Short paper: Probing the spectrum with vehicles: Towards an advanced spectrum database

This paper proposes a concept of advanced spectrum database generated through the measurements of radio environment from sensors on vehicles. In the current design of TV white space spectrum databases, which is regulated by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a propagation model is utilized to decide on the availability of spectrum. To ensure protection of primary users (PUs) this approach requires a large margin for the PU coverage area. In the proposed database, the actual measurements of radio signals are used to generate the database. Since the sensors on moving vehicles gather large amount of data, an accurate propagation status can be obtained, including propagation loss and shadowing. In this paper we introduce the concept of advanced database and present initial results of experimental database generation using actual TV broadcast signals.