference point information to the spectrum
management apparatuses 10-1 and 10-3, each of the spectrum management apparatuses 10-1
and 10-3 provides information regarding the second system it manages (comprising new
second system and the second system which is utilizing the spectrum resources of the first
system but needs additional spectram resources and the like) and system parameters
(transmission template, antenna height, air interface standard and the like) to the spectram
management apparatus 10-2, and the spectram management apparatus 10-2 determines the
second system which participates in allocation of the spectram and determines the allocation
solution of the spectram. In addition, the spectram management apparatuses 10-1 and 10-3
may selectively recommend a second system to the spectram management apparatus 10-2
according to priori knowledge and the received reference point information in order to
improve the probability that the recommended second system is determined successfully to be
the second system which participates in allocation of the spectram resources.
[00168] Figure 3 illustrates another application scenario. One spectram management
apparatus 10-4 is responsible for allocating spectram to a plurality of second systems (such as
WiFi network and LTE cell). When the spectram management apparatus 10-4 determines the
reference point, it sends reference point information to each of second systems. At this time,
each of second systems (base station of the second system) is the reference point information
receiver. After receiving the reference point information, the second system may determine
the geographic position and system parameters according to the GPS information thereof and
send such information to the spectrum management apparatus 10-4. The spectrum
management apparatus 10-4 may determine the second system which participates in
allocation of the spectrum resources according to the information provided by the second
systems and determine the allocation solution of the spectrum resources.
[00169] 7. Hardware configuration example
[00170] The spectrum management method and the spectrum management apparatus
according to the embodiment of the disclosure may be configured by software, firmware,
hardware or the combination thereof. In case of implementing by software or firmware,
program constituting the software or firmware may be mounted to a machine having a
dedicated hardware structure from a storage medium or network (for example, the universal
computer 900 as illustrated in Fig. 9), when the computer is mounted with various programs,
the computer may execute various functions of the components and units as describe above.
[00171] In Fig. 9, a central processing unit (CPU) 901 perform various processes according
to the program stored in the Read-Only Memory (ROM) 902 or programs load from the
storage unit 908 to the Random Access Memory (RAM) 903. In the RAM 903, store also data
required when the CPU 901 performs various processes. CPU 901, ROM 902 and RAM 903
are connected from one to another via bus 904. Input/output interface 905 is also connected to
the bus 904.
[00172] The following components are connected to the input/output interface 905: input
unit 906 (comprising keyboard, mouse, etc.); output unit 907 (comprising display, such as
cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., and speakers and so on); storage
unit 908 (comprising hard disc, etc.); and communication part 909 (comprising network
interface cards such as LAN cards, modems and so on). The communication unit 909
performs communication process via network like the internet. According to requirements,
drive 910 is also connected to the input/output interface 905. Detachable medium 911 such as
disc, CD, magneto-optical disc, semiconductor memory, and so on is installed on the drive
910 based on requirements, such that the computer program read out therefrom is installed in
the storage unit 908 based on requirements.
[00173] In case of implementing the above processes by software, programs constituting the
software are installed from a network like the Internet or from a storage medium like the
detachable medium 911.
[00174] Those skilled in the art should be understood that such storage medium is not limited
to the detachable medium 911 which is stored with programs and distributes separate from the
method to provide a user with program as illustrated in Fig. 9. The example of the detachable
medium 911 comprises disc (comprising floppy disc (registered marks)), CD (comprising CD
read only memory (CD-ROM) and digital versatile disc (DVD)), magneto-optical disc
(comprising mini-disc (MD) (registered marks)) and semiconductor memory. Alternatively,
the storage medium may be ROM 902, or hard disc comprised in the storage unit 908 in
which a program is stored and the program is distributed to a user with the method comprising
the same.
[00175] The disclosure also provides a program product storing machine readable instruction
code. When read and executed by a machine, the instruction code may implement the
communication methods according to the embodiments of the disclosure. Correspondingly,
various storage medium for carrying the program product such as magnetic disk, optical disk,
magneto-optical disk, semiconductor memory, etc. is also comprised in the disclosure.
[00176] In addition, obviously, respective operations of the communication methods
according to the embodiments of the disclosure may also be implemented in a manner of
computer executable program stored in various machine readable storage mediums.
[00177] Furthermore, the present advancements may have the following exemplary
configurations.
(1) A spectrum management system, comprising: circuitry configured to identify reference
point information for a secondary communication system, determine spectrum resources for
the secondary communication system based on whether the reference point information is
positive or negative.
