System and method for switching frequencies in a wireless access solution based on dynamic spectrum allocation

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and access devices configured to switch frequencies in a wireless access network. The techniques described in the disclosed embodiments may be used to facilitate efficient switching of frequencies in a dynamic spectrum environment. In one aspect, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a Long Term Evolution access network. The disclosed embodiments receive, by an access device, information allocating at least one frequency channel to be used by the access device. The disclosed embodiments also transmit, to one or more user equipment connected to the access device, an instruction for directing the one or more user equipment to look a first frequency channel. As a result, the disclosed embodiments allow efficient switching of frequencies even if the spectrum may be allocated dynamically.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for switching frequencies using an access device in a wireless access system, the method comprising:
 sending a request to a spectrum access system (SAS) for allocation of at least one frequency channel that the access device may use to communicate with one or more user equipments (UEs);   receiving, from the SAS, the allocation of the at least one frequency channel that the access device may use to communicate with the one or more UEs;   transmitting a message to the one or more UEs indicating the at least one allocated frequency channel;   configuring a radio in the access device to operate using the at least one allocated frequency channel;   establishing a connection between the access device and the one or more UEs based on the at least one allocated frequency channel; and   switching, in response to a detection of at least one of a presence or an activity of an incumbent user, the connection between the access device and the one or more UEs from the at least one allocated frequency channel to a new frequency channel, wherein the one or more UEs are capable of communicating over the new frequency channel.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising determining one or more frequency channels from among the at least one allocated frequency channel for establishing the connection between the access device and the one or more UEs. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the message is transmitted to the one or more UEs prior to configuring the radio in the access device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the SAS is capable of sending the allocation of the at least one frequency channel without first having to receive the request for allocation of the at least one frequency channel. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the message directs the one or more UEs to temporarily discontinue at least one existing connection with the access device during a time period when the radio in the access device is being configured. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the wireless access system comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the message transmitted to the one or more UEs is formatted in accordance with a RRC-Reconfiguration message in the LTE standard. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the message transmitted to the one or more UEs is formatted in accordance with a RRC-Connection-Release message in the LTE standard. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of configuring the radio further comprises configuring both a transmitter and a receiver in the radio to operate using the at least one allocated frequency channel. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one allocated frequency channel comprises a plurality of frequency channels and the transmitter and receiver are configured to use different allocated frequency channels. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising permitting limited types of transmissions between the access device and the one or more UEs. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the limited types of transmissions comprise at least one of communications for emergency services or basic signaling. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allocated frequency channel is based on an optimization criteria. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the optimization criteria is associated with at least one of environmental conditions, load balancing, interference levels, resource usage, quality of service (QoS) needs, or coverage ranges. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising sending a request for a second allocated frequency channel before an expiration of a grant period associated with the at least one allocated frequency channel. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising sending a redirect message to the one or more UEs before transitioning to the second allocated frequency channel. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the second allocated frequency channel is the new frequency channel. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allocated frequency channel is based on usage requirements of at least one of incumbent access, priority access, or general authorized access devices. 
     
     
         42 . An access device, comprising:
 a radio comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a message to one or more UEs indicating an allocation of at least one frequency channel that the access device may use to communicate with the one or more UEs in a wireless access system;   at least one processor; and   a memory storing instructions for execution by the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the stored instructions to:
 send a request over a communication link to a spectrum access system (SAS) for the allocation of the at least one frequency channel that the access device may use to communicate with the one or more UEs in the wireless access system; 
 receive, from the SAS, the at least one allocated frequency channel; 
 configure the radio to transmit using the at least one allocated frequency channel; 
 establish a connection between the access device and the one or more UEs based on the at least one allocated frequency channel; and 
 switch, in response to a detection of at least one of a presence or an activity of an incumbent user, the connection between the access device and the one or more UEs from the at least one allocated frequency channel to a new frequency channel, wherein the one or more UEs are capable of communicating over the new frequency channel. 
   
     
     
         43 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the communication link comprises a wireless link. 
     
     
         44 . The access device of  claim 42 , further comprising a second transmitter configured to send the request over the communication link to the SAS for the allocation of the at least one frequency channel that the access device may use to communicate with the one or more UEs in the wireless access system. 
     
     
         45 . The access device of  claim 42 , further comprising a receiver configured to receive, from the SAS, the at least one allocated frequency channel. 
     
