Patent Description:
There have been constantly growing service demands of users for high-quality, high-speed and new services along with evolution of wireless communication systems. Wireless communication operators and apparatus manufacturers need to constantly improve the systems so as to accommodate the demands of the users. This necessitates a huge amount of spectrum resources (for example, which can be quantified as per time, frequency, bandwidth, tolerable maximum transmission power and other parameters) to support the new services and satisfy the demand for high-speed communication. There are very limited spectrum resources which have been allocated to fixed operators and services and new available spectrums which are either rather scare or prohibitively expensive.

In view of this, the concept of dynamic spectrum use has been proposed, that is, dynamic use of those spectrum resources which have been allocated to some services but have been underused. For example, spectrums of some channels over which no programs are played, or spectrums of adjacent channels, among digital television and radio spectrums are used dynamically for wireless mobile communication without interference to reception of television signals. In this application example, the digital television and radio spectrums themselves are allocated to television and radio systems for use, so the television and radio systems are a primary system, and television sets are a primary user. Moreover mobile communication system is a secondary system, and receiver in the mobile communication system is a secondary user. The primary system mentioned here may refer to the system with a spectrum access, e.g., a television and radio system; and the secondary system may refer to a system without spectrum access except for appropriate use of a spectrum possessed by the primary system only when the spectrum is not used by the primary system.

Moreover the primary system and the secondary system can alternatively be systems both with a spectrum access but at different spectrum access priorities. For example, when an operator deploys a new base station to provide a new service, there is a spectrum access priority for an existing base station and a service provided by the existing base station. A primary system is composed of a primary user base station and a primary user, and a secondary system is composed of a secondary user base station and a secondary user. The secondary user base station communicates with one or more secondary users or a plurality of secondary users communicate with each other to constitute a secondary system. A plurality of secondary systems can be assigned to a cluster of secondary systems in some region. For example, a cluster of secondary systems can include a plurality of wireless local networks.

This communication solution with coexistence of the primary system and the secondary system requires that the secondary system be applied without interference to an application of the primary system or an influence as a result of spectrum use by the secondary system be controlled within a range tolerated by the primary system.

One of predominant solutions at present to protection of a primary system is to store coverage information of the primary system in a database together with an interference limit tolerable to the primary system. Prior to use of a spectrum of the primary system in the same region, a secondary system in the same region firstly accesses the database and submits information of the secondary system, e.g., position information, a spectrum emission mask, a transmission bandwidth, a carrier frequency, etc. Then the database calculates maximum transmission power, a bandwidth, etc., of the secondary system tolerated by the primary system without interference thereto according to the maximum interference tolerance limit of the primary system, the distance between the primary system and the secondary system in the same region, etc.. Prior art <CIT> discloses a system including a plurality of coexistence managers configured to manage the plurality of systems for coexistence and frequency sharing of the plurality of systems in the available frequency band.

However in the background art, primary systems and secondary systems in respective regions are managed by different databases, that is, the primary systems and the secondary systems in respective regions are stored in the different databases. Since an available spectrum of a secondary system may be calculated differently in different databases, when a secondary system at the edge of a different region transmits over an available spectrum resource provided by a database of its own region, there may be interference to a communication system such as primary system, unregistered in the present database, in another adjacent region. In another aspect, the database calculates the available spectrum resource for the secondary system it manages without knowing the interference from secondary systems registered in another database. Therefore, if the secondary system uses the calculated available spectrum resource, it might still cause harmful interference to the primary system managed by the database. In view of this, the applicants thus have made the invention. With the invention, interference of secondary systems in a region to a communication system such as primary system in another adjacent region can be prevented to thereby make reasonable use of spectrum resources.

According to the invention, a spectrum management system is defined according to independent claim <NUM>.

According to the invention, a method performed by a spectrum management system is defined according to claim <NUM>.

Additional exemplary aspect of the advancements described herein are set forth below. While illustrative, these descriptions should not be read as limiting on the inventive features defined by the claims.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention can be understood more easily from the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings in which identical or corresponding technical features or components will be denoted with identical or corresponding reference numerals.

The subject-matter of <FIG> and their descriptions, even if described or named as "embodiment(s)", "invention(s)", "aspect(s)", "example(s)" or "disclosure(s)" etc., does not fully and thus only partly correspond to the invention as defined in the claims, since one or more features present in and required by the independent claims are missing in the "embodiment(s)", "invention(s)", "aspect(s)", "example(s)" or "disclosure(s)" etc. The subject-matter of <FIG> and their descriptions is therefore not covered by the claims and is useful to highlight specific aspects of the claims.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It shall be noted that an illustration and a description of components and processes, well known to those ordinarily skilled in the art, of no irrelevance to the invention have been omitted in the drawings and the description for the sake of clarity.

A configuration of an apparatus in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can include a receiving unit <NUM> and a managing unit <NUM>.

According to a particular embodiment, a first region can transmit spectrum use information of secondary systems in the first region to one or more second regions. Moreover according to a particular embodiment, one or more second regions can detect spectrum use information of secondary systems in the first region. For example, a second region can collect signal measurement results at different positions in a coverage range of the second region and detect the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region according to the signal measurement results.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a region <NUM> illustrated on the left of <FIG> includes a primary system <NUM> and three secondary systems a, b and c, and a region <NUM> illustrated on the right of <FIG> includes a primary system <NUM> and two secondary systems e and d. The secondary systems a, b and c in the region <NUM> can use spectrum resources of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> according to spectrum resources recorded in a database <NUM>. The secondary systems e and d in the region <NUM> can use spectrum resources of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> according to spectrum resources recorded in a database <NUM>. Those skilled in the art shall appreciate that the regions <NUM> and <NUM> are merely exemplary, and the number of regions can be any number but will not be limited to two illustrated in <FIG>; and the secondary systems a, b and c in the region <NUM> and the secondary systems e and d in the region <NUM> are merely exemplary, and the number of secondary systems in the same region can be any number but will not be limited to three or two illustrated in <FIG>; and moreover the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> and the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> are merely exemplary, and the number of primary systems in the same region can be any number but will not be limited to one illustrated in <FIG>. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the primary system can be a television and radio system, and a secondary system can be a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system, and the different regions can correspond to different countries or regions.

