Self-Configuring Cellular Basestation

• US 20080102794A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ubiquisys Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Byrne, Richard, Franks, William, Keevill, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0471 applying encryption by an intermediary, e.g. receiving clear information at the intermediary and encrypting the received information at the intermediary before forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• 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 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

A basestation for cellular wireless communications network is able to configure itself for the operation in the network, by selecting appropriate operating frequencies (in the case of a GSM network) or scrambling codes (in the case of a UMTS network), and appropriate transmit powers. This makes it practical for a large number of such basestations to be deployed in a network, within customers'"'"' premises, without requiring network intervention in each case.

Claims

1. A basestation, for use in a cellular communications system, comprising:

a radio frequency receive path;

a radio frequency transmit path; and

a connection for a network;

wherein, on installation, the basestation is adapted to;

configure the radio frequency receive path to operate in a wireless communications network;

monitor received signal strengths on each of a predetermined plurality of network carriers;

select, on the basis of said received signal strengths, a first of said predetermined plurality of network carriers as an operating downlink carrier; and

select, on the basis of the received signal strength of said selected first of said predetermined plurality of network carriers, an initial power level for said radio frequency transmit path; and

wherein the basestation is further adapted to operate using said operating downlink carrier and a corresponding operating uplink carrier, following said installation.

2. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said basestation is adapted to:

configure the radio frequency receive path to operate in a first wireless communications network;

monitor received signal strengths on each of a predetermined plurality of network carriers of said first wireless communications network;

select, on the basis of said received signal strengths, a first of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said first wireless communications network as an operating downlink carrier of said first wireless communications network; and

select, on the basis of the received signal strength of said selected first of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said first wireless communications network, a first initial power level for said radio frequency transmit path;

configure the radio frequency receive path to operate in a second wireless communications network;

monitor received signal strengths on each of a predetermined plurality of network carriers of said second wireless communications network;

select, on the basis of said received signal strengths, a first of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said second wireless communications network as an operating downlink carrier of said second wireless communications network; and

select, on the basis of the received signal strength of said selected first of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said second wireless communications network, a second initial power level for said radio frequency transmit path; and

wherein the basestation is adapted to;

operate using said operating downlink carrier of said first wireless communications network and a corresponding operating uplink carrier of said first wireless communications network, and using said operating downlink carrier of said second wireless communications network and a corresponding operating uplink carrier of said second wireless communications network, following said installation.

3. A basestation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first wireless communications network is a GSM network.

4. A basestation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second wireless communications network is a UMTS network.

5. A basestation as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said second wireless communications network comprises a respective carrier frequency and a scrambling code.

6. A basestation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said first wireless communications network is selected as an operating downlink carrier of said first wireless communications network on the basis that it has the lowest of said received signal strengths of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said first wireless communications network.

7. A basestation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said second wireless communications network is selected as an operating downlink carrier of said second wireless communications network on the basis that it has the lowest of said received signal strengths of said predetermined plurality of network carriers of said second wireless communications network.

8. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, having an interface, for connection to equipment of an operator of the wireless communications network, over an IP network.

9. A basestation as claimed in claim 8, wherein said interface is an interface for connection over a digital subscriber line.

10. A basestation as claimed in claim 8, wherein said interface is an interface for connection over a cable telecommunications line.

11. A basestation as claimed in claim 8, wherein said interface is an interface for connection over a wireless IP network.

12. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, having an interface, for connection to a local area network.

13. A basestation as claimed in claim 12, wherein said interface, for connection to a local area network, comprises an Ethernet connection.

14. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, having a USB interface.

15. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, having an interface, for connection thereto of a POTS device.

16. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a Subscriber Identity Module.

17. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each initial power level is constrained to be within a respective range, wherein upper limits of each of said ranges are below a respective maximum power level available in the respective wireless communications network.

18. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basestation is adapted to download from a remote management system a list of said predetermined plurality of network carriers.

19. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined plurality of network carriers, on which the basestation is adapted to monitor received signal strengths, include frequencies on which surrounding GSM basestations are transmitting.

20. A basestation as claimed in claim 19, wherein said basestation is adapted to monitor said received signal strengths while configured to operate on GSM downlink 15 frequencies.

21. A basestation as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined plurality of network carriers, on which the basestation is adapted to monitor received signal strengths, include combinations of UMTS carriers and scrambling codes on which surrounding UMTS basestations are transmitting.

22. A basestation as claimed in claim 21, wherein said basestation is adapted to monitor said received signal strengths while configured to operate on UMTS downlink frequencies.

23. A basestation, comprising:

radio transceiver circuitry, for connection to wireless communications devices by means of a cellular wireless communications protocol; and

an interface, for connection over an IP network;

wherein the basestation is adapted to communicate using UMA standard protocols over said IP network with a UMA network controller, in order to provide communications with said wireless communications devices by means of said cellular wireless communications protocol.

24. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein said basestation is adapted to transfer data, received in a format according to said cellular wireless communications protocol, into a format according to the UMA protocol.

25. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein said basestation is adapted to transfer data, received in a format according to the UMA protocol, into a format according to said cellular wireless communications protocol.

26. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein said cellular wireless communications protocol is the GSM protocol.

27. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein said cellular wireless communications protocol is the GPRS protocol.

28. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein said cellular wireless communications protocol is the EDGE protocol.

29. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein said cellular wireless communications protocol is the UMTS protocol.

30. A basestation as claimed in claim 29, wherein said cellular wireless communications protocol is the HSDPA protocol.

31. A basestation as claimed in claim 29, wherein said cellular wireless communications protocol is the HSUPA protocol.

32. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein said basestation is adapted to communicate via said UMA network controller with a radio network of a wireless communications network.

33. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein said basestation is adapted to communicate via said UMA network controller with a core network of a wireless communications network.

34. A basestation as claimed in claim 33, wherein said basestation is adapted to request a ciphering key from said core network of said wireless communications network, and, after receipt of said ciphering key, to use said ciphering key for communications with said wireless communications devices.

35. A basestation as claimed in claim 23, wherein the basestation is adapted to communicate over said IP network with said UMA network controller, in order to provide communications between said wireless communications devices and a GSM or UMTS radio network, in order to support handover.

36. A basestation as claimed in claim 35, wherein, when a wireless communications device has an active call with a node of the GSM or UMTS radio network, and a handover to said basestation is required, a handover message is sent from the basestation over said IP network to said UMA network controller.

37. A basestation as claimed in claim 35, wherein, when a wireless communications device has an active call with said basestation, and a handover to a node of the GSM or UMTS radio network is required, a handover message is sent to the basestation over said IP network from said UMA network controller.

38. A basestation, for use in a cellular communications network, wherein the basestation is operable such that only specific preconfigured mobile stations are able to connect to said network by means of the basestation.

39. A basestation as claimed in claim 38, wherein the basestation is operable:

in a first mode, wherein only specific preconfigured mobile stations are able to connect to said network by means of the basestation; and

, alternatively,

in a second mode, wherein any mobile station active within said network is able to connect to said network by means of the basestation.

40. A method of controlling access to a cellular wireless communications network, the method comprising:

identifying a sub-network comprising at least one basestation in said network by means of a first identifier which differs from identifiers used to identify other basestations in said network;

setting said sub-network as a home network for at least one predetermined mobile communications device in said network; and

configuring the or each basestation in said sub-network, such that only the or each predetermined mobile communications device is able to access said network through the or each basestation in said sub-network.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the or each predetermined mobile communications device in said network accesses said network through the basestation or one of said basestations in said sub-network when available, in preference to other basestations in said network.

42. A method as claimed in claim 40, wherein said sub-network is set as a Home PLMN for the or each predetermined mobile communications device.

43. A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein said sub-network is set as a Home PLMN in a Subscriber Identity Module of the or each predetermined mobile communications device.

44. A method as claimed in any of claims 40-42, wherein the or each basestation in said sub-network stores International Mobile Subscriber Identities for the or each predetermined mobile communications device, and permits access only from mobile communications devices having one of said stored International Mobile Subscriber Identities.

45. A telecommunications network, comprising:

a plurality of basestations, each having a respective connection to a cellular wireless communications network, and each having a respective connection to an IP network;

wherein a mobile communications device, active in said wireless communications network, can perform a handover from one of said basestations to another of said basestations, without requiring intervention of said cellular network.

46. A telecommunications network as claimed in claim 45, wherein:

when a mobile communications device is in communication with said cellular network through one of said basestations, and said one of said basestations determines that a handover to another of said basestations is desirable, said one of said basestations is adapted to send a handover request message to the other of said basestations by means of said IP network.

47. A telecommunications network as claimed in claim 45 or 46, wherein said IP network is a local area network.

48. A basestation, for use in a cellular communications system, comprising:

a radio frequency receive path and a radio frequency transmit path, for communicating with one or more mobile communications devices active within said cellular communications system;

a connection for communicating with a network infrastructure of said cellular communications system;

an interface for an IP network;

wherein the basestation is adapted to;

detect any other basestation able to communicate with said cellular communications system and having an interface for said local area network;

receive from a mobile communications device communicating with said cellular communications system therethrough;

determine on the basis of the received measurement reports when a handover to another of said basestations is desirable; and

in that case, send a handover request message to the other of said basestations by means of said IP network.

49. A basestation as claimed in claim 48, wherein said IP network is a local area network.