(2) The spectrum management system of (1), wherein when the reference information is
positive, the circuitry determines that the secondary communication system is a candidate for
spectrum resources.
(3) The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (2), wherein when the reference
information is negative, the circuitry determines that the secondary communication system is
not a candidate for spectrum resources.
(4) The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (3), wherein when the circuitry
determines that the secondary communication system is not a candidate for resources, the
circuitry reconfigures the secondary communication system to release at least a subset of
spectrum resources currently used by the secondary communication system.
(5) The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (4), wherein the circuitry is further
configured to provide another spectrum management system with information regarding the
secondary communication system managed by the spectrum management system.
(6) The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (5), wherein the information
regarding the secondary communication system managed by the spectrum management
system includes information indicating that at least the subset of spectrum resources used by
the secondary communication system managed by the spectrum management system has been
released.
(7) The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (6), wherein the circuitry is further
configured to receive, from the other spectrum management system, information regarding at
least one secondary communication system managed by the other spectrum management
system.
(8) The spectrum management system of (1), wherein the circuitry identifies the reference
point information of the secondary communication system based on proximity of the
secondary communication system thereto.
(9) The spectrum management system of (1), wherein the reference point information
includes at least one characteristic of another secondary communication system. The other
secondary communication system can be a physical secondary communication system or a
simulated secondary communication system based on history record etc.
(10)The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (9), wherein the reference point
information is positive when the other secondary communication system has available
spectrum resources for the secondary communication system.
(11) The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (10), wherein the reference point
information includes at least one of location and frequency band information of the other
secondary communication system.
(12)The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (11), wherein the reference point
information is negative when the other secondary communication system requires spectrum
resources.
(13)The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (12), wherein the reference point
information is negative if the other secondary communication system has priority over the
secondary communication system for spectrum resource assignment.
(14)The spectrum management system of any one of (1) to (13), wherein when the circuitry
determines that a plurality of secondary communication systems are candidates for spectrum
resources, the circuitry further determines the spectrum resources for each of the plurality of
secondary communication systems based on interference to other communication systems.
(15)The spectrum management system of (1) to (14), wherein the circuitry further determines
spectrum resources for each of the plurality of secondary communication systems based on
the interference to the other communication systems and a degree of requirement of the
spectrum resources.
(16)The spectrum management system of (1), wherein the spectrum resources are television
(TV) band spectrum resources and the secondary communication system is a communication
system not authorized to use TV band spectrum resources.
(17)The spectrum management system of (1), wherein the spectrum management system
manages the secondary communication system.
(18)The spectrum management system of (1), wherein the reference point information is
received from another spectrum management system.
(19)A method of spectrum management, comprising: identifying, with circuitry of a spectrum
management system, reference point information for a secondary communication system; and
determining, by the circuitry of the spectrum management system, spectrum resources for the
secondary communication system based on whether the reference point information is
positive or negative.
(20)A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable
instructions thereon, the compute-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause
the computer to perform a method comprising: identifying reference point information for a
secondary communication system; and determining spectrum resources for the secondary
communication system based on whether the reference point information is positive or
negative.
(21) A spectrum management method for managing a second system's utilization of spectrum
resources of a first system, wherein the second system's priority of using spectrum is lower
than that of the first system, the spectrum management method comprising: determining a
reference point comprising at least one parameter indicating corresponding spectrum usage of
the second system; determining, based on the reference point, at least one second system to be
the second system occupying the spectrum resources of the first system; and determining an
allocation solution of allocating the spectrum resources of the first system to the at least one
second system.
(22) The spectrum management method of (21), wherein: the spectrum usage comprises at
least one of geographic position, air interface information, antenna height, transmission
template and frequency band of the second system.
(23) The spectrum management method of any one of (21) to (22) wherein: the reference
point comprises at least one of a positive reference point and a negative reference point,
wherein the positive reference point corresponds to the spectrum usage which is advantageous
to utilize the spectrum resources of the first system with respect to at least one of the
parameters comprised in the positive reference point, and the negative reference point
corresponds to the spectrum usage which is disadvantageous to utilize the spectrum resources
of the first system with respect to at least one of the parameters comprised in the positive
reference point.
(24) The spectrum management method of any one of (21) to (23), wherein: the reference
point is determined in at least one of following manners: based on history record of the
spectrum usage, estimating at least a part of spectrum usage among spectrum usage of each
second system, based on the degree of the spectrum resources of the first system utilized by
the second system meeting such second system's service requirement, and based on
information, from the second system, of the corresponding second system releasing the
spectrum resources of the first system occupied by such second system.
