Methods and apparatus for allocating and/or using partial and bulk spectrum in a network

A first communications device, which has base station capabilities, the first communications device comprising:

• a memory storing information used by the first communications device to provide service to user equipment (UE) devices;
• a receiver;
• and
• a processor configured to control the first communications device to:
• determine the current spectrum needs of the first communications device based on channel loading;
• receive one or more of current or future spectrum need information from another communication device which has base station capabilities;
• determine the amount of spectrum currently needed by a first cluster of communications devices which have base station capabilities, said first cluster of communications devices including multiple communications devices with base station capabilities, said first communications device being one of the communications devices in said first cluster of communications devices;
• communicate to a management device information indicating current spectrum needed for the first cluster of communications devices, said information indicating current spectrum needed for the first cluster of communications devices being based on said received one or more of current or future spectrum need information from said another communications device;
• receive from the management device a spectrum allocation, said spectrum allocation being an allocation of spectrum assigned to the first cluster of communications devices;
• and
• select from spectrum assigned from the management device to the first cluster of communications device, a first portion of the spectrum to be used by the first communications device to communicate with UE devices, selecting said first portion including selecting a range of frequencies in the spectrum assigned to the first cluster of communications devices to be used by the first communications device.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including a first set of computer executable instructions which when executed by a processor of a first communications device, which has base station capabilities, cause the first communications device to perform the steps of:

• storing in the first communications device information used to provide service to user equipment (UE) devices, said first communications device being a device having base station capabilities for providing service to UE devices;
• determining the current spectrum needs of the first communications device based on channel loading;
• receiving one or more of current or future spectrum need information from another communications device having base station capabilities for providing service to UE devices;
• determining the amount of spectrum currently needed by a first cluster of communications devices having base station capabilities for providing service to UE devices, said first cluster of communications devices including multiple communications devices having base station capabilities for providing service to UE devices, said first communications device being one of the multiple communications devices in said first cluster of communications devices;
• communicating to a management device information indicating current spectrum needed for the first cluster of communications devices, said information indicating current spectrum needed for the first cluster of communications devices being based on said received one or more of current or future spectrum need information from said another communications device;
• receive from the management device a spectrum allocation, said spectrum allocation being an allocation of spectrum assigned to the first cluster of communications devices;
• and
• select, at the first communications device, from spectrum assigned from the management device to the first cluster of communications devices a first portion of the spectrum to be used by the first communications device to communicate with UE devices, selecting said first portion including selecting a range of frequencies in the spectrum assigned to the first cluster of communications devices to be used by the first communications device, said selecting being performed by the first communications device.