ACCESS TERMINAL CONFIGURATION AND ACCESS CONTROL

• US 20090094351A1
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gupta, Rajarshi, Agashe, Parag A., Deshpande, Manoj M., Nanda, Sanjiv, Balasubramanian, Srinivasan, Ulupinar, Fatih, Song, Osok, Palanigounder, Anand, Chen, Jen Mei, Horn, Gavin B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,775,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Provisioning and access control for communication nodes involves assigning identifiers to sets of nodes where the identifiers may be used to control access to restricted access nodes that provide certain services only to certain defined sets of nodes. In some aspects provisioning a node may involve providing a unique identifier for sets of one or more nodes such as restricted access points and access terminals that are authorized to receive service from the restricted access points. Access control may be provided by operation of a restricted access point and/or a network node. In some aspects, provisioning a node involves providing a preferred roaming list for the node. In some aspects, a node may be provisioned with a preferred roaming list through the use of a bootstrap beacon.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving, from a first access point, an identifier of at least one other access point that an access terminal is eligible to access; and

determining, based on the identifier, whether to enable access to the at least one other access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises prompting a user to determine whether to enable the access.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on configuration information, whether to automatically enable the access or to enable access in response to a prompt.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a list of access points that the access terminal is enabled to access, wherein the determination is further based on the list.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a list of access points that a user has elected to not access, wherein the determination is further based on the list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each access point of the at least one access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one other access terminal, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

8. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for receiving, from a first access point, an identifier of at least one other access point that an access terminal is eligible to access; and

means for determining, based on the identifier, whether to enable access to the at least one other access point.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises prompting a user to determine whether to enable the access.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for determining, based on configuration information, whether to automatically enable the access or to enable access in response to a prompt.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for maintaining a list of access points that the access terminal is enabled to access, wherein the determination is further based on the list.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for maintaining a list of access points that a user has elected to not access, wherein the determination is further based on the list.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier comprises a closed subscriber group identifier.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each access point of the at least one access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one other access terminal, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

15. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a communication controller configured to receive, from a first access point, an identifier of at least one other access point that an access terminal is eligible to access; and

an access controller configured to determine, based on the identifier, whether to enable access to the at least one other access point.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the determining comprises prompting a user to determine whether to enable the access.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein access controller is further configured to determine, based on configuration information, whether to automatically enable the access or to enable access in response to a prompt.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein access controller is further configured to maintain a list of access points that the access terminal is enabled to access, wherein the determination is further based on the list.

19. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

receive, from a first access point, an identifier of at least one other access point that an access terminal is eligible to access; and

determine, based on the identifier, whether to enable access to the at least one other access point.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein the determining comprises prompting a user to determine whether to enable the access.

21. A method of communication, comprising:

configuring an access point to an initialization mode;

transmitting a default beacon comprising a default configuration during the initialization mode;

receiving a message from an access terminal in response to the default beacon; and

sending a preferred roaming list to the access terminal in response to the message.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the default beacon comprising the default configuration is transmitted at a first power level, the method further comprising configuring the access point to a different operating mode whereby beacons are transmitted at a second power level that is higher than the first power level.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the default configuration comprises a default network identifier that is different from a network identifier used for a non-initialization operating mode.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the default configuration specifies default system and network identifiers of at least one access point of a highest priority and the preferred roaming list specifies other system and network identifiers of the at least one access point of the highest priority.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising defining the preferred roaming list based on another preferred roaming list associated with the access terminal.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one other access terminal, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

27. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for configuring an access point to an initialization mode;

means for transmitting a default beacon comprising a default configuration during the initialization mode;

means for receiving a message from an access terminal in response to the default beacon; and

means for sending a preferred roaming list to the access terminal in response to the message.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein:

the default beacon comprising the default configuration is transmitted at a first power level; and

the means for configuring is configured to configure the access point to a different operating mode whereby beacons are transmitted at a second power level that is higher than the first power level.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the default configuration comprises a default network identifier that is different from a network identifier used for a non-initialization operating mode.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the default configuration specifies default system and network identifiers of at least one access point of a highest priority and the preferred roaming list specifies other system and network identifiers of the at least one access point of the highest priority.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for defining the preferred roaming list based on another preferred roaming list associated with the access terminal.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one other access terminal, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

33. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a provisioning controller configured to configure an access point to an initialization mode; and

a communication controller configured to transmit a default beacon comprising a default configuration during the initialization mode and to receive a message from an access terminal in response to the default beacon;

wherein the provisioning controller is further configured to send a preferred roaming list to the access terminal in response to the message.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein:

the default beacon comprising the default configuration is transmitted at a first power level; and

the provisioning controller is further configured to configure the access point to a different operating mode whereby beacons are transmitted at a second power level that is higher than the first power level.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the default configuration comprises a default network identifier that is different from a network identifier used for a non-initialization operating mode.

36. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

configure an access point to an initialization mode;

transmit a default beacon comprising a default configuration during the initialization mode;

receive a message from an access terminal in response to the default beacon; and

send a preferred roaming list to the access terminal in response to the message.

37. The computer-program product of claim 36, wherein:

the default beacon comprising the default configuration is transmitted at a first power level; and

the computer-readable medium further comprises codes for causing the computer to configure the access point to a different operating mode whereby beacons are transmitted at a second power level that is higher than the first power level.

