Abstract: A new radio base station establishes a first and a second component. The first and second component carrier overlap each other. The base station transmits first synchronization signal blocks on the first component carrier. The base station transmits second synchronization signal blocks on the second component carrier interleaved in time with the first synchronization signal blocks.

Abstract: A communication management resource receives first input indicating a first time-division communication configuration associated with first wireless stations operated by a first wireless network service provider. The communication management resource receives second input indicating a second time-division communication configuration associated with second wireless stations such as operated by a second wireless network service provider. Based on spectral analysis of implementing the first time-division communication configuration and the second time-division communication configuration, the communication management resource controls implementation of time-division communication configurations by the first wireless stations and the second wireless stations.

Abstract: A wireless system is shared amongst a hierarchal tier of entities. A communication management resource receives notification that a second-tier priority entity has been allocated use of a second wireless spectrum as a replacement to first wireless spectrum. In one embodiment, the first wireless spectrum is revoked from the second-tier priority entity based on use of the first wireless spectrum by a first-tier priority entity (such as incumbent entity). The communication management resource controls a wireless transmit power level of a third-tier priority entity in the hierarchy to provide protected use of the second wireless spectrum by the second-tier priority entity. According to one configuration, the communication management resource controls a power level of wireless communications transmitted by a wireless base station operated by the third-tier priority entity.

Abstract: According to one configuration, multiple users in a tiered hierarchy share use of a wireless spectrum. For example, a spectrum access system receives a notification indicating that a first-priority tier 1 user in the hierarchy temporarily needs access to a first wireless spectrum assigned to a second-priority tier 2 user in the hierarchy. In response to the notification, the spectrum access system temporarily allocates the second-priority tier 2 user use of a second wireless spectrum. The spectrum access system protects use of the second wireless spectrum by the second-priority tier 2 user from a third-priority tier 3 user in the hierarchy. In certain instances, the one or more spectrum access systems receive the same notification of use of the first wireless spectrum by the first-priority tier 1 user. The multiple spectrum access systems not serving the second-priority tier 2 user protect the Tier 2 User from any Tier 3 Users in the hierarchy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a spectrum access controller (SAC) which protects a protected entity from excessive interference are described. A spectrum access controller (SAC) divides the coverage contour of the entity to be protected into geospatial zones called protection zones. Each protection zone is protected against interference from a neighboring area called an interference neighborhood. Each interference neighborhood is divided into interference zones based on their interference potential or distance from the protection zone. Potential interferers are grouped based on their location in the interference zones or interference potential. The interference quota for the protection zone is divided among the potential interferers in each group/zone. The quota may be divided unequally among groups/zones, e.g., based on their overall interference potential or proximity to the protection zone, or number of interferers.

Abstract: A communication management resource receives input indicating presence of a pair of wireless stations including a first wireless station and a second wireless station in a network environment. Based on a determined amount of adjacent channel interference between the first wireless station and the second wireless station, the communication management resource generates an adjacent channel interference value. The communication management resource assigns the adjacent channel interference value to the pair of wireless stations. The adjacent channel interference value indicates an estimate of adjacent channel interference between the first wireless station and the second wireless station. In a network of wireless stations, the adjacent channel interference value is used as a basis to identify pairs of wireless stations that are susceptible to adjacent channel interference.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a closed loop Listen Before Talk (LBT) which is a coexistence mechanism used by wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, to access unlicensed shared spectrum, such as the ISM UNII bands (5 GHz). The embodiments disclosed herein enable a base station to coordinate the LBT process at both the base station and a receiver in order to avoid hidden node interference where the interfering nodes are outside the sensing range of the transmitting node. The base station device can send an LBT trigger to the receiver to synchronize the clear channel assessments that are performed at each device to determine if there is any activity on the channel. The receiving device can send back a report to the base station device, and if no activity on the channel is detected, the base station device can schedule a transmission on the channel.