As described above, when a secondary system at the edge of a different region transmits over an available spectrum resource provided by a database of its own region, there may be interference to a primary system, unregistered in the present database, in another adjacent region. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the secondary systems a, b and c in the region <NUM> transmit according to the spectrum resources recorded in the database <NUM>, there may be interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>. In another example, when the secondary systems d and e in the region <NUM> transmit according to the spectrum resources recorded in the database <NUM>, there may be interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>. Moreover when the secondary systems a, b and c in the region <NUM> transmit according to the spectrum resources recorded in the database <NUM>, and the secondary systems d and e in the region <NUM> transmit according to the spectrum resources recorded in the database <NUM>, the secondary systems a, b and c in the region <NUM> and the secondary systems d and e in the region <NUM> may produce aggregated interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> and the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, and the produced aggregated interference may exceed anti-interference thresholds of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> and the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>. It should be noted that in the example each region corresponds to a spectrum management system. So, for example, the secondary system in region N can be regarded as the secondary system managed by spectrum management system N.

With regard to interference of secondary systems in a region to a primary system in another region, the region where the secondary systems are located can be referred to as a first region, and all the other regions than the region where the secondary systems are located can be referred to as a second region. For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, with regard to interference of the secondary systems a, b and c in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> where the secondary systems a, b and c are located can be referred to as a first region, and the other region <NUM> than the region <NUM> where the secondary systems a, b and c are located can be referred to as a second region. In another example, with regard to interference of the secondary systems d and e in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> where the secondary systems d and e are located can be referred to as a first region, and the other region <NUM> than the region <NUM> where the secondary systems d and e are located can be referred to as a second region. Those skilled in the art shall appreciate that the number of second regions can be one or more.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the spectrum use information includes at least one of actual spectrum use information and available spectrum information, where the available spectrum information of the secondary systems in the first region is determined according to geographical position information of the secondary systems in the first region and service range information of the primary system in the first region to thereby ensure no interference to the primary system in the first region.

The available spectrum information of the secondary systems in the first region includes maximum transmission power, bandwidths, etc., of the secondary systems in the first region, which are allowed in the case that the secondary systems doe not interfere with the primary system in the first region. Due to path fading of wireless signal transmission, the available spectrum information of the secondary systems in the first region may be influenced by the distances between the secondary systems and the primary system in the first region and other factors. The distances between the secondary systems and the primary system in the first region, etc., can be determined according to the geographical position information of the secondary systems in the first region and the service range information of the primary system in the first region. Thus the available spectrum information of the secondary systems in the first region can be determined according to the determined distances between the secondary systems and the primary system in the first region, etc. For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, available spectrum information of the secondary system a in the region <NUM> can be determined according to geographical position information of the secondary system a in the region <NUM> and service range information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> to thereby ensure no interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>. In another example, available spectrum information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> can be determined according to geographical position information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> and service range information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> to thereby ensure no interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>. Moreover spectrum use valid time of the secondary systems in the first region can also be determined as available spectrum information according to a use plan of the spectrum resources by the primary system in the first region.

Those skilled in the art shall appreciate that the foregoing spectrum use information can be available spectrum information of secondary systems in a region or can be actual spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the region or can include both of them. Spectrum resources actually used by secondary systems in a region can be a part or all of available spectrum resources, for example, when there is a sudden change in operating condition of a primary system in the region, the spectrum resources actually used by the secondary systems in the region may alternatively be different from the available spectrum resources. According to an embodiment of the invention, the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region includes at least one of frequency bands, bandwidths, transmission power and spectrum use time. Particularly the available spectrum information of the secondary systems in the first region includes at least one of available frequency bands, available bandwidths, maximum transmission power and spectrum valid use time. Moreover those skilled in the art shall appreciate that the foregoing spectrum use information is merely exemplary but not exhaustive.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the receiving unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> can receive, from at least some of one or more second regions, reference information for modifying spectrum use information of secondary systems in a first region, where the at least some of the one or more second regions are regions in which primary systems are judged, according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, as being subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region.

After the first region transmits the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region to the one or more second regions, the one or more second regions can receive the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region; or the one or more second regions can detect spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region. A second region can judge whether the secondary systems in the first region interfere with a primary system in the second region according to the received or detected spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region. If the second region judges that the secondary systems in the first region may interfere with the primary system in the second region according to the received or detected spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, then the second region can transmit reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region to the first region. Moreover if the second region judges that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary system in the second region according to the received or detected spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, then interference of the secondary systems in the first region can be taken into account without regard to the second region, so the second region may not perform any action. In the case that the second region transmits the reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region to the first region, the first region can receive the reference information. The modified spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region includes transmission power, bandwidths, frequency bands, etc., of the secondary systems in the first region without interference to the primary systems in the first region and the second region, for example, can be tolerated maximum transmission power, bandwidths, etc., of the secondary systems.

For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, when the region <NUM> transmits spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> receives the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>; or the region <NUM> can detect spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>. The region <NUM> can judge whether the secondary system b in the region <NUM> interferes with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> according to the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>. If the region <NUM> judges that the secondary system b in the region <NUM> may interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, then the region <NUM> transmits reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>. If the region <NUM> judges that the secondary system b in the region <NUM> will not interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, then interference of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> can be taken into account without regard to the region <NUM>, so the region <NUM> may not perform any action. In the case that the region <NUM> transmits the reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> can receive the reference information.

Similarly, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, when the region <NUM> transmits spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> receives the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM>; or the region <NUM> can detect spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM>. The region <NUM> can judge whether the secondary system d in the region <NUM> interferes with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> according to the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM>. If the region <NUM> judges that the secondary system d in the region <NUM> may interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, then the region <NUM> transmits reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>. If the region <NUM> judges that the secondary system d in the region <NUM> will not interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, then interference of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> can be taken into account without regard to the region <NUM>, so the region <NUM> may not perform any action. In the case that the region <NUM> transmits the reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> can receive the reference information.

According to the invention, the reference information includes at least one of: service range information of primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region, and secondary-system-related information of the secondary systems which interfere with primary systems in the one or more second regions. It should be noted that the reference information indicates interference that is caused by the secondary systems on communication of a communication system such as primary system managed by different spectrum management system. This feature may also be referred to as interference information in the descriptions made herein.

