«aUK Patent Application ,.GB ,,2522927
ooA
(43)Date ofA Publication 12.08.2015,
(21) Applicaton No: 14023444
(22) Date o Fling 1.022014
(71) Applicants)
csi
{(ncorporated in South Attica)
Corporate Building, Scientia, Pretoria 0002,
South Africa
(72) Inventors)
Fisseha Mekuria
Luzango Pangani Mfupe
Liteietsi George Montsi
(74) Agent andior Address for Service:
Kilburn & Strode LLP
20 Red Lion Street, LONDON, WC1R 4PJ,
United Kingdom
(nrc:
‘Hoaw 16/14 (2008.01)
(66) Documents Gos
EP 2693702 A
Wo 2012/097923 A
wo 2012149670 A
us 20140036791 A
(68) Field of Search
INTL Hoaw
(Other EPODOG, WPI, TATE
(64) Title of the Invention: A method and system: back-tracking forward-looking (BTFL) dynamic channel
allocation mechanism for white space radio
Abstract Tile: Dynamic channel allocation mechanism for white space radio networks
(57) Spectrum is allocated to enquiring white space devices to
ensure that no harmful interference occurs with other
devices within a white space radio network. An enquiring
white space device requests at least one channel or
sspecirum range from an allocation server. The allocation
server determines whether the white space device is
‘operating on a local or national instance. The allocation
server communicates with a pre-populated white space
database which indicates available unused white space
channels, calculated from primary transmitter parameters
‘and having at least local and national instances. The
allocation server determines which available channels
are applicable to the enquiring white space device based
(on the pre-defined location and time period. The available
channels are classified and ranked into a fist lst of
channels with best single channel characteristics and a
ssacond list wth best contiguous channel characteristic.
The channels are allocated to the enquiring white space
devices on a first-come first-served basis.
FIG. 3
309
“ ( tort )
X /
WED intowogate goodocation
spectrum database (6.80) |~“~S02
CCalulate protected contours |_~304
waiable channels | ~306
Populate local atonal and
Intemational cous instances of 308
whitespace databese (WSOB)
End
V Le6zes¢ aD1/6
Cloud
100
Channel
allocation server
Whitespace
Sa databese
database he
(GLSD)
Telecommunications network
White space
radio network
Protected
contour “A”
Enquiring WSD
Primary transmitter
FIG. 12/6
Channel allocation server
Ss i102
SS 210
200 6
5 Computer-readable_
Processor ae
Computer
Extraction 212
202. engine |_program__|
Interference
216
204~|_ +A Data processing criteria
11 engine
Protection |_| |
White parameters [—| 218
|_| wnitespaces {_parameters_|
206-4 analysis engine
‘Communication
arrangement
214 Telecommunications
network
Whitespace database (WSDB)
2
National instance
—__National instance _
International instance
FIG. 23/6
Start
¥
WSD interrogate geo-location
spectrum database (GLSD)
¥
Calculate protected contours
ee
Calculate available channels
y
Populate local, national and
international cloud instances of
whitespace database (WSDB)
End
FIG. 3
302
h>304
L306
308500
4/6
Start
Receive channel allocation
request
Determine operating level of
wsD
ee
502
L503
Y
Interrogate WSDB
Determine applicable
protected contours and
available channels
——
504
L506
Ye
Populate the available unused
channels biock in the WSDB.
ae
Allocate channel (FIG 5)
507
L508
FIG. 45/6
Populate Channel Grid:
{Portfolios A1,2}
ls
Channel Gri (Portolios A)
Optimal?
Yes
Optimise:
Channel Grid (Portfolios As)
Te Channel
in Grid fPortiolo A)
Adjacent to Allocated
Channels?
‘Search the available unused
channels block
ee
Sort According to Criteria:
{Contiguous Channels, Single
Channels}; Set Flags
SF Same Channel Exist
linear distance vector >=
Set Flag:
Set Flag
Min NPSC(Portfolios As)
Populate Channel Grid:
{Portfolios 81,2, C1,2,
}
Chanel Grid: {Portes By»
3
Yes
(Optimise: Channel Grid
Portfolios Bs 2, C2.
)
fe Channel
Gri: (Portoios By. Cs
‘Adjacent to Allocated
Channeis?
‘Add Pre-set Offset Channel
‘Wath: Channel Grid
(Portfolios A; 2)
OS
Allocate Channel
(Portfolios A; 2)
C=
Toiee Floor
is noise foor vector
“Threshold?
