Radio White Space Database Discovery for Multi-Region Frequency Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for wireless devices has led to a crowded radio frequency (RF) spectrum, with underutilized portions such as TV white spaces, which are regulated and require efficient database management to facilitate their use.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows wireless devices to communicate with a radio white space database to obtain available frequencies and constraints, enabling them to switch between databases as they move across geographic regions, ensuring compliance with multiple regulatory frameworks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a wireless device contacts multiple radio white space databases to obtain frequency information for different geographic regions, then the device can access available frequencies across regions, but the complexity of database management and connection switching increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess available frequencies across regionsVSAvoiddatabase management and connection switching
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A database discovery server acts as an intermediary between wireless devices and multiple radio white space databases. The server receives location information from devices, automatically determines which databases are relevant for those locations, and provides the devices with the necessary frequency information without requiring devices to manually manage multiple database connections. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining multi-region frequency access capability while eliminating the complexity of direct database management from the device side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If radio white space databases store detailed frequency allocation information for multiple geographic regions, then comprehensive frequency data is available, but the size and complexity of the database system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency data availabilityVSAvoiddatabase system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The database system is segmented into multiple specialized radio white space databases, each responsible for specific geographic regions or regulatory jurisdictions. Instead of one massive database containing all frequency information globally, the system divides data into manageable regional segments. The database discovery server coordinates between these segmented databases and wireless devices, allowing comprehensive frequency data availability while keeping individual database instances manageable in size and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2984860B1Radio white space database discovery
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP2984860B1 patent drawingFigure 1
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AI summary

The concepts relate to radio white space utilization and more specifically to discovery of radio white space databases that cover a specific locations. In one example a device can communicate its location to a radio white space database and obtains information about another radio white space database that covers its location. The device can also receive a set of radio white space frequencies and associated constraints from the radio white space databases that facilitate the use of border zones.