Spectrum management system for municipal spectrum using guided cognitive radio

A broadband wireless network system, the broadband wireless network system comprising:

• a wired network;
• a rule-base, the rule-base comprising a set of rules for the wireless network, the rule-base including
• a minimum isolation value, wherein frequencies exceeding the minimum isolation value are eliminated from a list of clear frequencies,
• a noise threshold level wherein frequencies exceeding the noise threshold level are eliminated from the list of clear frequencies, and
• a minimum distance exclusion rule wherein frequencies violating the minimum distance exclusion rule are eliminated from the list of clear frequencies;
• a license database, the license database comprising information about all relevant wireless nodes in a region;
• and
• a plurality of access points, the access points coupled to the wired network, each of the access points comprising a memory storing a guided cognitive radio assignment program and a processor configured to execute the guided cognitive radio assignment program, the guided cognitive radio assignment program including steps to select an operating frequency, the operating frequency being selected from one of a plurality of lists including available frequencies, the frequency being selected from the lists in a predetermined order of first, the list of clear frequencies, second, a list of possible primary node frequencies and, third, a list of possible secondary node frequencies.

An access point comprising a memory storing a set of instructions and a processor to execute the set of instructions, the set of instructions being operable to:

• access a rule-base to obtain a set of rules for the wireless network, the rule-base including
• a minimum isolation value, wherein frequencies exceeding the minimum isolation value are eliminated from a list of clear frequencies,
• a noise threshold level wherein frequencies exceeding the noise threshold level are eliminated from the list of clear frequencies, and
• a minimum distance exclusion rule wherein frequencies violating the minimum distance exclusion rule are eliminated from the list of clear frequencies;
• access a license database to obtain information about relevant wireless nodes in a region;
• create a list of possible primary node frequencies from a list of frequencies associated with primary wireless nodes in the license database;
• create a list of possible secondary node frequencies from a list of frequencies associated with secondary wireless nodes in the license database;
• identify the list of clear frequencies from a set of unused frequencies;
• select a frequency from frequencies in the lists of possible primary node frequencies, possible secondary node frequencies, and clear frequencies, wherein the frequency is selected from the lists is in a predetermined order of, first, the clear frequencies list, second, the primary node frequencies list and, third, the secondary node frequencies list;
• and
• register the frequency in the license database.