Set Flag:
Min NF (Portfolios A;2)
Frequency
's frequency vector <=
“Threshold?
Set Flag:
Min F Portfolios Ay)
Transmitting
Power Is specttum mask veer
32 Threshold?
Set Flag,
Max TP (Portfolios Ay)
Set Flag,
Max TA(Portfol io sA1,2)
‘Add Pre-set Offset Channel
Width: Channel Grid
Portfolios By2,C1.2,
)
¥
Allocate Channel
(Portfolios End: Bi2, C12...)
C End
FIG. 56/6
600
608 —)
PROCESSOR
610-\_]_ woeooispury fe ———»} oven L602
“UF etrucrions i
‘Main MEMORY
ALPHA-NUMERIC INPUT
612~_} ane >| «> Lo 604
624
"UP nsravenons J
CuRsoR CONTROL
}«———»|_ | >
Sao] DEVICE stavomemory | -606
aus
616 A_] _ Kanne unt
ee
622—~ | seers | 608
624 |/ instructions j
SIGNAL GENERATION
os
618 “NY DEVICE
626
FIG. 610
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“te
A method and system: back-tracking forward-looking (BTFL) dynamic channel
allocation mechanism for white space radio networks
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to dynamic allocation of channels in the radio
frequency (RF) spectrum (esp. unused analogue, digital mobile and fixed terrestrial
fixed broadcast TV transmitting channels) and specifically to a method and system
for back-tracking forward-looking dynamic channel allocation mechanism for white
space radio networks (WSRNs) that are formed by plurality of white space radios
(WSRs). Broadly the invention disseminates the best available unused TV spectrum
to the WSRs in a particular network according to their specific service demands while
ensuring that no harmful interference occurs among white space radios (WSRs) also
known as white space devices (WSD), the terms WSR and WSD will be used
interchangeably throughout this document.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
A portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is most useful for radio/wireless
telecommunications is called radio frequency (RF) spectrum. RF spectrum ranges
from 30 — 3,000 MHz. Furthermore, RF spectrum is divided into two distinct parts,
namely the very high frequency (VHF) band which ranges from 30 - 300 MHz and
the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band which ranges from 300 - 3,000 MHz. Most of
today’s common and emerging radio telecommunications services are found in the
VHF and UHF; these services include but are not limited to, FM broadcasting, TV
broadcasting, Radio Astronomy, Mobile cellular communications, Machine-to-
Machine (M2M) communications and Wireless microphones.10
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However, in the telecommunications industry, RF spectrum is considered to be a
scarce natural resource. The aforementioned scarcity is attributable in part to the
traditional inefficient methods of RF spectrum management by national regulatory
authorities. RF spectrum is being inefficiently statically allocated on the service-by-
service or band-by-band basis. Such inefficient allocations leave swaths of locally
unused RF spectrum in geographical and temporal dimensions. This unused RF
spectrum is referred to as white space (WS). WS spectrum can be used on a
secondary basis to provide useful wireless telecommunications services. However,
such usefulness of WS spectrum can only be exploited provided that existing or
primary licensed services such as TV broadcasting is not being harmfully interfered
with, with secondary users (SUs).
Spectrum regulators around the world have begun to consider introducing regulations
to allow dynamic operations of secondary users in the spectrum bands that are
primarily allocated for analogue and or, digital mobile and fixed terrestrial TV
broadcasting that lies fallow at particular time and space, hereinafter referred to as
television white space (TVWS). However, for such regulations to be successful, an
intelligent database system is required to steer operations of SUs/WSDs in the TV
bands. This is necessary in order to prevent any harmful interference that may be
caused to the primary/licensed TV transmitters,
Formation of a white space radio network (WSRN) in any given time and
geographical location requires a plurality of multiple WSDs, these can be fixed,
mobile or @ combination of both type of WSDs. Usually, such WSDs contend for the
available unused RF spectrum resources in the form of WS channels from the geo-
location White Space database (WSDB).
Accordingly, it is an object of the method using such white space database (WSDB)
to dynamically determine and allocate available unused TV channels based on
location and time of an enquiring WSD(s).10
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Moreover, it is also equally important that when, the available unused channels are
allocated to the enquiring WSD(s), no harmful interference occurs among the WSDs.
