METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING HOME NODE B SERVICES

• US 20090104905A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marinier, Paul, Terry, Stephen E., Pani, Diana, Cave, Christopher R., DiGirolamo, Rocco, Pelletier, Benoit
• Granted Patent: US 9,572,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0093 Neighbour cell search
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supporting home Node B (HNB) services are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives HNB access restriction information from an HNB and accesses the HNB if an access to the HNB is allowed based on the HNB access restriction information. The HNB access restriction information may be a closed subscriber group identity (CSG ID), a status bit indicating whether an HNB cell is available or not, an identity of WTRUs that are allowed to access the HNB, information indicating whether an access to a cell is barred or not. The WTRU may trigger measurements for cell reselection even though signal strength on a currently connected cell is above a threshold. The measurement may be triggered manually, periodically, under the instruction from the network, or based on a neighbor cell list including information about HNB cells located nearby.

Claims

1. A method for receiving home Node B (HNB) services, the method comprising:

a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receiving HNB access restriction information from an HNB; and

the WTRU accessing the HNB if it is determined that an access to the HNB is allowed based on the HNB access restriction information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the HNB access restriction information is a closed subscriber group identity (CSG ID), and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the WTRU is configured with the CSG ID.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the HNB access restriction information is a status bit indicating whether an HNB cell is available or not, and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the status bit indicates that the HNB cell is available.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the HNB access restriction information is an identity of WTRUs that are allowed to access the HNB, and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the access is allowed based on the WTRU identity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a cell barredl/reserved status bit is used as the HNB access restriction information so that a legacy WTRU that does not support HNB features is blocked from accessing a Node B.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving HNB specific indication informing that a cell is an HNB cell so that a release 8 (R8) WTRU that support HNB features accesses the HNB cell ignoring the cell barred/reserved status bit.

7. A method for receiving home Node B (HNB) services, the method comprising:

a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) performing measurement on neighbor cells, the measurement being triggered even though a signal strength on a currently connected cell is above a threshold for cell reselection; and

the WTRU performing a cell reselection to an HNB cell if a cell reselection criteria to the HNB cell is satisfied.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a threshold for triggering the cell reselection measurements is set to a lower value when the WTRU enters a macro cell that includes an HNB cell for which the WTRU is part of a closed subscriber group (CSG).

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

the WTRU receiving a message from a network requesting a periodic cell search, wherein the measurement is triggered by the message.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

the WTRU receiving a manual indication from a user to initiate measurements for cell search, wherein the measurement is triggered by the manual indication.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

the WTRU receiving a neighbor cell list from a macro cell, the neighbor cell list including information about HNB cells located nearby, wherein the measurement is triggered based on the neighbor cell list.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

the WTRU detecting at least one of a location area (LA) and a cell identity of a macro cell, wherein the measurement is triggered if it is determined that the WTRU has entered a macro cell including an HNB based on the detected LA or cell identity.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the WTRU prioritizes searching on HNB inter-frequencies during forward access channel (FACH) measurement occasions, if the HNB cell is on a separate frequency.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein a priority is given to an HNB cell over a macro cell for cell reselection.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein a frequency of measurement on HNB cells is set based on a history of cell reselection to an HNB cell.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

the WTRU monitoring WTRU mobility, wherein the measurement on an HNB cell is performed depending on the WTRU mobility.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the WTRU mobility is determined based on a count on cell reselection to HNB cells.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein a mobility threshold and a window size for monitoring the WTRU mobility are tailored to determine if the WTRU is at a low speed.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the WTRU mobility is determined based on frequency of best cell change.

20. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

the WTRU sending a measurement report to a network, the measurement report including an HNB cell detected;

the WTRU receiving a message from the network, the message indicating continuous monitoring of an HNB cell if the WTRU is permitted to access the HNB cell, wherein the cell reselection to the HNB cell is performed depending on the message.

