PAGING FOR A RADIO ACCESS NETWORK HAVING PICO BASE STATIONS

• US 20070105568A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Vikberg, Jari, Nylander, Tomas
• Application Number:
  US11/538,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20070105568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/30 Types of network names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/10 Reselecting an access point controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 : Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 : between access points and access point controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/22 : between access point controllers

Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide paging control to a femto radio base station (28_fj) of a radio access network (24). Paging to a femto radio base station (28_fj) is controlled by maintaining a paging control database (46) of allowed user equipment units for which paging is permitted in a cell of a femto radio base station (28_fj). The paging control database (46) is used to determine if a paging message for a target user equipment unit is to be forwarded to the femto radio base station. The database (46) thus serves to redefine the effective paging area by preferably including in the effective paging area only those femto radio base station for which the target user equipment unit is listed as a paging-allowed user equipment unit.

Claims

1. A method of operating a radio access network comprising:

maintaining a paging control database of allowed user equipment units for which paging is permitted in a cell of a femto radio base station;

using the database to determine if a paging message for a target user equipment unit is to be forwarded to the femto radio base station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the database to determine to which femto radio base station(s) a paging message should be forwarded.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the femto radio base station is controlled by a radio network controller node, and further comprising configuring the paging control database to associate, for each of plural femto radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node, a list of allowed user equipment units for which paging is permitted in the cell of the respective femto radio base stations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the femto radio base station is controlled by a radio network controller node, wherein the paging message includes a network area identifier, and wherein the network area identifier is associated with plural femto radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the network area identifier is associated with all femto radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a subset of radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node consists of femto radio base stations, and wherein the network area identifier is associated the subset of femto radio base stations.

7. A method of operating a radio access network comprising:

maintaining a paging control database which associates, for each of plural femto radio base stations, a list of allowed user equipment units for which paging is permitted in the cell of the respective femto radio base stations;

upon receiving a paging message for a target user equipment unit, using the database to redefine an effective paging area for the target user equipment unit; and

, forwarding the paging message only to femto radio base stations which are included in the effective paging area.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of using the database to redefine the effective paging area comprises including in the effective paging area only those femto radio base station for which the target user equipment unit is listed as a paging-allowed user equipment unit.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the femto radio base station is controlled by a radio network controller node, wherein the paging message includes a network area identifier, and wherein the network area identifier is associated with plural femto radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the network area identifier is associated with all femto radio base station controlled by the radio network controller node.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a subset of radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node consists of femto radio base stations, and wherein the network area identifier is associated the subset of femto radio base stations.

12. A radio access network comprising:

a femto radio base station for serving a femto cell of the radio access network;

at least one radio network controller node, the at least one radio network controller node configured for controlling the femto radio base station;

a paging control database configured for facilitating a determination whether a paging message received at the at least one radio network controller node for a target user equipment unit is to be forwarded to the femto radio base station.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the paging control database is configured for facilitating a determination as to which femto radio base station(s) a paging message should be forwarded.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the paging control database is configured to associate, for each of plural femto radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node, a list of allowed user equipment units for which paging is permitted in the cell of the respective femto radio base stations.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the paging message includes a network area identifier, and wherein the network area identifier is associated with plural femto radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the network area identifier is associated with all femto radio base station controlled by the radio network controller node.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a subset of radio base stations controlled by the radio network controller node consists of femto radio base stations, and wherein the network area identifier is associated the subset of femto radio base stations.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the paging control database is situated as a stand alone node of the radio access network.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the paging control database is situated at a radio network controller node of the radio access network.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the paging control database is configured for making the determination in response to interrogation by the radio network controller node.

21. A radio access network comprising:

at least one femto radio base station, the at least one femto radio base station for serving a respective femto cell of the radio access network;

at least one radio network controller node, the at least one radio network controller node configured for controlling the at least one femto radio base station and for receiving a paging message for a target user equipment unit;

a paging control database configured for redefining an effective paging area for the target user equipment unit; and

wherein the at least one radio network controller node is arranged for forwarding the paging message only to femto radio base stations which are included in the effective paging area.

22. A radio access network node comprising a paging control database, the paging control database being configured for facilitating a determination whether a paging message received at a radio network controller node for a target user equipment unit is to be forwarded to the femto radio base station.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the paging control database is situated as a stand alone node of the radio access network.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the paging control database is situated at a radio network controller node of the radio access network.