Additionally such channel allocation should be performed to fulfil specific service
demand of the WSDs
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly, the invention provides a computer-implemented method of allocating
spectrum (e.g. via a web-service) to an enquiring white space device (WSD) (e.g.
based on its specific service demands, like a video application that can enable a
telemedicine link between a rural clinic and an urban hospital which will require
higher bandwidth (broadband connection), or machine-to-machine (M2M) application
services which will require narrower bandwidth) ensuring that no harmful interference
occurs among other enquiring or already operating WSDs, the method including
receiving, by a channel allocation server in communication with a white space
database (WSDB), a channel allocation request message from the WSD to
allocate at least one channel or spectrum range for a pre-defined geo-location
and time period to the WSD having defined transmitter parameters;
determining whether the WSD is operating on a local instance or national
instance;
interrogating a pre-populated white space database (WSDB) indicative of
protected contours of primary transmitters and a block of available unused
channels calculated from primary transmitter parameters and having at least
local and national instances;
determining which protected contours of primary transmitters and available
channels are applicable to the WSD based on the pre-defined geo-location
and time period;
classifying and ranking the available unused channels into portfolios based on
pre-defined criteria into a single scenario or multiple scenarios, such that
channels with best single channel characteristics are ranked in grids in a first
single channel portfolio (Portfolio A2) and channels with best contiguous10
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4.
channel characteristics are ranked in grids in a first contiguous channel
portfolio (Portfolio A1); and
applying, by a white spaces analysis engine (e.g. via a web-service using
standardised communication means such as the protocol for accessing white
space database (PAWS)) dynamically allocates best available unused
channels as classified in the aforementioned portfolios to the enquiring WSDs
in a first-come first-serve basis.
This allocation may be temporary in nature such that in a pre-determined length of
time the WSDs may be required to repeat the enquiring process again
The primary transmitters may be analogue, digital mobile or fixed terrestrial
broadcasting TV transmitters and wireless microphones, The WSD may be a base
station, customer-premises equipment (CPE), personal digital assistance (PDA),
generic WS radio device, an IP-TV transmitter, or the like (any of these can be fixed
or mobile WSDs).
The pre-defined channel allocation criteria may include a linear distance component,
a noise floor component, a single channel inquiry component, a multiple channel
(contiguous) enquiry component, a frequency component, a channel type
component, a plurality of same channel but found from multiple different primary
transmitter stations component, a time of channel availability component and a
transmitting power component (spectrum mask)
‘Additionally, the invention includes the cloud-computing instances; If the WSD is
stationary or fixed at a particular location, it may be determined that the WSD is
operating at a local cloud level or instance. Accordingly, the local cloud instance of
the WSDB may be interrogated for available unused channels. If the WSD is mobile
and roaming from one locality to another within a country or nationally, it may be
determined that the WSD is operating at a national cloud level or instance.
Accordingly, the national cloud instance of the WSDB may be interrogated for10
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8.
available unused channels. The national cloud instance of the WSDB may comprise
a plurality of local cloud instances. The WSDB may comprise at least two instances
or levels.
The WSDB may additionally comprise an international cloud instance, which may
comprise a plurality of national cloud instances. Thus, The WSDB may comprise
three cloud levels or instances. If the WSD is roaming from one country to another, it
may be determined that the WSD is operating at an international cloud level.
Accordingly, the international cloud instance of the WSDB may be interrogated for
available unused channels.
The method may be repeated iteratively for single or multiple WSDs installed in fixed
geographical location or for a single or multiple mobile WSDs. Once a channel has
been availed to a first WSD, it will not be available to a second WSD so that the
second or multiple WSDs do not interfere, or only interferes minimally, with the first,
and so forth
More specifically, a method and system: backtracking forward-looking dynamic
channel allocation mechanism for white space radio networks:
a WSDB has identified a block of available unused available channels
VACHS {1,2,3,....nth} that may be used by enquiring wsDs (X.¥,Z, ..nth} from the
same or different geographical localities in any of the aforementioned cloud
instances. Such channels are only allocated in accordance to the following pre-
defined criteria
PDC { single channel inquiry, contiguous channels inquiry
spectrum mask, channel type, linear distance, noise floor
time of avatiability, frequeny,plurality of same channels,
This allocation mechanism ensures that when a channel is assigned to a WSD in a
given locality, any channel in a future block that might conflict (¢.g., possibility of
causing harmful interference) this current allocation is temporary removed from the10
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block, and that the allocated channel is not in use by other operating WSD within the
locality. The channel allocation will follow the following procedure:
Contiguous Channel Inquiry:
Portfolio A,” channel allocation gt
1. If plurality of same channels does not exist: Contiguous channels with longest
linear distances from the edge of the protected contour of the primary
transmitter to the enquiring WSD;
2. If plurality of same channels does exist: Contiguous channels with shortest
linear distances from the edge of the protected contour of the primary
transmitter to the enquiring WSD;
3. Contiguous channels with lowest noise floor,
4, Lowest frequency channel;
5, If contiguous channels are adjacent to channels already allocated to other
WSDs, a pre-defined minimum channel separation off-set width is required;
6. Contiguous channels with maximum allowed transmitting power;
i Contiguous channels with maximum time of availability.
