WO2016082700A1

WO2016082700A1 - Spectrum sharing method and communication stations

Info

Publication number: WO2016082700A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/094820
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xing Liu; Guanghui Yu; Ting MIAO
Original assignee: Zte Corporation
Priority date: 2014-11-27
Filing date: 2015-11-17
Publication date: 2016-06-02
Also published as: CN105704723A; CN105704723B

Abstract

A spectrum sharing method is described. The method includes requesting, by the communication station, to one or more relevant communication stations to change spectrum sharing manner; determining, by the communication station, whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner in accordance with feedback information from the relevant communication station. Using the method, fora plurality of communication stations which work at same frequency, the transition of the spectrum sharing manner is achieved by sending spectrum sharingmanner changing message to the relevant communication station by the communication station, which flexibly adapts to the needs of different coexistence environments, improves the system performance, and avoids the possible situation that the fixed pre-set spectrum sharing method cannot solve the problem of network coexistence, thereby increasing the spectrum efficiency, and further reducing increased signaling overhead and processing latency caused by invalid configuration decision.

Description

SPECTRUM SHARINGMETHOD AND COMMUNICATION STATIONS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent document claims the benefit of priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201410707684.9, filed on November 27, 2014. The entire content of the before-mentioned patent application is incorporated by reference as part of the disclosure of this document.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present document relates to wireless communication, and more particularly, to cognitive radio technology for spectrum sharing.

BACKGROUND

With recent advances in radio technology, a variety of radio services have emerged. However, the spectrum resources on which the radio services rely are limited. Withthe increasing demand on bandwidth, spectrum resources face competition for multiple uses. In particular, with the continuing increase of users’ daily communication needs, users are no longer satisfied with simple voice and data communications connectivity. For example, video streaming services are playing an increasingly important part in users’ lifestyle. A video streaming service requires more bandwidth as a support, and International Mobile Telecom (IMT, International Mobile Telecom) system shows an unprecedented demand on spectrum.

In the conventional fixed spectrum allocation mode, the utilization of spectrum may not be maximal. Sometimes, a fixed, a priori allocation of spectrum resources to different services may itself be the reason for spectrum scarcity for other services for which demand may be more. The cognitive radio technology breaks away from the limitations of conventional fixed spectrum allocation systems, and dynamically allocates spectrum among systems, and may improve the utilization efficiency of spectrum.

SUMMARY

This document discloses a spectrum sharing method and a communication station, which can adapt to the needs of different coexistence environment flexibly and improve the efficiency of spectrum usage.

In one example aspect, a spectrum sharing method is disclosed. The method includes requesting, by a communication station, a relevant communication station feedback information for determining whether to change a spectrum sharing manner, receiving the feedback information from the relevant communication station, determining, by the communication station, whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner in accordance with the feedback information from the relevant communication station, wherein the communication station and the relevant communication station work at a same frequency.

The relevant communication station utilizes same spectrum resources asspectrum resources of the communication station, and there are interference relationship among one or more communication stations, the communication station and the relevant communication station use thespectrum resources in a time-division manner.

The communication station and the relevant communication station may be working in a negotiation sharing manner prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner.

The negotiation sharing manner may include: determining, by the communication stations, time domain resources occupied by each of communication stations on same spectrum resources in a negotiation manner.

Requesting, by the communication station, the relevant communication station to change a spectrum sharing manner further comprisessending, by the communication station, to the relevant communication station, a request message for changing spectrum sharing manner, the request message for changing spectrum sharing manner being used to request changing the spectrum sharing manner from the negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner.

The competition sharing manner comprises: acquiring, by the communication stations, time domain resources occupied by each of communication stations on same spectrum resources in a competition manner.

The request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner at least comprises an identification of the communication station； and an applied competition algorithm, and/or a maximum occupied time length, and/or start time of the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum competition window length, and/or a minimum competition window length, and/or inter-frame interval.

The request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner further comprises: competition time domain resources of the communication stations themselves, and/or a total amount of the competition time domain resources of the communication stations themselves, and/or a limitation to a minimum competition time domain resources, and/or reasons of the request.

The competition time domain resources are time domain resources occupied by the communication stations and ready to be shared with the relevant communication stations in the competition sharing manner.

The limitation to the minimum competition time domain resources is: a minimum value requirement for the time domain resources shared by the relevant communication stations in the competition sharing manner.

The method may further include: judging and triggering, by the communication stations, requesting to change the spectrum sharing manner according to their own needs, ortriggering, by the communication stations, requesting to change the spectrum sharing manner according to a preset trigger condition.

In some embodiments, the determining whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner specifically includes: whenone or more feedback information of the relevant communication stations indicates an acceptanceof changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication stations determining to change the spectrum sharing manner, and transmitting a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to configure parameters of thecompetition sharing manner, to the relevant communication stations accepting to change the spectrum sharing manner； transmitting a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to update parameters of the negotiation sharing manner, to the relevant communication stations of which feedback information displays that the relevant communication stations do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, and when all feedback information of the relevant communication stations displays that they do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication stations determining not to change the spectrum sharing manner.

The parameters of the competition sharing manner may include an identification of a device participating in the competition sharing manner, time domain resources for a competition sharing, and an applied competition algorithm, and/or a maximum occupied time length, and/or start time of the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum competition window length, and/or a minimum competition window length, and/or inter-frame interval.

The time domain resources for a competition sharing may include: time domain resources occupied by the communication stations, and time domain resources occupied by all the relevant communication stations that accept changing the spectrum sharing manner； or competition time domain resources of the communication stations, and competition time domain resources occupied by all the relevant communication stations that accept changing the spectrum sharing manner； or, exclusively allocated time domain resourcesthat match with the sum of the amount of competition time domain resource of the communication stations.

Updating parameters of the negotiation sharing manner may include: updating communication stations participating in the negotiation, and/or updating time-domain resource for negotiating sharing.

The method may further include, prior to determining whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner, feeding back, by the relevant communication stations, a response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner that indicates whether or not to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, to a communication station initiating the request.

The response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner may include an identification of the relevant communication station, an acknowledgment instruction, and/or currently occupied time domain resources, and/or a time of suggesting to start the competition sharing manner, and/or competition time domain resources of the relevant communication stations. The acknowledgment instruction include an acknowledgment Ack instruction for indicating to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, or a negative acknowledgment Nack instruction for indicating not toaccept changing the spectrum sharing manner.

The method further may include performing, by the relevant communication stations, a spectrum sharing utilization in accordance with parameters configured in the configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner.

The communication stations and the relevant communication stations that accept the changing the spectrum sharing manner proceed to the competition sharing manner.

The method may further include the relevant communication stations which do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, continuing to operate by employing the negotiation sharing manner.

The present document further discloses a communication station that includes at least a requesting module and a determining module. The requesting module is configured to request a relevant communication station to change a spectrum sharing manner.

The determining module may be configured to determine whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner in accordance with feedback information from the relevant communication station. The communication station and the relevant communication station work at a same frequency.

The communication station may also include a responding module and a performing module. The responding module may be configured to receive a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner from other relevant communication stations. The feedback may be a response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner indicates whether or not to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner. Theperforming module is configured to receive a configuration message for spectrum sharing manner used to configure parameters of the competition sharing manner, and perform a spectrum sharing utilization in accordance with parameters configured in the configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner.