Abstract: Methods to protect incumbent communications in a shared band (e.g., shared by incumbents and shared band devices), are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving information, by a spectrum access controller (SAC) associated with a shared band, indicating usage of a sub-portion of a channel in the shared band. The method includes receiving, by the SAC, information associated with one or more shared band devices (SBDs) with spectrum notching capability (SNC) to reduce interference in the sub portion of the channel being used by the incumbent. The method includes determining, by the SAC, spectrum access information (SAI) for the one or more SBDs based at least in part on the SNC of the one or more SBDs. The method includes transmitting, from the SAC, SAI to the one or more SBDs, and SBDs accessing the channel according to the SAI.

Abstract: In a CBRS system, a spectrum access system (SAS) ensures access by incumbents to specified CBRS channels by establishing temporary whisper zones as needed based on information about incumbent locations and channel usage received from an incumbent tracking system. The SAS relies on environmental sensing capability (ESC) sensors located within the whisper zones to detect actual incumbent use of the specified channels. Upon such detection, the SAS controls the allocation of CBRS channels to non-whisper-zone base stations to ensure incumbent access within dynamic protection zones (DPZs). Establishing temporary whisper zone only when needed and ensuring incumbent access within DPZs based on detection of actual incumbent use result in efficient allocation of the CBRS spectrum for commercial use.

Abstract: Methods and/or apparatus for implementing an automated or automatic frequency coordination (AFC) system are described. The method involves determining if allowing a transmitter to use spectrum, e.g., a frequency or band of frequencies, will result in unacceptable interference to another device or if the interference produced by the transmitter will be within an acceptable level. The method involves generating and storing Threshold to Interference (T/I) ratio tables, e.g., based on actual transmitter and/or receiver characteristic information, prior to a request to use spectrum being received. The T/I tables are stored in a T/I threshold database which is accessed and used to determine if a transmitter will create unacceptable interference to a device within the transmit area of the transmitter if frequency sharing is permitted. The T/I threshold tables can be computed, stored and the values stored therein can be used for multiple frequency use decisions by one or more AFC systems.

Abstract: A wireless station is allocated use of a time slot in a given direction, uplink or downlink, on a given channel. The wireless station monitors for presence of wireless energy during a portion of the time slot. Based on a detected level of the wireless energy in the time slot, the wireless station controls transmission of wireless communications in a direction opposite to the configured direction in a remaining part of the time slot.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a spectrum access controller (SAC) which protects a protected entity from excessive interference are described. A spectrum access controller (SAC) divides the coverage contour of the entity to be protected into geospatial zones called protection zones. Each protection zone is protected against interference from a neighboring area called an interference neighborhood. Each interference neighborhood is divided into interference zones based on their interference potential or distance from the protection zone. Potential interferers are grouped based on their location in the interference zones or interference potential. The interference quota for the protection zone is divided among the potential interferers in each group/zone. The quota may be divided unequally among groups/zones, e.g., based on their overall interference potential or proximity to the protection zone, or number of interferers.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a closed loop Listen Before Talk (LBT) which is a coexistence mechanism used by wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, to access unlicensed shared spectrum, such as the ISM UNII bands (5 GHz). The embodiments disclosed herein enable a base station to coordinate the LBT process at both the base station and a receiver in order to avoid hidden node interference where the interfering nodes are outside the sensing range of the transmitting node. The base station device can send an LBT trigger to the receiver to synchronize the clear channel assessments that are performed at each device to determine if there is any activity on the channel. The receiving device can send back a report to the base station device, and if no activity on the channel is detected, the base station device can schedule a transmission on the channel.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a multi-beam Listen Before Talk which is a coexistence mechanism used by wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, to access unlicensed shared spectrum, such as the ISM UNII bands (5 GHz). The embodiments disclosed herein enable a transceiver to determine whether or not there is activity on a beam to avoid causing interference. The transceiver can determine that there is activity in a certain direction, and then avoid transmitting on a beam in that direction until the activity ceases. While there is activity in a first beam, the transceiver can continue to transmit on other beams that will not cause interference with a transmission associated with the first beam.

