Abstract: Systems and methods of efficiently providing network access for a portable electronic device while moderating power consumption are described. The electronic device may have a cellular radio and a network radio for communicating with an alternative network. In a default state, the electronic device may carry out communications using the cellular radio, and the network radio may be in an off state. Periodically, the electronic device may determine if the electronic device has moved. If so, a location of the electronic device may be determined and a check may be carried out to determine if the electronic device is in range of an available alternative network. If the electronic device is in range of an available alternative network, the network radio may be turned on and an attempt to connect to the alternative network may be made.

Abstract: Allocating spectrum to a secondary radio device includes determining a contour separation distance for the secondary radio device. The contour separation distance is a function of a minimum separation distance from protected areas of primary radio devices and an accuracy variance for the secondary radio device. The accuracy variance is specified as a distance and is a function of accuracy information for a reported location of the secondary radio device. If a distance between a contour of a protected area for a primary radio device and the reported location for the secondary radio device is less than the contour separation distance, a channel used by the primary radio device is not available for use by the secondary radio device for wireless communications. Otherwise the channel used by the primary radio device is available for use by the secondary radio device for wireless communications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for delivering media content to a wireless electronic device within a geographic coverage area associated with a venue. In some embodiments, a venue manager may identify media content to be broadcast within the geographic coverage area associated with the venue by the wireless TV transmitter; and send a media content request to a media server, the request instructing the media server to include the identified media content in a content feed sent to the wireless TV transmitter for broadcast in the geographic coverage area associated with the venue. In other embodiments, an interactive TV transmitter may identify media content to be broadcast within the geographic coverage area associated with the venue, multiplex the identified media content with other media content using a multiplexer, and broadcast the multiplex in the geographic coverage area associated with the venue.

Abstract: A system for generating spectrum environment data receives spectrum sensing data from a wireless electronic device. The sensing data includes, for each of plural channels, a sensing measurement value expressed with a sensing resolution bandwidth and indicative of perceived signal strength. The system normalizes the received sensing measurement values so that each value has a predetermined analysis resolution bandwidth. The system also calibrates the normalized sensing measurement values to adjust for differences between perceived signal strength and predicted signal strength for at least one reference channel on which a protected transmitter with known operational characteristics transmits.

Abstract: Spectrum that will become venue-protected in the future is made available to radio devices by a central control system with which the radio devices requests spectrum access information for use in wireless communication. The central control system establishes a re-request time duration specified in an amount of time that will elapsed at or before the spectrum becomes protected. The elapsing of the re-request duration serves as a command to the radio device to transmit a new channel request to the central control system.

Abstract: A method and system for verifying a location value reported by an electronic device. The reported location value and spectrum sensing data containing signal strength measurements for each channel of plural channels are received from the electronic device. A predicted RF footprint for the reported location is generated. The predicted RF footprint includes signal strength values for each of the plural channels. Each signal strength value is representative of RF energy that the electronic device ought to detect if the electronic device is actually present in the reported location and each signal strength value is determined as a function of known characteristics of radio devices with known locations. A determination is made as to whether the received signal strength measurements and the predicted RF footprint sufficiently correlate to validate that the electronic device made the signal strength measurements at the reported location.

Abstract: To determine precise geographical location of a fixed-location radio device, the fixed-location radio device may enter a configuration mode and receive location data from a separate electronic device that is within close proximity to the fixed-location radio device. The location of the electronic device is used as a proxy for the location of the fixed-location radio device.

Abstract: A system for channel handover includes a mobile radio device and a server storing polygon operating area information for a plurality of overlapping polygon operating areas for wireless communication. The mobile radio device receives the polygon operating area information, and determines the device location. Based on the polygon operating area information, the mobile radio device selects a first channel of operation corresponding to a channel that is available for use within a first polygon operating area. The travel of the mobile radio device is tracked to determine when the mobile radio device has exited the first polygon operating area and entered a second polygon operating area. When this occurs, the device selects a second channel of operation corresponding to a channel that is available for use within the second polygon operating area. Alternatively, the channel selection may be determined by the server and transmitted to the mobile radio device.

