Patent ID: 8433351

Claim:
A method of controlling spectrum use in at least a first and a second wireless communication system which are operable to take part in a spectrum exchange process, the method comprising: measuring, in the first wireless communication system, interference in different portions of spectrum, if interference in the first wireless communication system for a certain portion of spectrum is above a threshold, identifying that portion as an exchange candidate portion and sending a spectrum exchange request to the second wireless communication system, the spectrum exchange request including a spectrum ID and an interference value associated with the exchange candidate portion, measuring, in the second wireless communication system, interference in different portions of spectrum and identifying a portion with a maximum interference as a swap candidate portion, if the interference in the second wireless communication system for the exchange candidate portion is less than the interference in the first wireless communication system for the exchange candidate portion, reporting exchange availability to the first wireless communication system, the reporting of exchange availability including reporting a spectrum ID of the swap candidate portion, measuring, in the first wireless communication system, interference in the swap candidate portion, if the interference in the first wireless communication system for the swap candidate portion is less than the interference in the first wireless communication system for the exchange candidate portion, sending a request to the second wireless communication system for spectrum exchange, and adopting a new spectrum configuration in the first and second wireless communication systems wherein the exchange candidate portion is available for use by the second wireless communication system and the swap candidate portion is available for use by the first wireless communication system.