Methods and nodes for balancing load on channels

Abstract

Methods and nodes for balancing load on channels available for secondary usage by a secondary network (). A channel handling node () determines channel quality metric values for the available channels, which indicate expected utility when the channels are used for radio communication. The channel handling node then adjusts the channel quality metric value of a superior channel with higher expected utility than the other available channels, to indicate equal or lower expected utility than a channel with the next highest expected utility, when the amount of channel queries (Q) from the secondary network exceeds a limit. The channel handling node then returns the adjusted channel quality metric value of the at least one superior channel, in response to a subsequent channel query (Q). A secondary network node () of the secondary network that receives channel quality metric values for the available channels, including the adjusted channel quality metric value of the superior channel, can then select a channel for secondary usage based on the received channel quality metric values, and is thus influenced to select a channel other than the at least one superior channel.