ingle Channel Inquiry: “Portfolio A,” channel allocation grid:
1, If plurality of same channels does not exist: Channel with longest linear
distance from the edge of the protected contour of the primary transmitter to
the enquiring WSD;
2. If plurality of same channels does exist: Channel with longest linear distance
from the primary transmitter to the enquiring WSD;
3. Channels with lowest noise floor;
4. Lowest frequency channel,
5. Ifa channel is adjacent to channels already allocated to other WSDs, a pre-
defined minimum channel separation off-set width is required;
6. Channels with maximum allowed transmitting power,
7. Channels with maximum time of availability.10
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Te
Similarly, using the above procedure, channel allocation grids for “Portfolio Bs,2, C1,2,
Diz" and subsequent grids will have inferior characteristics as those in “Portfolio
Anz’
In all cases, the WSDB will allocate such channels to the enquiring WSDs in a first-
come-first serve basis. The above procedure is further illustrated in Figure 5
The method may include the prior step of populating the white space database
(WSDB) with a block of available unused channels. In such case, the method may
include:
the WSDB interrogating, by an extraction engine, a geo-location spectrum
database (GLSD) to extract primary transmitter parameters and digital terrain
elevation data therefrom for each of a plurality of localities;
calculating, by @ propagation calculation and digital terrain data processing
engine, protected contours based on the primary transmitter parameters within
which WSDs are not permitted to operate, thereby to avoid or minimise
harmful interference with primary transmitters for each locality;
such protected contours are determined by calculating signal attenuation of
each primary transmitter in a given locality. The calculations are achieved by
utilising radio propagation models such as Longley-Rice (L-R), ITU-R P.1546-
4, ITU-R P1812, HATA, ITWOM. The methodologies utilised for calculating
the protected contours of primary transmitters may be Monte-Carlo (M-C)
simulation, minimum coupling loss (MCL) or enhanced minimum coupling loss
(EMCL);
for every calculation of protected contours of primary transmitters, the WSDB
may utilise World Geodetic System (WGS-84);
for every calculation of protected contours of primary transmitters, the WSDB
may utilise digital terrain elevation data such as shuttle radar topographical
maps (SRTM-3/4),
calculating, by the white spaces analysis engine, available channels based on
the protected contours for each locality; and10
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populating, by the white spaces analysis engine a local cloud instance of the
white space database (WSDB) indicative of the protected contours and
available channels for each locality and a national cloud instance comprising a
plurality of the local cloud instances.
The protected contours may be calculated in accordance with the technology type of
the transmitter. Depending on the international telecommunication union (ITU)
region, the analogue and digital, mobile or fixed terrestrial broadcast TV channels
width are 1.536/5/6/7/8 MHz wide and 125-250 kHz channel width for wireless
microphones. Furthermore, TV transmitter-receiver stations can be categorised
according to their service types such as full-power TV station sites, low-power TV
station sites, gap-filler stations and self-help relay link sites and studio-transmitter-
links. The data processing engine may include predefined regulatory protection
parameters by which to calculate the protected contours. The protection parameters
may dictate protection ratios for channels based on channel type and transmitter
technology type.
The GLSD may be spectrum regulator's central database. Various jurisdictions may
have different spectrum allocation regulations, but typically there is some form of
database or repository of allocated spectrum. It may be a national database for a
particular country or region.
The WSDB may also include an international cloud instance. A plurality of national
cloud instances may be gathered to constitute an international cloud instance of the
WSDB
The primary transmitter parameters may include one or more of:
ge0-location of the transmitter (this can be a point, a polygon or a sphere);
service type:
antenna radiation pattern;10
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site height above mean sea level (AMSL)
antenna height above ground (AGL);
maximum effective radiated power (ERP)
The white spaces analysis engine may be operable to populate the WSDB with a
block of information that may consist:
1. allist of available channels together with an indication of the channel type (¢.9
co-channel or adjacent);
2. maximum available contiguous channels
3, corresponding frequencies of each available channel;
4, maximum allowed transmitting power on each of the available channel;
5, maximum duration of availability of each of the channel;
6. allocation name (e.g. a province/area combination);
7. cloud locality for each of available channel,
8. _geo-location coordinates of available channels
9, the protected contours and details of their associated transmitters where
available channels were found, together with a call sign of each transmitter;
and
10. _ an indication of the type of technology used by the transmitter having available
channels. (The type of technology of the transmitters may be either analogue
or digital. If digital, it may be digital, fixed or mobile TV.)