Thecommunication station and the relevant communication station work at a same frequency and the relevant communication station utilizes same spectrum resources with spectrum resources of the communication station. When there are interference relationship among one or more of communication stations, the communication station and the relevant communication station use the spectrum resources in a time-division manner.

The requesting module may send, to the relevant communication station, a request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner being used. For example, one request message may be to request the relevant communication station to change the spectrum sharing manner from a negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner. The competition sharing manner may include acquiring, by the communication stations, time domain resources occupied by each of communication stations on same spectrum resources in a competition manner.

The requesting module may be further configured to have the communication station in which it resides and the relevant communication station work in a negotiation sharing manner.

The determining module is specifically configured to: if one or more feedback information of relevant communication stations displays an acceptanceof changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication stations determine to change the spectrum sharing manner, and transmit a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to configure parameters of the competition sharing manner, to the relevant communication stations accepting to change the spectrum sharing manner. If all feedback information of the relevant communication stations indicates that they do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication stations determine not to change the spectrum sharing manner and transmit a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to update parameters of the negotiation sharing manner, to the relevant communication stations of which feedback information displays that the relevant communication stations do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner.

The responding module is specifically configured to: when accepting a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, it contains in a feedback response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner: an identification of the relevant communication station, an acknowledgment Ack instruction, and currently occupied time domain resources, and/or a time of suggesting to start the competition sharing, and/or competition time domain resources of the relevant communication stations. When not accepting a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, it contains in a feedback response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner: an identification of the relevant communication station, a negative acknowledgment Nack instruction.

The performing module is further configured to, proceed to the competition sharing manner together with the communication station initiating the request； or continue to work by employing the negotiation sharing manner.

In some disclosed aspects, compared with conventional technique, the technical solution includes: requesting, by a communication station, a relevant communication station to change spectrum sharing manner； determining, by the communication station, whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner in accordance with feedback information from the relevant communication station, wherein the communication station and the relevant communication station work at a same frequency. In various embodiments, for the plurality of communication stations which work at the same frequency, the conversion of the spectrum sharingmanners is achieved by sending spectrum sharingmanners changing messageto the relevant communication station from the communication station, which flexibly adapts to the needs of different coexistence environments, improves the system performance, and avoidsthe possible situation that the fixed pre-set spectrum sharing method cannot solve the problem of network coexistence, thereby increasing the spectrum efficiency and further reducing increased signaling overhead and processing latency caused by invalid configuration decision.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding and constitute a part of this application. Example embodiments and illustrations thereof are used to explain the technology rather than limiting its scope. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an example flow chart of spectrum sharing method.

FIG. 2 isan example compositionstructure schematic view ofa communication station.

FIG. 3 is an example flow chart of the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 4is an example schematic view of resources configuration prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner of a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an example schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an example flow chart of a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 an example schematic view of resources configuration prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8is an example schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an example flow chart of a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an example flow chart of a fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 11A and 11Bshow an example flow chart of a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 isan example schematic view of resources configuration prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an example schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an example schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the seventh embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To make the purposes, technical solutions and advantages of this disclosuremore apparent, various embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, embodiments and features in embodiments of the present document may be combined with each other.

In order to alleviate the above-described spectrum scarcity, at present, three options may be being used: one is Dynamically planning IMT and GSM spectrum, the other is seeking to borrow from main system free spectrum solution, and a third one is Licensed Shared Access (LSA) .

Under the three potential solutions, spectrum dynamic configuration often faces a coexistence problem. For example, one of the multiple systems wanting to use a frequency band, or spectrum, may be a designated main, or primary, system while the other system may be a secondary system. In a scheme that the secondary system seeks to borrow free spectrum from the main system, it is an issue that should be solved by a configurable wireless system on how to coexist and share the limited spectrum resources of the main system when multiple stations of the secondary system are using the free spectrum of the main system. There may a large number of communication stations in the existing network, and thus there may be work to establish more and more communication links. However, the configurable spectrum resources are limited and it will often appear that a plurality of communication stations need to share a same section of the configurable spectrum in the same regional scope. This sharing demand will be further increased in future networks, such as ultra-dense network, Internet of Things (IoT) and other scenes mentioned in the 5G study, where the number of nodes and links will be many times greater than the existing network.

In the current spectrum sharing methods, in order to achieve multiple communication stations sharing the same section of the spectrum resources, there are two manners, i.e., a competition sharing manner and a negotiation sharing manner. In different coexistence environments, efficiencies achieved by the sharing manners are different. In a typical current system, each communication station shares spectrum resources according to a fixed pre-set spectrum sharing manner. However, the fixed pre-set spectrum sharingmanner may not be the best option as the coexistence environments dynamically change. Thus, it cannot flexibly adapt to the needs of different coexistence environments, and thus cannot give full play to the system performance, or even the pre-set sharingmanners cannot solve the problem of coexistence in the networks which results in system configuration failure, which thus violating the initial purpose that the wireless system can be configured to improve spectrum utilization and reducing the spectrum efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an example of a spectrum sharing method110.

At 100, the method 110 includes requesting, by a communication station, another communication station to change spectrum sharing manner. The communication station and the relevant communication station work at the same frequency. For example, the relevant communication station utilizes the same spectrum resources asspectrum resources of the communication station, such as the frequency band of operation, a channel number, and so on. Thus, there may be a possibility of interference between the relevant communication station and the communication station. In some cases, more than one relevant communication stations may be present in a neighborhood and may have an interference relationship, e.g., a possibility of radio frequency interference, with the communication station.

The operation of requesting, by the communication station, from the relevant communication station to change a spectrum sharing manner may include sending, by the communication station, to the relevant communication station, a request message for changing spectrum sharing manner, the request message for changing spectrum sharing manner being used to request changing the spectrum sharing manner from the negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner.

The competition sharing manner may include acquiring, by the communication stations, time domain resources occupied by each of communication stations on same spectrum resources in a competition manner.

The request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner at least comprises an identification of the communication station. At this time, the applied competition algorithm and parameters such as a maximum occupied time length, and/or start time of the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum competition window length, and/or a minimum competition window length, and/or inter-frame interval, etc. can be preset.

Alternatively, the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner further comprises an applied competition algorithm, and/or a maximum occupied time length, and/or start time of the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum competition window length, and/or a minimum competition window length, and/or inter-frame interval.

Further, the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner further comprises: competition time domain resources of the communication stations themselves, and/or a total amount of the competition time domain resources of the communication stations themselves, and/or a limitation to a minimum competition time domain resources, and/or reasons of the request.

Wherein, the competition time domain resources are time domain resources occupied by the communication stations and ready to be shared with the relevant communication stations in the competition sharing manner. The limitation to the minimum competition time domain resources is: a minimum value requirement for the time domain resources shared by the relevant communication stations in the competition sharing manner.

Prior to this operation, the communication station and the relevant communication station may be working in a negotiation sharing manner； wherein the negotiation sharing manner comprises: determining, by the communication stations, time domain resources occupied by each of communication stations on same spectrum resources in a negotiation manner.

