Methods and Systems for Dynamic Spectrum Arbitrage

Abstract

Methods and system are provided for managing and monitoring allocation of RF spectrum resources based on time, space and frequency. A network may be enabled to allocate excess spectrum resources for use by other network providers on a real-time basis. Allocated resources may be transferred from one provider with excess resources to another in need of additional resources based on contractual terms or on a real-time purchase negotiations and settlements. A network may be enabled to monitor the use of allocated resources on real-time basis and off-load or allow additional users depending on the spectrum resources availability. Public safety networks may be enabled to make spectrum resources available to general public by allocating spectrum resources and monitoring the use of those resources. During an emergency, when traffic increases on a public safety network, the public safety networks may off-load bandwidth traffic to make available necessary resources for public safety users.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of dynamically allocating spectrum, comprising:
 determining, via a processor of a controller device, whether spectrum licensed for use by a first service provider network is underutilized within a geographic area;   allocating, via the processor of the controller device, a portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by a wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to a second service provider network;   monitoring, via the processor of the controller device, spectrum utilization by wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network to determine whether at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network; and   informing the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network that use of the allocated spectrum should be terminated in response to determining that at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining whether spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network is underutilized within the geographic area comprises determining whether spectrum licensed for use by one or more of police, fire, emergency medical service or government agencies is underutilized within the geographic area. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 establishing a first communication link between the controller device and a first controller device of first service provider network, wherein the first controller device monitors call traffic as compared to a total amount of spectrum available to wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network; and   establishing a second communication link between the controller device and a second controller device of the second service provider network, wherein the second controller device monitors call traffic as compared to the total amount of spectrum available to wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the second service provider network.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein monitoring spectrum utilization by wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network to determine whether at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network comprises monitoring congestion in the first service provider network to determine current and projected network congestion amounts, including current and projected congestion amounts attributable to the wireless devices that subscribe to the second service provider network that are using the spectrum licensed for use by a first service provider network. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising informing the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network that use of the allocated spectrum may begin in response to allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network comprises allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network in response to determining that the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network is underutilized within the geographic area. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising adjusting a QoS level of the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network that is using the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network in response to detecting congestion in the first service provider network. 
     
     
         28 . A controller device, comprising:
 network communications circuitry;   a memory; and   a processor coupled to the memory and the network communications circuitry, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether spectrum licensed for use by a first service provider network is underutilized within a geographic area; 
 allocating a portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by a wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to a second service provider network; 
 monitoring spectrum utilization by wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network to determine whether at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network; and 
 informing the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network that use of the allocated spectrum should be terminated in response to determining that at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network. 
   
     
     
         29 . The controller device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network is underutilized within the geographic area comprises determining whether spectrum licensed for use by one or more of police, fire, emergency medical service or government agencies is underutilized within the geographic area. 
     
     
         30 . The controller device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:
 establishing a first communication link between the controller device and a first controller device of first service provider network, wherein the first controller device monitors call traffic as compared to a total amount of spectrum available to wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network; and   establishing a second communication link between the controller device and a second controller device of the second service provider network, wherein the second controller device monitors call traffic as compared to the total amount of spectrum available to wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the second service provider network.   
     
     
         31 . The controller device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that monitoring spectrum utilization by wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network to determine whether at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network comprises monitoring congestion in the first service provider network to determine current and projected network congestion amounts, including current and projected congestion amounts attributable to the wireless devices that subscribe to the second service provider network that are using the spectrum licensed for use by a first service provider network. 
     
     
         32 . The controller device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising informing the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network that use of the allocated spectrum may begin in response to allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network. 
     
     
         33 . The controller device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network comprises allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network in response to determining that the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network is underutilized within the geographic area. 
     
     
         34 . The controller device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising adjusting a QoS level of the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network that is using the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network in response to detecting congestion in the first service provider network. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor in a controller device to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether spectrum licensed for use by a first service provider network is underutilized within a geographic area;   allocating a portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by a wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to a second service provider network;   monitoring spectrum utilization by wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network to determine whether at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network; and   informing the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network that use of the allocated spectrum should be terminated in response to determining that at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the controller device to performing operations such that determining whether spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network is underutilized within the geographic area comprises determining whether spectrum licensed for use by one or more of police, fire, emergency medical service or government agencies is underutilized within the geographic area. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the controller device to performing operations further comprising:
 establishing a first communication link between the controller device and a first controller device of first service provider network, wherein the first controller device monitors call traffic as compared to a total amount of spectrum available to wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network; and   establishing a second communication link between the controller device and a second controller device of the second service provider network, wherein the second controller device monitors call traffic as compared to the total amount of spectrum available to wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the second service provider network.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the controller device to performing operations such that monitoring spectrum utilization by wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network to determine whether at least some of the allocated spectrum is required by the wireless devices within the geographic area that subscribe to the first service provider network comprises monitoring congestion in the first service provider network to determine current and projected network congestion amounts, including current and projected congestion amounts attributable to the wireless devices that subscribe to the second service provider network that are using the spectrum licensed for use by a first service provider network. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the controller device to performing operations further comprising informing the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network that use of the allocated spectrum may begin in response to allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the controller device to performing operations such that allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network comprises allocating the portion of the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network for use by the wireless device that is within the geographic area and subscribes to the second service provider network in response to determining that the spectrum licensed for use by the first service provider network is underutilized within the geographic area.