The WSDB may be interrogated directly by a WSD via a web-service using
standardised communication techniques such as a protocol for accessing white
space database (PAWS) or by a human user or administrator. The
user/administrator may access the WSDB via a web-based graphical user interface
(GUN),10
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The invention extends to a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored
thereon a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes the
computer to implement the method as defined above.
The invention extends to a system for dynamic allocation of spectrum to white space
devices (WSDs) for no harmful interference among themselves (WSDs) and based
on their (WSDs) service demands, the system including
a communication arrangement operable to sendireceive a dynamic channel
allocation request/response to allocate at least one channel or spectrum range
for a pre-defined geo-location and time period to the WSD having defined
primary transmitter parameters;
a pre-populated white space database (WSDB) indicative of primary
transmitters protected contours and a block of available unused channels
calculated from primary transmitter parameters and having at least local and
national cloud instances; and
a white spaces analysis engine operable to:
determine whether the WSD is operating on a local or national cloud
level;
classify the available unused channels into one or multiple scenarios,
namely Portfolio Ai2, ‘Portfolio B;2, C12, Di2" and so forth and so
determine which available unused channels are applicable to the WSD
based on the pre-defined geo-location and time period;
The system may include a channel allocation server. The system may include pre-
defined interference criteria and scenario. The WSD may be a single antenna radio
device or a multi-antenna radio device.
The system may include10
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atte
an extraction engine operable to interrogate a geo-location spectrum database
(GLSD) to extract primary transmitter parameters therefrom for each of a
plurality of localities; and
a propagation calculation and digital terrain data processing engine operable
to:
calculate protected contours based on the primary transmitter
parameters within which WSDs are not permitted to operate, thereby to
avoid or minimise interference with primary transmitters for each
locality;
a white spaces analysis engine operable to:
calculate available unused channels based on the protected contours
for each locality; and
populate a local instance of the white space database (WSDB)
indicative of the protected contours and available channels for each
locality and a national instance comprising a plurality of the local
instances.
The system may include the WSDB. The system may include predefined protection
parameters by which to calculate the protected contours
The system may include a user interface module operable to present a user interface
to @ human administrator via which the administrator may query the WSDB.
The system may include a processor and a computer-readable medium having
stored thereon a computer program. The engines (e.g., the white spaces analysis
engine, the extraction engine, and/or the propagation calculation and digital terrain
data processing engine) may be conceptual modules corresponding to functional
tasks performed by the processor. It is to be understood that the processor may be
one or more microprocessors, controllers, or any other suitable computing device,
resource, hardware, software, or embedded logic. Further, the system is not10
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necessarily consolidated into one device, but may be distributed among a number of
devices.
The system may include a cloud-computing architecture identified as Spectrum
Database as a Service (SDaaS). For example, while the WSDB may form an integral
part of the system, it may instead be geographically remote from the processor
providing the functional engines
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
In the drawings
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 5
shows a schematic view of a system for dynamic allocation of spectrum
to white space devices (WSDs) based on the service demand while
ensuring no harmful interference among enquiring or already operating
WSDs in a particular white space radio network (WSRN), in accordance
with the invention;
shows a schematic view of a channel allocation server forming part of
the system of FIGURE 1;
shows a flow diagram of a method of populating a WSDB, in
accordance with the invention;
shows a flow diagram of a method of dynamic allocation of spectrum to
white space devices (WSDs) based on their service demand while
ensuring no harmful interference among enquiring or already operating
WSDs , in accordance with the invention;
‘shows a block of the flow diagram of FIGURE 4 in more detail, and10
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FIGURE 6 shows a schematic representation of a computer within which a set of
instructions, for causing the computer to perform any one or more of the
methodologies described herein, may be executed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT
The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the
invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognise that many changes can be
made to the embodiment described, while still attaining the beneficial results of the
present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the
present invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the present
invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will
recognise that modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible
and can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the present
invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of
the present invention and not a limitation thereof.
