Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) system and method for controlling frequency sharing and/or interference in a communications system

A system for controlling frequency sharing, the system comprising:

• a Threshold to Interference (T/I) threshold table database storing a plurality of T/I threshold tables for different transmitter device and receiver device pairs, each T/I threshold table including a plurality of T/I threshold values for an individual transmitter and receiver device pair, each T/I threshold value in a T/I threshold table corresponding to a different amount of frequency separation;
• a frequency coordination system including:
• an interface receiver;
• and
• a first processor, and
• wherein said first processor is configured to:
• operate the frequency coordination system to receive a frequency use request seeking permission for a first transmitter device to use a first frequency;
• identify, at the frequency coordination system, a first potential victim device which may be subject to interference from the first transmitter device using the first frequency;
• operate the frequency coordination system to retrieve from a first T/I threshold table stored in said T/I threshold table database, a first T/I threshold value based on a frequency separation between the first frequency used by the first transmitter device and a frequency used by the first potential victim device, said first T/I threshold table being a T/I threshold table corresponding to the first transmitter device and the first potential victim device;
• and
• make a decision, at the frequency coordination system, to:
• i) authorize use of the first frequency by the first transmitter device based on the expected transmit power or Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of the first transmitter device and the first T/I threshold value or ii) deny use of the first frequency by the first transmitter device based on an expected transmit power or Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of the first transmitter device and the first T/I threshold value.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including machine readable instructions, which when executed by a processor of a frequency coordination system, controls the frequency coordination system to perform the steps of:

• receiving a frequency use request seeking permission for a first transmitter device to use a first frequency;
• identifying, at the frequency coordination system, a first potential victim device which may be subject to interference from the first transmitter device using the first frequency;
• retrieving from a first Threshold to Interference (T/I) threshold table stored in a T/I threshold table database, a first T/I threshold value based on a frequency separation between the first frequency used by the first transmitter device and a frequency used by the first potential victim device, said first T/I threshold table being a T/I threshold table corresponding to the first transmitter device and the first potential victim device;
• and
• making a decision, at the frequency coordination system, to:
• i) authorize use of the first frequency by the first transmitter device based on the expected transmit power or Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of the first transmitter device and the first T/I threshold value or ii) deny use of the first frequency by the first transmitter device based on an expected transmit power or Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of the first transmitter device and the first T/I threshold value.