In operation101, it can be determines by the communication station itself to trigger the request forchanging the spectrum sharing manner. For example, since the current overall service reflects the burst feature that the initiation of the traffic is not stable, and the initiation of subordinate terminal service is random, the assigned time-domain resources cannot be utilized fully by working in the currently negotiated time-domain resource structure. However, there are needs for transmission on the dedicated time-domain resources of the relevant communication station, and thus the communication station can trigger the request for changing spectrum sharing manner to change the current negotiation sharing manner to the competition sharing manner.

In some embodiments, a trigger condition can also be preset by the system. For example, by negotiating the remaining resources is more than 75％, and then by determining by the communication station whether the trigger condition is metaccording to its own network state. When the trigger condition is met, the communication station then initiates the request forchanging the spectrum sharing manner to change the current negotiation sharing manner to the competition sharing manner again.

At 102: the method includes receiving feedback information from the relevant communication station. Various fields of messages contained within the feedback information are described in the present document.

At 101: determining, by the communication station, whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner in accordance with feedback information from the relevant communication station.

The method 110 may include, prior to the change in the spectrum sharing manner, feeding back, by the relevant communication stations, a response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner that indicates whether or not to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, to a communication station initiating the request.

The response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner at least comprises an identification of the relevant communication station and an acknowledgment instruction. Further, it also comprises currently occupied time domain resources, and/or a time of suggesting to start the competition sharing manner, and/or competition time domain resources of the relevant communication stations, i.e., time-domain resources used to share with other communication stations which determined by the relevant communication station.

In various embodiments, the acknowledgment instruction may include an acknowledgment Ack instruction for indicating to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, or a negative acknowledgment Nack instruction for indicating not to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner.

For example, when the relevant communication station accepts a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, it includes in a feedback response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner some or all of these fields: an identification of the relevant communication station, an acknowledgment Ack instruction, further, the response also comprises currently occupied time domain resources, and/or a time of suggesting to start the competition sharing, and/or competition time domain resources of the relevant communication stations. When not accepting a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, it contains in a feedback response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner: an identification of the relevant communication station, a negative acknowledgment Nack instruction.

Theoperation of determining whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner specifically may include when one or more feedback information of the relevant communication stations displays an acceptation of changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication stations determining to change the spectrum sharing manner, and transmitting a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to configure parameters of the competition sharing manner, to the relevant communication stations accepting to change the spectrum sharing manner. When all feedback information of the relevant communication stations displays that they do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication stations determinenot to change the spectrum sharing manner and transmita configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to update parameters of the negotiation sharing manner, to the relevant communication stations of which feedback information displays that the relevant communication stations do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner.

In some embodiments, the parameters of the competition sharing manner include at least some, or all, of an identification of a device participating in the competition sharing manner, time domain resources for a competition sharing, and an applied competition algorithm, and/or a maximum occupied time length, and/or start time of the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum competition window length, and/or a minimum competition window length, and/or inter-frame interval.

In various embodiments, time domain resources for a competition sharing may include: time domain resources occupied by the communication stations, and time domain resources occupied by all the relevant communication stations that accept changing the spectrum sharing manner； or competition time domain resources of the communication stations, and competition time domain resources occupied by all the relevant communication stations that accept changing the spectrum sharing manner； or, exclusively allocated time domain resourcesthat match with the sum of the amount of competition time domain resource of the communication stations.

In various embodiments, updating parameters of the negotiation sharing manner includes: updating communication stations participating in the negotiation, and/or updating time-domain resource for negotiating sharing. That is, one aspect, or both aspects can be updated. For example, the communications station in the negotiation has been changed, e.g., originally, there are four stations BS1-BS4 participating in the negotiation, and now only three stations BS2, BS3, BS4 are involved in the negotiation sharing； or time-domain resource of the negotiation sharing has been changed, e.g., originally, the negotiation sharing are on frame1 ～ frame16, then since it becomes a competition sharing on time domain resources frame11 ～ frame16, the negotiation sharing are on frame1 ～ frame10 now.

In some embodiments, for the plurality of communication stations which work at same frequency, the conversion of the spectrum sharingmanners is achieved by sending spectrum sharingmanners changing message to the relevant communication station from the communication station, which flexibly adapts to the needs of different coexistence environments, improves the system performance, and avoids the possible situation that the fixed pre-set spectrum sharing method cannot solve the problem of network coexistence, thereby increasing the spectrum efficiency, and further reducing increased signaling overhead and processing latency caused by invalid configuration decision.

In some embodiments, the method further includes performing, by the relevant communication stations, a spectrum sharing utilization in accordance with parameters configured in the configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises the communication stations and the relevant communication stations accepting changing the spectrum sharing manner proceed to the competition sharing manner.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises: the relevant communication station continues to operate by employing the negotiation sharing manner.

FIG. 2 shows an example block diagram of a communication station 200 according to some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication station 200 at least comprises a requesting module 202 and a determining module 204.

In some embodiments, the requesting module 202 is configured to request a relevant communication station to change a spectrum sharing manner. The requesting module 202 may be specifically used to send to the relevant communication station a request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner, which is being used to request the relevant communication station to change the spectrum sharing manner from a negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner； wherein the competition sharing manner comprises: acquiring, by the communication stations, time domain resources occupied by each of communication stations on same spectrum resources in a competition manner.

The competition time domain resources are time domain resources occupied by the communication stations and ready to be shared with the relevant communication stations in thecompetition sharing manner.

The communication station and the relevant communication station work at the same frequency such that the relevant communication station utilizes same spectrum resources asspectrum resources of the communication station, and there may be radio frequency interference among one or more communication stations, the communication station and the relevant communication station use thespectrum resources in a time-division manner.

The requesting module 202 is further configured to, the communication station in which it resides and the relevant communication station work in a negotiation sharing manner.

The determining module 204 is configured to determine whether to change spectrum sharing manner according to feedback informationfrom the relevant communication stations. Specifically, when one or more feedback information of relevant communication stations displays an acceptance of changing the spectrum sharing manner, the determining module determine to change the spectrum sharing manner, and transmit a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to configure parameters of the competition sharing manner, to the relevant communication stations. If all feedback information of the relevant communication stations indicates that they do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, it determine not to change the spectrum sharing manner, and transmit a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to update parameters of the negotiation sharing manner, to the relevant communication stations. In some embodiments, the parameters of the competition sharing manner comprise an identification of a device participating in the competition sharing manner, time domain resources for a competition sharing, and an applied competition algorithm, and/or a maximum occupied time length, and/or start time of the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum competition window length, and/or a minimum competition window length, and/or inter-frame interval.

In some embodiments, the time domain resources for a competition sharing comprise: time domain resources occupied by the communication stations, and time domain resources occupied by all the relevant communication stations that accept changing the spectrum sharing manner； or competition time domain resources of the communication stations, and competition time domain resources occupied by all the relevant communication stations that accept changing the spectrum sharing manner.

In some embodiments, the updating parameters of the negotiation sharing manner comprises: updating communication stations participating in the negotiation, and/or updating time-domain resource for negotiating sharing.

The communication station further comprises a responding module 206 configured to receive a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner from other relevant communication stations. The feedback is being used for a response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner indicating whether or not to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner.

