Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating spectrum within a wireless communication system is provided herein. During operation, a first base station will determine a location of a UE wishing to transmit. A database will be accessed containing wireless coverage area information for base stations with overlapping coverage with the first base station. Based on this information the first base station will determine if the UE is within an overlapping coverage area of multiple base stations. Spectrum will be assigned to the wireless equipment in a guard band, based at least in part on the determination that the UE is not within the overlapping coverage area.

Abstract: Each user can contribute to an original search and to refining the results of the search. Preferences of all of the users are considered in the search even while those preferences can be kept private. In some embodiments of the present invention, at least two users each submit a search query. The multiple search queries are logically combined to produce one set of search results. The results can be reviewed by the users and refined if necessary. In some embodiments, a search query can be specified by a single user, but the search engine takes into consideration the stored preferences of multiple users (in addition to the search query itself, of course).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating spectrum within a wireless communication system is provided herein. During operation, a first base station will determine a location of a UE wishing to transmit. A database will be accessed containing wireless coverage area information for base stations with overlapping coverage with the first base station. Based on this information the first base station will determine if the UE is within an overlapping coverage area of multiple base stations. Spectrum will be assigned to the wireless equipment in a guard band, based at least in part on the determination that the UE is not within the overlapping coverage area.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for managing operational parameters of a cognitive radio device to minimize non-compliance with a regulatory policy involves sensing a change in an operational condition that will affect compliance with a current operational policy; estimating a time at which the current operational policy will become invalid; selecting a method for determining how to update the current operational policy; and updating the current operational policy of the cognitive radio device. Other embodiments may incorporate more, fewer or other elements.

Abstract: During operation of a secondary communication system, nodes having different channel monitoring capabilities or requirements will cooperatively monitor possible frequencies for transmissions, each node using only a subset of all possible modulation sensing schemes. All nodes will share channel occupancy information to other nodes within the communication system. For example, a first group of nodes may monitor possible frequencies for television transmissions, while a second group of nodes may monitor the possible frequencies for APCO 25 transmissions. A group of nodes may also cooperatively monitor possible frequencies for more than one type of modulation transmission. Channel information will be shared among the nodes.

Abstract: In certain embodiments of a cognitive radio, a method of establishing operational policies, involves determining that a new policy decision should be made; requesting a policy decision from an authority having more computing power than the cognitive radio; receiving the policy decision from the authority; and implementing the policy decision in the cognitive radio. Other embodiments may incorporate more, fewer or other elements.

Abstract: During operation of a secondary communication system 100, a device will perform spectrum sensing of certain channels (either by itself or as part of a group of nodes 104). When activity is found on a channel from a primary user, other devices will be notified that the channel is not available for use. The device may then modify its spectrum sensing to assist another device (or group of devices) that have not yet found activity on a different set of channels. By assigning additional channels to devices with extra capacity, the overall spectrum-sensing efficiency and performance of the communication system 100 is raised.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that allow users to collaborate in a search. Each user can contribute to an original search and to refining the results of the search. Preferences of all of the users are considered in the search even while those preferences can be kept private. In some embodiments of the present invention, at least two users each submit a search query. The multiple search queries are logically combined to produce one set of search results. The results can be reviewed by the users and refined if necessary. In some embodiments, a search query can be specified by a single user, but the search engine takes into consideration the stored preferences of multiple users (in addition to the search query itself, of course).

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a wireless communication system for providing enhanced search results to a user. The method includes monitoring data communication on a user device, determining at least one contextual datum from at least a portion of the monitored data based on a predetermined rule; and generating a search result by applying the determined contextual datum to a search application.

Abstract: During operation of a secondary communication system, cells (106) are formed by a plurality of localized nodes (104) to alert other nodes within the cell of frequencies which must be protected or otherwise avoided. All nodes within the cell monitor a differing subset of all frequencies available, and share information with respect to acceptable and protected frequencies with each other via low-power, short-range communication. Each node then forms a list of available channels for communication, and chooses a single node to report this information back to controller.

Abstract: During operation of a secondary communication system 100, a device will perform spectrum sensing of certain channels (either by itself or as part of a group of nodes 104). When activity is found on a channel from a primary user, other devices will be notified that the channel is not available for use. The device may then modify its spectrum sensing to assist another device (or group of devices) that have not yet found activity on a different set of channels. By assigning additional channels to devices with extra capacity, the overall spectrum-sensing efficiency and performance of the communication system 100 is raised.