As described above, the modified spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region includes transmission power, bandwidths, frequency bands, etc., of the secondary systems in the first region without interference to the primary systems in the first region and the second region. Due to path fading of wireless signal transmission, the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region may be influenced by the distances between the secondary systems in the first region and the primary system in the second region and other factors. The distances between the secondary systems in the first region and the primary system in the second region, etc., can be determined according to the geographical position information of the secondary systems in the first region and the service range information of the primary system in the second region. Thus transmission power, bandwidths, frequency bands, etc., of the secondary systems in the first region without interference to the primary systems in the first region and the second region can be determined according to the determined distances between the secondary systems in the first region and the primary system in the second region, etc. Thus the service range information of the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region can be taken as the reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region. For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, in the case the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> is subjected to interference of the secondary system a in the region <NUM>, spectrum use information of the secondary system a in the region <NUM> can be determined according to geographical position information of the secondary system a in the region <NUM> and the service range information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, so the service range information of the primary system <NUM>, in the region <NUM>, subjected to interference of the secondary system a in the region <NUM> can be taken as reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary system a in the region <NUM>. In another example in the case the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> is subjected to interference of the secondary system d in the region <NUM>, the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> can be determined according to geographical position information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> and service range information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, so the service range information of the primary system <NUM>, in the region <NUM>, subjected to interference of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> can be taken as reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM>.

Since the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system may manage a plurality of secondary systems, the secondary-system-related information of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems in the one or more second regions can be taken as the reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region to facilitate management by the apparatus <NUM>. For example, the secondary-system-related information can be secondary system identifiers or the spectrum use information of the secondary systems. In this case, spectrum use information of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems in the one or more second regions can be inquired about according to the secondary system identifiers of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems in the one or more second regions, or spectrum use information of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems in the one or more second regions can be obtained directly, so that the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region can be modified according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems. Moreover in the case that the secondary systems in the first region produce aggregated interference to a primary system in a second region together with secondary systems in the one or more second regions, the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region need to be further determined taking into account which secondary systems in which second regions will produce aggregated interference to a primary system in the second region together with the secondary systems in the first region. In this case, spectrum use information of these secondary systems in these second regions which will produce aggregated interference to the primary system in the second region together with the secondary systems in the first region can be inquired about according to secondary system identifiers of these secondary systems in these second regions which will produce aggregated interference to the primary system in the second region together with the secondary systems in the first region, or spectrum use information of these secondary systems in these second regions which will produce aggregated interference to the primary system in the second region together with the secondary systems in the first region can be obtained directly, so that the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region can be modified according to the spectrum use information of these secondary systems. For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, in the case that the secondary system b in the region <NUM> produces aggregated interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> together with the secondary system d in the region <NUM>, the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> can be inquired about according to the secondary system identifier d of the secondary system d in the region <NUM>, or the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> can be obtained directly, so that the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> can be modified according to the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM>. Moreover, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, if there is a further region <NUM> including a secondary system f (not illustrated), and the secondary system b in the region <NUM> produces aggregated interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> together with the secondary system f in the region <NUM>, then in this case, spectrum use information of the secondary system f in the region <NUM> can be inquired about according to the secondary system identifier f of the secondary system f in the region <NUM>, or spectrum use information of the secondary system f in the region <NUM> can be obtained directly, so that the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> can be modified according to the spectrum use information of the secondary system f in the region <NUM>. Similarly, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, in the case that the secondary system d in the region <NUM> produces aggregated interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> together with the secondary system b in the region <NUM>, the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> can be inquired about according to the secondary system identifier b of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>, or the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> can be obtained directly, so that the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> can be modified according to the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>. Moreover, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, if there is a further region <NUM> including a secondary system f (not illustrated), and the secondary system d in the region <NUM> produces aggregated interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> together with the secondary system f in the region <NUM>, then in this case, spectrum use information of the secondary system f in the region <NUM> can be inquired about according to the secondary system identifier f of the secondary system f in the region <NUM>, or spectrum use information of the secondary system f in the region <NUM> can be obtained directly, so that spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> can be modified according to the spectrum use information of the secondary system f in the region <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the managing unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> can modify the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region according to the received reference information.

After the first region receives the reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region from the second region, the first region can modify the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region according to the received reference information, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary system in the second region. For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, after the region <NUM> receives reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> from the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> can modify the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> according to the received reference information, so that the secondary system b in the region <NUM> will not interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>. In addition, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, after the region <NUM> receives reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> from the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> can modify the spectrum use information of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> according to the received reference information, so that the secondary system d in the region <NUM> will not interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region is modified according to operating condition information of the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary systems in the one or more second regions, where the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region, are determined according to the service range information of the primary systems in the one or more second regions as well as first level interference range information of the secondary systems in the first region, which is determined based on the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region.

Moreover according to another particular embodiment of the invention, the second region can alternatively determine those secondary systems in the first region which interfere with the primary system in the second region by measuring signals at different positions in the coverage range of the second region. For example, the second region can collect signal measurement results at different positions in the coverage range thereof and can judge that one or more secondary systems at some positions in the first region interfere with the primary system in the second region according to the collected signal measurement results. In this case, the second region can modify spectrum use information of these secondary systems according to operating condition information of the primary system in the second region to ensure that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary system in the second region. Moreover the second region can alternatively transmit the operating condition information of the primary system, in the second region, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region to the first region, so that the first region can modify the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region according to the operating condition information of the primary system in the second region.

A process of modifying spectrum use information of secondary systems according to first level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating that spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to first level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

After the first region transmits the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region to the second region, the second region determines first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region according to the received spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region. A first level interference range is a range in which a primary system in a second region, falling into a circle with a center being a secondary system in the first region and a radius being a first level interference radius r<NUM> can not operate due to interference of the secondary system in the first region. Thus the primary system in the second region can not operate once it falls into the first level interference range. For example, the first level interference radius r<NUM> can be calculated in the formula of: <MAT>.

Where Ptss is transmission power of the secondary system in the first region in a frequency band. PL(n) is path fading calculated according to the distance r<NUM> and a channel model and can be calculated using a corresponding path fading model according to an antenna height of the secondary system in the first region, an antenna height of the primary system in the second region and an application scenario. For details thereof, reference can be made to <NPL>. PrPS_min is the lowest signal strength at the edge of a service area of the primary system in the second region. PRmin is the lowest signal-to-interference ratio at which a receiver of the primary system in the second region can operate normally with interference. PrPS_min and PRmin may vary across the primary systems in the respective regions. For example, the lowest signal strength of edge signal of a television service area may vary across different countries, and also an anti-interference capability of a television signal receiver may vary across the respective countries. Such information may be stored in advance as system information and can be inquired about as necessary. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the foregoing method of calculating a first level interference radius of a secondary system in the first region is merely exemplary and a first level interference radius of a secondary system in the first region can alternatively be calculated in another appropriate method.

