Patent ID: 8326310

Claim:
A method of scheduling communications in a base station capable of operating a wireless network over a shared channel, comprising: establishing a wireless service connection with a bridge consumer premise equipment (CPE) system over the shared channel, wherein the bridge CPE system establishes a wireless coexistence connection over the shared channel with a second base station, and wherein the second base station allocates time slots on the shared channel for communications between the base station and the bridge CPE system; transmitting coexistence information including spectrum contention numbers to the second base station including performing communications with the bridge CPE system during the allocated time slots; prior to releasing the shared channel, receiving a coexistence request from the second base station via the bridge CPE system using a coexistence time slot on the shared channel and in response, performing a spectrum contention for ownership of the shared channel and reporting results of the spectrum contention to the second base station using a coexistence time slot on the shared channel; when the second base station wins the spectrum contention, instructing the bridge CPE system to perform the establishing of the wireless coexistence connection for use after releasing of the shared channel and instructing the bridge CPE system to request the allocated time slots to allow for communications with the bridge CPE system on the shared channel; and releasing the shared channel.