Method and apparatus for handling channel termination orders in a spectrum controlled network

A method of responding to a Suspension/Termination (ST) order sent from a Spectrum Access System (SAS) to a wireless network operating in the Citizen's Broadband Radio System (CBRS) radio band, the wireless network including a plurality of CBRS Devices (CBSDs) located within an area, said plurality of CBSDs transmitting on a plurality of wireless channels and communicating wirelessly with a plurality of User Equipment devices (UEs) over the plurality of wireless channels, comprising the steps of:

• receiving the ST order from the SAS that requires the wireless network to suspend/terminate communication on at least one of said wireless channels within a time period;
• identifying at least one of said CBSDs that is communicating on the prohibited ST channel and is therefore impacted by the ST order;
• designating at least one of said CBSDs that is not transmitting on the prohibited ST channel, and is allowed to increase transmission power;
• gradually reducing the transmission power on said impacted CBSD during said time period to induce impacted UEs connected to said impacted CBSD to handoff to a non-impacted CBSD;
• and
• gradually increasing the transmission power of said at least one designated CBSD that is not transmitting on the prohibited ST channel to receive a handoff from at least one of the impacted UEs;
• thereby transferring communications with at least one impacted UE from the impacted CBSD to the designated CBSD.

An apparatus in a wireless communication network for handling a channel termination order received from a spectrum access system (SAS), the wireless communication network including a plurality of Base Stations/Access Points (BS/APs) located within an area, the BS/APs communicating with a plurality of User Equipment devices (UEs) on a plurality of wireless channels, the channel termination order identifying a prohibited channel and requiring the wireless network to terminate communication on the prohibited channel within a time period, comprising:

• a domain proxy connected to the SAS and the BS/APs, the domain proxy configured to communicate with the SAS and the BS/APs, and receive the channel termination order;
• an Automatic Configuration Server (ACS) connected to the domain proxy and the BS/APs, the ACS configured to manage operations of the BS/APs, the ACS also configured to:
• identify at least one BS/AP that is communicating on the prohibited channel and therefore is impacted by the channel termination order;
• designate at least one of said BS/APs that is not transmitting on the prohibited channel, and is allowed to increase transmission power;
• gradually reduce the transmission power on said at least one impacted BS/AP during said time period to induce impacted UEs connected to said impacted BS/AP to handoff to a non-impacted BS/AP;
• and
• gradually increase the transmission power of said at least one designated BS/AP to receive a handoff from at least one of the impacted UEs so that during the time period the impacted UEs previously communicating with said impacted BS/AP can change communication from said impacted BS/AP to said designated BS/AP.