SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR MULTI-STAGE TRANSMIT PROTECTION IN A FEMTOCELL SYSTEM

• US 20090129263A1
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: AirWalk Communications, Inc. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Osborn, Christopher Martin Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/385 Uniform resource identifier for session initiation protocol [SIP URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0058 Transmission of hand-off measurement information, e.g. measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0083 Determination of parameters used for hand-off, e.g. generation or modification of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0088 Scheduling hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 : Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 : by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 : Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 : based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 : between access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 : Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 : using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 : Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system, method, and computer readable medium for transmit protection in a femtocell system are provided. A multi-stage transmit protection routine prohibits radio transmissions for unregistered femtocell systems and transmissions from femtocell systems in unauthorized areas. A femtocell system may request transmission authorization from a base station manager. The base station manager may provide an authorization failure if the femtocell system is not registered or if the source address of the femtocell system is not within a predefined distance of a registered location of the femtocell system. If the femtocell is provided a transmission authorization, the femtocell system may obtain a GPS location from a user equipment and provide the GPS location to the base station manager which evaluates the location. The base station manager may provide an authorization failure if the GPS location is not within a predefined distance of the registered location of the femtocell system.

Claims

1. A method of providing transmission authorization in a network system, comprising:

receiving a transmission authorization request from a femtocell system, where the request includes a network address of the femtocell system;

determining a first geographic location based on the network address;

comparing the first geographic location with a registered location of the femtocell system; and

determining whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance of the registered location.

2. The method of claim 1, where determining whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance comprises determining the first geographic location is not within the predefined distance, the method further comprising transmitting a transmission authorization failure notification to the femtocell system.

3. The method of claim 1, where determining whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance comprises determining the first geographic location is within the predefined distance, the method further comprising transmitting a transmission authorization to the femtocell system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by the femtocell system, the transmission authorization; and

engaging in radio transmissions by the femtocell system.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting configuration data to the femtocell system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the femtocell system, a user equipment registration;

receiving, by the femtocell system, a global positioning system location from the user equipment; and

transmitting, by the femtocell system, the global positioning system location to a base station manager.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

comparing, by the base station manager, the global positioning system location with the registered location; and

determining whether the global positioning system location is within a predefined distance of the registered location.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting, by the base station manager, a secondary transmission authorization to the femtocell system in response to determining the global positioning system location is within the predefined distance of the registered location.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting, by the base station manager, a secondary transmission authorization failure notification to the femtocell system in response to determining the global positioning system location is not within the predefined distance of the registered location.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system, the computer-executable instructions for providing transmission authorization in a network system, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions that:

receive a transmission authorization request from a femtocell system, where the request includes a network address of the femtocell system;

determine a first geographic location based on the network address;

retrieve registration information of the femtocell system that includes a registered location of the femtocell system;

compare the first geographic location with the registered location; and

determine whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance of the registered location.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions that determine whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance comprise instructions that determine the first geographic location is not within the predefined distance, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions that transmit a transmission authorization failure notification to the femtocell system.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions that determine whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance comprise instructions that determine the first geographic location is within the predefined distance, the computer-readable medium further comprising instructions that transmit a transmission authorization to the femtocell system.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions that:

receive, by the femtocell system, the transmission authorization; and

engage in radio transmissions by the femtocell system.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions that transmit configuration data to the femtocell system.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions that:

receive, by the femtocell system, a user equipment registration;

receive, by the femtocell system, a global positioning system location from the user equipment; and

transmit, by the femtocell system, the global positioning system location to a base station manager.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that:

compare, by the base station manager, the global positioning system location with the registered location; and

determine whether the global positioning system location is within a predefined distance of the registered location.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that transmit, by the base station manager, a secondary transmission authorization to the femtocell system in response to determining the global positioning system location is within the predefined distance of the registered location.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that transmit, by the base station manager, a secondary transmission authorization failure notification to the femtocell system in response to determining the global positioning system location is not within the predefined distance of the registered location.

19. A system for providing transmission authorization in a network system, comprising:

a packet-switched network;

a base station manager server communicatively coupled with the packet-switched network that maintains registration information of at least one femtocell system, wherein the registration information includes a registered location of the at least one femtocell system; and

a femtocell system communicatively coupled with the packet-switched network that transmits a transmission authorization request to the base station manager server that includes a network address of the femtocell system, wherein the base station manger server determines a first geographic location based on the network address, retrieves registration information of the femtocell system that includes a registered location of the femtocell system, compares the first geographic location with the registered location, determines whether the first geographic location is within a predefined distance of the registered location, and transmits one of a transmission authorization and a transmission authorization failure to the femtocell system.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the base station manager server transmits a transmission authorization to the femtocell system, wherein the femtocell system engages in radio transmissions by the femtocell system, receives a user equipment registration and a global positioning system location of the user equipment, transmits the global positioning system location to the base station manager server, and wherein the base station manager server compares the global positioning system location with the registered location, determines whether the global positioning system location is within a predefined distance of the registered location, and transmits one of a secondary transmission authorization and a secondary transmission authorization failure to the femtocell system.