Patent ID: 8774209

Claim:
A method for sharing a shared spectrum channel comprising: assessing in at least one terminal in a network whether the shared spectrum channel is being used by at least one other network; transmitting one or more transmission frames from the at least one device in the network using the shared spectrum channel in at least one of an uplink or a downlink when the channel is assessed as not being used by the at least one other network; updating an accumulated time of transmission use of the shared spectrum channel in response to said transmitting and in response to an assessment that the shared spectrum channel is being used by at least another network; determining if the accumulated time exceeds a predetermined maximum time period, wherein transmission of one or more transmission frames continues if the maximum time period has not been exceeded; incrementing the accumulated time of transmission by at least a transmission time for one of a downlink and uplink transmission when the channel is determined as being used and the predetermined maximum time period has not been exceeded; and executing a quiet period when the maximum time period is exceeded.