The responding module is specifically configured to: when accepting a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, it contains in a feedback response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner: an identification of the relevant communication station, an acknowledgment Ack instruction, and currently occupied time domain resources, and/or a time of suggesting to start the competition sharing, and/or competition time domain resources of the relevant communication stations.

When not accepting a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, it contains in a feedback response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner: an identification of the relevant communication station and a negative acknowledgment Nack instruction.

The communication further comprises an performing module configured to receive a configuration message for spectrum sharing manner used to configure parameters of the competition sharing mannerand perform a spectrum sharing utilization in accordance with parameters configured in the configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner.

The performing module may be further configured to proceed to the competition sharing manner together with the communication station initiating the request.

Alternatively or in addition, the performing module may be configured to continue to work by employing the negotiation sharing manner.

In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the communication station is a base station 1 (BS1) , and the relevant communication station comprises BS2, BS3. In thisexample embodiment, it is assumed that BS1, BS2, BS3 occupy a free spectrum f1 in time division in a negotiation sharing mannerinitially, and BS1 initiates the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner. The spectrum f1 may represent a single frequency or a frequency band over which wireless communications are transmitted and received.

The example process shown in FIG. 3 comprises:

At 300: BS1, BS2, and BS3 initially run in a negotiation sharing manner.

Specifically, BS1, BS2, BS3 determine the time-domain occupancy to the spectrum f1 during a unit time via the negotiation, as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is an example schematic view of resources configuration prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner of the first embodiment. The next time unit repeats the same time-domain allocation as shown in FIG. 4. The time-domain resources represented by the shaded

portions

402, 404, 406are the time-domain resources allocated to the corresponding BS. In the depicted embodiment, a frame serves as the unit for the time-domain occupancy only for illustrative purpose, andin general other time units can be used as well. During the frame of time, the corresponding BS has a primary transmission right (i.e., has dedicated time/frequency resources belonging to the corresponding BS) , and other BS cannot transmit during that time. In some embodiments other BS may be allowed to transmit with limited power that is sufficiently low to not cause interference with the main BS’s transmissions.

At 301: BS1 transmits a request message for changing spectrum sharing manner to the BS2 and BS3, respectively.

Since the current overall service reflects a burst feature in which the initiation of the serviceis not stable, and the initiation of subordinate terminals’service is random, the assigned time-domain resources cannot be utilized fully by working in the currently negotiated time-domain resource structure. However, there are needs for transmission on the dedicated time-domain resources of other BS, which triggers BS1 to change the current negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner.

The triggering of BS1 to change the current negotiation sharing manner to the competition sharing manner can be performed by network management side, such as by the NMS management operation and maintenance (OAM) or equipment management system (EMS) or a Network Management System (NMS) , to informing BS1 to trigger by using initiation time statistics state. Alternatively, or additionally, by determining and triggering by BS 1 itself according to the time characteristics of the service initiated by the subordinate terminal.

In this embodiment, the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner includes: BS1’s communication site ID 001, an employed competition algorithm, such as Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) , maximum occupancy time such as 6ms, a start time of the competition sharing manner: such as the next negotiation period, the maximum competition window length is 1 ms, the minimum competition window length is 0.1 ms, and inter-frame interval is 20 μs.

At 302: BS2 and BS3 respectively feed back to BS1 a response message for changing spectrum sharing manner.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that BS2, BS3 decide whether to accept the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, that is, whether they are willing to change to the competition sharing manner according to their subordinate servicerequirements. Here, it can be determined whether there is a need to change to the competition sharing manner based on the initiation time statistics stateofBS’s subordinate service ofthemselves, if any, BS agrees to change； or, BS may determine whether to accept changing the sharing manner in accordance with the preset policy, such as operator policy.

In the first embodiment, it is assumed that: BS2’s response message includes: BS2’s device identification 002, acknowledgment Ack, currently occupied time-domain resource, i.e., 002 frame, the proposed start time of the competition sharing manner: start of the first super frame after the present super frame (here superframe is takenas an example to represent a period of negotiation and share of spectrum by the three BS , that is, in every superframe, three BS use one frame resource therein) ；

BS3’s response message includes: BS3’s device identification 003, a negative acknowledgment Nack.

At 303: after BS1 receivesthe response messagesfor changing the spectrum sharing manner from BS2, BS3, BS1 determines a competition sharing scheme and transmits the spectrum sharing manner configuration message to BS2 that accepts the competition sharing.

The spectrum sharing configuration message comprises: time-domain resources for competition sharing, whichincludes: time-domain resourcesoccupied by BS1, BS2 in a negotiation sharing manner, that is, 001 frame, 002 frame.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, after the change, BS1, BS2 share the time-domain resource of 001 frame and 002 frame of the spectrum f1, andBS3 still occupies time-domain resource of 003 frame.

At 304: BS1 and BS2 employ the competition sharing manner； BS3 still works in the negotiation sharing manner. Namely BS1, BS2 competitively use 001 frame and 002 frame of the spectrum f1； BS3 uses 003 frame determined by previous negotiation.

Inthe first embodiment, BS1 determines by itself to trigger the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner. On the other hand, a trigger condition can also be preset by the system, for example, by negotiating the remaining resources is more than 75％, and then BS1 determines whether the trigger condition is met according to its own networkstate. Whenthe trigger condition is met, BS1 then initiatesthe request for changing the spectrum sharing manner again.

With reference to FIG. 6, a second embodiment 600 is disclosed. In this embodiment, it is assumed that BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 occupy a free spectrum f1 in time division in a negotiation sharing manner initially, andBS1 initiates the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner . Specific process shown in FIG. 6 comprises:

At 600: BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 initially run in a negotiation sharing manner.

Specifically, BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 determine the time-domain occupancy to the spectrum f1 during a unit time via the negotiation, as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of resources configuration prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner of the second embodiment. The next time unit repeats the time-domain allocation shown in FIG. 7. The time-domain resources represented by the shaded portions are the time-domain resources allocated to the corresponding BS. Similar to FIG. 4, the “frame” is used for illustration only and embodiments may use other time portioningsuch as superframe, timeslot, symbolscan be used as well. The corresponding BS has a primary transmission right (i.e., has dedicated resources belonging to the corresponding BS) , and other BS cannot transmit during that time, or transmit with limited power.

At 601: BS1 transmits a request message for changing spectrum sharing manner to the BS2, BS3 and BS4 respectively.

Since the current overall service reflects burst feature in whichthe initiation of the service is not stable, and the initiation of subordinate terminals’service is random, the assigned time-domain resources cannot be utilized fully by working in the currently negotiated time-domain resource structure. However, there are needs for transmission on the dedicated time-domain resources of other BS, which triggers BS1 to change the current negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner.

In the example embodiment 600, the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner includes: BS1’s communication site ID 001, an employed competition algorithm, such as CSMA/CA, maximum occupancy time such as 6 ms, a start time of the competition sharing manner: such as the next negotiation period, the maximum competition window length is 1 ms, the minimum competition window length is 0.1 ms, and inter-frame interval is 20 μs.

At 602: BS2, BS3 and BS4 respectively feed back to BS1 a response message for changing spectrum sharing manner.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that BS2, BS3 and BS4 decide whether to accept the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, that is, whether they are willing to change to the competition sharing manner according to their subordinates’service requirements.