21. A method for supporting home Node B (HNB) services, the method comprising:

receiving a paging message for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);

paging the WTRU in a last accessed HNB gateway (GW), a location area (LA) spanning across more than one HNB GW; and

paging the WTRU in remaining HNB GWs that make up the LA if the WTRU is not found through the last accessed HNB GW.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein an LA update message includes an identity of an HNB GW that transfers the LA update message.

23. A method for supporting home Node B (HNB) services, the method comprising:

receiving a paging message; and

sending the paging message to a last accessed HNB paging area (HPA), HNBs under an HNB gateway (GW) being divided into a plurality of HPAS.

24. A method for supporting home Node B (HNB) services, the method comprising:

determining a location of an HNB; and

updating a UTRAN routing area (URA) list associated with an HNB cell as the HNB is moved.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein an URA is assigned to the HNB based on an overlaid macro cell.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the location of the HNB is determined by the HNB and reported to a network so that the URA list is updated based on the reported location.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the location of the HNB is determined based on reported measurements from wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs).

28. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for receiving home Node B (HNB) services, the WTRU comprising:

a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive signals; and

a controller adapted to receive HNB access restriction information from an HNB and access the HNB if it is determined that an access to the HNB is allowed based on the HNB access restriction information.

29. The WTRU of claim 28 wherein the HNB access restriction information is a closed subscriber group identity (CSG ID) and the controller accesses the HNB if the WTRU is configured with the CSG ID.

30. The WTRU of claim 28 wherein the HNB access restriction information is a status bit indicating whether an HNB cell is available or not and the controller accesses the HNB if the status bit indicates that the HNB cell is available.

31. The WTRU of claim 28 wherein the HNB access restriction information is an identity of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) that are allowed to access the HNB and the controller accesses the HNB if the access is allowed based on the WTRU identity.

32. The WTRU of claim 28 wherein a cell barred/reserved status bit is used as the HNB access restriction information so that a legacy WTRU that does not support HNB features is blocked from accessing a Node B.

33. The WTRU of claim 32 wherein the controller receives HNB specific indication informing that a cell is an HNB cell so that a release 8 (R8) WTRU that support HNB features accesses the HNB cell ignoring the cell barred/reserved status bit.

34. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for receiving home Node B (HNB) services, the WTRU comprising:

a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive signals;

a measurement unit adapted to perform measurement on neighbor cells, the measurement being triggered even though a signal strength on a currently connected cell is above a threshold for cell reselection; and

a controller adapted to perform a cell reselection to an HNB cell if a cell reselection criteria to the HNB cell is satisfied.

35. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein a threshold for triggering the cell reselection measurement is set to a lower value when a WTRU enters a macro cell that includes an HNB cell for which the WTRU is part of a closed subscriber group (CSG).

36. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein the measurement is triggered by a message received from a network requesting a periodic cell search.

37. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein the measurement is triggered by a manual indication from a user.

38. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein the measurement is triggered based on a neighbor cell list received from a macro cell, the neighbor cell list including information about HNB cells located nearby.

39. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein the measurement is triggered if it is determined that the WTRU has entered a macro cell including an HNB based on the detected location area (LA) or cell identity of a macro cell.

40. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein a priority is given to an HNB cell over a macro cell for cell reselection.

41. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein a frequency of measurement on HNB cells is set based on a history of cell reselection to an HNB cell.

42. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein the measurement on an HNB cell is performed depending on WTRU mobility.

43. The WTRU of claim 42 wherein the WTRU mobility is determined based on a count on cell reselection to HNB cells.

44. The WTRU of claim 42 wherein a mobility threshold and a window size for monitoring the WTRU mobility are tailored to determine if the WTRU is at a low speed.

45. The WTRU of claim 42 wherein the WTRU mobility is determined based on frequency of best cell change.

46. The WTRU of claim 34 wherein the controller is adapted to send a measurement report to a network including an HNB cell detected, and perform a cell reselection based on a message received from the network, the message indicating continuous monitoring of an HNB cell if the WTRU is permitted to access the HNB cell.