(25) The spectrum management method of (24) wherein: in the case that the reference point is
determined by estimating the at least a part of spectrum usage, the spectrum usage, in which
the interference to the first system is lower than a first interference threshold and the spectrum
resources which are able to be allocated to the second system is the most, among the at least a
part of spectrum usage is determined to be the reference point.
(26) The spectrum management method of any one of (23) to (24), wherein: the spectrum
usage, in which the spectrum resources of the first system utilized by the second system does
not meet such second system's service requirement, is determined to be the negative reference
point.
(27) The spectrum management method of any one of (23) to (26), wherein: the spectrum
usage, in which the second system releases the spectrum resources of the first system
occupied by such second system, is determined to be the positive reference point.
(28) The spectrum management method of any one of (21) to (27), wherein: the at least one
second system is determined based on the degree of similarity between spectrum usage of the
second system and the reference point or based on the degree of the similarity and the
priorities of the second system.
(29) The spectrum management method of (23), wherein: the second system, in which the
degree of similarity between spectrum usage of such second system and the positive reference
point is higher than a first positive threshold and/or the degree of similarity between spectrum
usage of such second system and the negative reference point is lower than a first negative
threshold, is determined to be the at least one second system.
(30) The spectrum management method of any one of (23) or (29), wherein: the second
system, in which the degree of similarity between spectrum usage of such second system and
the positive reference point is lower than a second positive threshold and/or the degree of
similarity between spectrum usage of such second system and the negative reference point is
higher than a second negative threshold, is determined to be the at least one second system.
(31) The spectrum management method of (13), wherein: the spectrum resources of the first
system occupied by the second system, in which the degree of similarity between spectrum
usage of such second system and the negative reference point is higher than the second
negative threshold, is released.
(32) The spectrum management method of any one of (21) to (31), further comprising:
announcing the determined reference point, wherein the at least one second system is
determined based on the reference point and according to the second system recommended in
response to the announced reference point.
(33) The spectrum management method of any one of (21) to (32), wherein: the allocation
solution of allocating the spectrum resources of the first system to the at least one second
system is determined in following manner: when the number of the at least one second system
is more than 1, dividing all the spectrum resources of the first system, which are able to be
allocated to the at least one second system, into a plurality of unit spectrum resources, and
allocating, in a predetermined pattern, the unit spectrum resources to the second systems, each
of which has not reached the upper limit of spectrum usage yet, and in each of which such
second system's interference to the first system does not reach a second interference threshold
in the case that such unit spectrum resource is already allocated to such second system, until
all the unit spectrum resources have been allocated or until there is no more second system,
each of which has not reached the upper limit of spectrum usage yet, and in each of which
such second system's interference to the first system does not reach the second interference
threshold in the case such unit spectrum resource is already allocated to such second system.
(34) The spectrum management method of (33), wherein: when allocating the unit spectrum
resources to the second system, the allocation is performed in a descending order of the unit
spectrum resource benefit, or in a descending order of the degree of requirement of the second
systems to the spectrum.
(35) The spectrum management method of (34), wherein: the unit spectrum resource benefit is
at least one of the service increment and the economic benefit brought by each time the
second system obtaining the unit spectrum resource.
(36) The spectrum management method of any one of (21) to (35), wherein: the first system is
a television broadcast system, and the second system is a wireless local area net system.
(37) A spectrum management apparatus for managing a second system's utilization of
spectrum resources of a first system, wherein the second system's priority of using spectrum
is lower than that of the first system, the spectrum management apparatus comprising: a
reference point determination unit configured to determine a reference point comprising at
least one parameter indicating corresponding spectrum usage of the second system; a second
system determination unit configured to determine, based on the reference point, at least one
second system to be the second system occupying the spectrum resources of the first system;
and an allocation solution determination unit configured to determine an allocation solution of
allocating the spectrum resources of the first system to the at least one second system.
(38) A spectrum management apparatus for managing a second system's utilization of
spectrum resources of a first system, wherein the second system's priority of using spectrum
is lower than that of the first system, the spectrum management apparatus comprising: a
reference point determination unit configured to determine a reference point comprising at
least one parameter indicating corresponding spectrum usage of the second system, wherein:
at least one second system as the second system occupying the spectrum resources of the first
system is determined based on the reference point, and an allocation solution of allocating the
spectrum resources of the first system to the at least one second system is determined based
on the at least one second system.