In the second embodiment, it is assumed that BS2’s response message includes: BS2’s device identification 002, acknowledgment Ack, currently occupied time-domain resource, i.e., 002, the proposed start time of the competition sharing manner: next super frame of the present super frame.

In some embodiments, BS3’s response message includes: BS3’s device identification 003, a negative acknowledgment Nack.

In some embodiments, BS4’s response message includes: BS4’s device identification 004, a negative acknowledgment Nack.

At 603, after BS1 receives the response messagesfor changing the spectrum sharing manner from BS2, BS3 and BS4, BS1 determines a competition sharing scheme, and transmits a spectrum sharing manner configuration message 1 that indicates competition sharing parameters to BS2 that accepts the competition sharing and transmits a spectrum sharing manner configuration message 2 that indicates an updated negotiation sharing parameters to BS3 and BS4 respectively.

The spectrum sharing configuration message comprises: time-domain resources for competition sharing, which includes: time-domain resources occupied by BS1, BS2 in a negotiation sharing manner, that is, 001 frame, 002 frame. The spectrum utilization and spectrum sharing manner of BS3 and BS4 are not affected by the change of spectrum sharing manner, and the spectrum sharing manner configuration message 2 includes: the time-domain resources subsequently used for negotiation sharing include: 003 frame, 004 frame； communication stations participating in the negotiation sharing are BS3 and BS4.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, after the change, BS1, BS2 share the time-domain resource of 001 frame and 002 frame of the spectrum f1, BS3 still occupies time-domain resource of 003 frame and BS4 still occupies time-domain resource of 004 frame.

At 604, BS1, BS2 employ the competition sharing manner； BS3 and BS4 still work in the negotiation sharing manner. Namely BS1, BS2 competitively use 001 frame and 002 frame of the spectrum f1, BS3 and BS4 uses003 frame determined by previously negotiation respectively.

In the following spectrum sharing, BS3, BS4 can employ negotiation sharing manner within 003 frame, 004 frame respectively. For example, subsequently, BS3, BS4 negotiate that BS4 uses 003 frame and BS3 uses 004 frame, and so on.

With reference to FIG. 9, a third embodiment 950 is disclosed. In this embodiment, it is assumed that BS1, BS2, BS3 occupy a free spectrum f1 in time division in a negotiation sharing manner initially, and BS1initiates the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner. Specific process shown in FIG. 9 includes:

At 900, BS1, BS2, and BS3 initially run in a negotiation sharing manner.

Specifically, BS1, BS2, BS3 determine the time-domain occupancy to the spectrum f1 during a unit time via the negotiation, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of resources configuration prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner of the first embodiment. The next time unit repeats the time-domain allocation as shown in FIG. 4. The time-domain resources represented by the shaded portion are the time-domain resources allocated to the corresponding BS. In this embodiment 950, time domain resources are shown as frames for illustration only. The other BS cannot transmit during that time, or transmit with limited power.

At 901, BS1 transmits a request message for changing spectrum sharing manner to the BS2 and BS3, respectively.

Since the current overall service reflects the burst feature in which the initiation of the service is not stable, and the initiation of subordinate terminal’s service is random, the assigned time-domain resources cannot be utilized fully by working in the currently negotiated time-domain resource structure. However, there are needs for transmission on the dedicated time-domain resources of other BS, which triggers BS1 to change the current negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner.

In some embodiments, the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner only includes: BS1’s communication site ID 001 and an indication of changing spectrum sharing manner； wherein, the indication of changing spectrum sharing manner is used to indicate other BS that [BS1] wants to change the current negotiation sharing manner into the competition sharing manner.

At 902, BS2 and BS3 respectively feed back to BS1 a response messagefor changing spectrum sharing manner.

In some embodiments, it is assumed that BS2, BS3 decide whether to accept the request forchanging the spectrum sharing manner, that is, whether they are willing to change to the competition sharing manner according to their subordinates’service requirements.

In some embodiments, it is assumed that BS2’s response message includes: BS2’s device identification 002, acknowledgment Ack, currently occupied time-domain resource, i.e., 002 frame.

In operations 903 to 904: after BS1 receives the response messagesfor changing the spectrum sharing manner from BS2, BS3, BS1 determines a competition sharing scheme, and transmits the competition sharing manner configuration message to BS2 that accepts the competition sharing.

In some embodiments, the competition sharing configuration message comprises: time-domain resources for competition sharing, wherein including: time-domain resources occupied by BS 1, BS2 in a negotiation sharing manner: 001 frame, 002 frame. An employed competition algorithm, such as CSMA/CA, the maximum occupancy time such as 6ms, a start time of the competition sharing manner: such as the next negotiation period, i.e., the start of next superframe, the maximum competition window length is 1 ms, the minimum competition window length is 0.1ms, inter-frame interval is 20 μs.

In some embodiments, at 905, BS2 replies a spectrum sharing manner configuration acknowledgement message to confirm accepting the spectrum sharing manner configuration of BS1 after BS2 receives the spectrum sharing manner configuration message.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, after the change, BS1, BS2 share the time-domain resource of 001 frame and 002 frame of the spectrum f1, and BS3 still occupies time-domain resource of 003 frame.

At 905, BS1, BS2 employ the competition sharing manner； BS3 still works in the negotiation sharing manner. Namely BS1, BS2 competitively use 001 frame, 002 frame of the spectrum f1, BS3 uses previously negotiated 003 frame.

In some embodiments, it is assumed that BS1, BS2, BS3occupy a free spectrum f1 in time division in a negotiation sharing manner initially, and BS1 initiates the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner is. One example process is shown in FIG. 3.

The present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment: BS1, BS2, and BS3 initially run in a negotiation sharing manner； and BS1 transmits a request message for changing spectrum sharing manner to the BS2 and BS3 when BS1 expects to initiate a request forchanging spectrum sharing manner according to the service characteristics statistic of their subordinates.

The differences between the first embodiment and this embodiment are that the system is equipped with competition sharing mode, andthe request message for changing spectrum sharing manner sent by BS1 only needs to include: BS1’s communication station ID 001 and the employed ID of the competition sharing mode 001.

For example, it is assumed that the system is equipped withtwo modes of competition sharing mode, and each BS can determine the specific parameters of competition sharing only based on the identifies in the competition sharing mode, and the correspondence relationship are shown in Table 1:

Table 1

Thus, after BS2, BS3 receive the request message for changing spectrum sharing manner, they can determine whether to accept the competition sharing manner requested by BS1 and provide the reply according to ID of the competition sharing manner carried therein. The subsequent implementation is the same as the first embodiment completely, and thus the description does not repeats here.

With reference to FIG. 10, in the embodiment 1050, it is assumed that BS1, BS2, BS3 occupy a free spectrum f1 intime division in a negotiation sharing manner initially, and BS1 initiates the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner.

The specific process shown in FIG. 10 comprises: the operations 1000-1001 are same as the operations 300-301 of the first embodiment completely, and thus are not repeated here.

At 1002: BS2 and BS3 respectively feed back to BS1 a response message for changing spectrum sharing manner.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that BS2, BS3 decide whether to accept the request forchanging the spectrum sharing manner, that is, whether they are willing to change to the competition sharing manner according to their subordinates’service requirements.

