Configuring preferred user zone lists for private access points for wireless networking

• US 20080076398A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Airvana Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: D'Arcy, Paul, Ch'ng, Shi Baw, Ananthaiyer, Satish, Mate, Amit
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/09 by deposition from the vapour phase
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/27 Mixtures of metals, alloys
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/154 by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/00 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/3414 Metallurgical or chemical aspects of target preparation, e.g. casting, powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

Information is received identifying a geographic location of an access point in a radio access network. Access information is assigned and communicated to the access point, and the access information and the geographic location information is communicated to an access terminal. The access terminal identifies the access point as a preferred access point, including its geographic location. The access terminal receives information identifying its own geographic location, and when the access terminal is near the access point, the access point is used to access the network. The access point receives information identifying its geographic location and communicates the geographic location information to a configuration server. The access point receives access information from the configuration server and provides access terminals access to the network using the access information.

Claims

1. A method comprising, on a portable access terminal,

identifying a first access point as a preferred access point,

associating a geographic location with the first access point,

receiving information identifying a geographic location of the access terminal, and

when the access terminal is near the first access point, using the first access point to access a radio access network.

2. The method of claim 1 in which identifying the access point as a preferred access point comprises receiving an instruction to add the access point to a list of preferred access points.

3. The method of claim 2 in which associating the geographic location with the first access point comprises receiving information identifying geographic location information of the first access point as part of the instruction to add the access point to the list of preferred access points.

4. The method of claim 2 in which the instruction is received from an OTAPA server or an OTASP server.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the information identifying the geographic location of the access terminal comprises GPS coordinates of the access terminal.

6. The method of claim 1 in which receiving the information identifying the geographic location of the access terminal coordinates comprises receiving longitude and latitude coordinates from a GPS satellite or beacon.

7. The method of claim 1 in which receiving the information identifying the geographic location of the access terminal coordinates comprises determining longitude and latitude coordinates from a second access point.

8. The method of claim 1 in which receiving the information identifying the geographic location of the access terminal coordinates comprises receiving identifying information from a transmitting device and correlating the identifying information to a geographic location.

9. A method comprising, on an access point,

receiving information identifying a geographic location of the access point,

communicating the geographic location information to a configuration server,

receiving access information from the configuration server, and

providing access terminals access to a radio access network using the access information.

10. The method of claim 9 also comprising receiving access terminal authentication information from the configuration server.

11. The method of claim 9 also comprising, after moving to a new geographic location,

receiving information identifying the new geographic location,

communicating the new geographic location information to the configuration server,

receiving new access information from the configuration server, and

providing access terminals access to the radio access network using the new access information.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the configuration server comprises a plurality of servers.

13. A method comprising:

receiving information identifying a geographic location of an access point in a radio access network,

assigning access information to the access point,

communicating the access information to the access point, and

communicating the access information and the geographic location information to an access terminal.

14. The method of claim 13 in which communicating the access information to the access point comprises causing a configuration server to communicate the access information to the access terminal using a backhaul network.

15. The method of claim 13 in which communicating the access information and the geographic location information to an access terminal comprises causing an OTAPA server or an OTASP server to communicate the access information and the geographic location information to the access terminal using the radio access network.

16. The method of claim 13 also comprising

receiving information identifying a new geographic location of the access point,

assigning new access information to the access point,

communicating the new access information to the access point, and

communicating the new access information and the new geographic location information to the access terminal.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an access terminal for accessing a radio access network, the access terminal being configured to;

store in a memory an identification of a first access point as a preferred access point,

in the memory, associate a geographic location with the first access point,

receive information identifying a geographic location of the access terminal, and

when near the first access point, use the first access point to access the radio access network.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 in which the access terminal is configured to store the identification of an access point as a preferred access point in response to receiving an instruction to add the access point to a list of preferred access points.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which the access terminal is configured to associate the geographic location with the first access point in response to receiving information identifying the geographic location of the first access point as part of the instruction to add the access point to the list of preferred access points.

20. An apparatus comprising:

an access point for providing access to a radio access network, the access point being configured to;

receive information identifying a geographic location of the access point,

communicate the geographic location information to a configuration server,

receive access information from the configuration server, and

provide access terminals access to a radio access network using the access information.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the access point is also configured to receive access terminal authentication information from the configuration server.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the access point is also configured to, after moving to a new geographic location,

receive information identifying the new geographic location,

communicate the new geographic location information to the configuration server,

receive new access information from the configuration server, and

provide access terminals access to the radio access network using the new access information.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a configuration server for use in a radio access network, the configuration server being configured to;

receive information identifying a geographic location of an access point in the radio access network,

assign access information to the access point,

communicate the access information to the access point, and

communicate the access information and the geographic location information to an access terminal.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 in which the configuration server is configured to:

communicate the access information to the access point by causing a configuration server to communicate the access information to the access terminal using a backhaul network.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 in which the configuration server is configured to:

communicate the access information and the geographic location information to an access terminal by causing an OTAPA server or an OTASP server to communicate the access information and the geographic location information to the access terminal using the radio access network.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 in which the configuration server is also configured to:

receive information identifying a new geographic location of the access point,

assign new access information to the access point,

communicate the new access information to the access point, and

communicate the new access information and the new geographic location information to the access terminal.

27. A computer readable medium encoding instructions to cause an access terminal in a radio access network to:

store in a memory an identification of a first access point as a preferred access point,

in the memory, associate a geographic location with the first access point,

receive information identifying a geographic location of the access terminal, and

when near the first access point, use the first access point to access the radio access network.

28. The medium of claim 27 in which the instructions cause the access terminal to:

store the identification of an access point as a preferred access point in response to receiving an instruction to add the access point to a list of preferred access points.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 in which the instructions cause the access terminal to:

associate the geographic location with the first access point in response to receiving information identifying the geographic location of the first access point as part of the instruction to add the access point to the list of preferred access points.

30. A computer readable medium encoding instructions to cause an access point for providing access to a radio access network to:

receive information identifying a geographic location of the access point,

communicate the geographic location information to a configuration server,

receive access information from the configuration server, and

provide access terminals access to a radio access network using the access information.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 in which the instructions also cause the access point to receive access terminal authentication information from the configuration server.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 in which the instructions also cause the access point to, after moving to a new geographic location,

receive information identifying the new geographic location,

communicate the new geographic location information to the configuration server,

receive new access information from the configuration server, and

provide access terminals access to the radio access network using the new access information.

33. A computer readable medium encoding instructions to cause a configuration server in a radio access network to:

receive information identifying a geographic location of an access point in the radio access network,

assign access information to the access point,

communicate the access information to the access point, and

communicate the access information and the geographic location information to an access terminal.

34. The medium of claim 33 in which the instructions cause the configuration server to:

communicate the access information to the access point by causing a configuration server to communicate the access information to the access terminal using a backhaul network.

35. The medium of claim 33 in which the instructions cause the configuration server to:

communicate the access information and the geographic location information to an access terminal by causing an OTAPA server or an OTASP server to communicate the access information and the geographic location information to the access terminal using the radio access network.

36. The medium of claim 33 in which the instructions cause the configuration server to:

receive information identifying a new geographic location of the access point,

assign new access information to the access point,

communicate the new access information to the access point, and

communicate the new access information and the new geographic location information to the access terminal.