Method and system for discovering vacant DTV channels using DHCP server location
AssigneeSharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
InventorsSong-Lin Young, Daniel J. Park
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wireless client device (e.g. a WSD) discovers vacant DTV channels using location information acquired from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. In one aspect of the invention, a wireless client device discovers vacant DTV channels through direct communication with a local DHCP server and a remote primary user database server. In another aspect of the invention, a wireless client device discovers vacant DTV channels from an access device that communicates with a local DHCP server and a remote primary user database server.
Claims12
An access point, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- one or more network interfaces communicatively coupled with the processor, wherein under control of the processor the access point originates and transmits a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) request in response to which a DHCP response including location information is received, wherein the location information comprises latitude, longitude and altitude coordinates and a resolution indicator for each of the latitude, longitude and altitude coordinates, wherein under control of the processor the access point originates and transmits via at least one of the network interfaces a primary user information request based at least in part on the location information in response to which the access point receives via at least one of the network interfaces local primary user information, and wherein under control of the processor the access point determines and broadcasts via at least one of the network interfaces vacant digital television (DTV) channel information based at least in part on the local primary user information;
- wherein the local primary user information comprises a location, channel information, power and service area for each locally broadcasting DTV station.
A method performed by an access point for discovering and disseminating vacant DTV channel information, comprising the steps of:
- originating and transmitting by the access point a DHCP request;
- receiving by the access point a DHCP response responsive to the DHCP request and including location information comprising latitude, longitude and altitude coordinates and a resolution indicator for each of the latitude, longitude and altitude coordinates;
- originating and transmitting by the access point a primary user information request based at least in part on the location information;
- receiving by the access point local primary user information responsive to the primary user information request;
- determining by the access point vacant DTV channel information based at least in part on the local primary user information;
- and
- broadcasting by the access point the vacant DTV channel information;
- wherein the local primary user information comprises a location, channel information, power and service area for each locally broadcasting DTV stations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.