(39) A spectrum management apparatus for allocating spectrum resources of a first system to
a second system, the spectrum management apparatus comprising: a second system
determination unit configured to determine, based on a determined reference point, at least
one second system to be the second system occupying the spectrum resources of the first
system, wherein the reference point comprises at least one parameter indicating corresponding
spectrum usage of the second system, and an allocation solution of allocating the spectrum
resources of the first system to the at least one second system is determined based on the at
least one second system.
(40) A spectrum management apparatus for allocating spectrum resources of a first system to
a second system, the spectrum management apparatus comprising: an allocation solution
determination unit configured to determine an allocation solution of allocating the spectrum
resources of the first system to at least one second system as the second system occupying the
spectrum resources of the first system, wherein the at least one second system is determined
based on a determined reference point, and the reference point comprises at least one
parameter indicating corresponding spectrum usage of the second system.
[00178] Although preferable embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, the
above description are only used to illustrate the disclosure, and do not limit the disclosure. For
those skilled in the art, various features of the embodiments of the disclosure may be changed,
substituted, combined and combine in part without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is only defined by the attached claims.
CLAIMS
1. A spectrum management system, comprising:
circuitry configured to
identify reference point information for a secondary communication system,
determine spectrum resources for the secondary communication system based on
whether the reference point information is positive or negative.
2. The spectrum management system, according to claim 1, wherein when the
reference information is positive, the circuitry determines that the secondary communication
system is a candidate for spectrum resources.
3. The spectrum management system, according to claim 1, wherein when the
reference information is negative, the circuitry determines that the secondary communication
system is not a candidate for spectrum resources.
4. The spectrum management system, according to claim 3, wherein when the
circuitry determines that the secondary communication system is not a candidate for resources,
the circuitry reconfigures the secondary communication system to release at least a subset of
spectrum resources currently used by the secondary communication system.
5. The spectrum management system according to claim 4, wherein the circuitry is
further configured to provide another spectrum management system with information
regarding the secondary communication system managed by the spectrum management
system.
6. The spectrum management system according to claim 5, wherein the information
regarding the secondary communication system managed by the spectrum management
system includes information indicating that at least the subset of spectrum resources used by
the secondary communication system managed by the spectrum management system has been
released.
7. The spectrum management system according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is
further configured to receive, from the other spectrum management system, information
regarding at least one secondary communication system managed by the other spectrum
management system.
8. The spectrum management system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry
identifies the reference point information of the secondary communication system based on
proximity of the secondary communication system thereto.
9. The spectrum management system according to claim 1, wherein the reference
point information includes at least one characteristic of another secondary communication
system.
10. The spectrum management system according to claim 9, wherein the reference
point information is positive when the other secondary communication system has available
spectrum resources for the secondary communication system.
11. The spectrum management system according to claim 9, wherein the reference
point information includes at least one of location and frequency band information of the
other secondary communication system.
12. The spectrum management system according to claim 9, wherein the reference
point information is negative when the other secondary communication system requires
spectrum resources.
13. The spectrum management system according to claim 9, wherein the reference
point information is negative if the other secondary communication system has priority over
the secondary communication system for spectrum resource assignment.
14. The spectrum management system according to claim 2, wherein when the
circuitry determines that a plurality of secondary communication systems are candidates for
spectrum resources, the circuitry further determines the spectrum resources for each of the
plurality of secondary communication systems based on interference to other communication
systems.
15. The spectrum management system according to claim 14, wherein the circuitry
further determines spectrum resources for each of the plurality of secondary communication
systems based on the interference to the other communication systems and a degree of
requirement of the spectrum resources.
16. The spectrum management system according to claim 1, wherein the spectrum
resources are television (TV) band spectrum resources and the secondary communication
system is a communication system not authorized to use TV band spectrum resources.
17. The spectrum management system according to claim 1, wherein the spectrum
management system manages the secondary communication system.
18. The spectrum management system according to claim 1, wherein the reference
point information is received from another spectrum management system.
19. A method of spectrum management, comprising:
identifying, with circuitry of a spectrum management system, reference point
information for a secondary communication system; and
determining, by the circuitry of the spectrum management system, spectrum
resources for the secondary communication system based on whether the reference point
information is positive or negative.
20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable
instructions thereon, the compute-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, cause
the computer to perform a method comprising:
identifying reference point information for a secondary communication system; and
determining spectrum resources for the secondary communication system based on
whether the reference point information is positive or negative.