Abstract: In certain embodiments of a cognitive radio, a method of establishing operational policies, involves determining that a new policy decision should be made; requesting a policy decision from an authority having more computing power than the cognitive radio; receiving the policy decision from the authority; and implementing the policy decision in the cognitive radio. Other embodiments may incorporate more, fewer or other elements.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method for managing operational parameters of a cognitive radio device to minimize non-compliance with a regulatory policy involves sensing a change in an operational condition that will affect compliance with a current operational policy; estimating a time at which the current operational policy will become invalid; selecting a method for determining how to update the current operational policy; and updating the current operational policy of the cognitive radio device. Other embodiments may incorporate more, fewer or other elements.

Abstract: During operation of a secondary communication system, nodes having different channel monitoring capabilities or requirements will cooperatively monitor possible frequencies for transmissions, each node using only a subset of all possible modulation sensing schemes. All nodes will share channel occupancy information to other nodes within the communication system. For example, a first group of nodes may monitor possible frequencies for television transmissions, while a second group of nodes may monitor the possible frequencies for APCO 25 transmissions. A group of nodes may also cooperatively monitor possible frequencies for more than one type of modulation transmission. Channel information will be shared among the nodes.

Abstract: During operation of a secondary communication system, cells (106) are formed by a plurality of localized nodes (104) to alert other nodes within the cell of frequencies which must be protected or otherwise avoided. All nodes within the cell monitor a differing subset of all frequencies available, and share information with respect to acceptable and protected frequencies with each other via low-power, short-range communication. Each node then forms a list of available channels for communication, and chooses a single node to report this information back to controller.

Abstract: Integrated communications apparatus and methods are used to receive, transmit, and operate on communications signals. A composite semiconductor structure may be formed for providing an integrated communications device that may include transceiver circuitry, data converter circuitry, and processor circuitry. The data converter circuitry may include an analog-to-digital and/or digital-to-analog data converter that is implemented at least partly using compound semiconductors (e.g., using compound semiconductor transistors for implementing comparators and/or switches in the data converter). The processor circuitry may include some circuitry that is formed from non-compound semiconductors, which is better suited than compound semiconductors to perform digital signal processing operations. The transceiver circuitry may include compound and/or non-compound semiconductor circuitry depending on the signal frequency and whether the signal is optical or electrical.

Abstract: Composite semiconductor structures and devices are presented in which digital processing systems are formed. The structures and devices include a first semiconductor material (which can be a Group IV semiconductor such as silicon), an accommodating layer (which can be an oxide or nitride), and a second semiconductor material (which can be a compound semiconductor such as gallium arsenide). The first and second semiconductor materials and accommodating layer can be fabricated as a single integrated circuit chip. Computationally intensive functions, such as arithmetic logic functions, and other digital processing functions requiring high speed operation, such as information transfer, can be formed in the second semiconductor material while other functions, such as control and memory, can be formed in the first semiconductor material. Such formation of digital processing systems improves system performance.

Abstract: A composite integrated circuit with electrical isolation is provided. The composite integrated circuit includes a Group IV semiconductor portion and a compound semiconductor portion. The composite integrated circuit includes electrical signal processing circuitry that is formed at least partly from the Group IV semiconductor portion. The composite integrated circuit includes circuitry that allows the processing circuitry to communicate via an electrical connection with the external circuitry and an optical connection that is provided by a pair of optical components that are at least partly formed in the compound semiconductor portion. The optical connection electrically insulates the processing circuitry from electrical signals in the electrical connection.

Abstract: A cellular cordless telephone (10) operates with both a cordless base station (180) and a cellular base station (190) and cellular control terminal (196). In one embodiment (FIG. 2), a cellular cordless telephone (100) includes a cellular transceiver (120), antenna (128), keyboard (140), a display (180), handset (160), and microcomputer (130) together with a cordless transceiver (110) and antenna (118), all of which may be in a single housing. In another embodiment (FIG. 3), a cellular cordless telephone (200) includes a cellular telephone (220) and a cordless telephone transceiver (210) which may be a plugable module. Whenever cellular cordless telephone (10) is within range of cordless base station (180), telephone calls may be made over the cordless radio channel or transferred from the cellular radio channels to the cordless radio channel.

Abstract: A method (200) and device (100) provide an efficient linear power amplifier that generates a variable-envelope radio frequency RF signal. The method includes the steps of: A) using an efficient envelope-following unit to output a supply voltage in accordance with a variable envelope of an input baseband signal, wherein using the efficient envelope-following unit includes: 1) using a bandwidth-limiting mapping unit to determine a reference signal based on the baseband signal; and 2) using an envelope-tracking power converter to output a supply voltage, responsive to the reference signal, to the linear RF power amplifier; B) providing an RF input signal with amplitude and phase information to a linear RF power amplifier; and C) using the linear RF power amplifier to output a power-efficient amplified variable-envelope RF signal with substantially a same amplitude and phase information as the RF input signal.