47. An apparatus for supporting home Node B (HNB) services, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver adapted to receive a paging message for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU); and

a controller adapted to send the paging message for the WTRU to a last accessed HNB gateway (GW), a location area (LA) spanning across more than one HNB GW and send the paging message to remaining HNB GWs that make up the LA if the WTRU is not found through the last accessed HNB GW.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the controller appends an HNB GW identity to an LA update message.

49. An apparatus for supporting home Node B (HNB) services, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver adapted to receive a paging message; and

a controller adapted to send the paging message to a last accessed HNB paging area (HPA), HNBs under an HNB gateway being subdivided into HPAs.

50. An apparatus for supporting home Node B (HNB) services, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver; and

a controller adapted to determine a location of an HNB and update a UTRAN routing area (URA) list associated with an HNB cell as the HNB is moved.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein an URA is assigned to the HNB based on an overlaid macro cell.

52. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the location of the HNB is determined by the HNB and reported to a network so that the URA list is updated based on the reported location.

53. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the location of the HNB is determined based on reported measurements from wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs).

54. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the location of the HNB is determined based on simultaneous connections to a macro cell and an HNB cell.

55. A method for supporting home Node B (HNB) services, the method comprising:

sending HNB access restriction information to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs); and

accepting a WTRU that is allowed to camp based on the HNB access restriction information.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the HNB access restriction information is a closed subscriber group identity (CSG ID), and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the WTRU is configured with the CSG ID.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein the cell restriction information is a status bit indicating whether an HNB cell is available or not, and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the status bit indicates that the HNB cell is available.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the status bit is set based on at least one of WTRUs camped on an HNB, uplink and/or downlink load status, and backhaul load.

59. The method of claim 55 wherein the HNB access restriction information is an identity of WTRUs that are allowed to access the HNB, and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the access is allowed based on the WTRU identity.

60. The method of claim 55 wherein a Node B uses a cell barred/reserved status bit as the HNB access restriction information for legacy WTRUs that do not support HNB features to block accessing the Node B from the legacy WTRUs.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein an intra-frequency cell reselection indicator is used to tailor cell selection and reselection.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the intra-frequency cell reselection indicator is used to bar an entire frequency, if an HNB cell is on a separate frequency.

63. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

broadcasting an HNB specific indication to inform Release 8 (R8) WTRUs supporting HNB features that the Node B is an HNB so that the R8 WTRUs access the Node B ignoring the cell barred/reserved status bit.

64. A Node B for supporting home Node B (HNB) services, the Node B comprising:

a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive signals; and

a controller adapted to send HNB access restriction information to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) and accept a WTRU that is allowed to camp based on the HNB access restriction information.

65. The Node B of claim 64 wherein the HNB access restriction information is a closed subscriber group identity (CSG ID), and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the WTRU is configured with the CSG ID.

66. The Node B of claim 64 wherein the HNB access restriction information is a status bit indicating whether an HNB cell is available or not, and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the status bit indicates that the HNB cell is available.

67. The Node B of claim 66 wherein the status bit is set based on at least one of WTRUs camped on an HNB, uplink and/or downlink load status, and backhaul load.

68. The Node B of claim 64 wherein the HNB access restriction information is an identity of WTRUs that are allowed to access the HNB, and the WTRU accesses the HNB if the access is allowed based on the WTRU identity.

69. The Node B of claim 64 wherein a cell barred/reserved status bit is used as the HNB access restriction information for legacy WTRUs that do not support HNB features so that the legacy WTRUs are blocked from accessing the Node B.

70. The Node B of claim 69 wherein the controller is further adapted to broadcast HNB specific indication to inform release 8 (R8) WTRUs that the Node B is an HNB so that the R8 WTRUs access the Node B ignoring the cell barred/reserved status bit.

71. The Node B of claim 69 wherein the controller sends an intra-frequency cell reselection indicator to tailor cell selection and reselection.

72. The Node B of claim 71 wherein the intra-frequency cell reselection indicator is used to bar an entire frequency, if an HNB cell is on a separate frequency.