US 2011/0237238 A1 · CELLULAR SERVICE WITH IMPROVED SERVICE AVAILABILITY

Abstract

A cellular communication system in which overload of a base station is averted by offering users the option to communicate using a spectrum outside of the spectrum allocated for cellular communication. Incentives are offered to connect to the base station using the alternative spectrum, which may not support communications at the same rate as could be supported using the spectrum allocated to the base station for cellular communications. Users may be selected to receive an offer to receive incentives based on range to the base station, with users closer to the base station being more likely to receive such an offer. The cellular communications system may be a 3G wireless system and the alternative spectrum may be white space in the digital TV spectrum.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating a communication service of the type that comprises at least one base station adapted for exchanging communications with multiple mobile devices within a region, the method comprising:

during a first interval, exchanging communications with each of a first plurality of mobile devices within the region, the communications with the plurality of devices collectively using a first amount of bandwidth within a licensed spectrum assigned to the base station;
in a second interval during which the region contains a second plurality of mobile devices, determining that a trigger condition exists based on the second plurality of mobile devices;
and
when it is determined that a trigger condition exists, exchanging communications with a first portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using the licensed spectrum and exchanging communications with a second portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using an alternative frequency, the alternative frequency spectrum being different than the first licensed spectrum.

1 more element

A base station for a communication system providing a first service, the base station comprising:

at least one transceiver adapted for exchanging communications with a plurality of mobile devices using a first bandwidth in a first licensed spectrum and using a second bandwidth in a second licensed spectrum, the first bandwidth in the first licensed spectrum being allocated for use by the communication system in providing the first service and the second bandwidth in a second licensed spectrum allocated for use in providing a second service, different than the first service;
a control module, the control module adapted to:
determine cumulative bandwidth consumption in the first licensed spectrum by mobile devices having a connection to the base station;
determine whether the cumulative bandwidth consumption is above a threshold;
and
when the cumulative bandwidth consumption is above the threshold, configure the at least one transmitter for communication with a first set of mobile devices using the first bandwidth and a second set of mobile devices using the second bandwidth.

3 more elements

A method of operating a cellular communication service of the type that comprises a base station adapted for exchanging communications with multiple mobile devices within a region, the method comprising:

during a first interval, exchanging communications with each of a first plurality of mobile devices within the region, the communications with the plurality of devices collectively using a first amount of bandwidth within a first licensed spectrum;
at a second time determining that the region contains a second plurality of mobile devices such that exchanging communications with the second plurality of mobile devices using the first licensed spectrum would consume a second amount of bandwidth;
determining that the second amount of bandwidth exceeds a threshold;
and
when it is determined that the second amount of bandwidth exceeds the threshold:
identifying a first portion of the plurality of mobile devices and a second portion of the plurality of mobile devices based on inputs from users of the plurality of mobile devices;
and
exchanging communications with the first portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using the first licensed spectrum and exchanging communications with a second portion of the second plurality of mobile devices using white space in a second licensed spectrum, the second licensed spectrum being licensed to provide digital television service.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cellular service with improved service availability

Life of this patent

Cellular service with improved service availability

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20