After the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region are determined, the primary systems in the one or more second regions can be searched for a primary system falling into a first level interference range of a secondary system in the first region according to the determined first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region and the service range information of the primary systems in the one or more second regions. If a primary system in a second region is found falling into a first level interference range of a secondary system in the first region, then the primary system in the second region can be judged as a primary system, in a second region, subjected to interference of the secondary system in the first region.

After the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to interference to the secondary systems in the first regions are judged, the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first regions can be modified according to the operating condition information of the judged primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first regions, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary systems in the one or more second regions. For example, the operating condition information of the primary system in the second region can include at least one of frequency bands, bandwidths, transmission power, spectrum use time limits, etc..

For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, after the region <NUM> transmits the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>, or after the region <NUM> detects the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> can determine a first level interference range of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> according to the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>. The first level interference range of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> is a range in which the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, falling into a circle with a center being the secondary system b in the region <NUM> and a radius being the first level interference radius r<NUM> can not operate. For example, the first level interference radius r<NUM> of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> can be calculated in the method described in the formula (<NUM>) above. After the first level interference range of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> is determined, whether the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> falls into the first level interference range of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> can be judged according to the determined first level interference range of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> and the service range information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, etc. If the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> falls into the first level interference range of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>, then the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> can be judged as being subjected to interference of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>. After the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> is judged as being subjected to interference of the secondary system b in the region <NUM>, the spectrum use information of the secondary system b in the region <NUM> can be modified according to operating condition information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, so that the secondary system b in the region <NUM> will not interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>. Moreover interference of the secondary system d in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> can be taken into account in a similar way to what described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

An implementation in which spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to first level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation in which spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to first level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first region (the region <NUM>) transmits the position information, the spectrum use information, etc., of the secondary systems in the first region to the one or more second regions (the region <NUM>,. , the region n). Moreover the one or more second regions (the region <NUM>,. , the region n) can alternatively detect the spectrum use information of the first region (the region <NUM>). The respective second regions determine first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region respectively according to the position information and the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, the service range information of the primary systems in the corresponding second regions, etc. After the respective second regions determine the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region respectively, the respective second regions can modify the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region respectively according to the operating condition information of the primary systems in the corresponding second regions and transmit the modified spectrum use information of the secondary systems respectively to the first region in a secondary system spectrum use information modification command. The first region modifies synthetically the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region upon reception of the modified spectrum use information of the secondary systems transmitted from the respective second regions, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary systems in the respective second regions.

Another implementation in which spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to first level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating another implementation in which spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to first level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first region (the region <NUM>) transmits the position information, the spectrum use information, etc., of the secondary systems in the first region to the one or more second regions (the region <NUM>,. , the region n). Moreover the one or more second regions (the region <NUM>,. , the region n) can alternatively detect the spectrum use information of the first region (the region <NUM>). The respective second regions determine first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region respectively according to the position information and the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, the service range information of the primary systems in the corresponding second regions, etc. After the respective second regions determine the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region respectively, the primary systems in the respective second regions are searched for primary systems in the respective second regions, falling into the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region, and the service range information of the primary systems in the respective second regions, falling into the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region is transmitted respectively to the first region. The first region modifies synthetically the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region upon reception of the service range information of the primary systems in the respective second regions, falling into the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region, transmitted from the respective second regions, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary systems in the respective second regions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least some of the one or more second regions are regions in which primary systems are judged, according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region as well as the spectrum use information of the other secondary systems in the first region and/or the secondary systems in the one or more second regions, as being subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region.

A process of modifying spectrum use information of secondary systems according to second level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating that spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to second level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a region <NUM> includes a primary system <NUM>, a secondary system C and a secondary system D, a region <NUM> includes a primary system <NUM> and a secondary system B, and a region <NUM> includes a primary system <NUM> and a secondary system A. In a spectrum use limited reference zone <NUM> illustrated by the solid ellipse in the region <NUM>, local interference of the secondary system C and the secondary system D in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> may produce aggregated interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> together with foreign interference of the secondary system A in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>. Moreover in a spectrum use limited reference zone <NUM> illustrated by the dotted ellipse in the region <NUM>, local interference of the secondary system B in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> may produce aggregated interference to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> together with foreign interference of the secondary system C and the secondary system D in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> as well as foreign interference of the secondary system A in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region is modified according to the operating condition information of the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to the aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region as well as interference condition information of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to the aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not produce aggregated interference to the primary systems in the one or more second regions, where the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to the aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region, are determined according to the service range information of the primary systems in the one or more second regions as well as second level interference range information of the secondary systems in the first region, which is determined based on the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region.

After the first region obtains the frequency use information of the secondary systems in the first region modified according to the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region, the first region transmits the modified frequency use information of the secondary systems in the first region to the one or more second regions with their primary systems falling into the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region. The second regions determines second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region according to the received modified frequency use information of the secondary systems in the first region. Moreover the second regions can alternatively determine second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region according to the original frequency use information of the secondary systems in the first region. That is, the second regions can determine the second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region directly instead of determining firstly the first level interference ranges and then the second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region. A second level interference range of a secondary system in the first region is a range in which interference of the secondary system in the first region to a primary system in a second region, located outside of a circle with a center being the secondary system in the first region and a radius being a second level interference radius can be ignored. Thus interference of the secondary system in the first region to a primary system in a second region, falling into the second level interference range of the secondary system in the first region shall be taken into account. Thus only interference of a secondary system in the first region to a primary system in a second region is taken into account in the first level interference range of the secondary system in the first region, and aggregated interference of the secondary system in the first region, the other secondary systems in the first region and/or the secondary systems in the one or more second regions to a primary system in a second region is taken into account in the second level interference range of the secondary system in the first region. Thus for a corresponding secondary system in the first region, the second level interference range is larger than the first level interference range. A primary system in a second region, located outside of the first level interference range but in the second level interference range may be subjected to aggregated interference from a plurality of secondary systems although it can operate. Although interference from a secondary system is very low, the interference may render a primary system in a second region inoperative upon aggregation with interference signals of other secondary systems. The second level interference radius r<NUM> of the secondary system in the first region can be calculated in the formula of: <MAT>.