Referring to FIGURE 1, reference numeral 100 generally indicates a system for
allocating spectrum to an enquiring white space device (WSD) 122 within a white
space radio network (WSRN) 130 based on the WSDs 120 service demand while
ensuring no harmful interference among active WSDs, in accordance with the
invention. The system 100 comprises @ channel allocation server 102 (which is
described in more detail in FIGURE 2). The channel allocation server 102 together
with. The WSDB 104 may be hosted in the cloud and networked thereto.
Accordingly, some WSDs 122 (e.g,, base stations) may be able to communicate
directly with the channel allocation server 102 via the telecommunications network
110. On the other hand, non-base station WSD 122a, 122b may only be able to
communicate with the channel allocation server 102 through the base station WSD
122,10
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14.
The server 102 is in communication with a conventional geo-location spectrum
database (GLSD) 106 which is typically hosted by a third party like an official
regulatory authority. The server 102 connects to the GLSD via a telecommunications
network 110 which may include packet-switched or circuit-switched networks, and
public or private networks. The telecommunications network 110 may include, for
example, the Internet and/or a cellular network. Regardless of the precise
configuration of the telecommunications network 110, it permits communication
between the various connected nodes
A plurality of conventional primary transmitters 120 (only one of which is illustrated)
have been allocated a fixed specific spectrum (in the form of radio communications
channels) in which they may operate. Conventional primary transmitters 120 may
have single radio communications channel or multiple radio communication channels
configuration. This fixed spectrum allocation is overseen by the regulatory authority.
In this example, the transmitter 120 is a TV transmitter with either analogue or digital
mobile or fixed transmission technology. The transmitter 120 in this example has
multiple radio communications channels configuration with channels: CHa, CHb and
CHe, Usually, there will be a multitude of primary transmitters 120 arranged
geographically about a whole country or region, but all should be recorded in the
GLSD 106. The transmitter 120 is typically a primary or licensed user.
‘An enquiring white space device (WSD) 122 is a transceiver which is intended to be
allocated, and transmit or receive in, a non-interfering communications channel. Such
communications channels are not locally used by the primary transmitters 120 at that
particular time. The WSD 122 is typically an unlicensed secondary user. The
plurality of WSDs 122 forms an integral part of a white space radio network (WSRN)
130 within which no harmful interference must occur among WSDs. As such, the
need exists to allocate communications channels to each enquiring WSD 122
dynamically and reliably.
FIGURE 2 shows the channel allocation server 102 and WSDB 104 in more detail
The server 102 includes a computer processor 200, a computer-readable medium10
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210 and a communication arrangement 214. The computer-readable medium 210
has stored thereon a computer program 212 to direct the operation of the processor
200, as well as interference criteria 216 and protection parameters 218. The server
102 may be a stand-alone hardware server or a cloud- based system. The server
102 may provide a user application layer (e.g. web client, WSD client), an application
server layer, a data layer (e.g. Database server, propagation modelling layer, terrain
modelling layer), an operating system layer, and a virtual or hardware layer (e.g.
Spectrum Database as a Service (SDaaS) cloud server). Instead, the interference
criteria 216 and/or protection parameters 218 may be stored on the WSDB 104.
The processor 200 (under the direction of the computer program 212) has a number
of functional engines or modules, namely an extraction engine 202, a propagation
calculation and digital terrain data processing engine 204 (further referred to merely
as a data processing engine 204), and a white spaces analysis engine 208. In brief,
the extraction engine 202 is operable to interrogate the GLSD 106 and extract data
therefrom. The data processing engine 204 is operable to calculate protected
contours and available channels based on the extracted data (as depicted in Figure
1). The white spaces analysis engine 206 is operable to determine whether or not a
channel may be availed to the enquiring WSD 122 based on the WSDB 104. The
functionality of these engines 202-206 is further described below.
The WSDB 104 is conceptually divided into three cloud aspects/instances or sub-
databases 250-254. A local (or provincial) cloud instance 250 includes of various
individual localities, comprising unused TV channel availability, white space radio
network (WSRN) details, wireless services provider (WISP) registerllicensing, and
WSD access criteria. A national cloud instance 252 includes a WSD register,
Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA), wireless services provider
(WISP) registerflicensing, interference criteria, regulatory and policy data. Finally, the
international cloud instance 254 includes WSDs roaming data, cross-border or
country-to-country interference control regulatory and policy data. Depending on the
operating level and roaming status of the WSD 122b, one of the three instances 250-
254 will be applicable.10
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FIGURE 3 shows a flow diagram of a method 300 of populating WSDB 104, in
accordance with the invention. The method 300 is implemented by the server 102
but, in other embodiments, the server 102 could implement a different method or the
method 300 could be implemented by a different computing device.