     
         46 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine one of more frequency channels from among the at least one allocated frequency channel for establishing the connection between the access device and the one or more UEs. 
     
     
         47 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the message is transmitted to the one or more UEs prior to configuring the radio in the access device. 
     
     
         48 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the message directs the one or more UEs to temporarily discontinue at least one existing connection with the access device during a time period when the radio in the access device is being configured. 
     
     
         49 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the wireless access system comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. 
     
     
         50 . The access device of  claim 49 , wherein the message transmitted to the one or more UEs is formatted in accordance with a RRC-Reconfiguration message in the LTE standard. 
     
     
         51 . The access device of  claim 49 , wherein the message transmitted to the one or more UEs is formatted in accordance with a RRC-Connection-Release message in the LTE standard. 
     
     
         52 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the stored instructions to permit limited types of transmissions between the access device and the one or more UEs. 
     
     
         53 . The access device of  claim 52 , wherein the limited types of transmissions comprise at least one of communications for emergency services or basic signaling. 
     
     
         54 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one allocated frequency channel is based on an optimization criteria. 
     
     
         55 . The access device of  claim 54 , wherein the optimization criteria is associated with at least one of environmental conditions, load balancing, interference levels, resource usage, quality of service (QoS) needs, or coverage ranges. 
     
     
         56 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the stored instructions to send a request for a second allocated frequency channel before an expiration of a grant period associated with the at least one allocated frequency channel. 
     
     
         57 . The access device of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the stored instructions to send a redirect message to the one or more UEs before transitioning to the second allocated frequency channel. 
     
     
         58 . The access device of  claim 56 , wherein the second allocated frequency channel is the new frequency channel. 
     
     
         59 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one allocated frequency channel is based on usage requirements of at least one of incumbent access, priority access, or general authorized access devices. 
     
     
         60 . The access device of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the stored instructions to configure both the transmitter and the receiver in the radio to operate using the at least one allocated frequency channel. 
     
     
         61 . The access device of  claim 60 , wherein the at least one allocated frequency channel comprises a plurality of frequency channels and the transmitter and receiver are configured to operate using different allocated frequency channels. 
     
     
         62 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor in an access device cause the access device to perform a method comprising steps of:
 sending a request to a spectrum access system (SAS) for allocation of at least one frequency channel that the access device may use to communicate with one or more user equipments (UEs);   receiving, from the SAS, the allocation of the at least one frequency channel that the access device may use to communicate with the one or more UEs;   transmitting a message to the one or more UEs indicating the at least one allocated frequency channel;   configuring a radio in the access device to operate using the at least one allocated frequency channel;   establishing a connection between the access device and the one or more UEs based on the at least one allocated frequency channel; and   switching, in response to a detection of at least one of a presence or an activity of an incumbent user, the connection between the access device and the one or more UEs from the at least one allocated frequency channel to a new frequency channel, wherein the one or more UEs are capable of communicating over the new frequency channel.   
     
     
         63 . The computer readable medium of  claim 62 , wherein execution of the instructions by the at least one processor further causes the access device to determine one or more frequency channels from among the at least one allocated frequency channel for establishing the connection between the access device and the one or more UEs. 
     
     
         64 . The computer readable medium of  claim 62 , wherein the message is transmitted to the one or more UEs prior to configuring the radio in the access device. 
     
     
         65 . The computer readable medium of  claim 62 , wherein the message further directs the one or more UEs to temporarily discontinue at least one existing connection with the access device during a time period when the radio in the access device is being configured. 
     
     
         66 . The computer readable medium of  claim 62 , wherein the wireless access system comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. 
     
     
         67 . The computer readable medium of  claim 66 , wherein the message transmitted to the one or more UEs is formatted in accordance with a RRC-Reconfiguration message in the LTE standard. 
     
     
         68 . The computer readable medium of  claim 66 , wherein the message transmitted to the one or more UEs is formatted in accordance with a RRC-Connection-Release message in the LTE standard. 
     
     
         69 . The computer readable medium of  claim 62 , wherein the step of configuring the radio further comprises configuring both a transmitter and a receiver in the radio to operate using the at least one allocated frequency channel. 
     
     
         70 . The computer readable medium of  claim 69 , wherein the at least one allocated frequency channel comprises a plurality of frequency channels and the transmitter and receiver are configured to use different allocated frequency channels.