In the fifth embodiment, it is assumed that BS2’s response message includes: BS2’s device identification 002, a negative acknowledgment Nack.

That is, in the fifth embodiment, Neither BS2 nor BS3agrees to change into the competition sharing manner.

At1003: after BS1 receives the response messagesfor changing the spectrum sharing manner from BS2, BS3, BS1 determines that it does not change the spectrum sharing manner and still shares the spectrum f1 with BS2 and BS3 in negotiation manner； and transmits the spectrum sharing manner configuration message to BS2 and BS3 respectively that indicates the spectrum sharing manner is unchanged.

At 1004: BS1, BS2 BS3 still work in the negotiation sharing manner.

It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, since neither BS2 nor BS3 accepts the request forchanging the spectrum sharing manner of BS1, , BS 1 on the spectrum f1 cannot enter into the competition sharing mode. At this time, BS1 can continue to negotiate with BS2, BS3 to determine the transmission time on the spectrum f1, but BS1 also can opt out of the spectrum f1 and look for other configurable spectrum resources to communicate with communication stations on other spectrum resources to compete or negotiate sharing spectrum.

With reference to FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, in the sixth embodiment 1150, it is assumed that BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4occupy a free spectrum f1in time division in a negotiation sharing manner initially. BS1 initiatesthe request for changing the spectrum sharing manner , and each BS provides some of time-domain resources for competition sharing, as shown in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, comprises the following.

At 1100, BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 initially run in a negotiation sharing manner.

Specifically, BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 determine the time-domain occupancy to the spectrum f1 during a unit time via the negotiation, as shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a schematic view of resources configuration prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner of the sixth embodiment. The next time unit repeats the time-domain allocation shown in FIG. 12. Wherein, the time-domain resources represented by the shaded portion are the time-domain resources allocated to the corresponding BS. In this time-domain resources (in the present embodiment, “frame” serves as the unit for the time-domain occupancy, thus other time units can be used as well) , the corresponding BS has a primary transmission right (i.e., has dedicated resources belonging to the corresponding BS, for example, BS1 corresponds to frame0-frame 5； BS2 corresponds to frame6-frame11, etc. ) , and other BS cannot transmit during that time, or transmits with limited power .

At 1101, BS1 transmits a request message for changing spectrum sharing manner to the BS2, BS3 and BS4 respectively.

Since the current overall service reflects burstfeature in which the initiation of the traffic is not stable, and the initiation of subordinate terminal service is random, the assigned time-domain resources cannot be utilized fully by working in the currently negotiated time-domain resource structure. However, there are needs for transmission on the dedicated time-domain resources of other BS, which triggers BS1 to change the current negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner.

In this embodiment, the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner includes: BS1’s communication site ID 001, an employed competition algorithm, such as CSMA/CA, maximum occupancy time such as 6 ms, a start time of the competition sharing manner: such as the next negotiation period, the maximum competition window length is 1 ms, the minimum competition window length is 0.1 ms, inter-frame interval is 20 μs. It is also assumed that, in the present embodiment, the competition time-domain resources of BS1 are frame3, frame4 and frame5, i.e., BS1 puts three frame resources (i.e., frame3, frame4, frame5) which belong to BS1 in the previous negotiation sharing manner, into the “competition resources pool” (the sum of the time-domain resources of competition sharing) , for participation in the competition sharing.

At 1102: BS2, BS3 and BS4 respectively feed back to BS1 response messagesfor changing spectrum sharing manner.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that BS2, BS3 and BS4 decide whether to accept the request forchanging the spectrum sharing manner, that is, whether they are willing to change to the competition sharing manner according to their subordinates’service requirements , and which frame resources can be donated for sharing with other BS.

In the sixth embodiment, it is assumed that:

BS2’s response message includes: BS2’s device identification 002, acknowledgmentAck, currently occupied time-domain resources, i.e., frame6 ～ frame11, the proposed start time of the competition sharing manner: next super frame of the present super frame, and it is also assumed that, in the present embodiment, the competition time-domain resources of BS2 are frame10 and frame11, i.e., BS2 puts two frame resources (i.e., frame10 and frame11) , which belong to BS2 in the previous negotiation sharing manner, into the “competition resources pool” (the sum of the time-domain resources of competition sharing) for participation in the competition sharing.

BS3’s response message includes: BS3’s device identification 003, acknowledgment Ack, currently occupied time-domain resource, i.e., frame12 ～ frame17, the proposed start time of the competition sharing manner: next super frame of the present super frame, and it is also assumed that, in the present embodiment, the competition time-domain resources of BS3 are frame15, frame16 and frame17.

BS4’s response message includes: BS4’s device identification 004, a negative acknowledgment Nack.

At1103, after BS1 receives the response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner from BS2, BS3 and BS4, BS1 determines a competition sharing scheme, and transmits a spectrum sharing manner configuration message to BS2, BS3 and BS4.

Since BS2, BS3 accept the request for changing the sharing manner, the spectrum sharing configuration messages include: time-domain resources for competition sharing, including frame3, frame4, frame5, frame10, frame11, frame15, frame16, frame17. Further, BS1, BS2, BS3, BS4 continue to employ the negotiation sharing manner on the remaining time-domain resources.

At 1104: BS1, BS2 and BS3 employ the competition sharing manner on the competition time-domain resources； BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 still work in the negotiation sharing manner on other time-domain resources.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the sixth embodiment. After the change, the time-domain occupancy to spectrum f1 by each BSis shown as FIG. 13: areas shown by slash and shaded portions are still time-domain resources exclusivelyoccupied by each BS, namely BS1 uses frame0 ～ frame2 exclusively, BS2 uses frame6 ～ frame9 exclusively, BS3 uses frame12 ～ frame14 exclusively, BS4 uses the frame18 ～ frame23 exclusively. In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, area shown byslashedmesh and shaded portions, BS1, BS2, BS3 use the following competition time-domain resources competitively: the frame3 ～ frame5, frame10, frame11, frame15 ～ frame17. And subsequent BS1 ～ BS4 still use in a negotiation manner on other resources in addition to the above-mentioned competition time-domain resources to change the allocation of negotiation resources among the BS.

In the seventhembodiment, it is assumed that BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 occupy a free spectrum f1 intime division in a negotiation sharing manner initially. BS1 initiatesa request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, and each BS provides some of time-domain resources for competition sharing, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, comprises:

At 1100: BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 initially run in a negotiation sharing manner.

Specifically, BS1, BS2, BS3 and BS4 determine the time-domain occupancy to the spectrum f1 during a unit time via the negotiation, as shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a schematic view of resources configuration prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner of the sixth embodiment. The next time unit repeats the time-domain distribution shown in FIG. 12, wherein the time-domain resources represented by the shaded portion are the time-domain resources allocated to the corresponding BS. In this time-domain resources (in the present embodiment, “frame” serves as the unit for the time-domain occupancy, thus other time units can be used as well) , the corresponding BS has a primary transmission right (i.e., has dedicated resources belonging to the corresponding BS, for example, BS1 corresponds to frame0-frame 5； BS2 corresponds to frame6-frame 11, etc. ) , and other BS cannot transmit during that time, or transmits with limited power. In the present embodiment, the length of frame is set as 1 ms and the length of super frame is set as 24ms.