Abstract: A closed loop carrier sense multiple access multiuser request to send and clear to send handshaking system is provided to efficiently allocate licensed and unlicensed spectrum for a plurality of mobile devices and across different base stations and mobile network operators. A user equipment device can be connected to a base station device via a first frequency in licensed spectrum, and a second frequency in unlicensed spectrum. The air interface on the first frequency can then be used to coordinate physical and virtual carrier sensing on a second frequency among a plurality of user equipment devices. Moreover, carrier sensing results from a plurality of UEs can be reported a base station device via the first frequency in licensed spectrum. The base station device can then schedule multiple user multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) transmissions to a plurality of UEs on the second frequency in unlicensed spectrum.

Abstract: A wireless station is allocated use of a time slot in a given direction, uplink or downlink, on a given channel. The wireless station monitors for presence of wireless energy during a portion of the time slot. Based on a detected level of the wireless energy in the time slot, the wireless station controls transmission of wireless communications in a direction opposite to the configured direction in a remaining part of the time slot.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a spectrum scheduling controller (SSC) are described. The spectrum scheduling controller receives resources requests from operator devices, e.g., access points which can be in the form of base stations. The access points can, and sometimes do, correspond to different operators and/or use different communications technologies. The SSC determines the coverage areas of the operator devices requesting resources and groups them into groups based on the potential for interference, e.g., contour area overlap. Operator devices are synchronized on a frame and/or transmission slot level basis with a frame including multiple slots. A schedule is created allocating slots corresponding to operator devices based on latency and/or data transmission requirements. Device priority can be, and sometimes is, considered when generating a schedule. The schedule allocating resources is communicated to members of an operator device group to which the schedule relates.

Abstract: A data driven spectrum sharing approach is implemented amongst users of a shared band. A spectrum access controller (SAC) estimates interference and allocates spectrum in one or more bands to a plurality of spectrum user devices, e.g., macro base stations, small cell base stations, access points, etc. Different spectrum user devices in the plurality of spectrum user devices may correspond to different service providers, may use different technologies, may use different communications protocols, and/or may have different transmission power levels. The spectrum user devices send data feedback reports to the SAC including, e.g., received signals strength information, signal quality information, interference information, etc. The SAC uses the received data feedback reports to adjust, e.g., fine tune, interference limits and/or propagation model parameters. The SAC uses the adjusted, e.g., refined, interference limits and adjusted, e.g.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a wireless network is shared amongst a hierarchal tier of users. The wireless network environment includes one or more allocation management resources (such as so-called spectrum access systems). Each of one or more wireless network service providers operating respective wireless equipment such as one or more wireless base stations relies on a respective allocation management resource to allocate wireless channels for use. If desired, a respective wireless network service provider operating respective equipment can select an appropriate channel notification mode suitable to provide notification of incumbent use and/or reassignment of wireless bandwidth to the wireless base stations. In such an instance, in the event of re-assignment due to incumbent use, the allocation management resources communicate amongst each other regarding the incumbent use/reassignment and provide protected use of newly assigned wireless bandwidth to the first wireless network service provider.

Abstract: A closed loop carrier sense multiple access multiuser request to send and clear to send handshaking system is provided to efficiently allocate licensed and unlicensed spectrum for a plurality of mobile devices and across different base stations and mobile network operators. A user equipment device can be connected to a base station device via a first frequency in licensed spectrum, and a second frequency in unlicensed spectrum. The air interface on the first frequency can then be used to coordinate physical and virtual carrier sensing on a second frequency among a plurality of user equipment devices. Moreover, carrier sensing results from a plurality of UEs can be reported a base station device via the first frequency in licensed spectrum. The base station device can then schedule multiple user multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) transmissions to a plurality of UEs on the second frequency in unlicensed spectrum.