38. A method of communication, comprising:

monitoring, at an access terminal, for beacons based on a first preferred roaming list that specifies a default configuration;

receiving a beacon comprising the default configuration from an access point as a result of the monitoring;

sending a message to the access point in response to the received beacon; and

receiving a second roaming list from the access point in response to the message, wherein the second roaming list specifies a different configuration than the default configuration.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the first preferred roaming list comprises a default roaming list for initialization operations; and

the second preferred roaming list comprises a roaming list for non-initialization operations.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the default configuration comprises a default network identifier.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second preferred roaming list comprises another network identifier associated with the access point that is different than the default network identifier.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the beacon is received at a default frequency specified by the first preferred roaming list; and

the second preferred roaming list specifies a carrier frequency for the access point that is different than the default frequency.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one other access terminal, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

44. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for monitoring, at an access terminal, for beacons based on a first preferred roaming list that specifies a default configuration;

means for receiving a beacon comprising the default configuration from an access point as a result of the monitoring;

means for sending a message to the access point in response to the received beacon; and

means for receiving a second roaming list from the access point in response to the message, wherein the second roaming list specifies a different configuration than the default configuration.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein:

the first preferred roaming list comprises a default roaming list for initialization operations; and

the second preferred roaming list comprises a roaming list for non-initialization operations.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the default configuration comprises a default network identifier.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the second preferred roaming list comprises another network identifier associated with the access point that is different than the default network identifier.

48. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein:

the beacon is received at a default frequency specified by the first preferred roaming list; and

the second preferred roaming list specifies a carrier frequency for the access point that is different than the default frequency.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one other access terminal, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

50. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to monitor, at an access terminal, for beacons based on a first preferred roaming list that specifies a default configuration, and further configured to receive a beacon comprising the default configuration from an access point as a result of the monitoring;

a communication controller configured to send a message to the access point in response to the received beacon; and

a provisioning controller configured to receive a second roaming list from the access point in response to the message, wherein the second roaming list specifies a different configuration than the default configuration.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein:

the first preferred roaming list comprises a default roaming list for initialization operations; and

the second preferred roaming list comprises a roaming list for non-initialization operations.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the default configuration comprises a default network identifier.

53. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

monitor, at an access terminal, for beacons based on a first preferred roaming list that specifies a default configuration;

receive a beacon comprising the default configuration from an access point as a result of the monitoring;

send a message to the access point in response to the received beacon; and

receive a second roaming list from the access point in response to the message, wherein the second roaming list specifies a different configuration than the default configuration.

54. The computer-program product of claim 53, wherein:

the first preferred roaming list comprises a default roaming list for initialization operations; and

the second preferred roaming list comprises a roaming list for non-initialization operations.

55. A method of communication, comprising:

configuring an access terminal with a preferred roaming list that includes an identifier of a set of access points that are restricted to provide service to limited sets of access terminals;

receiving a beacon from one of the access points, wherein the beacon comprises the identifier;

sending a message to the one access point in response the beacon; and

receiving authorization to access the one access point in response to the message.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the set of access points comprises all access point in a cellular operator domain that are restricted to provide service to limited sets of access terminals.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the identifier comprises a network identifier.

58. The method of claim 56, further comprising prompting a user to determine whether to access the one access point.

59. The method of claim 56, further comprising displaying an indication of the one access point and receiving user input indicative of whether to access the one access point.

60. The method of claim 56, wherein the access terminal automatically determines whether to access the one access point.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein each access point of the set of access points is restricted to not provide, for at least one other access terminal, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

62. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for configuring an access terminal with a preferred roaming list that includes an identifier of a set of access points that are restricted to provide service to limited sets of access terminals;

means for receiving a beacon from one of the access points, wherein the beacon comprises the identifier;

means for sending a message to the one access point in response the beacon; and

means for receiving authorization to access the one access point in response to the message.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the set of access points comprises all access point in a cellular operator domain that are restricted to provide service to limited sets of access terminals.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the identifier comprises a network identifier.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising means for prompting a user to determine whether to access the one access point.

66. The apparatus of claim 63, further comprising means for displaying an indication of the one access point and receiving user input indicative of whether to access the one access point.

67. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the access terminal automatically determines whether to access the one access point.

68. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein each access point of the set of access points is restricted to not provide, for at least one other access terminal, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

69. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a provisioning controller configured to configure an access terminal with a preferred roaming list that includes an identifier of a set of access points that are restricted to provide service to limited sets of access terminals;

a receiver configured to receive a beacon from one of the access points, wherein the beacon comprises the identifier;

a communication controller configured to send a message to the one access point in response the beacon; and

an access controller configured to receive authorization to access the one access point in response to the message.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the set of access points comprises all access point in a cellular operator domain that are restricted to provide service to limited sets of access terminals.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the access controller is further configured to prompt a user to determine whether to access the one access point.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the access terminal automatically determines whether to access the one access point.

73. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

configure an access terminal with a preferred roaming list that includes an identifier of a set of access points that are restricted to provide service to limited sets of access terminals;

receive a beacon from one of the access points, wherein the beacon comprises the identifier;

send a message to the one access point in response the beacon; and

receive authorization to access the one access point in response to the message.

74. The computer-program product of claim 73, wherein the set of access points comprises all access point in a cellular operator domain that are restricted to provide service to limited sets of access terminals.