The WSDB 104 may be queried by an enquiring WSD 122 via a web-service using
standardised communication means such as the protocol for accessing white space
database (PAWS) or by a human administrator using @ web-based graphical user
interface provided by the server 102 and delivered in an html format.
AWSD 122 is activated and it requires dynamic allocation of a channel to enable it to
operate. The WSD 122 sends an electronic channel request message (via the
telecommunications network 110) to the channel allocation server 102 which, in turn,
receives (at block 502) the request message. The request message also includes a
geo-location of the WSD 122 and time period for which the WSD 122 requires the
channel, together with transmitter parameters of the WSD 122. The request message
may include specific service demands that may require single channel or contiguous
channels based on the WSD service demand.
The server 102 determines (at block 503) the operating level of the WSD 122, 122a,
122b e.g, local and stationary, mobile roaming nationally, or mobile roaming
internationally. The operating level may be defined in the channel allocation request,
or may be deduced from historical access data.
The server 102 interrogates (at block 504) the WSDB 104 in order to retrieve the
protected contours and available channel data (as depicted in Figure 1) and the white
spaces analysis engine 206 then determines (at block 506) which of the protected
contours and available channels are applicable to the WSD 122. The white spaces
analysis engine 206 classifies (at block 507) the best available unused channels 122
into one or multiple scenario: “Portfolio A;2”, “Portfolio By 2” and so forth.10
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“17.
By applying (at block 508) the pre-defined criteria 216 and the interference measure
such that the allocated channel is not in use by other operating WSD within the
locality and that the allocated channel or any other channel that may cause conflict is
temporary withdrawn from the block for future use., a channel is either availed to the
WSD 122, or not. The best channels are dynamically allocated in accordance with
the following procedure:
Contiguous Channel Inquir
Portfolio A,” channel allocation grid:
4. If plurality of same channels does not exist: Contiguous channels with longest
linear distances from the edge of the protected contour of the primary
transmitter to the enquiring WSD;
2. If plurality of same channels does exist: Contiguous channels with shortest
linear distances from the edge of the protected contour of the primary
transmitter to the enquiring WSD;
Contiguous channels with lowest noise floor;
Lowest frequency channel;
If contiguous channels are adjacent to channels already allocated to other
WSDs, a predefined minimum channel separation width is required;
Contiguous channels with maximum allowed transmitting power;
7. Contiguous channels with maximum time of availability
Single Channel Inquiry: “Portfolio Az” channel allocation grid:
1. If plurality of same channels does not exist: Channel with longest linear
distance from the edge of the protected contour of the primary transmitter to
the enquiring WSD;
2. If plurality of same channels does exist: Channel with longest linear distance
from the edge of the protected contour of the primary transmitter to the
enquiring WSD;
3. Channels with lowest noise floor;
Lowest frequency channel;
5. If a channels is adjacent to channels already allocated to other WSDs, a pre-
defined minimum channel separation width is required;
6. Channels with maximum allowed transmitting power,10
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7. Channels with maximum time of availability.
Similarly, using the above procedure, subsequently channel allocation inquiries for
“Portfolio B;2, C12, D2" and subsequent grids will have inferior characteristics as
those in “Portfolio Ai2”
In all cases, the WSDB will dynamically allocate such channels to the enquiring
WSDs in a first-come-first serve basis. The above procedure is further illustrated in
FIGURES 4-5.
Term Definition
PSC Plurality of the Same Channel
NPSC No Plurality of the Same Channel
NF Noise Floor
F Frequency
TP Transmitting Power
TA Time of Availability
Table 1: Definitions of abbreviations used in FIGURE 5
The white spaces analysis engine determines all primary transmitters 120 located
within a pre-defined minimum distance of the WSD 122 vicinity which could
potentially be interfered to, and the protected contours (such as those depicted in
Figure 1) for each of these transmitters 120 is retrieved.
Alist of available unused TV channels may then be populated and may be availed to
the WSD 122. For channel allocation to plural WSDs, the method is repeated, with
any already allocated WSDs taken into account (like the primary transmitters 120) for
channel allocation to subsequent enquiring WSDs10
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FIGURE 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of a computer 600 within which a
set of instructions, for causing the computer 600 to perform any one or more of the
methodologies described herein, may be executed. In a networked deployment, the
computer 600 may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-
client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)
network environment. The computer 600 may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet
PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a
web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any computer 600 capable of
executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be
taken by that computer 600. Further, while only a single computer 600 is illustrated,
the term computer’ shall also be taken to include any collection of computers that
individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any
one or more of the methodologies discussed herein
The example computer system 600 includes a processor 602 (e.g, a central
processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both, a main memory
604 and a static memory 606, which communicate with each other via a bus 608.
