Soft service migration between spectrum access system (SAS) providers for citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) networks

A method for migrating an access point (AP) operating in a spectrum in accordance with a first system for spectrum access to a second system for spectrum access, the method comprising:

• participating in a migration procedure for migrating the AP from the first system for spectrum access to the second system for spectrum access by:
• while the AP is registered with the first system for spectrum access, communicating in one or more message exchanges for registering the AP with the second system for spectrum access and for granting spectrum access to spectrum in accordance with a plurality of operating parameters;
• in granting the spectrum access, obtaining for validation, from the first system for spectrum access, a grant identifier (ID) and a grant type associated with a previous grant by the first system for spectrum access;
• and
• communicating in a message exchange for a heartbeat procedure for providing authorization to use the granted spectrum for the AP.

A server comprising:

• a communication interface;
• one or more processors;
• memory for storing instructions for participating in a migration procedure for migrating an access point (AP) operative in a spectrum in accordance with a first system for spectrum access to a second system for spectrum access;
• and
• the one or more processors being configured to execute the instructions for participating in the migration procedure including, while the AP is registered with the first system for spectrum access and operative to facilitate communications for one or more connected clients for services:
• communicating in one or more message exchanges for registering the AP with the second system for spectrum access and for granting spectrum access to spectrum in accordance with a plurality of operating parameters;
• in granting the spectrum access, obtaining for validation, from the first system for spectrum access, a grant identifier (ID) and a grant type associated with a previous grant by the first system for spectrum access;
• and
• communicating in a message exchange for a heartbeat procedure for providing authorization to use the granted spectrum for the AP.