Where Ptss is transmission power of the secondary system in the first region in a frequency band. PL(r<NUM>) is path fading calculated according to the second level interference radius r<NUM> and a channel model. For details thereof, reference can be made to <NPL>. RS is a threshold of interference receivable by a receiver of the primary system in the second region, and interference below this value can be ignored. For example, if signal energy of interference is below PrPS_min - PR -20dB, then the interference can be ignored. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the foregoing method of calculating a second level interference radius of a secondary system in the first region is merely exemplary and a second level interference radius of a secondary system in the first region can alternatively be calculated in another appropriate method. According to this embodiment, since transmission power of the secondary system in the first region is lowered in the first level interference range of the secondary system in the first region, the second level interference range of the secondary system in the first region can be lowered to thereby avoid an access to excessive interfering secondary system in other regions. Of course, as described above, the second regions can determine the second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region directly according to the original frequency use information of the secondary systems in the first region without firstly determining the first level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region. In this case, the directly determined second level interference ranges may be larger than the second level interference ranges determined after the first level interference ranges are determined.

After the second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region are determined, the primary systems in the one or more second regions can be searched for a primary system falling into a second level interference range of a secondary system in the first region according to the determined second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region and the service range information of the primary systems in the one or more second regions. If a primary system in a second region is found falling into a second level interference range of a secondary system in the first region, then the primary system in the second region can be judged as a primary system, in a second region, subjected to interference of the secondary system in the first region, and other corresponding secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region can be searched for.

After the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first regions are judged, and the secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region are found, the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first regions can be modified according to the operating condition information of the judged primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first regions, and interference condition information of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region, so that the secondary systems in the first regions will not interfere with the primary systems in the one or more second regions. For example, the operating condition information of the primary system in the second region and the interference condition information of the secondary systems can include at least one of frequency bands, bandwidths, transmission power, spectrum use time limits, etc..

For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, after the region <NUM> transmits spectrum use information of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, modified according to a first level interference range to the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> can determine a second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> according to the modified spectrum use information of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>. Moreover the region <NUM> can alternatively determine a second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> directly according to the original spectrum use information of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> without firstly determining the first level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>. The second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> is a range in which interference of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> to the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, located in a circle with a center being the secondary system C in the region <NUM> and a radius being the second level interference radius r<NUM> can be ignored. For example, the second level interference radius r<NUM> of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> can be calculated in the method described in the formula (<NUM>) above. After the second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> is determined, whether the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> falls into the second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> can be judged according to the determined second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, service range information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, etc. If the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> falls into the second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, then the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> can be judged as being subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, and other corresponding secondary systems which interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> can be searched for, e.g., the secondary system D in the region <NUM>, the secondary system B in the region <NUM>, the secondary system A in the region <NUM>, etc. After the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> is judged as being subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, the secondary system D in the region <NUM>, the secondary system B in the region <NUM> and the secondary system A in the region <NUM>, the spectrum use information of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> can be modified according to operating condition information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, and interference condition information of the secondary system D in the region <NUM>, the secondary system B in the region <NUM> and the secondary system A in the region <NUM>, so that the secondary system C in the region <NUM> will not produce aggregated interference with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the interference condition information of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to the aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region, is obtained by inquiring about interference condition information, recorded in a registering unit in the second region, to which different positions within a service range of the primary system in the second region are subjected from secondary systems in the second region and from secondary systems in other regions.

The registering unit in the second region can record interference condition information to which different positions within the service range of the primary system in the second region are subjected from the secondary systems in the second region and from secondary systems in other regions. Prior to spectrum use by a newly emerging secondary system, it can be judged whether the newly emerging secondary system will interfere with the primary system in the second region, and if the newly emerging secondary system is judged as interfering with the primary system in the second region, then spectrum use information of the newly emerging secondary system can be registered into the registering unit. Moreover the contents of the registering unit can be updated periodically, or the contents of the registering unit can be updated when there is a change in spectrum use condition of a primary system or a secondary system. According to an embodiment of the invention, the interference condition information from the secondary systems in the second region includes interference amounts of the secondary systems in the second region to the primary system in the second region and/or spectrum use time of the secondary systems in the second region, and the interference condition information from the secondary systems in the other regions includes region identifiers of the other regions and secondary system identifiers of the secondary systems in the other regions.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the secondary system C in the first region (the region <NUM>) may produce aggregated interference to the primary system <NUM> in the second region (the region <NUM>) together with which secondary systems in which regions are taken into account, interference condition information, recorded in a registering unit in the second region (the region <NUM>), to which different positions within a service range of the primary system in the second region (the region <NUM>) are subjected from the secondary systems in the second region (the region <NUM>) and from the secondary systems in the other regions can be inquired about. For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, knowledge of aggregated interference of the secondary system B in the second region (the region <NUM>) together with the secondary systems in the other regions (the secondary system D in the region <NUM> and the secondary system A in the region <NUM>) as well as the secondary system C in the first region (the region <NUM>) to the primary system <NUM> in the second region (the region <NUM>) can be obtained by inquiring the registering unit in the second region (the region <NUM>).

In the case of the example illustrated in <FIG>, the registering unit can record the interference condition information of the respective secondary systems in the form of Table <NUM> below.

With an inquiry to Table <NUM> in the registering unit, the spectrum use limited zone <NUM> in the region <NUM> is found to be further subjected to interference of the secondary system A in the region <NUM> as identified by (<NUM>, A, T1), where <NUM> is the region identifier of the region <NUM>, A is the secondary system identifier of the secondary system A in the region <NUM>, and T1 is an interference valid time.

How the registering unit in the second region records interference condition information to which different positions within the service range of the primary system in the second region are subjected from the secondary systems in the second region and from secondary systems in other regions.

A process of searching for an interfering secondary system according to second level interference ranges of secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating that an interfering secondary system is searched for according to second level interference ranges of secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the region <NUM> transmits position information of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, and the spectrum use information of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, modified according to the first level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>. The region <NUM> determines the second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> according to the received modified spectrum use information of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>. Then the region <NUM> searches for a primary system in a second region, falling in the second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM> according to the determined second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, the service range information of the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, etc., and then searches for secondary systems which interfere with the primary system in the second region, falling in the second level interference range by inquiring registration Table <NUM> of interfering secondary systems stored in the registering unit. For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> falls into the second level interference range of the secondary system C in the region <NUM>, and with an inquiry to registration Table <NUM> of interfering secondary systems above, secondary systems which interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM> are found including the secondary system A in the region <NUM>, the secondary system D in the region <NUM> and the secondary system B in the region <NUM>. After the secondary systems which interfere with the primary system in the second region, falling in the second level interference range are found, the regions where the secondary systems are located can be inquired about the spectrum use information of the secondary systems. For example, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, after the secondary system A in the region <NUM> is founded to interfere with the primary system <NUM> in the region <NUM>, the region <NUM> can inquire the region <NUM> where the secondary system A is located about spectrum use information of the secondary system A, and the region <NUM> can transmit the spectrum use information of the secondary system A in the region <NUM> to the region <NUM>.

