Systems and methods for provisioning and allocating a commoditized spectrum object

A method of provisioning spectrum into an allocable spectrum object comprising the steps of:

• receiving inputs via an interface of available spectrum information and a plurality of provisioning parameters, wherein the plurality of provisioning parameters include at least one signal strength limit;
• executing a spectrum provisioning application that is stored in a memory and, by executing the spectrum provisioning application, generating an allocable spectrum object in accordance with the provisioning parameters;
• and
• storing the allocable spectrum object in a database;
• wherein spectrum encompassed within the spectrum object is allocable by an allocation engine to spectrum users in accordance with the provisioning parameters;
• and
• wherein the at least one signal strength limit includes a first signal strength limit and a second signal strength limit, the first strength limit is a boundary strength limit comprising a signal strength limit at a boundary of a coverage area of the spectrum object, and the second strength limit is an allocation strength limit comprising a strength limit calculated based on a propagation model relative to previously allocated spectrum within the spectrum object.

An allocation engine for allocating spectrum encompassed within a spectrum object, the allocation engine comprising:

• a communication interface configured to receive prospective spectrum usage information from a spectrum user device, and to access spectrum object information from a spectrum provider;
• and
• a controller configured to execute allocation logic that is stored in a memory and, by execution of the allocation logic, the allocation engine is configured to:
• identify a plurality of provisioning parameters of the spectrum object, wherein the plurality of provisioning parameters include at least one signal strength limit;
• compare the provisioning parameters to the prospective spectrum usage to determine whether the prospective spectrum usage is in compliance with the provisioning parameters;
• and
• allocate spectrum encompassed within the spectrum object for the prospective spectrum usage when it is determined that the prospective spectrum usage is in compliance with the provisioning parameters;
• wherein the at least one signal strength limit includes a first signal strength limit and a second signal strength limit, and the controller further executes the allocation logic to:
• determine a first distance to nearest to nearest interference value for the first strength limit;
• determine a second distance to nearest to nearest interference value for the second strength limit;
• determine whether at least one of the first or second strength limits results in signal interference based on the distance to nearest interference values;
• and
• when one of the first or second strength limits results in signal interference, select a lower of the first or second strength limits as a power limit for the allocated spectrum.

A method of allocating spectrum encompassed within a spectrum object, the method being implemented by an allocation engine and comprising the steps of:

• receiving via a communication interface prospective spectrum usage information from a spectrum user;
• accessing with the communication interface spectrum object information from a spectrum provider;
• and
• executing allocation logic with a controller to perform the steps of:
• identifying a plurality of provisioning parameters of the spectrum object, wherein the plurality of provisioning parameters include at least one signal strength limit;
• comparing the provisioning parameters to the prospective spectrum usage to determine whether the prospective spectrum usage is in compliance with the provisioning parameter;
• and
• allocating spectrum encompassed within the spectrum object for the spectrum usage when it is determined that the prospective spectrum usage is in compliance with the provisioning parameters;
• wherein the at least one signal strength limit includes a first signal strength limit and a second signal strength limit, and further comprising executing the allocation logic to perform the steps of:
• determining a first distance to nearest to nearest interference value for the first strength limit;
• determining a second distance to nearest to nearest interference value for the second strength limit;
• and
• determining whether at least one of the first or second strength limits results in signal interference based on the distance to nearest interference values;
• and
• when one of the first or second strength limits results in signal interference, selecting a lower of the first or second strength limits as a power limit for the allocated spectrum.