Method and apparatus for enabling spectrum allocation using smart contracts

A spectrum owner system comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to store instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled with the non-transitory computer readable storage medium to process the stored instructions to:
• record, in a distributed ledger network, an identifier of a list of spectrum resources licensed from a regulatory authority system to the spectrum owner system, wherein the list of spectrum resources are available to rent to one or more potential customers;
• receive, from a spectrum renter system, an authorization request for a spectrum allocation of spectrum resources, wherein the spectrum allocation includes at least a desired interval of time for usage of the spectrum resources by a radio access network of a spectrum renter, a desired location for usage of the spectrum resources by the radio access network, and one or more additional characteristics of the spectrum resources;
• negotiate agreement terms for the spectrum allocation;
• and
• record, in the distributed ledger network, a hash of the spectrum allocation, wherein the spectrum allocation enables the radio access network of the spectrum renter to provide radio access services to one or more wireless network devices according to the characteristics of the spectrum resources for the desired interval of time and the desired location.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising computer program code which when executed by a processor of a spectrum owner system carries out operations comprising:

• recording, in a distributed ledger network, an identifier of a list of spectrum resources licensed from a regulatory authority system to the spectrum owner system, wherein the list of spectrum resources are available to rent to one or more potential customers;
• receiving, from a spectrum renter system, an authorization request for a spectrum allocation of spectrum resources, wherein the spectrum allocation includes at least a desired interval of time for usage of the spectrum resources by a radio access network of a spectrum renter, a desired location for usage of the spectrum resources by the radio access network, and one or more additional characteristics of the spectrum resources;
• negotiating agreement terms for the spectrum allocation;
• and
• recording, in the distributed ledger network, a hash of the spectrum allocation, wherein the spectrum allocation enables the radio access network of the spectrum renter to provide radio access services to one or more wireless network devices according to the characteristics of the spectrum resources for the desired interval of time and the desired location.