Location Determination for White Space Utilization

1. A method performed on a computing device that is configured to operate in a licensed spectrum and that is further configured to operate in an unlicensed spectrum, the method comprising: obtaining, by the computing device, white space information for a determined location, where white space corresponding to the white space information comprises an unassigned portion of a radio spectrum, and where the obtained white space information identifies a plurality of channels within the white space; prioritizing, by the computing device according to criteria consistent with the determined location, the plurality of channels relative to each other; and providing, by the computing device, a list of the prioritized plurality of channels, where the provided list is configured for use in selecting a channel within the white space and for configuring a device to wirelessly communicate via the selected channel.

2. The method of claim 1 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a suitability of each of the plurality of channels for supporting computer-to-computer communications.

3. The method of claim 1 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a frequency of one channel relative to a frequency of another channel.

4. The method of claim 1 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a permitted transmit power level of one channel relative to a permitted transmit power level of another channel.

5. The method of claim 1 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a detected energy level of one channel relative to a detected energy level of another channel.

6. The method of claim 1 where the prioritizing criteria is based on channel frequencies, channel permitted power levels, and channel detected energy levels.

7. The method of claim 1 where the obtained whitespace information is obtained from a regulatory database.

8. A computing device that is configured to operate in a licensed spectrum and that is further configured to operate in an unlicensed spectrum, the computing device comprising: at least one processor; memory coupled to the at least one processor; a network interface via which the computing device obtains white space information for a determined location, where white space corresponding to the white space information comprises an unassigned portion of a radio spectrum, and where the obtained white space information identifies a plurality of channels within the white space; the at least one processor via which the computing device prioritizes, according to criteria consistent with the determined location, the plurality of channels relative to each other; and an output interface via which the computing device provides a list of the prioritized plurality of channels, where the provided list is configured for use in selecting a channel within the white space and for configuring a device to wirelessly communicate via the selected channel.

9. The computing device of claim 8 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a suitability of each of the plurality of channels for supporting computer-to-computer communications.

10. The computing device of claim 8 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a frequency of one channel relative to a frequency of another channel.

11. The computing device of claim 8 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a permitted transmit power level of one channel relative to a permitted transmit power level of another channel.

12. The computing device of claim 8 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a detected energy level of one channel relative to a detected energy level of another channel.

13. The computing device of claim 8 where the prioritizing criteria is based on channel frequencies, channel permitted power levels, and channel detected energy levels.

14. The computing device of claim 8 where the obtained whitespace information is obtained from a regulatory database.

15. At least one memory storage device that comprises computer-executable instructions that, based on execution by computing device that is configured to operate in a licensed spectrum and that is further configured to operate in an unlicensed spectrum, configure the computing device to perform actions comprising: obtaining, by the computing device, white space information for a determined location, where white space corresponding to the white space information comprises an unassigned portion of a radio spectrum, and where the obtained white space information identifies a plurality of channels within the white space; prioritizing, by the computing device according to criteria consistent with the determined location, the plurality of channels relative to each other; and providing, by the computing device, a list of the prioritized plurality of channels, where the provided list is configured for use in selecting a channel within the white space and for configuring a device to wirelessly communicate via the selected channel.

16. The at least one memory storage device of claim 15 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a suitability of each of the plurality of channels for supporting computer-to-computer communications.

17. The at least one memory storage device of claim 15 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a frequency of one channel relative to a frequency of another channel.

18. The at least one memory storage device of claim 15 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a permitted transmit power level of one channel relative to a permitted transmit power level of another channel.

19. The at least one memory storage device of claim 15 where the prioritizing criteria is based on a detected energy level of one channel relative to a detected energy level of another channel.

20. The at least one memory storage device of claim 15 where the prioritizing criteria is based on channel frequencies, channel permitted power levels, and channel detected energy levels.