Abstract: Policies that govern allocation of spectrum access credentials are established. The policies are configured to implement regulatory rules governing spectrum use in a geographic area. Policy establishment includes selecting, from a collection of predetermined general policy constructs that are generic to plural regulatory domains, general policy constructs to transform into protection instances. Policy parameter inputs are applied to policy parameter fields of the selected general policy constructs to establish the protection instances, the protection instances specify how regulatory rules are applied in the geographic area. Protection data values are applied to protection data fields of the protection instances to create instances of policies that are specific to the geographic area according to incumbent spectrum use in the geographic area.

Abstract: Systems and methods to reduce control data traffic between a hub radio device (e.g., a master white space device) and spoke radio devices (e.g., slave white space devices). Reduced are the number of control messages and/or the amount of data transmitted in control data messages. The hub radio device stores data regarding the spoke radio devices that register for white space access (e.g., specific spectrum access credentials) with a spectrum management server via the hub radio device. As long as conditions regarding a spoke radio device remain relatively unchanged, the stored data for the spoke radio device may be used to maintain the white space access through periodic renewal of the corresponding channel authorization with the spectrum management server.

Abstract: Policies that govern allocation of spectrum access credentials are established. The policies are configured to implement regulatory rules governing spectrum use in a geographic area. Policy establishment includes selecting, from a collection of predetermined general policy constructs that are generic to plural regulatory domains, general policy constructs to transform into protection instances. Policy parameter inputs are applied to policy parameter fields of the selected general policy constructs to establish the protection instances, the protection instances specify how regulatory rules are applied in the geographic area. Protection data values are applied to protection data fields of the protection instances to create instances of policies that are specific to the geographic area according to incumbent spectrum use in the geographic area.

Abstract: Generic access credentials for use by a spoke radio device in communications with a hub radio device to acquire specific access credentials for the spoke radio device are determined by a spectrum management server to minimize the possibility of creating undesirable interference to other radio systems. The spectrum management server determines a coverage area of the hub radio device and determines sub-regions of the coverage area; determines a generic access transmit power limit for each sub-region of the coverage area for one or more channels on which the hub radio device has access rights to engage in wireless communications; and transmits the generic access transmit power level for each sub-region and channel combination to the hub radio device.

Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate acquisition of specific operating parameters by a spoke radio device via a hub radio device while the hub radio device operates using specific operating parameters and the spoke radio device operates using generic operating parameters. The spoke radio device may acquire the generic operating parameters from a beacon broadcast by the hub radio device. If a link between a hub radio device and a spoke radio device cannot be satisfactorily established and maintained using the specific and generic operating parameters, respectively, then the hub radio device may use alternative channels and/or reduce its operational area to attempt to converge specific and generic transmit power levels for improved link establishment.

Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate acquisition of specific operating parameters by a spoke radio device via a hub radio device while the hub radio device operates using specific operating parameters and the spoke radio device operates using generic operating parameters. The spoke radio device may acquire the generic operating parameters from a beacon broadcast by the hub radio device. If a link between a hub radio device and a spoke radio device cannot be satisfactorily established and maintained using the specific and generic operating parameters, respectively, then the hub radio device may use alternative channels and/or reduce its operational area to attempt to converge specific and generic transmit power levels for improved link establishment.

Abstract: Systems and methods to reduce control data traffic between a hub radio device (e.g., a master white space device) and spoke radio devices (e.g., slave white space devices). Reduced are the number of control messages and/or the amount of data transmitted in control data messages. The hub radio device stores data regarding the spoke radio devices that register for white space access (e.g., specific spectrum access credentials) with a spectrum management server via the hub radio device. As long as conditions regarding a spoke radio device remain relatively unchanged, the stored data for the spoke radio device may be used to maintain the white space access through periodic renewal of the corresponding channel authorization with the spectrum management server.

Abstract: Generic access credentials for use by a spoke radio device in communications with a hub radio device to acquire specific access credentials for the spoke radio device are determined by a spectrum management server to minimize the possibility of creating undesirable interference to other radio systems. The spectrum management server determines a coverage area of the hub radio device and determines sub-regions of the coverage area; determines a generic access transmit power limit for each sub-region of the coverage area for one or more channels on which the hub radio device has access rights to engage in wireless communications; and transmits the generic access transmit power level for each sub-region and channel combination to the hub radio device.

Abstract: A central registration system provides channel maps of available spectrum channels to radio devices. The channel map indicates relative noise floor amounts among the available channels. For this purpose, an amount of predicted interference caused by high-power protected transmitters on each channel available to the requesting radio device for wireless communications is determined, where interference from primary channel and out-of-band emissions of the transmitters is considered.

Abstract: A communication system where radios without a normally available communication pathway to a spectrum management system (referred to as spoke radio devices) communicate with the spectrum management system by joining a network established by a hub radio device that has a prior registration with the spectrum management system. Once joined, the spoke may seek registration with the spectrum management system and, if appropriate, obtain a spectrum allocation from the spectrum management system. Also, once registered, spoke radio devices may form a network of their own.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing network access information from one or more servers to a wireless device. The wireless device acquires information from the servers about available networks at a current location of the wireless device. The network information is based on a plurality of device parameters, network parameters and regulatory requirements that govern the operation of the wireless device. In addition, the wireless device may assess the acquired information for suitability for communications to be carried out by the wireless device.

Abstract: A central registration system provides channel maps of available spectrum channels to radio devices. The channel map indicates relative noise floor amounts among the available channels. For this purpose, an amount of predicted interference caused by high-power protected transmitters on each channel available to the requesting radio device for wireless communications is determined, where interference from primary channel and out-of-band emissions of the transmitters is considered.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing network access information from one or more servers to a wireless device. The wireless device acquires information from the servers about available networks at a current location of the wireless device. The network information is based on a plurality of device parameters, network parameters and regulatory requirements that govern the operation of the wireless device. In addition, the wireless device may assess the acquired information for suitability for communications to be carried out by the wireless device.

Abstract: Network access for a secure network is transparently provided to a wireless device using a social networking type of framework. An operator of a secure wireless network may register the network and access credentials for the network with a network access management system. The operator also may configure network access settings, such as designating a sharing level, that permits wireless devices meeting access criteria for the sharing level to use the network. Electronic devices belonging to social media contacts, such as family members and friends, may be associated with the registered network. When the associated devices or other qualifying devices are within communication range of the network, a client function in the device may coordinate with the network access management system to provide network access to the devices. The coordination may take place through a network different than the secure network, such as a cellular network to which the electronic device has subscription access.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing network access information from one or more servers to a wireless device. The wireless device acquires information from the servers about available networks at a current location of the wireless device. The network information is based on a plurality of device parameters, network parameters and regulatory requirements that govern the operation of the wireless device. In addition, the wireless device may assess the acquired information for suitability for communications to be carried out by the wireless device.

Abstract: A communication system where radios without a normally available communication pathway to a spectrum management system (referred to as spoke radio devices) communicate with the spectrum management system by joining a network established by a hub radio device that has a prior registration with the spectrum management system. Once joined, the spoke may seek registration with the spectrum management system and, if appropriate, obtain a spectrum allocation from the spectrum management system. Also, once registered, spoke radio devices may form a network of their own.