An implementation in which spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to second level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation in which spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to second level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the respective second regions (the region <NUM>,. , the region n) can modify the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region (the region <NUM>) respectively according to the operating condition information of the primary systems in the corresponding second regions, located in the second level interference ranges, and the interference condition information of the other secondary system which interfere with the primary systems in the corresponding second regions, located in the second level interference ranges, and transmit the modified spectrum use information of the secondary systems respectively to the first region in a secondary system spectrum use information modification command. The first region modifies synthetically the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region upon reception of the modified spectrum use information of the secondary systems transmitted from the respective second regions, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary systems in the respective second regions.

Another implementation in which spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to second level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating another implementation in which spectrum use information of secondary systems is modified according to second level interference ranges of the secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first region (the region <NUM>) transmits the position information, the spectrum use information, etc., of the secondary systems in the first region to the one or more second regions. The respective second regions (the region <NUM>,. , the region n) can transmit the service range information of the primary systems in the respective second regions, falling into the second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region, and the interference condition information of the secondary system in the other regions, which interfere with the primary systems in the respective second regions, located in the second level interference ranges respectively to the first region (the region <NUM>). The first region modifies synthetically the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region upon reception of the service range information of the primary systems in the respective second regions, falling into the second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region, and the interference condition information of the secondary system in the other regions, which interfere with the primary systems in the respective second regions, located in the second level interference ranges, transmitted from the respective second regions, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not produce aggregated interference to the primary systems in the respective second regions.

A configuration of the managing unit illustrated in <FIG> will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the managing unit illustrated in <FIG>.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the managing unit <NUM> further includes: a secondary system spectrum use time determining unit <NUM> for determining spectrum use valid time of the secondary systems in the first region according to a spectrum use time limit of the primary system in the first region and spectrum use time limits of the primary systems, in the one or more second regions, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region.

Particularly spectrum use information of a secondary system can be modified by checking spectrum use conditions of existing primary systems and secondary systems over some duration. This duration can be determined according to a desired spectrum use duration provided by the secondary system. The duration can be determined with reference to a spectrum available time limit if no desired spectrum use duration is provided by the secondary system. The spectrum available time limit refers to a period of time over which availability of a spectrum can be determined according to predictable operating conditions of the primary systems and the secondary systems and beyond which the available spectrum becomes invalid and instead an available spectrum needs to be recalculated. If the desired spectrum use time provided by the secondary system is far below the spectrum available time limit, then the spectrum use time can be modified at lowered complexity.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the receiving unit <NUM> is further adapted to receive, from the secondary systems in the first region, secondary system spectrum use durations estimated by the secondary systems in the first region; and the secondary system spectrum use time determining unit is further adapted to modify the spectrum use time of the secondary systems in the first region according to the spectrum use valid time and the secondary system spectrum use durations.

If there is a change in spectrum use conditions of the existing primary systems and secondary systems over the duration, then the spectrum use information of the secondary system can be modified in the following three approaches.

In a first approach, the spectrum use information of the secondary system is modified according to conditions prior to a first change in spectrum use of the existing primary systems and secondary systems, and then the spectrum use time limit of the secondary system is updated to the period for the first change in spectrum use of the existing primary systems and/or secondary systems.

In a second approach, the modified spectrum use information of the secondary system is determined according to the spectrum use change conditions of the existing primary systems and secondary systems over the duration, and the period of time for the change is marked.

In a third approach, the spectrum use information of the secondary system is modified over the duration, and a spectrum use pattern is determined, so that spectrum use of the secondary system will not interfere with spectrum use of the primary systems and the secondary systems with different changes over the period of time.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the secondary system spectrum use durations are estimated according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region and application types of the secondary systems in the first region.

A configuration of an apparatus in a wireless communication system according to another embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus in a wireless communication system according to another embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication includes a receiving unit <NUM>, a managing unit <NUM> and a registering unit <NUM>, where the receiving unit <NUM> and the managing unit <NUM> are configured the same with the receiving unit <NUM> and the managing unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> respectively, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The registering unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> will be described below in details.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the registering unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can record interference condition information to which different positions within a service range of the primary system in the first region are subjected from the secondary systems in the first region and from secondary systems in other regions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the interference condition information from the secondary systems in the first region includes interference amounts of the secondary systems in the first region to the primary system in the first region and/or spectrum use valid time of the secondary systems in the first region, and the interference condition information from the secondary systems in the other regions includes region identifiers of the other regions and secondary system identifiers of the secondary systems in the other regions.

A process of recording interference information of secondary systems according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating that interference information of secondary systems is recorded according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, after the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region (the region <NUM>) is modified, interference of the secondary systems in the first region to the primary system in the first region is calculated. Even if the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary system in the first region, a tolerated interference range of the primary system in the first region may be lowered at the edge of the service area of the primary system due to an influence of the secondary systems in the first region. Then the first region transmits the region identifier of the region where the secondary systems are located, the secondary system identifiers, system parameters (e.g., antenna heights and antenna types, categories of transmission masks, transmission power, types of secondary system, air interface information, etc., of the secondary systems) to the one or more second regions (the region <NUM> and the region <NUM>). The respective second regions determine the second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region respectively upon reception of the above information. Then the respective second regions search for primary systems falling into the second level interference ranges respectively according to the determined second level interference ranges of the secondary systems in the first region, the service range information of the primary systems in the corresponding second regions, etc. Then the region identifiers of the regions where the interfering secondary systems are located, the secondary system identifiers and the interference periods of time are recorded into registration Table <NUM> of interfering secondary systems in correspondence to the victim regions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first region can further transmit a region identifier of the first region and secondary system identifiers of the secondary systems in the first region to the one or more second regions.

