EFFICIENT FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT FOR MOBILE DEVICES IN COEXISTING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20090215452A1
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Deshpande, Manoj M., Balasubramanian, Srinivasan, Chen, Jen Mei
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks

Abstract

Efficient frequency assignment for mobile terminals in coexisting wireless communication systems is described herein. The coexisting wireless communication systems comprise a macro communication system and a localized communication system. Two prioritized lists are defined, a first list comprising a first entry relating to the macro communication system and the second entry relating to the localized communication system, the first and second entries each listing at least one common frequency. Based on the first list, a mobile terminal uses communication protocols associated with the localized communication system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a prioritized list of related frequency and network identification information, the prioritized list comprising at least two entries, a first entry relating to a first macro communication system and a second entry relating to a localized communication system, the first and second entries each listing at least one common frequency;

searching for the localized communication system on the common frequency while using the common frequency to communicate with the first macro communication system; and

communicating with the localized communication system using the common frequency when the localized communication system is determined to be in range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entry comprises the common frequency indication and a first network identifier, the first network identifier associated with the first macro communication system and the common frequency associated with both the first macro communication system and the localized communication system;

and

the second entry comprises the common frequency indication and a second network identifier, the second network identifier corresponding to the localized communication system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritized list comprises a preferred roaming list (PRL).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the localized communication system comprises a femtocell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second network identifiers each comprise a system identification/network identification (SID/NID) code.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the localized communication system is within range of a mobile terminal prior to communicating with the localized communication system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the localized communication system is within range of a mobile terminal comprises locating a beacon from the localized communication system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

redirecting communications to a frequency identified by the beacon, the frequency associated with the localized communication system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritized list further comprises a third entry relating to a second macro communication system, the first entry and the second entry each having a greater priority than the third entry.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first macro communication system and the second macro communication are the same.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory for storing a prioritized list of related frequency and network identification information, the prioritized list comprising at least two entries, a first entry relating to a first macro communication system and a second entry relating to a localized communication system, the first and second entries each listing at least one common frequency; and

a processor for searching for the localized communication system on the common frequency while using the common frequency to communicate with the first macro communication system, and for communicating with the localized communication system using the common frequency when the localized communication system is determined to be in range.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the first entry comprises the common frequency indication and a first network identifier, the first network identifier associated with the first macro communication system and the common frequency associated with both the macro communication system and the localized communication system; and

the second entry comprises the common frequency indication and a second network identifier, the second network identifier corresponding to the localized communication system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the prioritized list comprises a preferred roaming list (PRL).

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the localized communication system comprises a femtocell.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second network identifiers each comprise a system identification/network identification (SID/NID) code.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further for determining that the localized communication system is within range of a mobile terminal prior to using the communication protocols associated with the localized communication system.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further for determining that the localized communication system is within range of a mobile terminal comprises locating a beacon from the localized communication system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further for redirecting communications to a frequency identified by the beacon, the frequency associated with the localized communication system.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the prioritized list further comprises a third entry relating to a second macro communication system, the first entry and the second entry each having a greater priority than the third entry.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first macro communication system and the second macro communication are the same.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a prioritized list of related frequency and network identification information, the prioritized list comprising at least two entries, a first entry relating to a first macro communication system and a second entry relating to a localized communication system, the first and second entries each listing at least one common frequency;

means for searching for the localized communication system on the common frequency while using the common frequency to communicate with the first macro communication system; and

means for communicating with the localized communication system using the common frequency when the localized communication system is determined to be in range.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the information pertaining to the first macro communication system comprises a first entry comprising the common frequency and a first network identifier, the first network identifier associated with the first macro communication system and the common frequency associated with both the first macro communication system and the localized communication system; and

the information pertaining to the localized information system comprises a second entry comprising the common frequency, a second network identifier, and a second priority indicator, the second network identifier corresponding to the localized communication system.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the prioritized list comprises a preferred roaming list (PRL).

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the localized communication system comprises a femtocell.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second network identifiers each comprise a system identification/network identification (SID/NID) code.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for determining that the localized communication system is within range of a mobile terminal prior to using the communication protocols associated with the localized communication system.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for determining that the localized communication system is within range of a mobile terminal comprises means for locating a beacon from the localized communication system.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for communication with the localized communication system comprises means for redirecting communications to a frequency identified by the beacon, the frequency associated with the localized communication system.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the prioritized list further comprises a third entry relating to a second macro communication system, the first entry and the second entry each having a greater priority than the third entry.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first macro communication system and the second macro communication are the same.

31. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

receive a prioritized list of related frequency and network identification information, the prioritized list comprising at least two entries, a first entry relating to a first macro communication system and a second entry relating to a localized communication system, the first and second entries each listing at least one common frequency;

searching for the localized communication system on the common frequency while using the common frequency to communicate with the first macro communication system; and

communicating with the localized communication system using the common frequency when the localized communication system is determined to be in range.

32. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein:

the first entry comprises the common frequency and a first network identifier, the first network identifier associated with the first macro communication system and the common frequency associated with both the first macro communication system and the localized communication system; and

the second entry comprises the common frequency and a second network identifier, the second network identifier corresponding to the localized communication system.

33. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the prioritized list comprises a preferred roaming list (PRL).

34. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the localized communication system comprises a femtocell.

35. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the first and second network identifiers each comprise a system identification/network identification (SID/NID) code.

36. The computer-program product of claim 31, further comprising codes for:

determining that the localized communication system is within range of a mobile terminal prior to communicating with the localized communication system.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein determining that the localized communication system is within range of a mobile terminal comprises codes for locating a beacon from the localized communication system.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, further comprising codes for:

redirecting communications to a frequency identified by the beacon, the frequency associated with the localized communication system.

39. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the prioritized list further comprises a third entry relating to a second macro communication system, the first entry and the second entry each having a greater priority than the third entry.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first macro communication system and the second macro communication are the same.

41. A method, comprising:

defining a common frequency to be used by a first macro communication system and a localized communication system;

generating a first prioritized list of related frequency and network identification information, the first prioritized list comprising at least two entries, a first entry relating to the first macro communication system and the second entry relating to the localized communication system, the first and second entries each listing the common frequency;

generating a second prioritized list of related frequency and network identification information, the second prioritized list comprising at least one entry relating to the first macro communication system and no entries relating to the localized communication system;

providing the first prioritized list to a first mobile device authorized to communicate using either the first macro communication system or the localized communication system; and

providing the second prioritized list to a second mobile device, the second mobile device not authorized to communicate using the localized communication system.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the first entry comprises the common frequency and a first network identifier, the first network identifier associated with the first macro communication system and the common frequency associated with both the first macro communication system and the localized communication system; and

the second entry comprises the common frequency and a second network identifier, the second network identifier corresponding to the localized communication system

43. The method of claim 41, wherein first prioritized list further comprises a third entry relating to a second macro communication system, the first entry and the second entry each having a greater priority than the third entry.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the first macro communication system and the second macro communication system are the same.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the first macro communication system and the second macro communication system are the same.

45. An apparatus, comprising:

means for defining a common frequency to be used by a first macro communication system and a localized communication system;

means for generating a first prioritized list of related frequency and network identification information, the first prioritized list comprising at least two entries, a first entry relating to the first macro communication system and the second entry relating to the localized communication system, the first and second entries each listing the common frequency, and for generating a second prioritized list of related frequency and network identification information, the second prioritized list comprising at least one entry relating to the first macro communication system and no entries relating to the localized communication system; and

means for providing the first prioritized list to a first mobile device authorized to communicate using either the first macro communication system or the localized communication system, and for providing the second prioritized list to a second mobile device, the second mobile device not authorized to communicate using the localized communication system.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein:

the first entry comprises the common frequency and a first network identifier, the first network identifier associated with the first macro communication system and the common frequency associated with both the first macro communication system and the localized communication system; and

the second entry comprises the common frequency and a second network identifier, the second network identifier corresponding to the localized communication system.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein first prioritized list further comprises a third entry relating to a second macro communication system, the first entry and the second entry each having a greater priority than the third entry.

49. A method, comprising:

engaging in an active communication by a mobile device with a macro communication system using a first frequency that is common to both the macro communication system and a localized communication system;

detecting interference greater than a predetermined threshold, the interference originating from the localized communication system; and

receiving instructions to transfer to a second frequency based on the interference level.

50. An apparatus, comprising:

means for engaging in an active communication by a mobile device with a macro communication system using a first frequency that is common to both the macro communication system and a localized communication system;

detecting interference greater than a predetermined threshold, the interference originating from the localized communication system; and

receiving instructions to transfer the active communication to a second frequency based on the interference level.

51. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor for engaging in an active communication by a mobile device with a macro communication system using a first frequency that is common to both the macro communication system and a localized communication system, for detecting interference greater than a predetermined threshold, the interference originating from the localized communication system;

a receiver for receiving instructions to transfer the first active communication to a second frequency based on the interference level; and

a memory for storing the common frequency and the predetermined threshold;

wherein the processor transfers the active communication to the second frequency upon receipt of the instructions.