Method, apparatus, and computer program product for transferring responsibility between network controllers managing coexistence in radio frequency spectrum

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory including computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• select a candidate network controller to which to transfer from a serving network controller, responsibility for resource allocation for a wireless network served by the serving network controller, based on one or more criteria for selection including at least one of characteristics of one or more wireless networks served by the candidate network controller and a number of wireless networks the candidate network controller is serving;
• transmit to a selected candidate network controller, a request to transfer the responsibility for resource allocation for the wireless network, based on the one or more criteria for selection;
• and
• cause the serving network controller to relinquish the responsibility for resource allocation for the wireless network, if the selected candidate network controller indicates that it will assume the responsibility.

A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable, non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

• code for selecting by an apparatus, a candidate network controller to which to transfer from a serving network controller, responsibility for resource allocation for a wireless network served by the serving network controller, based on one or more criteria for selection including at least one of characteristics of one or more wireless networks served by the candidate network controller and a number of wireless networks the candidate network controller is serving;
• code for transmitting by the apparatus, to a selected candidate network controller, a request to transfer the responsibility for resource allocation for the wireless network, based on the one or more criteria for selection;
• and
• code for causing by the apparatus, the serving network controller to relinquish the responsibility for resource allocation for the wireless network, if the selected candidate network controller indicates that it will assume the responsibility.