A configuration of an apparatus in a wireless communication system according to still another embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus in a wireless communication system according to still another embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication includes a receiving unit <NUM>, a managing unit <NUM>, a storing unit <NUM> and a converting unit <NUM>, where the receiving unit <NUM> and the managing unit <NUM> are configured the same with the receiving unit <NUM> and the managing unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> respectively, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The storing unit <NUM> and the converting unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> will be described below in details.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the storing unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can store descriptions of transmission masks of secondary systems in the first region and the one or more second regions and corresponding identifiers thereof.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the converting unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can convert the identifiers of the transmission masks of secondary system from the one or more second regions into descriptions of corresponding transmission masks of secondary systems according to the descriptions of the transmission masks or frequency bands of secondary systems in the one or more second regions and the corresponding identifiers thereof, which are stored in the storing unit.

A method for use in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a flow chart illustrating a method for use in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the method starts with the step <NUM>. After the step <NUM>, the method proceeds to the step <NUM>.

The step <NUM> is a receiving step. In the step <NUM>, reference information for modifying spectrum use information of secondary systems in a first region is received from at least some of one or more second regions, where the at least some of the one or more second regions are regions in which primary systems are judged, according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, as being subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region.

After the step <NUM>, the method proceeds to the step <NUM>.

The step <NUM> is a managing step. In the step <NUM>, the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region is modified according to the received reference information.

The method illustrated in <FIG> is a method corresponding to the apparatus illustrated in <FIG>, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system includes an acquiring unit <NUM>, a managing unit <NUM> and a transmitting unit <NUM>.

The acquiring unit <NUM> can acquire spectrum use information of secondary systems in a first region. As described above, a second region can receive the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region from the first region; or the second region can detect the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region.

The managing unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can judge, according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, whether the secondary systems in the first region interfere with a primary system in a second region.

The transmitting unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can transmit reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region to the first region in the case that the secondary systems in the first region interfere with the primary system in the second region.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the reference information includes at least one of: service range information of the primary system, in the second region, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region, and secondary-system-related information of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary system in the second region.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the primary system, in the second region, subjected to the interference of the secondary systems in the first region is searched for according to the service range information of the primary system in the second region as well as first level interference range information of the secondary systems in the first region, which is determined based on the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, where the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region is modified according to operating condition information of the primary system, in the second region, subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region, so that the secondary systems in the first region will not interfere with the primary system in the second region.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is judged, according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region as well as spectrum use information of other secondary systems in the first region and/or the secondary systems in the one or more second regions, whether the secondary systems in the first region produce aggregated interference to the primary system in the second region.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the primary system, in the second region, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region is searched for according to the service range information of the primary system in the second region as well as second level interference range information of the secondary systems in the first region, which is determined based on the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, where the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region is modified according to operating condition information of the primary system, in the second region, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region as well as interference condition information of secondary systems which interfere with the primary system, in the second region, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region, so that the secondary systems in the first region do not produce aggregated interference to the primary system in the second region.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the interference condition information of the secondary systems which interfere with the primary system, in the second region, subjected to aggregated interference of the secondary systems in the first region, is obtained by inquiring about interference condition information, recorded in a registering unit in the second region, to which different positions within a service range of the primary system in the second region are subjected from secondary systems in the second region and from secondary systems in other regions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the interference condition information from the secondary systems in the second region includes interference amounts of the secondary systems in the second region to the primary system in the second region and/or spectrum use valid time of the secondary systems in the second region, and the interference condition information from the secondary systems in the other regions includes region identifiers of the other regions and secondary system identifiers of the secondary systems in the other regions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the acquiring unit further acquires a region identifier of the first region and secondary system identifiers of the secondary systems in the first region.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system includes an acquiring unit <NUM>, a managing unit <NUM>, a transmitting unit <NUM> and a registering unit <NUM>, where the acquiring unit <NUM>, the managing unit <NUM> and the transmitting unit <NUM> are configured the same with the acquiring unit <NUM>, the managing unit <NUM> and the transmitting unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> respectively, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The registering unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> will be described below in details.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the registering unit <NUM> can record interference condition information to which different positions within a service range of the primary system in the second region are subjected from the secondary systems in the second region and from secondary systems in other regions.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system includes an acquiring unit <NUM>, a managing unit <NUM>, a transmitting unit <NUM> and a storing unit <NUM>, where the acquiring unit <NUM>, the managing unit <NUM> and the transmitting unit <NUM> are configured the same with the acquiring unit <NUM>, the managing unit <NUM> and the transmitting unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> respectively, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The storing unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> will be described below in details.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the storing unit <NUM> can store descriptions of transmission masks of secondary system in the first region and the second region and corresponding identifiers thereof.

A method for use in a wireless communication system according to another embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a flow chart illustrating a method for use in a wireless communication system according to another embodiment of the invention.

The step <NUM> is an acquiring step. In the step <NUM>, spectrum use information of secondary systems in a first region is acquired.

The step <NUM> is a managing step. In the step <NUM>, it is judged, according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, whether the secondary systems in the first region interfere with a primary system in a second region.

The step <NUM> is a transmitting step. In the step <NUM>, reference information for modifying the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region is transmitted to the first region in the case that the secondary systems in the first region interfere with the primary system in the second region.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can include a receiving unit <NUM> and an executing unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the receiving unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> can receive, from a first region, spectrum use information of secondary systems in the first region, which is modified according to reference information, where the reference information is received by the first region from at least some of one or more second regions, and the at least some of the one or more second regions are regions in which primary systems are judged, according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, as being subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region.

Referring back to <FIG>, the executing unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> can communicate with user equipments of the secondary systems in the first region according to the modified spectrum use information of secondary systems in the first region.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can include a receiving unit <NUM>, an executing unit <NUM> and a secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM>, where the receiving unit <NUM> and the executing unit <NUM> are configured the same as the receiving unit <NUM> and the executing unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> respectively, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> will be described below in details.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM> can estimate secondary system spectrum use durations according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region and application types of the secondary systems in the first region.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can include a receiving unit <NUM>, an executing unit <NUM>, a secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM> and a transmitting unit <NUM>, where the receiving unit <NUM>, the executing unit <NUM> and the secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM> are configured the same as the receiving unit <NUM>, the executing unit <NUM> and the secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> respectively, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The transmitting unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> will be described below in details.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the transmitting unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> can transmit the estimated secondary system spectrum use durations to the primary system of the first region.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> in a wireless communication system can include a receiving unit <NUM>, an executing unit <NUM>, a secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM> and a secondary system spectrum use time modifying unit <NUM>, where the receiving unit <NUM>, the executing unit <NUM> and the secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM> are configured the same as the receiving unit <NUM>, the executing unit <NUM> and the secondary system spectrum use duration estimating unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> respectively, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. The secondary system spectrum use time modifying unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> will be described below in details.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the secondary system spectrum use time modifying unit <NUM> in the apparatus <NUM> can modify spectrum use of the secondary systems in the first region according to changes in spectrum use conditions of the primary system and the secondary systems in the first region within the secondary system spectrum use durations or spectrum available time limits.