At 1101: BS1 transmits a request message for changing spectrum sharing manner to the BS2, BS3 and BS4 respectively.

Since the current overall service reflects a burst feature that the initiation of the service is not stable, and the initiation of subordinate terminal’sservice is random, the allocated time-domain resources cannot be utilized fully by working in the currently negotiated time-domain resource structure. However, there are needs for transmission on the dedicated time-domain resources of other BS, which triggers BS1 to change the current negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner.

In this embodiment, the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner includes: BS1’s communication site ID 001, an employed competition algorithm, such as CSMA/CA, maximum occupancy time such as 6ms, a start time of the competition sharing manner: such as the next negotiation period, the maximum competition window length is 1 ms, the minimum competition window length is 0.1ms, inter-frame interval is 20 μs, and it is also assumed that, in the present embodiment, the competition time-domain resources of BS1 are three frames, i.e., BS1 puts three frame resources, which belong to BS1 in the previous negotiation sharing manner, into the “competition resources pool” (the sum of the time-domain resources of competition sharing) , for participation in the competition sharing.

At 1102: BS2, BS3 and BS4 respectively feed back to BS1 a response message for changing spectrum sharing manner.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that BS2, BS3 and BS4 decide whether to accept the request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, that is, whether they are willing to change to the competition sharing manner according to their subordinates’service requirements, and which frame resources can be donated for sharing with other BS.

In the seventhembodiment, it is assumed that BS2’s response message includes: BS2’s device identification 002, acknowledgment Ack, currently occupied time-domain resources, i.e., frame6 ～ frame11, the proposed start time of the competition sharing manner: next super frame of the present super frame. It is also assumed that, in the present embodiment, the competition time-domain resources of BS2 are two frames, i.e., BS2 puts two frame resources, which belong to BS2 in the previous negotiation sharing manner, into the “competition resources pool” (the sum of the time-domain resources of competition sharing) forparticipation in the competition sharing.

BS3’s response message includes: BS3’s device identification 003, acknowledgment Ack, currently occupied time-domain resources, i.e., frame12 ～ frame17, the proposed start time of the competition sharing manner: next super frame of the present super frame. It is also assumed that, in the present embodiment, the competition time-domain resources of BS3 are three frames；

At 1103: after BS1 receives the response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner from BS2, BS3, and BS4, BS1 determines a competition sharing scheme and transmits a spectrum sharing manner configuration message to BS2 BS3 and BS4.

Wherein, since BS2 and BS3 accept the request for changing the sharing manner, the spectrum sharing configuration messages include: time-domain resources for competition sharing beingtwo frames and three frames respectively, in addition to three frames of time-domain resources of BS1 for competition sharing. Thus, there are total eight resources (frame16 ～ frame 23) for competition sharing. Further, BS1, BS2, BS3, and BS4 continue to employ the negotiation sharing manner on the remaining time-domain resources (frame0 ～ frame 15). BS4 does not accept the request forchanging the sharing manner, thus the spectrum sharing manner configuration messages sent to BS4 include: the spectrum f1 still being used by BS4 in the negotiation manner, the time-domain resource currently occupied are frame10 ～ frame 15, and the ranges of subsequent time domain resources negotiated by BS1 ～ BS4 are: frame0 ～ frame15.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of resources configuration after changing the spectrum sharing manner of the seventh embodiment. After changing the spectrum sharing manner, the time-domain occupancy to spectrum f1 by each BS is shown as FIG. 14: areas shown by slash and shaded portions are still time-domain resources excluded by each BS, namely BS1 using frame0 ～ frame2 exclusively, BS2 using frame3 ～ frame6 exclusively, BS3 using frame7 ～ frame9 exclusively, and BS4 using the frame10 ～ frame15 exclusively. BS1, BS2, and BS3 use the following competition time-domain resources (shown in black) competitively: frame16 ～ frame 3. Subsequent BS1 ～ BS4 still use in a negotiation manner on other resources (frame0 ～ frame15) in addition to the above-mentioned competition time-domain resources to change the allocation of negotiation resources among the BS.

At 1104: BS1, BS2, and BS3 employ the competition sharing manner on the competition time-domain resources； BS1, BS2, BS3, and BS4 still work in the negotiation sharing manner on other time-domain resources.

In some embodiments, a wireless network comprising two or more base stations may operate by using a same frequency spectrum in a spectrum sharing manner. The network includes a first base station, e.g., BS1 described herein, that solicits from other base stations, e.g., BS2, BS3, BS4 described herein, feedback information for changing the spectrum sharing manner. The other base stations may provide the feedback information to the first base station. Based on the feedback information, the first base station transmits one or more configuration messages to the other base stations for changing the spectrum sharing manner to a new spectrum sharing manner. Various possibilities and details of how the spectrum sharing manner is changed, and details of contents of messages exchanged have been disclosed herein. The spectrum sharing manner and the new spectrum sharing manner are one of a negotiation-based spectrum sharing and a collision detection based spectrum sharing.

It will be appreciated that several techniques for implementing cognitive radio technology for sharing spectrum among multiple transmitting devices, such as base stations, are provided. Using the disclosed techniques, base stations may be able to negotiate between each other a spectrum sharing method such as a time division duplexing or a competitive method (collision detection/avoidance based) .

The disclosed and other embodiments, modules and the functional operations described in this document can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this document and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. The disclosed and other embodiments can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer readable medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. The computer readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition of matter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more them. The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them. A propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document) , in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code) . A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this document can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) .

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Computer readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices； magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks； magneto optical disks； and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

While this patent document contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention that is claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this document in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.

Only a few examples and implementations are disclosed. Variations, modifications, and enhancements to the described examples and implementations and other implementations can be made based on what is disclosed.

Claims

A spectrum sharing method, comprising:

requesting, by a communication station, a relevant communication station for changingspectrum sharing manner；

receiving, by the communication station, feedback information from the relevant communication station； and

determining, by the communication station, whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner in accordance with the feedback information from the relevant communication station；

wherein the communication station and the relevant communication station operate in a same frequency band.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the communication station and the relevant communication station in the same frequency band using time division multiplexing；

wherein the relevant communication station is operating within interference range ofthe communication station.
Thespectrum sharing method of claim 2, further comprising:

operating, prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication station and the relevant communication station in a negotiated sharing manner, and

determining, by the communication station, under the negotiation sharing manner, time domain resources occupied by each of the relevant communication stations on the same spectrum resources in a negotiation manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 3, wherein the requesting operation includes:

sending, by the communication station, to the relevant communication station, a request message that includes an instruction for changing spectrum sharing mannerfrom the negotiated sharing manner to a competition sharing manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 4, wherein, when implementing the competition sharing manner, determining, by the communication station, time domain resources occupied by each of the relevant communication stations on the same spectrum resources in a competition manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 4, wherein the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner at least includesan identification of the communication station, and a competition algorithm to be used for the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum occupied time length, and/ora start time of the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum competition window duration, and/or a minimum competition window duration, and/or a value of an inter-frame interval.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 6, wherein the request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner further includes: a competition time domain resource of the communication station, and/or a total amount of the competition time domain resource of the communication station, and/or a limitation to a minimum competition time domain resource, and/or a reason of the request.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 7, wherein the competition time domain resource is time occupied by the communication stationthat the communication station is ready to be shared with the relevant communication station in the competition sharing manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 7, wherein the limitation to the minimum competition time domain resourceis a minimum value requirement for the time domain resource shared by the relevant communication station in the competition sharing manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 2, further includes:

