Apparatus and method for providing spectrum information using spectrum-related functions

Abstract

An improved system architecture for making spectrum information available to one or more devices and for providing and using the spectrum information at a device. The improved architecture employs an arrangement of software processes that interact to provide a flexible and highly-configurable technique for controlling access to spectrum information. To that end, a spectrum information server executes a server process having a library of spectrum-related functions including, for example, functions for retrieving spectrum data from spectrum data sources and/or for processing retrieved spectrum data. The spectrum information server also executes one or more device host processes configured to communicate with at least one compatible device process executing on a spectrum-aware (SA) device. In an illustrative embodiment, a device process on the SA device may request spectrum information from a device host process on the spectrum information server. The device host process receives the request and may generate a function call that it sends to the server process, which executes an associated function from its library of spectrum-related functions. The execution of the function may cause the server process to retrieve certain spectrum data from a spectrum data source. The server process may return the retrieved spectrum data to the device host process, which in turn sends the requested spectrum information to the device process for presentation to a user.