Method and Apparatus for Pre-Registering and Deploying Base Stations/Access Points in a Private Network

Abstract

A method and apparatus for deploying Base Stations/Access Points (BS/APs) in an enterprise wireless communications network. The method is useful to deploy BS/APs in a managed radio communication environment to mitigate and prevent interference between competing transmitters in the area. The BS/APs may comprise Citizens Broadband radio Service Devices (CBSDs) deployed in 4G and 5G enterprise communications networks operating under FCC rules relating to Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). Spectrum may be managed by a Spectrum Management Entity (SME). In order to pre-register BS/APs prior to deployment, location coordinates corresponding to an enterprise address may be used. A domain proxy (DP) may request registration, obtain a spectrum grant, and maintain the grant. After installation of the BS/APs, the spectrum grant is used to make Radio Environment Monitoring (REM) measurements and determine an RF environment, which is then used to mitigate interference in the enterprise network by assigning optimized channels to each BS/AP for operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communications system for a private wireless communications network that includes a plurality of BS/APs to be installed at a private location, comprising:
 a subscriber database that holds subscription data including registration information for each of the plurality of BS/APs; and   a domain proxy connected to the subscriber database and configured to receive registration information, the domain proxy in communication with a Spectrum Management Entity (SME), the domain proxy configured to receive location coordinates for the private location and utilize said coordinates in a registration request prior to installation of the BS/APs, and subsequent to installation of the BS/APs, the domain proxy configured to direct the BS/APs to take REM measurements at the enterprise location.   
     
     
         2 . The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of BS/APs comprise Citizens Broadband radio Service Devices (CBSDs). 
     
     
         3 . The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the private wireless communications network comprises an enterprise network at an enterprise location. 
     
     
         4 . The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the domain proxy is configured to obtain location coordinates utilizing an address for the private location. 
     
     
         5 . The communications system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an Auto Configuration Server (ACS) connected to the DP and in communication with the BS/APs; said ACS configured to provision the BS/APs for taking REM measurements.   
     
     
         6 . The communication system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a Self Organizing Network (SON) unit connected to receive REM measurements from the BS/APs and responsive to said measurements to determine the RF environment of the private communications network.