Methods and apparatus for coordinated utilization of quasi-licensed wireless spectrum

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10340976-B2
Application number	US-201715785283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2017
Priority date	Oct 16, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing quasi-licensed spectrum access within a prescribed area or venue, including to users or subscribers of one or more Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). In one embodiment, the quasi-licensed spectrum utilizes 3.5 GHz CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum allocated by a Federal or commercial SAS (Spectrum Access System) to a managed content delivery network that includes one or more wireless access nodes (e.g., CBSDs) in data communication with a controller, and the core(s) of the MNO network(s). In one variant, the controller dynamically allocates (i) spectrum within the area or venue within CBRS bands, and (ii) MNO “roaming” users or subscribers to CBRS bands (e.g., via extant LTE-TD technology). In one particular implementation, the managed network comprises a Multiple Systems Operator (MSO) network such as a cable or satellite network, and the MSO and MNO coordinate to implement user-specific and/or data-specific policies for the roaming MNO subscribers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computerized method for providing wireless service within a first wireless network infrastructure to a computerized mobile user device served by a second wireless network infrastructure, the computerized method comprising:
at least temporarily registering the computerized mobile user device with the first wireless network infrastructure;
selecting at least one quasi-licensed band for use by the computerized mobile user device within the first wireless network infrastructure;
communicating data to the computerized mobile user device enabling the computerized mobile user device to access the selected at least one quasi-licensed band for use;
establishing communication with the computerized mobile user device using the at least one quasi-licensed band via one or more access points of the first wireless network infrastructure; and
communicating user data to and from the computerized mobile user device via a data interface between the first wireless network infrastructure and the second wireless network infrastructure, wherein the communicating of the user data is conducted according to at least one user-specific policy associated with the computerized mobile user device, the at least one user-specific policy specified by the second wireless network infrastructure and based on particular information identifying the computerized mobile user device.

2. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the communicating data comprises transmitting the data to the computerized mobile user device via the data interface between the first wireless network infrastructure and the second wireless network infrastructure.

3. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the user data is generated as part of a communication session established using the at least one quasi-licensed band and the one or more access points.

4. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless network infrastructure comprises a managed cable or satellite service provider network, and the second wireless network infrastructure comprises a cellular network.

5. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the establishing communication with the computerized mobile user device using the at least one quasi-licensed band via the one or more access points of the first wireless network infrastructure comprises using a Long Term Evolution-Time Division Duplex (LTE-TDD) protocol to establish communication within a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) quasi-licensed band via at least one Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD).

6. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the establishing the communication with the computerized mobile user device using the at least one quasi-licensed band via the one or more access points of the first wireless network infrastructure comprises imposing at least one service policy associated with the second wireless network infrastructure as part of the communication.

7. The computerized method of claim 6 , further comprising generating the user data as part of a communication session established using the at least one quasi-licensed band and the one or more access points; and
wherein the imposing the at least one service policy associated with the second wireless network infrastructure as part of the communication comprises imposing a QoS (quality of service) policy for at least a portion of the user data.

8. The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the user data as part of a communication session established using the at least one quasi-licensed band and the one or more access points; and
wherein the communicating the user data comprises prioritizing the user data with respect to other user data transacted by the one or more access points.

9. The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the selecting the at least one quasi-licensed band for use by the computerized mobile user device within the first wireless network infrastructure:
transmitting data representative of a spectrum request to a spectrum allocation authority; and
receiving a spectrum grant from the spectrum allocation authority for at least a period of time, the spectrum grant including the at least one quasi-licensed band.

10. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the at least temporarily registering the computerized mobile user device with the first wireless network infrastructure comprises obtaining data specific to the computerized mobile user device from an authentication entity of the second wireless network infrastructure.

11. A computerized method for providing mobile visiting access services for at least one computerized mobile client device, the at least one computerized mobile client device configured to use first and second wireless protocols, the computerized method comprising:
registering, while the at least one computerized mobile client device is utilizing the first wireless protocol, the at least one computerized mobile client device with a temporary service provider network, the temporary service provider network comprising both a radio access network (RAN) and a core portion;
allocating quasi-licensed spectrum to the at least one computerized mobile client device for use within the RAN; and
causing the at least one computerized mobile client device to transition from the first wireless protocol to the second wireless protocol.

12. The computerized method of claim 11 , wherein the first wireless protocol comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-FDD (frequency division duplex) cellular protocol, and the second protocol comprises an LTE-TDD (time division duplex) protocol.

13. The computerized method of claim 11 , wherein the allocating quasi-licensed spectrum comprises:
transmitting data to a domain proxy (DP), the DP configured to communicate at least a portion of the data to a Spectrum Access System (SAS) to obtain access to a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band;
receiving from the DP data indicating a CBRS band allocation; and
allocating at least a portion of the CBRS band allocation for use by at least one computerized mobile client device in communicating with an access point of the RAN.

14. The computerized method of claim 11 , wherein the registering the at least one computerized mobile client device with a temporary service provider network comprises:
receiving, from a cellular service provider network core portion, data indicative of the at least one computerized mobile device; and
utilizing the received data to authenticate the at least one computerized mobile device within the temporary service provider network pursuant to a service request issued from the at least one computerized mobile client device.

15. The computerized method of claim 14 , further comprising:
establishing data communication between the at least one computerized mobile user device and the cellular service provider network; and
transacting one or more messages between a computerized user device of the cellular service provider network and the at least one computerized mobile user device via the cellular service provider network and the temporary service provider network.

16. The computerized method of claim 15 , wherein the transacting the one or more messages between the computerized user device of the cellular service provider network and the at least one computerized mobile user device via the cellular service provider network and the temporary service provider network comprises utilizing both a core portion of the cellular service provider network and a core portion of the temporary service provider network.

17.

Assignees

• Charter Communications Operating Llc

Inventors

• Kakinada Umamaheswar
• Gunasekara Don
• Bencheikh Ahmed
• Newberg Shane

Classifications

• H04W16/14 Primary

  Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks} · CPC title

• H04W76/15

  Setup of multiple wireless link connections · CPC title

• H04B2001/7154

  with means for preventing interference · CPC title

• H04B2001/71362

  using a bank of frequency sources · CPC title

• H04B1/7176

  Data mapping, e.g. modulation · CPC title