Abstract: A system and method for broadcast reception management. In some embodiments, a database may provide information for advising a wireless electronic device of the accessible channels on which content is provided over licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum for a given location, as well as the associated channel numbers for the channels. By using the database, the wireless electronic device may identify the accessible channels and associated channel numbers for a given location without having to perform a scanning and identification process. In other embodiments, the database may provide information for advising a content management device of an available broadcast resource on which the content management device may effectuate broadcast of content to the wireless electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes communications circuitry configured to communicate with an assistance server. The electronic device has an antenna assembly having antenna configuration parameters including a gain profile and a direction. The electronic device transmits a noise floor data request to the assistance server, the noise floor data request including a location of the electronic device, an indication of the gain profile and the direction. The electronic device receives a noise floor value from the assistance server for at least one wireless communications channel, the noise floor value determined to account for the location of the electronic device, the gain profile and the direction of the antenna assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for broadcast reception management. In some embodiments, a database is used to determine the available broadcasts and associated channel numbers for a given location. In other embodiments, a station list is determined for a specified broadcast, the station list comprising a first channel of a first station on which the specified broadcast is broadcast at a first location and a second channel of a second station on which the specified broadcast is broadcast at a second location. The communication circuitry of the wireless electronic device is tuned in accordance with the station list to the first channel in the first location to receive the specified broadcast. The communication circuitry is retuned to the second channel in the second location to continue reception of the specified broadcast.

Abstract: A wireless radio device includes a wireless transceiver configured to receive on a first channel set and transmit on a second channel set and a control circuit. The control circuit determines one or more available channels for transmission and selects one or more channels for the second channel set from the channels available for transmission. The control circuit also determines one or more available channels for reception, the one or more available channels for reception including the one or more available channels for transmission and one or more channels that are not available for transmission due to operation of an incumbent radio device in a location of the radio device; and selects one or more channels for the first channel set from the channels available for reception.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for managing situations where spectrum use by one party is preempted by spectrum needs of another party. A revocation may be sent from a spectrum management system to secondary radio systems that are impacted by the presence of priority radio system. Remedial action may be taken if an acknowledgement of the revocation message is not received from a secondary radio system. Also, the secondary radio systems may transmit keep-alive messages to monitor operation of the communication pathway for the revocation messages.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically configuring operating parameters of a wireless radio device. The wireless radio device determines a geographic location of the wireless radio device, and a determination is made as to the regulatory domain in which the wireless radio device is located based on the geographic location of the wireless radio device. The wireless radio device may register with and/or receive configuration information from the server associated with the regulatory domain in which the wireless radio device is located. The wireless radio device configures the operating parameters of the wireless device in accordance with configuration parameters associated with the determined regulatory domain.

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: A central registration system provides channel maps of available spectrum to radio devices based on feedback and spectrum allocation policies. Each available channel in the channel map is given a score that is indicative of the quality of the channel for use by the particular radio device for which the channel map was generated. The quality score for each available channel may be based on the radio device's susceptibility to different types of interference and/or radio device's tolerance of the different types of potential interference.

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 method for the transfer of rights associated with spectrum between parties in which spectrum is a tradable commodity. In one embodiment, data is received from a spectrum holder that defines a spectrum offering by frequency, time, and geographic area to identify available spectrum from the holder. A spectrum query that defines aspects of spectrum being sought by a spectrum user is also received and matched to one or more spectrum offerings. A transactional process is hosted by receiving a bid or rebid from the spectrum user for a matched spectrum offering and receiving a counteroffer from the spectrum holder that posted the matched spectrum offering. Each spectrum offering, bid, rebid, and counteroffer specifies price, frequency, time, and geographic area information in a standardized format to allow parties to market, locate, and transfer spectrum use rights with relative ease, faster transaction time, and lower expense.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling access to a spectrum resource by radio devices that are grouped into a first class and a second class, the first class having higher priority to the spectrum resource than the second class. The control techniques include setting a weight for each radio device in each class of radio devices; setting a threshold for each class of radio devices; aggregating the weights of radio devices that use the spectrum resource; and determining if the aggregate weight crosses the threshold for one of the classes of radio devices and, if so, denying access to the spectrum resource for additional radio devices belonging to the class of radio devices associated with the crossed threshold.

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.