judging and triggering, prior to changing the spectrum sharing manner, by the communication station, requesting to change the spectrum sharing manner according to an operationalneed； or

triggering, by the communication station, requesting to change the spectrum sharing manner according to a preset trigger condition.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 2, wherein thedetermining operation includes:

when the feedback information from one or morerelevant communication stations indicates an acceptanceto changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication station determining to change the spectrum sharing manner, and transmitting a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which includes configure parameters of the competition sharing manner, to a first group of communication stations accepting to change the spectrum sharing manner； transmitting a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which includes update parameters of the negotiation sharing manner, to a second group of communication stations of which feedback information displays that the relevant communication stations do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner； and

when all feedback information of the relevant communication stations displays that they do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, the communication stationrefrains from changing the spectrum sharing manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 11, wherein the parameters of the competition sharing mannerinclude an identification of the communication station participating in the competition sharing manner, time domain resources for a competition sharing, and an applied competition algorithm, and/or a maximum occupied time length, and/or start time of the competition sharing manner, and/or a maximum competition window length, and/or a minimum competition window length, and/or inter-frame interval.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 12, wherein, the time domain resources for the competition sharing include: time domain resources occupied by the communication station, and time domain resources occupied by all communication stations that accepted changing the spectrum sharing manner； or competition time domain resources of the communication station, and competition time domain resources occupied by all communication stations that accepted changing the spectrum sharing manner； or, exclusively allocated time domain resourcesmatching a sum of the amount of competition time domain resource of the communication stations.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 11, wherein the updating parameters of the negotiation sharing mannerincludes: updating communication stations participating in the negotiation and/or updating timedomain resources for negotiating sharing.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 12, whereinthe method further comprises:

receiving, prior to determining whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner, from the relevant communication station, a response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner that indicates whether or not to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 15, wherein the response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner includes an identification of the relevant communication station, and an acknowledgment instruction, and a currently occupied time domain resources, and/or a time of suggested start to the competition sharing manner, and/or competition time domain resources of the relevant communication stations；

wherein the acknowledgment instruction comprises: an acknowledgment Ack instruction for indicating to accept changing the spectrum sharing manneror a negative acknowledgment Nack instruction for indicating not to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 11, further including:

causing to perform, by the relevant communication stations, a spectrum sharing utilization in accordance with parameters configured in the configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 17, characterized in that, the communication stations and the relevant communication stations accepting changing the spectrum sharing manner proceed to the competition sharing manner.
The spectrum sharing method of claim 11, further including:

allowing the relevant communication station that does not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner to continue operating by employing the negotiation sharing manner.
A communication station, comprising:

a requesting module requestingone or more relevant communication stations for changing spectrum sharing manner；

a receiving module receiving, by the communication station, the feedback information from the one or more relevant communication stations； and

a determining module determining whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner in accordance with the feedback information from the one or more relevant communication stations；

wherein the communication station and the one or more relevant communication stationsoperate at a same frequency.
The communication station of claim 20, further comprising；

a responding module receiving a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner from one of the one or more relevant communication stations, with the feedback being used for a response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner indicating whether or not to accept changing the spectrum sharing manner； and

a performing module receiving a configuration message for spectrum sharing manner used to configure parameters of the competition sharing manner, and performing a spectrum sharing utilization in accordance with parameters configured in the configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner.
The communication station of claim 20 wherein the communication station and the one or more relevant communication stationsoperate at the same frequency by sharing spectrum resources in a time-division manner, wherein the communication station and the relevant communication station are operating within interference range of one or more additional communication stations.
The communication station of claim 22, wherein the requesting module further:

sends, to the one or more relevant communication stations, a request message for changing the spectrum sharing manner, with the request message being used to request the one or more relevant communication stations to change the spectrum sharing manner from a negotiation sharing manner to a competition sharing manner；

wherein the competition sharing manner comprises the communication station competing with the one or more relevant communication stations to access the frequency for transmission.
The communication station of claim 23, wherein the requesting module works in a negotiation sharing manner with the one or more relevant communication stations.
The communication station of claim 22, wherein the determining module is specifically configured to:

when the feedback information of a first relevant communication station of the one or more relevant communication stations indicates an acceptanceof changing the spectrum sharing manner, then determining to change the spectrum sharing manner, and transmitting a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to configure parameters of the competition sharing manner, to the first communication station； and

transmit a configuration message for the spectrum sharing manner, which is used to update parameters of the negotiation sharing manner, to a second relevant communication station from the one or more relevant communication stations for which feedback information indicates that the second communicationis not accepting changing the spectrum sharing manner；

when all feedback information of the relevant communication stations indicates that they do not accept changing the spectrum sharing manner, then the communication station refrains from changing the spectrum sharing manner.
The communication station of claim 22, wherein the responding module configured to:

when accepting a request for changing the spectrum sharing mannerincluding in a feedback response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner: an identification of the relevant communication station, and an acknowledgment Ack instruction, and currently occupied time domain resources, and/or a suggested time of starting the competition sharing, and/or competition time domain resources of the one or more relevant communication stations；

when not accepting a request for changing the spectrum sharing manner, including in a feedback response message for changing the spectrum sharing manner: an identification of the relevant communication station and/or a negative acknowledgment Nack instruction.
The communication station of claim 21, wherein the performing module is further configured to operating in the competition sharing manner together with other communication stations； or continue to work by employing the negotiation sharing manner.
A computer program product comprising a non-volatile storage medium having code stored thereon, the code, when executed, causing a processor to implement a spectrum sharing method, comprising:

instructions for requesting, by a communication station, a relevant communication station feedback information for determining whether to change a spectrum sharing manner；

instructions for receiving the feedback information from the relevant communication station； and

instructions for determining, by the communication station, whether or not to change the spectrum sharing manner in accordance with the feedback information from the relevant communication station；

wherein the communication station and the relevant communication station operate in a same frequency band.
The computer program product of claim 28, further comprising:

instructions for operating the communication station and the relevant communication station in the same frequency band using time division multiplexing；

wherein the communication station and the relevant communication station are operating within interference range of one or more additional communication stations.
Thecomputer program product of claim 29, further comprising:

instructions for operating in a negotiated sharing manner by negotiating, by the communication station with the relevant communication station, time domain resources for using the same frequency band using time division multiplexing.
A wireless network comprising two or more base stations using a same frequency spectrum by sharing the frequency spectrum using a spectrum sharing manner, comprising:

a first base station that solicits from other base stations feedback information for changing the spectrum sharing manner；

and the other base stations that provide the feedback information to the first base station；

wherein, based on the feedback information, the first base station transmits one or more configuration messages to the other base stations for changing the spectrum sharing manner to a new spectrum sharing manner.
The network of claim 31, wherein the spectrum sharing manner and the new spectrum sharing manner are one of a negotiation-based spectrum sharing and a collision detection based spectrum sharing.