A method for use in a wireless communication system according to still another embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a flow chart illustrating a method for use in a wireless communication system according to still another embodiment of the invention.

The step <NUM> is a receiving step. In the step <NUM>, spectrum use information of secondary systems in a first region, which is modified according to reference information is received from the first region, where the reference information is received by the first region from at least some of one or more second regions, and the at least some of the one or more second regions are regions in which primary systems are judged, according to the spectrum use information of the secondary systems in the first region, as being subjected to interference of the secondary systems in the first region.

The step <NUM> is an executing step. In the step <NUM>, communication is performed with user equipments of the secondary systems in the first region according to the modified spectrum use information of secondary systems in the first region.

The method illustrated in <FIG> is a method corresponding to the apparatus illustrated in <FIG>, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

An application example according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating an application example according to an embodiment of the invention. The embodiments below are only exemplary and not limited.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a geographical position database A manages geographical position calculating apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM>. The geographical position calculating apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> manage television frequency band wireless networks <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. A television frequency band wireless network <NUM> is managed by a geographical position calculating apparatus <NUM>. Here the geographical position databases A and B are two adjacent countries or regions. The geographical position calculating apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> are different operators in the same country or region. The geographical position calculating apparatus <NUM> is an operator of another country.

As specified by the existing European regulations for communication over wireless networks in television frequency bands, a base station of the wireless network firstly transmits its own geographical position information to the geographical position calculating apparatus, and then the geographical position calculating apparatus calculates a spectrum available to the wireless network at the position according to spectrum use information of television and radio networks in the geographical position database. The base station of the wireless network selects a frequency band for wireless communication in the available spectrum and then transmits desired frequency band use information to the geographical position calculating apparatus. Then finalized frequency band use information can be modified according to the desired frequency band use information of the secondary system, so that the television frequency band wireless network <NUM> will not interfere with the television frequency band wireless networks <NUM> and <NUM> in the other country or region.

Moreover an embodiment of the invention further proposes a program product carrying machine executable instructions, where the instructions cause upon being executed on an information processing apparatus the information processing apparatus to perform the method for use in a wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the invention.

Moreover an embodiment of the invention further proposes a storage medium including machine readable program codes, where the program codes cause upon being executed on an information processing apparatus the information processing apparatus to perform the method for use in a wireless communication system according to the embodiments of the invention.

Correspondingly a storage medium carrying the program product with the machine readable instruction codes stored thereon will also come into the scope of this disclosure. The storage medium can include but will not be limited to a floppy disk, an optical disk, an optic-magnetic disk, a memory card, a memory stick, etc..

The apparatus in a wireless communication system according to the embodiments of the invention and the components thereof can be configured in software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof. A particular configuration means or manner available is well known to those skilled in the art, and a repeated description thereof will be omitted here. In the case of being embodied in software or firmware, programs constituting the software can be installed from a storage medium or a network to a computer with a dedicated hardware structure (e.g., an information processing apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>), and the computer can perform the various functions when the various pieces of programs are installed thereon.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of an information processing apparatus in which an embodiment of the invention can be embodied.

In <FIG>, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) <NUM> performs various processes according to programs stored in a Read Only Memory (ROM) <NUM> or loaded from a storage portion <NUM> into a Random Access Memory (RAM) <NUM> in which data required when the CPU <NUM> performs the various processes, etc., are also stored as needed. The CPU <NUM>, the ROM <NUM> and the RAM <NUM> are connected to each other via a bus <NUM> to which an input/output interface <NUM> is also connected.

The following components are connected to the input/output interface <NUM>: an input portion <NUM> (including a keyboard, a mouse, etc.), an output portion <NUM> (including a display, e.g., a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), etc., a speaker, etc.), a storage port <NUM> (including a hard disk, etc.), and a communication portion <NUM> (including a network interface card, e.g., an LAN card, a modem, etc). The communication portion <NUM> performs a communication process over a network, e.g., the Internet. A driver <NUM> can also be connected to the input/output interface <NUM> as needed. A removable medium <NUM>, e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, an optic-magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, etc., can be installed on the driver <NUM> as needed so that computer programs fetched therefrom can be installed into the storage portion <NUM> as needed.

In the case that the foregoing series of processes are performed in software, programs constituting the software can be installed from a network, e.g., the Internet, etc., or a storage medium, e.g., the removable medium <NUM>, etc..

Those skilled in the art shall appreciate that such a storage medium will not be limited to the removable medium <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> in which the programs are stored and which is distributed separately from the apparatus to provide a user with the programs. Examples of the removable medium <NUM> include a magnetic disk (including a Floppy Disk (a registered trademark)), an optical disk (including Compact Disk-Read Only memory (CD-ROM) and a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)), an optic-magnetic disk (including a Mini Disk (MD) (a registered trademark)) and a semiconductor memory. Alternatively the storage medium can be the ROM <NUM>, a hard disk included in the storage port <NUM>, etc., in which the programs stored and which is distributed together with the apparatus including the same to the user.

Claim 1:
A spectrum management system (<NUM>) that coordinates resources in a first region between a first communication system and at least one wireless mobile communication system, the first communication system being a primary system and the at least one wireless mobile communication system being a secondary system, comprising:
circuitry (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to
receive reference information for modifying spectrum use information corresponding to the at least one wireless mobile communication system from another spectrum management system of a second region when it is judged, according to the spectrum use information, that another primary system of the second region is subject to interference by the at least one wireless mobile communication system,
wherein the spectrum use information comprises available spectrum information, and the available spectrum information is determined based on geographical position information of the at least one wireless mobile communication system and service range information of the first communication system; and
wherein the reference information includes at least one of: service range information of the another primary system of the second region subjected to interference of the at least one wireless mobile communication system, and secondary-system-related information of secondary systems which interfere with the another primary system in the second region.