The computer 600 may further include a video display unit 610 (e.g., a liquid crystal
display (LCD)). The computer 600 also includes an alphanumeric input device 612
(e.g., a keyboard), a graphical user interface (GUI) navigation device 614 (e.g., a
mouse), a disk drive unit 616, a signal generation device 618 (e.g., a speaker) and a
network interface device 620.
The disk drive unit 616 includes a computer-readable medium 622 on which is stored
one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., software 624) embodying
or utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein.
The software 624 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main
memory 604 and/or within the processor 602 during execution thereof by the
computer system 600, the main memory 604 and the processor 602 also constituting
computer-readable media10
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The software 624 may further be transmitted or received over a network 626 via the
network interface device 620 utilizing any one of a number of well-known transfer
protocols (e.g., HTTP, FTP).
While the computer-readable medium 622 is shown in an example embodiment to be
a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” should be taken to include a
single medium or multiple media (e.g., @ centralized or distributed database, and/or
associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The
term “computer-readable medium" shall also be taken to include any medium that is
capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the
computer 600 and that cause the computer 600 to perform any one or more of the
methodologies of the present embodiments, or that is capable of storing, encoding or
carrying data structures utilized by or associated with such a set of instructions. The
term “computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be
limited to, solid-state memories and optical and magnetic media.
The channel allocation server 102 may include at least some of the components of
the computer 600.
The Applicant believes that the invention as exemplified is advantageous in that it
provides a method of provisioning vacant channels to secondary WSDs 122 based
on their specific service demands as well as without risking interference among
themselves. Further, it provides for the creation of a white space database (WSDB)
104 based on presently available information,10
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4. Acomputer-implemented method of allocating spectrum to an enquiring white
space device (WSD), ensuring that no harmful interference occurs among
other enquiring or already operating WSDs within a white space radio network
(WSRN), the method including
receiving, by a channel allocation server in communication with a white
space database (WSDB), a channel allocation request message from
the WSD to allocate at least one channel or spectrum range for a pre-
defined geo-location and time period to the WSD having defined
transmitter parameters;
determining whether the WSD js operating on a local instance or
national instance;
interrogating a pre-populated white space database (WSDB) indicative
of protected contours of primary transmitters and a block of available
unused channels calculated from primary transmitter parameters and
having at least local and national instances;
determining which protected contours of the primary transmitters and
available channels are applicable to the WSD based on the pre-defined
geo-location and time period;
classifying and ranking the available unused channels into portfolios
based on pre-defined criteria into a single scenario or multiple
scenarios, such that channels with best single channel characteristics
are ranked in grids in a first single channel portfolio (Portfolio Az) and
channels with best contiguous channel characteristics are ranked in
grids in a first contiguous channel portfolio (Portfolio A;); and
allocating dynamically, by a white spaces analysis engine, best
available unused channels as classified in the aforementioned portfolios
to the enquiring WSDs on a first-come first-served basis10
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The method as claimed in claim 1, in which classifying and ranking further
includes defining second and subsequent portfolios, such that channels with
second-best single channel characteristics are ranked in grids in a second
single channel portfolio (Portfolio B) and channels with second-best
contiguous channel characteristics are ranked in grids in a second contiguous
channel portfolio (Portfolio B;), and so forth (Portfolios C;, C2...)
The method as claimed in any of claims 1-2, in which the allocation is
temporary in nature such that after a pre-determined length of time the WSDs
are required to repeat the enquiring process.
The method as claimed in any of claims 1-3, in which the pre-defined channel
allocation criteria includes at least one of a linear distance component, a noise
floor component, a single channel inquiry component, a multiple channel
(contiguous) enquiry component, a frequency component, a channel type
component, a plurality of same channel but found from multiple different
primary transmitter stations component, a time of channel availability
component and a transmitting power component (spectrum mask).
The method as claimed in any of claims 1-4, which is implemented via a web
service and in which the local and national instances are local and national
cloud instances.
The method as claimed in claim 5, in which:
it is determined that the WSD is operating at a local cloud instance if the
WSD is stationary; and
it is determined that the WSD is operating at a national cloud instance if
the WSD is roaming from one locality to another within a country or
nationally.